Spooky Stories I’ve Read in 2024

I’ve read a lot of spooky stories this year. Seventeen out of the forty books I’ve picked up have been horror/thrillers. And I’ve read a lot of good ones and a few duds. So, let’s talk about them. I’m just going to share a snippet of my thoughts but if you want a full review, I’ve linked that as well.

The Pram

My Rating: 3/5

The Pram was fun. I enjoyed the premise and setting but it could have used more depth.

Ankle Snatcher

My Rating: 4/5

Ankle Snatcher was a well thought out short story that really creeped me out. I enjoyed it more than I expected.

In Bloom

My Rating: 1/5

In Bloom read like a low budget sci-fi film. The synopsis was so promising, but the story let me down.

It Waits in the Woods

My Rating: 4/5

It Waits in the Woods was part thriller, part folklore horror. I love when a local legend becomes reality.

Big Bad

My Rating: 3/5

Big Bad was middle of the road. The characters and tension were well developed but it got a little jumbled toward the end of the story.

Best of Luck

My Rating: 1/5

I didn’t like anything about Best of Luck. It felt rushed and the motivations were weird. It just didn’t work for me.

Rosemary’s Baby

My Rating: 5/5

Rosemary’s Baby is my favorite book of the year so far. It started out portraying an idyllic family with the perfect life, but things start to unravel. It was executed so well.

The Stepford Wives

My Rating: 4/5

Apparently, I forgot to review The Stepford Wives. I enjoyed this short read about a creepy little town where all the wives seem perfect on the surface. It was very creepy.

Bone White

My Rating: 4/5

Bone White starts off like any other missing person’s story, but it quickly turns into a hair-raising folk horror set in the Alaskan wilderness.

Black Sheep

My Rating: 5/5

Black Sheep is the first cozy cult horror book that I’ve ever read. I know that doesn’t make sense but it’s literally what it felt like. There was a lot of shocking horror with some childhood nostalgia mixed in.

Middle of the Night

My Rating: 4/5

Middle of the Night was a spooky slightly paranormal thriller. It wasn’t fully paranormal, but it had enough ghost activity to satisfy me.

Bag of Bones

My Rating: 4/5

Bag of Bones had paranormal elements that sent shivers up my spine, but the real horror element was the human brutality throughout the entire book. It was a creepy story with hateful characters that made me prefer the ghost over humans.

Flowers in the Attic

My Rating: 3/5

Flowers in the Attic was a claustrophobic and frustrating experience. There were plot holes galore, but it was like a train wreck. I couldn’t stop watching.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

My Rating: 4/5

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic for a reason. It’s the perfect example of Victorian horror. The foggy atmosphere was palpable. It’s a well-known story but it kept my interest even though I knew the main reveal before reading it.

The Body Snatcher

My Rating: 4/5

The Body Snatcher had the same atmosphere that I loved in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I think it explored a macabre topic really well.

Interview with the Vampires

My Rating: 1/5

Interview with the Vampire made me rant. Just go check out my review. The only good thing going for this one was the setting.

So Thirsty

My Rating: 4/5

Lastly, we have So Thirsty. I really enjoyed this one. Rachel Harrison does a great job at taking a well-known horror subject and turning it into something new and exciting. Stick around for my full review coming later this week.

And those were the spooky stories I’ve read in 2024. I hope to add to the list this month because I don’t think the spooky mood is going to end anytime soon.