Top new horror books in March 2025
Last updated:
March 31, 2025
March 2025 featuring new releases by Emily Carpenter, Leia Stone, Laila Lalami, Madeleine Henry, Alix E. Harrow, Mia Ballard, Natasha Preston, Max Brooks, M.R. Carey, Torrey Peters and many more.
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Gothictown by Emily Carpenter
A restaurateur lured by pandemic-era incentives moves her family to a seemingly idyllic town in Georgia.The email message that lands in Billie Hope’s inbox seems like a gift from the universe. For $100 she can purchase a spacious Victorian home in Juliana, Georgia, a small town eager to boost its economy in the wake of the pandemic...north-america · usa · georgia · horror · gothic · mystery · fiction · audiobook · paranormal · supernatural -
Lies That Blemish by Leia Stone
To save her people, Aisling must question everything—even herself.Blinded by betrayal, Aisling's heart burns for revenge against Kohen, the man she once trusted. But war looms on two fronts—Luska and Imbria—and her people are caught in the crossfire...romance · fantasy · dragons · young-adult · enemies-to-lovers · magic · slow-burn · royalty · paranormal · audiobook -
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
From Laila Lalami—the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist and a “maestra of literary fiction” (NPR)—comes a riveting and utterly original novel about one woman’s fight for freedom, set in a near future where even dreams are under surveillance...sci-fi · fiction · dystopia · literary-fiction · mystery · horror · poc-author · politics · book · adult -
Name Not Taken by Madeleine Henry
Meeting her future in-laws draws a young woman into a dark labyrinth in a novel of mounting psychological suspense by the author of My Favorite Terrible Thing.Devon Ferrell and Richard Belmont are engaged, in love, and from two different worlds. Devon is as eager to please Richard’s elite parents as she is to leave the traumas of her childhood behind. After all, the Belmonts are her family now...fiction · mystery · suspense · horror · audiobook · family · psychological · season-winter · fantasy · season-summer -
The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow
New York Times bestselling author Alix E. Harrow weaves a dystopian fairy tale that follows the town storyteller as she struggles to protect a local demon from the knight hired to kill it.In this gritty, haunting tale about doing whatever it takes for love, a small-town storyteller resolves to keep the local monster—and her own secrets—safe from a legendary knight...romance · fantasy · horror · fiction · lgbtq · post-apocalyptic · dystopia · wlw · fairy-tale · sci-fi -
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Shy Girl by Mia Ballard
Lonely, broke and depressed with a serious case of OCD, Gia finds herself at a crossroads when financial troubles lead her to Nathan, a mysterious and affluent man she encounters on a sugar dating website. Desperate for a solution, Gia is intrigued by Nathan's unconventional offer: in exchange for living as his devoted pet, all of her debts will be erased...horror · fiction · literary-fiction · contemporary · mystery · feminism · dark · mental-illness · body-horror · season-spring -
In the Dark by Natasha Preston
Sixteen-year-old Eden and four-year-old Olly were kidnapped as babies, but they don't know it. One day, their parents bring home a new baby but are quickly arrested for kidnap as they try to leave town. The new baby is returned to it's parents but will the same happen for them? They are placed in the care of a foster couple and their teenage son, Tyler in the lead up to their parents trial... -
Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey
From the bestselling author M. R. Carey comes an utterly unique and enchantingly dark epic fantasy fable like no other.This is the tale of Once Was Willem, who - eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England - rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham...fantasy · horror · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · audiobook · medieval · dark · dark-fantasy · magic -
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
In this collection of one novel and three novellas, the bestselling author of Detransition, Baby pushes trans-genre to its limits to explore who gets included—and excluded—from the possibilities of gender...fiction · lgbtq · contemporary · literary-fiction · trans-mc · horror · anthologies · 21st-century · adult -
The Encanto's Curse by Melissa de la Cruz
The vampire queen must break her curse in this YA romantasy inspired by Filipino folklore, a sequel to The Encanto’s Daughter by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz!A curse has befallen Biringan. Stalking the night sky and sinking sharp teeth in its prey, a vampire-like creature—a manananggal—is terrorizing the kingdom...romance · fantasy · young-adult · mystery · fiction · audiobook · myths · magic · royalty · action-adventure -
We Are Villains by Kacen Callender
From bestselling and award-winning author Kacen Callendar comes a thrilling, dark academia YA about murder, blackmail, and the one person determined to discover the truth, no matter the costWhat happened to Arianna Reynolds? Ari’s death was ruled an accident, but for her best friend Milo, it’s shrouded in mystery...young-adult · mystery · lgbtq · dark-academia · contemporary · realistic · murder · teens · poc-mc · horror -
Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg
They thought they knew everything about us. The kind of women we were. It was a place for women. A remote farm tucked away in the Kent Downs. A safe space...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · england · fiction · contemporary · feminism · literary-fiction · season-summer · lgbtq -
Counting Backwards by Binnie Kirshenbaum
A married couple deals with the husband’s decline from Lewy body dementia in a profound and deeply moving novel shot through with Kirshenbaum's lacerating humor.It begins with of a man on stilts, an acting troupe, Ghandi. At first, these seem benign, almost comical, and are likely connected with an ocular issue. It’s something he and his wife can make jokes about...fiction · audiobook · literary-fiction · medical · contemporary · horror · death · marriage · dark-humor · satire -
We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso
Everyone knows the legend of Fairport Village: twenty-five years ago, a shocking murder closed the place down. This year, the ruins will be bulldozed at last. But tonight, it's not too late to die...romance · young-adult · mystery · fiction · horror · audiobook · crime · suspense · psychological · law-enforcement -
The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth
From the author of White Horse (“Twisty and electric.” —The New York Times Book Review) comes a terrifying and resonant novel about a woman who uses her unique gift to learn the truth about her sister’s death.Olivia Becente was never supposed to have the gift. The ability to commune with the dead was the specialty of her sister, Naiche...horror · fiction · mystery · indigenous-mc · paranormal · audiobook · supernatural · spooky · thriller · haunted-places -
The Arcane Taste of the Witchwood Boys by C.M. Stunich
Those witch pricks betrayed me in the worst possible way.I’m not about to run home and bake f*cking cupcakes, move on, and pretend to be happy.I’d rather rage.These men told me I wasn’t allowed to leave, that they’d follow me anywhere.Well, it goes both ways, my dear stubborn husbands.You aren’t allowed to leave, and I will do anything to enforce that.I’ll slaughter the Hag Wytch...romance · reverse-harem · fantasy · dark · magic · contemporary · witches-wizards · paranormal · horror · steamy -
Death Valley by Karina Halle
Take Yellowstone and add in the White Walkers from Game of Thrones and you have Death Valley. Morally grey cowboys, menacing wilderness, and deadly zombies await in this dark western horror romance from NYT bestselling author Karina Halle.Three years ago Aubrey Wells’ sister disappeared in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Since then, Aubrey’s life has crumbled around her...romance · horror · dark · forced-proximity · paranormal · western · zombies · suspense · fantasy · contemporary -
O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy
A journalist investigates a seductive and mysterious cult and its leader, an enigmatic Vietnam War veteran, in this not-to-be-missed novel.Faruq Zaidi, a young journalist reeling from the recent death of his father, a devout Muslim, takes the opportunity to embed in a cult called The Nameless...fiction · horror · literary-fiction · contemporary · cults · fundamentalism · historical-fiction · audiobook · mystery · religion -
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Rose of Jericho by Alex Grecian
From the New York Times bestselling author of Red Rabbit comes a supernatural horror where ghosts and ghouls are the least of a witch’s problems in historical New England.Something wicked is going on in the village of Ascension. A mother wasting away from cancer is suddenly up and about. A boy trampled by a milk cart walks away from the accident. A hanged man can still speak, broken neck and all...north-america · usa · massachusetts · horror · historical-fiction · fantasy · fiction · historical · western · audiobook -
When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain
From New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies comes a new southern gothic supernatural thriller about a teen girl in a small Ozark town who can hear the bones of the dead.The past three years have been tough for Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas, a small town quietly tucked away in the Ozark mountains...north-america · usa · arkansas · horror · young-adult · mystery · fantasy · paranormal · fiction · gothic -
The Other People by C.B. Everett
A group of strangers gathered at a mysterious country house are in a race against time to stop a serial killer in this twisty, high-concept thriller that combines Agatha Christie with Shutter Island. Ten strangers. An old dark house. A killer picking them off one by one. And a missing girl who’s running out of time… And then there was one. Ten strangers wake up inside an old, locked house...mystery · fiction · crime · suspense · audiobook · contemporary · psychological · thriller · horror · murder -
I Want to Go Home But I’m Already There by Róisín Lanigan
Renting is a nightmare...Áine should be feeling happy with her life. She’s just moved in with Elliot. Their new flat is in an affluent neighbourhood, surrounded by bakeries, yoga studios and organic vegetable shops. They even have a garden. And yet, from the moment they move in, Áine can't shake the sense that there's something not quite right about the place..europe · british-isles · ireland · horror · fiction · contemporary · literary-fiction · audiobook · gothic · spooky -
A Lost Treasure by Vanessa Nelson
How do you find something no one wants to admit even exists?With her life turned upside down, it's almost a relief for Hallie to be asked to work a case. She is tasked with helping the Conclave Investigators follow up on a suspected theft, and also help track down one of their own - Special Investigator Girard Abbott has gone missing. But nothing is straightforward... -
Gravewater Lake by Sonya Sargent, A.M. Strong
A woman who can’t remember her past encounters a mysterious stranger in a chilling novel of mounting psychological suspense by the authors of The Last Girl Left.She wakes on the shore of a remote lake in the middle of the night, freezing and afraid. With no memory of who she is or how she got there, she stumbles frantically toward the lights of a house... -
They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
A red algae bloom has taken over Mercy, Louisiana. Ever since a devastating hurricane, mutated wildlife lurks in the water that rises by the day. But Mercy has always been a place where monsters walk in plain sight. Especially at its heart: The Cove, where Noon’s life was upended long before the storm at a party her older boyfriend insisted on... -
Exquisite Ruin by A.M. Strickland, AdriAnne May
In this darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, a sorceress and a demon are entwined in sensual battle to escape a deadly maze and reclaim their freedom.In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress...romance · fantasy · myths · witches-wizards · high-fantasy · demons · retellings · enemies-to-lovers · dark · dark-fantasy -
Into Elysium by A.M. Johnson
Eben had one job at Elysium—keep the barrier wall lit at all costs. As a Dusk Guard, he was safe from the war raging across the country, from the rebels, and the new world. He was safe from the laws that would see him dead if they knew his one secret. But after being called inside Elysium to watch over one of the rebel prisoners, every wall he’d created to protect himself comes crashing down...romance · dystopia · mlm · lgbtq · military · paranormal · fantasy · apocalyptic · multi-pov · prison -
Sins of His Wrath by Zoey Ellis
Bound to an enemy who refuses to let her go.Naya’s escape from the ruthless Alpha King, Akoro came at a devastating cost. Her people are on the brink of war, her kingdom stands vulnerable, and no matter how far she runs, the primal hunger between them refuses to fade.It haunts her. Consumes her...romance · omegaverse · enemies-to-lovers · fantasy · paranormal · magic · dark · abuse · slow-burn · fated-mates -
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark by Kristen Simmons
"Death is not an ending, it’s simply the next chapter. Do not be afraid to turn the page...."It’s been one month since Ian’s reunited friends escaped the hellish game of Meido and saved him. The survivors may have sealed the gate to the world of the dead shut and destroyed Empress Izanami, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still reeling over the challenges they endured in her grim game...horror · young-adult · fantasy · myths · mystery · ghosts · multi-pov · friendship · dark · action-adventure -
Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer
After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer.When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect justice from the hands of the police department...mystery · horror · fiction · audiobook · lgbtq · crime · suspense · thriller · serial-killers · contemporary -
Silent Betrayal by Shona Knight
Mina’s life has always been a fight for survival, but nothing could have prepared her for the brutal attack by someone who was supposed to be her family.After the traumatic incident shatters her already fragile world, the seven men who she has come to care for step in to protect her. She soon learns that there’s a ruthless serial killer on the loose, with herself somehow at the center of it all...romance · reverse-harem · contemporary · dark · abuse · friends-to-lovers · crime · polyamory · age-gap · stalking -
Carnival Shadows: A Dark Stalker Romance by Selena Winters
The problem with stalking a predator? Sometimes, they decide to keep you.I study killers for a living. I analyze their methods, dissect their psychology, and share their darkest deeds with my podcast listeners, but I’ve never encountered anyone like Remy.When I spotted him at the carnival, I knew he was different...romance · contemporary · dark · steamy · stalking · crime · fiction · mystery · serial-killers · suspense -
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rekt by Alex Gonzalez
A disturbing examination of toxic masculinity and the darkest pits of the Internet, Alex Gonzalez’s rekt traces a young man’s algorithmic descent into depravity in a future that’s nearly here.> be me, 26> about to end it all> feels good, man Once, Sammy Dominguez thought he knew how the world worked...horror · fiction · sci-fi · crime · audiobook · psychological · dystopia · mystery · gothic · exploration -
Red Womb: An Extreme Horror Story by C.M. Guidroz
Welcome to the Red Womb.When convicted killer Maddox Barbo takes his final breath in the execution chamber, he thinks it’s over. But death is just the beginning. Pulled into a nightmare realm of living flesh and endless torment, Maddox finds himself in the Red Womb, a realm in hell, born from the pain and rage of women who endured the brutality of men... -
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
A chilling historical horror novel set in the American west in 1912 following a Lutheran priest who transcribes the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice. A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow...horror · historical-fiction · vampires · fiction · historical · indigenous-mc · paranormal · fantasy · spooky · supernatural -
Chill by A.J. Merlin
One month. That’s all it takes for everything to unravel.For weeks, I try returning to normal, to forget the men who turned me into a killer against my will. At first, I convince myself I could be happy—at least I think I should be.But I’m not. I can’t be.When I find them, I realize what they’re doing. If I want them—if I want this—I have to accept what they truly are.Monsters...romance · dark · serial-killers · horror · reverse-harem · mlm · contemporary · stalking · steamy · multi-pov -
The Venom We Bleed by Lucy Smoke
Silverwood Public: Home to liars, thieves, and worst of all … the Scorpion Kings.I was the Queen at my old school.Born into wealth and power.Now, thanks to my family’s deceit, I’m a pariah and a target.I’ve got no friends. No parents. No money. And no fucks left to give...romance · enemies-to-lovers · reverse-harem · dark · contemporary · crime · new-adult · fiction · forced-proximity · cruel-mc -
How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight meets Scream in this YA slasher that turns classic horror tropes on their heads.There’s a reason CJ Smith’s hometown of Satterville is known as Slasherville: it was the site of not one, but two Friday the 13th-style massacres. CJ’s dad survived the first attack; only CJ survived the second...horror · young-adult · lgbtq · mystery · fiction · audiobook · contemporary · slasher · serial-killers · spooky -
Kiss the Filthiest King by May Sage, Alexi Blake
Long live the queen. If she makes it to her throne in one piece.Almost every leader of every court has tried to hunt Darina down for a chance at either killing or controlling her.Now, forcefully snatched from death, Darina is something else entirely...