Top new horror books out this week: 5 Oct - 11 Oct 2025
Last updated:
October 11, 2025
This week featuring new releases by Chevy Stevens, Laura Purcell, Bill Wood, Larry Correia, Catriona Ward, Adalyn Grace, K.J. Charles, Shanora Williams, Carson Faust, Kirsten Miller and many more.
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The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
The open road beckons.A chance for them to reconnect.Then they make a fatal mistake.It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride...north-america · canada · mystery · audiobook · historical-fiction · suspense · fiction · horror · historical · thriller -
![House of Splinters by Laura Purcell]()
House of Splinters by Laura Purcell
'Laura Purcell really is a master of the unsettling ghost story' Jen Williams Not every house is a home... Belinda Bainbridge has spent her life in the shadow of her anxious mother, so when her father-in-law dies at The Bridge, his remote ancestral seat, she is secretly thrilled...horror · gothic · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · spooky · haunted-places · ghosts · supernatural · book -
![Be Right Back by Bill Wood]()
Be Right Back by Bill Wood
DO YOU DARE STEP OUT ALONE?A year has passed since the events in Sanera left the town reeling. Buffy, Jonesy, Amber and Cam unmasked the killer of 2001, but now, a new horror stirs.Back for the inaugural Hallowed Fall Fest where tourists wander the streets in masks and costumes, the bodies start piling up...horror · mystery · young-adult · lgbtq · crime · season-autumn · fiction · contemporary · law-enforcement · children-books -
![Academy of Outcasts by Larry Correia]()
Academy of Outcasts by Larry Correia
A brand new fantasy world from Larry Correia, bestselling author of Monster Hunter International! All Oz Carnavon ever wanted was to become a master mage. Except, to do so requires the natural gifts or wealth necessary to secure an appointment to one of the prestigious magical academies in the Core City at the center of the seven realms. Oz had neither...fantasy · fiction · high-fantasy · magic · epic · action-adventure · progression-fantasy · litrpg · aliens · dark -
![Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward]()
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
Set in the unforgiving maw of the Rocky Mountains, Nowhere Burning is the latest harrowing novel from bestselling author Catriona Ward, perfect for fans of Riley Sager and the hit series Yellowjackets.A refuge for lost children may also be their prison.In the middle of the night, Riley pulls her younger brother Oliver out of bed, and the two run away from home...horror · fiction · mystery · season-summer · rural · crime · suspense · psychological · thriller · supernatural -
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![Holly by Adalyn Grace]()
Holly by Adalyn Grace
A mysterious and magical holiday novella set in the romantic, Gothic-infused world of Belladonna, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace...romance · fantasy · young-adult · gothic · paranormal · historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · audiobook · historical -
![All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles]()
All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles
A genre-bending Gothic mystery with a strong LGBTQIA+ romance from beloved, award-winning author KJ Charles. As the mists descend, the gaslight flickers, and terror takes its hold, two warring lovers must reconcile in time to uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House—and live to tell the tale...romance · mystery · historical · lgbtq · historical-fiction · gothic · fiction · mlm · paranormal · horror -
![Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams]()
Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams
Dungeons & Dragons meets The Wizard of Oz in this darkly hilarious romantasy adventure in which a young woman who will do anything to rescue her sister from an evil sorcerer's curse hires a ruthless assassin. They embark on a quest with a band of misfits, one of whom harbors a devastating secret that could ruin her fairy-tale ending...romance · fantasy · young-adult · sci-fi · epic · dark · grumpy-sunshine · cheerful-mc · grumpy-mc · paranormal -
![If the Dead Belong Here by Carson Faust]()
If the Dead Belong Here by Carson Faust
When a young girl goes missing, the ghosts of the past collide with her family’s secrets in a mesmerizing Native American Southern GothicWhen six-year-old Laurel Taylor vanishes without a trace, her family is left shattered, struggling to navigate the darkness of grief and unanswered questions...horror · fiction · indigenous-mc · literary-fiction · poc-mc · poc-author · mystery · unreliable-narrator · ghosts · supernatural -
![The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller]()
The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller
A witty, spectacular, and timely tale of modern-day witches waging war on the patriarchy, from fan favorite Kirsten Miller, the author of The Change and Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books.There are places on earth where nature’s powers gather. Girls raised there are bequeathed strange gifts. A few have powers so dark that they fear to use them...fantasy · horror · fiction · magical-realism · witches-wizards · paranormal · magic · supernatural · literary-fiction · gothic -
![The Night Is Not for You by Eman Quotah]()
The Night Is Not for You by Eman Quotah
From the award-winning author of The Bride at Sea comes this visceral tale of feminine rage and magical realism as Layla learns the very human pains of growing up and realizing the world isn't as safe a place as it should be. A man's body is found viciously murdered behind a neighborhood's corner store, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community in this small-town neighborhood...horror · audiobook · magical-realism · fiction · paranormal · mystery · feminism · magic · suspense · dark -
![Good Spirits by B.K. Borison]()
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
“Good Spirits is an absolute knockout. A new Borison book feels like coming home in the best way. She's truly in a league of her own.” — Hannah Grace, New York Times bestselling author of IcebreakerThe USA Today bestselling author of Business Casual, B.K...romance · fiction · contemporary · paranormal · fantasy · season-winter · female-mc · holidays · ghosts · horror -
![Herculine by Grace Byron]()
Herculine by Grace Byron
Manhunt meets Lord of the Flies in this blistering horror debut following a young trans woman after she arrives at the all-trans girl commune founded by her toxic ex-girlfriend, only to discover that demons, both literal and figurative, haunt her fellow comrades—and she's their next prey!Herculine’s narrator has demons...horror · lgbtq · fiction · wlw · trans-mc · contemporary · audiobook · cults · fundamentalism · 21st-century -
![The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis]()
The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis
Clown in a Cornfield meets The Cabin in this twisty, blood-curdling delight from acclaimed author Kat Ellis about a group of rivals stranded in an abandoned house that seems to have its own plans for them...horror · young-adult · season-autumn · haunted-places · supernatural · lgbtq · domestic-drama · fiction · gothic · ghosts -
![ITCH! by Gemma Amor]()
ITCH! by Gemma Amor
*** THE FOLK HORROR NOVEL CRAWLING UNDER YOUR SKIN FOR HALLOWEEN 2025 ***Something moves on the forest floor . . .Josie is at rock bottom. Burned out, heartbroken and recovering from an abusive relationship, she lives a haunted existence after returning to her isolated hometown on the edge of the Forest of Dean...horror · fiction · mystery · audiobook · lgbtq · folk-horror · rural · contemporary · spooky · supernatural -
![Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman]()
Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman
Perfect for fans of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, with a modern gothic twist.High in the Rocky Mountains on a secluded campus, sits Hildegard College, a celebrated institution known for its scientific innovation and its sprawling, botanical gardens. Historian Robin Quain has been awarded a residency to examine Hildegard’s impressive collection of ancient manuscripts, but she has a secret...horror · dark-academia · fiction · mystery · gothic · audiobook · fantasy · supernatural · paranormal · suspense -
![The Dravenhearst Brides by Lindsay Barrett]()
The Dravenhearst Brides by Lindsay Barrett
An heiress with a haunted past enters a marriage of convenience with a man as tempting as the devil himself…and likely just as ruinous.After a scandalous debut sent her into recluse, heiress Margaret Greenbrier returns to the Louisville social circuit for the 1933 season. Laudanum prescription or no, Margot is not crazy. She’s not... -
![A Smile Full of Lies: An Obsessed Neighbor Dark Romance by Rose James]()
A Smile Full of Lies: An Obsessed Neighbor Dark Romance by Rose James
I want someone who would burn the world down for me, and smile while it burned.Struggling writer Rosalind Cooper doesn’t need more distractions, but when her life falls apart, she ends up under the roof of her enigmatic neighbor, Philip Knox... -
![Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum]()
Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum
Immortal beloveds Rebekah and Hugh are on vacation! Against a backdrop of ongoing war, this pair of chic emotional vampires from San Francisco sets off on a queer Black Sea Cruise, eager to relax, join an orgy, and feast upon their fellow passengers’ desires and sorrows...horror · fantasy · vampires · lgbtq · fiction · paranormal · contemporary · humor · supernatural · steamy -
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![Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell]()
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell
WARNING! Under no circumstances must employees strike a deal with unauthorized personnel on Dark Enterprises property. Such behavior could result in death…or the end of the world.Colin is a low-level employee at Dark Enterprises, a Hell-like multinational corporation solving the world’s most difficult problems in deeply questionable ways...fantasy · lgbtq · fiction · urban-fantasy · low-fantasy · magic · demons · humor · horror · romantic-love -
![Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer]()
Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer
A queer woman must fight her way out of a big-box craft store run by a diabolical religious cult in this gripping survival horror novel by Jenny Kiefer, author of This Wretched ValleyThe ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay and The Ritual by Adam NevillRuth is trapped...horror · lgbtq · fiction · wlw · religion · contemporary · ghosts · supernatural · romantic-love · spirituality -
![And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun]()
And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun
She has always known the rules – never resurrect anything larger than the palm of her hand, but that was before her sister died. A chilling, compulsive exploration of sisterhood, loss, and revenge."Yun beautifully captures the haunting of family myths in this slow-burn horror. Eerie and poignant, And The River Drags Her Down will sweep readers into its relentless current...horror · young-adult · fantasy · paranormal · fiction · supernatural · mystery · asian-mc · magic · gothic -
![The Night That Finds Us All by John Hornor Jacobs]()
The Night That Finds Us All by John Hornor Jacobs
A troubled sailor. A hundred-year-old sailboat. An ancient curse. Welcome to award-winning author John Hornor Jacobs’ nautical nightmare.It begins and ends as always, with the sea. Sam Vines is struggling. Her boat is up on the hard and she doesn’t have enough money to get her back in the water...horror · fiction · supernatural · season-summer · mystery · suspense · psychological · thriller · ghosts · book -
![The Salvage by Anbara Salam]()
The Salvage by Anbara Salam
A twisting, gothic literary thriller sure to delight fans of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, The Wonder by Emma Donaghue, and The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. It is 1962, and Marta Khoury, a trailblazing marine archaeologist, has been called to Cairnroch, a small island off the east coast of Scotland...horror · lgbtq · wlw · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · gothic · mystery · suspense · nautical -
![Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason]()
Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason
As the snow falls, the haunting begins... Get ready for the most gripping cosy murder mystery debut of the year.'A delightfully engaging debut, starring one of the most amusing and unusual sleuths I’ve come across. Best enjoyed with a nice glass of sherry!' Tess GerritsenA grand country estate...mystery · fiction · crime · cozy · killer · spooky · suspense · female-author · supernatural · horror -
![Asylum: The Wellard Asylum Series by J.S. Cannon]()
Asylum: The Wellard Asylum Series by J.S. Cannon
In a world full of monsters, I’m the insane one.A simmering rage lies just beneath the surface, one that can’t be controlled.The voice in my head protects me, unleashing quick death, unhinged brutality.One fateful night three years ago, I became the judge, jury, and executioner.Losing my freedom when all I wanted was to escape.Now, I’m locked away...psychological · horror · steamy · thriller · suspense · mystery · fiction · serial-killers · crime · romantic-love -
![IMMERSED by Gale Ian Tate]()
IMMERSED by Gale Ian Tate
Love at first death. Obsession at every resurrection.Levi Mercer wanted to honor his brother's memory with a charity stream. The VR horror game was supposed to last a few hours. Instead, it became an endless nightmare where the monsters are predictable, but the man hunting him is not.Death resets the scenario but not his killer's growing obsession...romance · mlm · paranormal · sci-fi · supernatural · lgbtq · monsters · sexual-assault · survival · suicide -
![The Moan Of Hallows' Eve: Three Women. One House. An Erotic Curse Through Time. by Georgia Sands]()
The Moan Of Hallows' Eve: Three Women. One House. An Erotic Curse Through Time. by Georgia Sands
In this haunting collection, Georgia Sands delivers three interlocked tales of sensual horror — each set in a different year, on Halloween night, each centered around one cursed location that refuses to forget the women it Margaret Kissinger, recently divorced, unpacks her new home, only to find a Ouija board waiting in the basement.. -
![The Shadow of Breninsol by Charlotte Brown]()
The Shadow of Breninsol by Charlotte Brown
For more than a mortal’s lifetime, she had striven to make the king’s line pay. Magic is dead in the kingdom of Solas. Or that’s what people thought.The line of kings had massacred the witches and now the Sol King rules supreme from his party palace in the capital, Breninsol...fantasy · witches-wizards · magic · immortality · political-intrigue · female-mc · fae · royalty · horror · fiction -
![Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell]()
Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell
In this queer retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic gothic story, Rappaccini’s Daughter, a young woman is lured to a lush estate owned by a botanist who might be hiding dark secrets. Cordelia Beecher is on the run. In search of her missing brother Edward, she has fled the oppressive charity school she was raised in, desperate to find the only family she knows...horror · gothic · wlw · lgbtq · retellings · fantasy · fiction · historical-fiction · dark · romantic-love -
![Higher Magic by Courtney Floyd]()
Higher Magic by Courtney Floyd
"Higher Magic is my catnip. By what dark arts I know not, Floyd has summoned up a wonderful wizard-grad-school slice-of-life, replete with organizing, romance, anxiety, camaraderie, and courage...fantasy · dark-academia · witches-wizards · fiction · cozy · magic · season-autumn · humor · ghosts · contemporary -
![It Knows Your Name by Louise Avryne]()
It Knows Your Name by Louise Avryne
The storm isn’t just weather.It’s hunting.When the highway floods, the isolated roadhouse in the middle of nowhere Western Australia is the last place to hide. Out here in the bush, there’s nowhere else to go. Corin knows better than to open the door. But strangers always do. They walk in, dripping wet, thinking they’ve found safety.They haven’t.Because the storm whispers names... -
![The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke]()
The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke
Helena Scheuberin should be doing what every other young wife is keeping house, supporting her husband, bearing his children. But when her husband's footman, Leopold, with whom she was having an affair, is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch... -
