Literary Horror

[Andy_C]

Hi all,

I'm looking for recommendations of any literary horror novels. What I mean by this is that most of the horror I come across (and enjoy) is written in a particularly efficient way that pays a lot of attention to the main elements of craft and tends to foreground plot ahead of other aspects.

2 examples off the top of my head of 'literary' writers writing in a genre: Ray Bradbury and Ursula K. Le Guin (both writing predominantly in the sci-fi field). I wonder if there are any comparable efforts made in the horror genre. Preferably as contemporary as possible.

I hope some of you can help me with this.

Cheers!

[Ben Moore]

Not sure if you’re after supernatural horror or psychological horror but I really enjoyed Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lecter books starting with Red Dragon.

They’re excellently written and crafted but truly horrifying!

[Andy_C]

Yes I have read those. Was a long time ago, though, so might be worth revisiting them. Thanks for the reminder!

[books_andpoetrii]

Lock Every Door
The Whisper Man

[Andy_C]

Lock Every Door
The Whisper Man

Thanks! Those two look very good, I'll check them out...

[Browneh]

"The Chalk Man" by C. J. Tudor
Any book written by Joe Hill
"The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill

All these books are fantastic, if you've read any of the above, I have plenty more suggestions!

[Andy_C]

"The Chalk Man" by C. J. Tudor
Any book written by Joe Hill
"The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill

All these books are fantastic, if you've read any of the above, I have plenty more suggestions!

I loved NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, but can't get on with his other stuff. I wouldn't call him literary, either. I think he's very much a writer of the genre.

I also love Susan Hill's literary novellas, but find that her 'ghost stories' are quite Victorian in style, which I'm not too fond of.

I'll check out C. J. Tudor. Thanks immensely for these suggestions!

[Browneh]

"The Chalk Man" by C. J. Tudor
Any book written by Joe Hill
"The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill

All these books are fantastic, if you've read any of the above, I have plenty more suggestions!

I loved NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, but can't get on with his other stuff. I wouldn't call him literary, either. I think he's very much a writer of the genre.

I also love Susan Hill's literary novellas, but find that her 'ghost stories' are quite Victorian in style, which I'm not too fond of.

I'll check out C. J. Tudor. Thanks immensely for these suggestions!

You are so welcome!

Absolutely agree on the Joe Hill comment. I would say that Susan Hill definitely has the Victorian theme; I personally really enjoy that aspect but I can definitely understand why some people wouldn't.

C.J.Tudor is excellent, I will be purchasing a few more of his books.

[Andy_C]

"The Chalk Man" by C. J. Tudor
Any book written by Joe Hill
"The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill

All these books are fantastic, if you've read any of the above, I have plenty more suggestions!

I loved NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, but can't get on with his other stuff. I wouldn't call him literary, either. I think he's very much a writer of the genre.

I also love Susan Hill's literary novellas, but find that her 'ghost stories' are quite Victorian in style, which I'm not too fond of.

I'll check out C. J. Tudor. Thanks immensely for these suggestions!

You are so welcome!

Absolutely agree on the Joe Hill comment. I would say that Susan Hill definitely has the Victorian theme; I personally really enjoy that aspect but I can definitely understand why some people wouldn't.

C.J.Tudor is excellent, I will be purchasing a few more of his books.

What I would say about Susan Hill is that she can do absolutely anything! She has quite a decent crime series, as well.

[Browneh]

What I would say about Susan Hill is that she can do absolutely anything! She has quite a decent crime series, as well.

I haven't actually heard that she's done a crime series, I'll definitely check it out so thank you

[Andy_C]

I haven't actually heard that she's done a crime series, I'll definitely check it out so thank you

It's the Simon Serrailler series. Tackles some interesting themes...

[Browneh]

I haven't actually heard that she's done a crime series, I'll definitely check it out so thank you

It's the Simon Serrailler series. Tackles some interesting themes...

Just had a quick google... they actually sound pretty good! I like how they're all titled in the same way too. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Violet Devreaux]

You might enjoy the horror short story collections that Joyce Carol Oates writes.