What is the scariest book you ever read, as an adult?

[Daleann]

I've been reading for many, many years. Mostly crimes/mystery,etc. Every now and then I like to get my pulse racing and frightened out of my mind with horror books. It has been years since I've found a good scary book where after you read it you have to leave the lights on. The last one I read was "The Shining". John Saul and Dean Koontz have never been scary to me. What are some of the scariest books you've read?

Thanks

[Fran]

Tess Gerritson scares the living daylights out of me

[StephenKingman]

The Stand and The Shining and Geralds Game, all by King, scared the living daylights out of me, all through the authors inimitable habit of luring the reader into a false sense of security and then pulling the rug under your feet.

The Stand, scene with the crow in the hotel, probably the scariest thing i have ever read.

[Sophius]

Being only 14, I am uncertain as to whether my opinionn would be rendered viable to this discussion, however I will still state the scariest book I have read. I don't scare easy, and the only books that have managed to creep me out even by a small margin are all Stephen King books. Those would be: Salem's Lot, It, and Desperation.

There is something I have been wondering. Do books become scarier as you get older, or is it pretty much the same throughout your life. I had heard some guy talking about how different his expiriences with Pet Semmatary were when reading it as a teenager and as an adult, which is how I orginally concieved this supposition.

Although, I have always loved horror. I remember being fascinated with it all the way back to two years old. So I probably just have a higher tolerance.

[Fran]

Being only 14, I am uncertain as to whether my opinionn would be rendered viable to this discussion, however I will still state the scariest book I have read. I don't scare easy, and the only books that have managed to creep me out even by a small margin are all Stephen King books. Those would be: Salem's Lot, It, and Desperation.

There is something I have been wondering. Do books become scarier as you get older, or is it pretty much the same throughout your life. I had heard some guy talking about how different his expiriences with Pet Semmatary were when reading it as a teenager and as an adult, which is how I orginally concieved this supposition.

Although, I have always loved horror. I remember being fascinated with it all the way back to two years old. So I probably just have a higher tolerance.

We're delighted to have your opinions especially of younger readers ... it gives us a bit of hope for the future to know that there are yougn bookworms out there.
As for scary books ... I think probably different things scare you as you get older. Personally it's not the 'big monsters' that scare me now but the depths of depravity to which human being can decend.

[StephenKingman]

There is something I have been wondering. Do books become scarier as you get older, or is it pretty much the same throughout your life. I had heard some guy talking about how different his expiriences with Pet Semmatary were when reading it as a teenager and as an adult, which is how I orginally concieved this supposition.

The bogeyman in the closet and the big bad monster under the bed fade away for most people as you get older and you realise that its people that are the scariest of all. Having said that, with regards to books getting scarier, i personally think it depends very much on the author- I have read a few King books at 13 yrs old that didnt scare me at all, whereas a so-called teenage horror book can still chill the reader if it is written with skill and attention. It depends very much on the quality of the writing.

[Addict82]

Tess Gerritson scares the living daylights out of me

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I completely and absolutey agree with you Fran Tess Gerritson scared the living day lights out of me too. I had nightmares up till I finished her book. Got to admit she's brilliant tho. Could u maybe suggest any other really scary horror books? Thanks

[YellowButterfly85]

Intensity or Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz. Pretty scary stuff.

[Fran]

Tess Gerritson scares the living daylights out of me

.
I completely and absolutey agree with you Fran Tess Gerritson scared the living day lights out of me too. I had nightmares up till I finished her book. Got to admit she's brilliant tho. Could u maybe suggest any other really scary horror books? Thanks

Have you read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson?
Fantastic trilogy & definitely got my heart rate up a few notches I can tell you.

[Hazelrah]

I've never read anything by Tess Gerritson. Any particular book that you find scary? I need a new sample for my Kindle...

-Shane

[Zekes]

I like to read Goosebumps books for it is scary and exciting to read.

[Jp1978]

Coraline by Neil Gaiman scared me. It's a children's book so it probably won't faze horror fans but it is very well written.

[Fran]

I've never read anything by Tess Gerritson. Any particular book that you find scary? I need a new sample for my Kindle...

-Shane

Here my list with my rating out of 10:

Body Double 9
The Apprentice 9
The Mephisto Club 9
The Bone Garden 9
Bloodstream 8
The Sinner 8
Vanish 8
The Surgeon 8
Life Support 8
Call after Midnight 7
Harvest 7

Enjoy

[jeffnc]

I'd have to say Pet Sematary.

[Tip the Bottle]

Hmmm....I'm assuming you mean in horror but I will say the book The Hot Zone scared the crap out of me, it was about the Ebola virus. Other than that I would say House of Leaves was a pretty creepy read. I all truthfulness I don't really scare from reading.