7 Best Ghost Books To Read In 2025

There’s a unique thrill in reading a truly great ghost book—that delicious mix of curiosity, fear, and imagination. Ghost stories fascinate us because they illuminate what we fear most: the unknown, the unseen, the unfinished. Whether rooted in psychological dread or full-blown supernatural terror, the best ghost novels leave an imprint long after the final page.

Below is a list of 7 best ghost books to read in 2025. Each one is chosen for its storytelling, emotional depth, and ability to keep you turning pages with the lights firmly on.

1. The Ghost Bride — Yangsze Choo

Yangsze Choo brings Chinese afterlife mythology vividly to life in The Ghost Bride. In 1890s Malaysia, Li Lan receives a marriage proposal—from the family of a deceased young man. What begins as a cultural obligation soon leads her into the ghost realm, where spirits cling to earthly desires and hidden dangers lurk in every shadow. The novel is not just a supernatural mystery but also a journey of self-identity, personal freedom, and forbidden love. With lush detail, romance, and eerie suspense, Choo offers a fresh perspective on haunting—one rooted in tradition, spiritual belief, and the deep ties between the living and the dead.

2. The Woman in Black — Susan Hill

Susan Hill revitalizes the traditional gothic haunting with chilling precision in The Woman in Black. The story centers on solicitor Arthur Kipps, who travels to the remote Eel Marsh House to settle an estate, only to encounter a malevolent figure dressed in black. The novel’s strength lies in its stark simplicity—isolated marshes, creaking floors, and a ghost whose presence signals inevitable tragedy. Hill writes with classic restraint, allowing dread to seep into every page without relying on gore or shock. It’s a haunting exploration of mourning, revenge, and the eerie persistence of trauma that refuses to be buried—even in death.

3. The Shining — Stephen King

Stephen King’s The Shining is a terrifying fusion of psychological horror and supernatural menace. Struggling writer Jack Torrance takes a winter caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, the hotel’s malicious spirits prey on his weaknesses—addiction, anger, and desperation—turning him violently against his own family. King expertly builds paranoia and dread as young Danny Torrance, gifted with psychic “shining,” becomes the ghosts’ main target. What makes this story unforgettable is its emotional depth: it’s as much about a family crumbling under pressure as it is about a haunted hotel that refuses to release its guests.

4. The Turn of the Screw — Henry James

Henry James delivers a haunting narrative steeped in uncertainty, making The Turn of the Screw a cornerstone of supernatural fiction. The story follows an unnamed governess tasked with caring for two enigmatic children in a remote English estate. She soon believes they are being corrupted by the ghosts of former servants. James masterfully manipulates ambiguity—are the children possessed, or is the governess losing her grip on reality? This tension forces readers to become investigators themselves. With its psychological nuance and eerie atmosphere, the novella remains a chilling study of repression, innocence, and how the mind can conjure horrors more potent than any ghost.

5. Ghost Story — Peter Straub

Peter Straub’s Ghost Story is an epic, layered tale about four elderly men who share frightening stories to cope with a terrible event from their past. When a vengeful supernatural entity returns to punish them, the boundary between fiction and reality shatters. The novel explores guilt, the persistence of trauma, and how forgotten sins can rise from the grave. Straub combines folklore, suspense, and emotional weight, delivering multiple storylines that converge in a gripping confrontation with forces beyond comprehension. A true classic for readers who want a haunting experience that spans generations and reveals the terrifying consequences of secrets long buried.

6. The Graveyard Book — Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book offers a profoundly unique take on the ghost story—one full of heart, wonder, and eerie magic. The protagonist, Bod Owens, is raised in a cemetery by ghosts after escaping a tragic attack. Gaiman blends adventure, coming-of-age storytelling, and charming supernatural elements to explore identity, friendship, and courage. Although the book features graveyards, spirits, and lurking dangers, its tone remains warm and hopeful. It shows that the afterlife can hold love as much as fear. Perfect for teens and adults alike, this enchanting novel reminds us that sometimes the living world can be far scarier than the dead.

7. The Little Stranger — Sarah Waters

Set in post-war England, Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger is a slow-burn ghost story that elegantly weaves psychological tension into class-based drama. Doctor Faraday becomes increasingly involved with the aristocratic Ayres family, whose ancestral estate is crumbling both physically and spiritually. Mysterious noises, scorch marks, and disturbing incidents hint at an unseen force feeding off the family’s decline. Waters brilliantly keeps readers questioning whether the haunting is supernatural—or a manifestation of guilt, grief, and social decay. The novel delivers chilling suspense, haunting imagery, and a devastating final interpretation that stays with you long after you close the book.

Conclusion

Haunted houses, restless spirits, cursed family legacies—ghost stories help us confront the mysteries we cannot explain. The 7 best ghost books to read above offer not just chills, but rich storytelling that examines grief, guilt, trauma, and the fragile boundary between the living and the dead.

When we close a truly great ghost novel, we don’t leave it behind.

We carry the haunting with us—like a whisper in the dark.