The 25 Best Horror Books of the Last Decade - Vulture

Over the course of the past ten years, horror literature has experienced a renaissance, with authors pushing boundaries, fusing genres, and delivering fresh nightmares that last long after the final page. The last ten years have provided readers with some of the most chilling and original works in the genre, including psychological terrors, supernatural hauntings, and visceral body horror. Whether you're a longtime horror fan or a newcomer looking for a scare, this list compiles the 25 best horror books of the last decade—each one a standout in its own right.

1. The Only Good Indians (2020) – Stephen Graham Jones
A masterful blend of supernatural horror and social commentary, Jones’ novel follows four Blackfeet men haunted by a traumatic elk hunt from their youth. The vengeful spirit of a slain elk mother pursues them in a tale that’s as much about guilt and cultural identity as it is about terror.
2. Mexican Gothic (2020) – Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This gothic horror novel takes place in Mexico in the 1950s and follows socialite Noem Taboada as she investigates her cousin's claims that the family mansion of her husband is poisoning her. A slow-burning, atmospheric nightmare with a shocking twist.
3. The Hunger (2018) – Alma Katsu
A historical horror reimagining of the Donner Party’s doomed expedition, Katsu infuses the real-life tragedy with supernatural dread. Cannibalism is the least of their worries when something far more sinister stalks them.
4. The Fisherman (2016) – John Langan
A cosmic horror masterpiece, this novel follows two grieving widowers who embark on a fishing trip that leads them to an ancient evil. Langan’s layered storytelling and eerie atmosphere make this a modern Lovecraftian classic.
5. House of Leaves (2000, but gained cult status in the 2010s) – Mark Z. Danielewski
Though published earlier, House of Leaves became a defining horror experience in the 2010s. It's a mind-boggling metafictional nightmare about a house that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, a labyrinthine narrative.

6. The Silent Patient (2019) – Alex Michaelides
A psychological horror-thriller about a woman who shoots her husband and then refuses to speak. The mystery unfolds in disturbing layers, making it one of the most unsettling reads of the decade.
7. Bird Box (2014) – Josh Malerman
Before it was a Netflix sensation, Bird Box was a terrifying novel about a world where unseen entities drive people to madness if they look at them. Malerman’s tense, claustrophobic storytelling makes this a standout.
8. The Troop (2014) – Nick Cutter
A group of Boy Scouts on a remote island encounter a horrifying parasitic infection. This is one of the most disturbing books of the decade due to Cutter's visceral body horror and unrelenting tension. 9. A Head Full of Ghosts (2015) – Paul Tremblay
A chilling possession story that blurs the line between mental illness and the supernatural. Tremblay’s unreliable narration and ambiguous ending leave readers questioning what was real.
10. The Luminous Dead (2019) – Caitlin Starling
A psychological horror novel set in the claustrophobic depths of a cave system. As something unseen lurks in the darkness, a caver and her enigmatic handler engage in a tense battle of wills.

11. Victor LaValle's 2017 film The Changeling A contemporary dark fairy tale about a man's search for his wife after she does something horrible. LaValle blends horror, fantasy, and social commentary into a haunting narrative.
12. Experimental Film (2015) – Gemma Files
a horror novel about a film historian who finds a cursed silent film linked to a bad person. Files’ deep knowledge of cinema and folklore makes this a uniquely terrifying read.
13. My Best Friend’s Exorcism (2016) – Grady Hendrix
A nostalgic, ’80s-set horror-comedy about two best friends facing a demonic possession. Hendrix balances humor and horror perfectly, making it both fun and frightening.
14. The Cabin at the End of the World (2018) – Paul Tremblay
A home invasion story with apocalyptic stakes, Tremblay’s novel forces a family to make an impossible choice. You won't know what to make of the ending for days.

15. Scott Hawkins' The Library at Mount Char (2016) A dark fantasy-horror hybrid about a group of adopted siblings raised by a god-like figure with a sinister library. Brutal, bizarre, and utterly original.
16. Thomas Olde Heuvelt's Hex (2016) A modern witch story where a town is cursed by the ghost of a 17th-century woman whose eyes and mouth are sewn shut. When the townspeople's fear turns into exploitation, the horror grows.

17. Nick Cutter's (2015) film The Deep A claustrophobic underwater horror about a plague-stricken world where a team of scientists discovers something far worse in the depths of the ocean.
18. Jac Jemc's The Grip of It (2017) A haunted house story where the terror is as much psychological as it is supernatural. A couple’s new home begins to warp their sense of reality in unsettling ways.
19. The Twisted Ones (2019) – T. Kingfisher
A folk horror novel about a woman cleaning out the house of her late grandmother, who was a hoarder, and finding a terrifying secret hidden in the woods. Kingfisher’s blend of humor and horror makes this a standout.
20. Come Closer (2003, but widely read in the 2010s) – Sara Gran
A short, sharp possession story about a woman who may or may not be losing her mind to a demon. Gran’s tight prose makes every sentence unsettling.
21. The Ritual (2011) – Adam Nevill
A group of hikers in Scandinavia encounter an ancient evil in the woods. Nevill’s atmospheric dread and gruesome imagery make this a must-read for folk horror fans.
22. The Hollow Places (2020) – T. Kingfisher
In the oddities museum run by her uncle, a woman finds a door that leads to another dimension. A terrifying journey into a world where absolutely nothing is right follows. 23. The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All (2013) – Laird Barron
a collection of cosmic horror tales that demonstrate Barron's ability to combine existential dread, horror, and noir. 24. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires (2020) – Grady Hendrix
A darkly comedic horror novel about a book club that takes on a new member who may be a vampire and is charming but sinister. Hendrix’s mix of humor and horror is pitch-perfect.
25. Night Film (2013) – Marisha Pessl
A psychological thriller-horror about a journalist investigating the death of a reclusive horror filmmaker’s daughter. The line between reality and nightmare blurs in this gripping read.