Horror Books With Plot Twists

Greetings to all my fellow suspense seekers and fans of the unexpected. If your pulse quickens at the thought of horror books with plot twists, then you're in for a treat. There's a unique kind of fascination that comes from diving headfirst into a chilling narrative, only to have the rug yanked from beneath your feet with a shocking plot twist. You're lured in by a gripping story, only to be thrust into a completely different, often darker and more complex universe.

These are the novels that ensnare us in their intricate webs, playing with our perceptions and leading us down meandering paths of suspense. Think about the thrill that comes from a psychological thriller that skillfully peels back layer after layer, revealing a character's dark past, or the allure of a thrilling page turner that artfully discloses a labyrinth of dark secrets. The plot twist, the unforeseen turn in the tale, is what makes these stories stand out from the rest.

Horror Books With Plot Twists: The 'Scream' of the Crop

The Bright Lands

by John Fram

In the remote Texas haven of Bentley, fervor for football coexists with a labyrinth of hidden truths. When the town's revered quarterback, Dylan Whitley, mysteriously vanishes, a shroud of terror descends upon the community. Joel, Dylan's sibling who happens to be gay and cloaked in his own secrets, is firmly convinced that this puzzling event isn't as straightforward as it seems. Similarly, Starsha Clark, the steadfast deputy of the local Sheriff, harbors suspicions. As they delve deeper into their quest for truth, they stumble upon a chilling revelation connected to a much-whispered urban myth, a story traded in hushed tones amongst the testosterone-fueled banter of locker rooms and the echoing cheers of the bleachers.

With Teeth

by Brian Keene

A band of middle-aged accomplices venture into the woodland, expecting a straightforward mission. Their goal? To establish an illicit operation promising to erase their fiscal woes. As the veil of evening descends, however, an unexpected peril looms in the encroaching shadows. A creature that is not just swift and savage, but also equipped with a fearsome dental arsenal, emerges. In the deceptive tranquility of the forest, their simple plan rapidly spirals into a nightmare as they grapple with this fierce nocturnal terror.

The Lesser Dead

by Christopher Buehlman

We're plunged into the gritty and perilous realm of New York City circa 1978 - a fitting abode for the living and a harsh resting place for the dead. Joey Peacock, a vampire caught eternally in adolescence for four decades, thrives in this urban chaos, indulging in nocturnal dalliances and daylight slumbers in the city's eerie subterranean maze.

Manhattan's subway system serves as his personal realm and expressway, facilitating his relentless hunting across the city - from unsuspecting victims in Central Park's Sheep Meadow, to oblivious passengers in cabs, and even those entranced by television in their own homes. Life, or rather unlife, is a breeze until his world is disrupted by a disturbing sight in his cherished subway: children with gleaming eyes, who appear to be of his kind, yet startlingly different.

This chilling revelation ushers in a new era of insecurity for the subway's undead inhabitants, hinting at a disquieting danger not only for them, but for all humanity.

The Last House on Needless Street

by Catriona Ward

At the wild frontier of Washington's dense forests, an inconspicuous house sits boarded up at the end of a desolate street, home to an unusual trio. Here resides a young girl, imprisoned within the confines of the house, haunted by a past event. Sharing this somber dwelling is a man, who drowns his memory lapses in solitary drinking sessions in front of his TV. Completing the peculiar household is a house cat, fond of languid snoozes and perusing the Bible.

An ominous secret ties this family together, yet their tranquil existence is threatened when a fresh face takes residence next door. The arrival of this newcomer could dredge up something hidden amidst the birch trees, setting off a chain of haunting events that could envelop them all.

The Wasp Factory

by Iain Banks

Barely sixteen, Frank's peculiarities are far from trivial:

In a span of three years, he has a chilling tally of three murders - first was Blyth, next his younger brother Paul, each met their end for distinct and profoundly personal reasons, and then, almost whimsically, his young cousin Esmerelda.

But that grim chapter in Frank's life is closed. He hasn't claimed a life in years and has no plans to return to those violent tendencies. According to him, it was merely a disturbing phase he was navigating through.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

by Iain Reid

Prepare to dive into a chilling vortex of suspense and intrigue in Iain Reid's "I'm Thinking of Ending Things". Fear will seep in, but the source will remain elusive, adding to the tantalizing dread.

The story revolves around a woman trapped in a vortex of thoughts that persistently hint at an end, a conclusion. Her connection with Jake, intense and unusual, has grown over the past month, despite his ordinary demeanor. She is preparing to meet his parents for the first time, all while wrestling with thoughts of severing ties.

Jake once shared a profound thought - the authenticity of an idea often rings truer than an action. And so, she grapples with a thought she can't shake off: a longing to escape, to not be present. This unsettling thought, "I'm thinking of ending things", reverberates through her mind, driving the narrative of this disquieting tale.

The Girl With All The Gifts

by M.R. Carey

M.R. Carey's gripping novel, "The Girl With All The Gifts", unfolds in a world left in shambles, where a young girl's affable nature and propensity to love could be either humanity's salvation or its downfall.

Melanie, the central figure, is no ordinary girl. Acknowledged as a "little genius" by Dr. Caldwell, she lives a life far from typical. Each day, she's collected from her cell for class, confined to a wheelchair by two assistants, under the vigilant watch of a gun-toting Sergeant. She discerns their apparent disdain for her, even though she jests about not biting, a humor they fail to appreciate.

Home Before Dark

by Riley Sager

A quarter-century back, young Maggie Holt, along with her parents, made their home in a grand Victorian estate nestled in Vermont's woods, Baneberry Hall. Their stay was short-lived as they deserted it three weeks later under the cover of darkness. Maggie's father chronicled their experiences in a memoir, "House of Horrors", detailing spectral occurrences and malevolent entities, a narrative that garnered global attention, inviting both fascination and skepticism.

As an adult, Maggie, who was too small to recall any of the alleged horrors, discounts her father's eerie claims, staunchly dismissing the existence of ghosts. However, when she inherits Baneberry Hall following his demise and ventures back to revamp and sell the estate, her return is anything but welcomed. The local populace remains resentful of their town's infamy, and figures from "House of Horrors" lurk ominously.

Further stirring unease is the Hall itself, echoing with disconcerting whispers from its past. As Maggie begins to encounter bizarre happenings straight out of her father's memoir, she's compelled to delve into the estate's ominous history, challenging her staunch skepticism and unraveling unsettling truths.

I Am Legend

by Richard Matheson

We find Robert Neville as Earth's last man standing. Yet, he is far from solitary. Every other being - men, women, and children - has morphed into bloodthirsty vampires, each with an insatiable craving for Neville's blood.

During daylight, Neville takes on the role of the predator, tracking the dormant undead through the forsaken remnants of a once bustling civilization. As nightfall descends, he finds refuge in his fortified abode, longing for the break of dawn.

The chilling question that persists - how long can a single individual endure in a world dominated by vampires?

Shutter Island

by Dennis Lehane

In Dennis Lehane's chilling novel "Shutter Island", US Marshal Teddy Daniels finds himself on the eerie grounds of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, located on Shutter Island, on the trail of an escaped murderer, Rachel Solando.

As a deadly storm threatens the island, Teddy's investigation takes on unexpected turns, bringing forth a surge of bewildering questions. How did a woman, barefooted, manage to flee from a sealed room? Who is leading them on this cryptic trail of codes? And what secrets does Ward C really hold?

The nearer Teddy inches to unraveling the truth, the more it tends to slip through his fingers. With each passing moment, he is confronted with the unsettling realization that he may be forever trapped on Shutter Island, as someone seems hell-bent on pushing him over the brink of sanity.

The Resurrectionist

by Wrath James White

Dale McCarthy possesses a remarkable, if not downright supernatural ability: he can raise the dead. However, those he revives retain no memory of their demise. Yet, not all miracles are divine, and healers aren't always saints.

From the moment Dale settles in as her new neighbor, Sarah Lincoln finds herself plagued by terrifying dreams. She dreams of her and her husband being ruthlessly killed in their sleep, a nightmare that haunts her repeatedly, night after sleepless night. Waking up to bloodied sheets and ominous stains on her mattress doesn't help. Despite her desperate pleas, no one seems willing to entertain her fears, leaving her with the chilling realization that she must protect herself from a murder that seems inevitable. Yet again.

Sharp Objects

by Gillian Flynn

Camille Preaker, a journalist who, after a stint in a psychiatric ward, finds herself drawn back to her claustrophobic hometown to report on the chilling murders of two young girls. The homecoming is far from pleasant: she has to navigate her strained relationship with her neurotic, hypochondriac mother, and a teenage half-sister whose striking beauty and unsettling influence over the town she barely knows.

Residing in her childhood room within the family's sprawling Victorian estate, Camille discovers a disturbing connection with the victims, an affinity that pushes her too close to the edge. Haunted by personal demons, she must delve into the labyrinth of her own traumatic history to make sense of the story, a task that might just be the key to her survival in this unwelcoming homecoming.

The Silent Patient

by Alex Michaelides

In Alex Michaelides debut novel "The Silent Patient", Alicia Berenson, a renowned artist with a seemingly enviable life, resides in a luxurious London abode alongside her fashion photographer husband, Gabriel. However, this picture-perfect facade shatters one fateful night when Gabriel returns home late, only to be shot in the face five times by Alicia, who from that point on, falls into a self-imposed silence.

Her silence, following what appears to be a domestic catastrophe, morphs it into a grand enigma that piques public interest and thrusts Alicia into a realm of infamy. Amidst the growing frenzy, the value of her artwork soars as she, the enigmatic silent patient, is concealed within the Grove, a secure forensic facility nestled in North London.

Enter criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber who has long sought the chance to work with Alicia. Driven by his determination to break her silence and decode the mystery behind her violent act, he embarks on a winding journey that delves not only into Alicia's psyche but his own motivations, leading him on a truth-seeking mission that teeters on the brink of consuming him entirely.

We Were Liars

by E. Lockhart

In E. Lockhart's gripping novel "We Were Liars," we're plunged into an intricate world of prestige, secrets, and the dark underbelly of friendship. The story revolves around an illustrious family that radiates beauty and distinction, residing on their private island near Martha's Vineyard. Here, we meet an intellectually gifted yet troubled girl and her best friend, a boy brimming with passion and political fervor. Along with two cousins, they form a tight-knit quartet known as the Liars. Their friendship, however, soon takes a sinister turn as it spirals towards destruction. Amidst the chaos, a revolution is sparked, an accident occurs, and a secret is buried, shrouding everything in layers of deception. Amid these lies, genuine love tries to persist, fighting its way towards the one thing that can set everything right: the truth.

The Darkest Corners

by Kara Thomas

In the obscure depths of Fayette, Pennsylvania, untold secrets lie. Tessa, having left her small hometown at the tender age of nine, has continuously strived to forget the chilling events of that final summer. Her bond with Callie, her childhood confidant, became marked by a pact of silence about the horrors they'd witnessed - a silence persisting through a haunting trial, and solidifying thereafter.

Yet, despite her escape, Tessa finds herself plagued by persistent mysteries that refuse to coalesce. Now, she's compelled to revisit her old haunts - to confront Wyatt Stokes, ensnared on death row; to grieve for Lori Cawley, Callie's departed cousin; and to engage with one more enigma potentially concealing the stark truth. As Tessa inches towards the heart of the real events, she finds herself nearing a murderer - and this occasion, flight may not be an effortless option.

Luckiest Girl Alive

by Jessica Knoll

Behind the idyllic facade of Ani FaNelli's existence - a prestigious job at a high-profile magazine, a stunning figure complemented by a stylish wardrobe, and a dashing fiancé from an aristocratic lineage - there exists a carefully constructed lie. Ani's polished persona serves as her shield, warding off the unsavoury shadows of a past she would rather forget.

As her impending nuptials approach, a documentary producer extends an invitation to Ani to discuss the chilling event from her adolescence at the esteemed Bradley School. Resolute in her goal to quell the persistent murmurings of doubt and accusation, Ani is faced with a formidable choice, where utter transparency could shatter the flawless existence she meticulously constructed.

"Luckiest Girl Alive" unveils a profound exploration of the pervasive yearning to conform and the excruciating pressure many women face to meet society's expectations of perfection. With a distinct voice and an unexpected twist, the narrative presents Ani FaNelli as a complex and fragile protagonist - a woman whose abrasive exterior guards a truth potent enough to astonish, shock, and intrigue you. Fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will thrill at this "perfect page-turner" (People)

The Wife Between Us

by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Dive into this novel, and you'll soon find your mind clouded with a cat and mouse game of presumptions. You might perceive the narrative as a tale of an envious ex-wife, tormented by her successor - a youthful, enchanting woman on the brink of wedding the man they both cherished. You might convince yourself that you comprehend the convoluted dynamics of this troubled love triad. But hold your judgement - nothing is as it seems.

"The Wife Between Us", a compelling concoction by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, uncovers the hidden intricacies within a seemingly perfect marriage, revealing the perilous realities we often disregard in the pursuit of love. So, as you navigate through this book, remember to scrutinize the subtext and sift through the deceptions.

There's Something Terribly Wrong With My Son

by Christopher Maxim

Caught in the throes of single fatherhood, a man finds himself confronting the alarming peculiarities of his four-month-old son. The infant never sheds a tear, displays any semblance of emotion, nor succumbs to sleep. Meanwhile, unsettling supernatural occurrences begin to escalate within their shared living space, pushing the father to seek assistance and an explanation for his son's unnerving behavior.

The Last Gasp: Concluding Our Dive into Horror Books With Plot Twists

As we bid adieu to this literary roller coaster of shocking plot twists, let's remember the mesmerizing power these narratives wield. They don't merely tell stories; they invite us to dance with the uncanny, the unthinkable, to dare us to imagine the unimaginable. So keep reading, keep turning those pages, and keep seeking out those thrilling page-turners. And remember, in the world of horror, nothing is ever as it seems. We'll meet again on the other side of the next plot twist, hopefully with our wits still about us. Enjoy the journey, dear readers. Enjoy the thrill of the unexpected.

Related Posts

If you love horror fiction you might enjoy our list of medieval horror books.

Author
Chris Beach

Hi, I'm Chris. My love of books started when I was a child visiting libraries with my Dad. The smell and feel of old pages still sparks something within me that can I can only express as an emotional attachment to books. Two decades later this evolved into a passion for collecting rare books, particularly 17th century early-English literature, and rare children's books. I believe every book has its own story and each one reveals something new about the world we live in.
Read more...

Blog Categories

Author Profiles

Book Events

Book Lovers

New Release Books

Follow Us