👻 Horror · United States
Best Horror Books from United States
Horror is the literature of fear — not the cheap fear of a jump scare, but the sustained, atmospheric dread that a great horror novel can maintain for hundreds of pages, the uncanny sense that something is wrong with the world in ways that cannot be precisely named. United States has produced some of the most internationally recognised works in horror, with titles that have appeared on major prize lists and critical surveys worldwide. This page ranks the best horror from United States by editorial consensus.
#1
horror
Bird Box
Josh Malerman· 2014
★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score55/100
#2
literary-fiction
The Gunslinger
Stephen King· 1976
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#3
literary-fiction
Rose Madder
Stephen King· 1995
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#4
literary-fiction
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe in Five Volumes
Edgar Allan Poe· 1903
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
#5
![Cover of Tales of Mystery and Imagination [29 stories]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11841090-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Tales of Mystery and Imagination [29 stories]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1902
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
#6
literary-fiction
Great American Short Stories
Wallace Stegner· 1957
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#7
![Cover of Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe [21 stories, 34 poems]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11763627-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe [21 stories, 34 poems]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1940
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#8
literary-fiction
Nouvelles histoires extraordinaires (Berenice / Black Cat / Cask of Amontillado / Colloquy of Monos and Una / Conversation of Eiros and Charmi / Devil in the Belfry / Fall of the House of Usher / Four Beasts in One / Hop-Frog / Imp of the Perverse / Island of the Fay / King Pest / Lionizing / Man of the Crowd / Masque of the Red Death / Oval Portrait / Pit and the Pendulum / Power of Words / Shadow / Silence / Some Words with a Mummy / Tell-Tale Heart / William Wilson)
Edgar Allan Poe· 1857
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#9
![Cover of Tales of Mystery and Imagination [46 stories]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F8245290-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Tales of Mystery and Imagination [46 stories]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1908
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#10
![Cover of The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe [67 stories, 52 poems, 4 essays]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11694688-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe [67 stories, 52 poems, 4 essays]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1938
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#11
![Cover of Tales of Mystery and Imagination [22 stories]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F12391530-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Tales of Mystery and Imagination [22 stories]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1985
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#12
literary-fiction
Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe· 1967
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#13
literary-fiction
Tales of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe· 1944
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#14
literary-fiction
Selected Tales
Edgar Allan Poe· 1967
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#15
horror
House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski· 2000
★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score50/100
#16
literary-fiction
The Fall of the House of Usher
Edgar Allan Poe· 1704
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#17
literary-fiction
Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque
Edgar Allan Poe· 1840
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#18
literary-fiction
Carrie
Stephen King· 1974
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#19
literary-fiction
The Tell-Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe· 1958
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#20
literary-fiction
Night Shift
Stephen King· 1960
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#21
literary-fiction
The Eyes of the Dragon
Stephen King· 1959
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#22
literary-fiction
Different Seasons
Stephen King· 1982
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#23
literary-fiction
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury· 1962
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#24
literary-fiction
The Regulators
Stephen King· 1996
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#25
literary-fiction
Selected English Short Stories (Nineteenth Century)
Walker, Hugh· 1914
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#26
![Cover of The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales [15 stories]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11695570-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales [15 stories]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1960
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#27
![Cover of Selections From Poe [6 stories, 35 poems]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11751843-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Selections From Poe [6 stories, 35 poems]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1907
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#28
![Cover of Ten Great Mysteries [10 stories, 5 poems]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11880094-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Ten Great Mysteries [10 stories, 5 poems]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1960
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#29
literary-fiction
Tales of Mystery and Terror (Black Cat / Descent into the Maelstrom / Fall of the House of Usher / Hop-Frog / Masque of the Red Death / MS. Found in a Bottle / Oblong Box / Oval Portrait / Pit and the Pendulum / Some Words With a Mummy / Sphinx / Tell-Tale Heart / William Wilson)
Edgar Allan Poe· 1967
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#30
![Cover of The Works of Edgar Allan Poe [68 stories, 31 poems]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11836029-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe [68 stories, 31 poems]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1985
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#31
![Cover of The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe [73 stories, 48 poems]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11885589-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe [73 stories, 48 poems]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1985
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#32
literary-fiction
The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings
Edgar Allan Poe· 1980
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#33
![Cover of Tales of Mystery and Imagination [25 stories]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F11879900-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
Tales of Mystery and Imagination [25 stories]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1985
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#34
![Cover of The Selected Poetry and Prose of Edgar Allan Poe [32 stories, 42 poems, 11 essays]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F6561228-M.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
literary-fiction
The Selected Poetry and Prose of Edgar Allan Poe [32 stories, 42 poems, 11 essays]
Edgar Allan Poe· 1931
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#35
literary-fiction
Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe· 1966
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#36
literary-fiction
The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe in Four Volumes - I - Tales
Edgar Allan Poe· 1857
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#37
literary-fiction
Tales of Mystery & Imagination
Edgar Allan Poe· 1941
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#38
literary-fiction
Selections from the Prose Tales of Edgar Allan Poe (Assignation / Cask of Amontillado / Descent Into the Maelstrom / Fall of the House of Usher / Gold-Bug / Ligeia / Masque of the Red Death / Murders in the Rue Morgue / Pit and the Pendulum / Silence / William Wilson)
Edgar Allan Poe· 1908
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#39
literary-fiction
Forty-Two Tales
Edgar Allan Poe· 1911
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#40
literary-fiction
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe in Ten Volumes - Volume I - Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque I
Edgar Allan Poe· 1894
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#41
literary-fiction
The Best Known Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe· 1927
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#42
literary-fiction
Nouvelles Histoires Extraordinaires (Angel of the Odd / Berenice / Black Cat / Cask of Amontillado / Colloquy of Monos and Una / Conversation of Eiros and Charmi / Devil in the Belfry / Domain of Arnheim / Eleonora / Fall of the House of Usher / Four Beasts in One / Hop-frog / Imp of the Perverse / Island of the Fay / King Pest / Landor's Cottage / Lionizing / Maelzel's Chess Player / Man of the Crowd / Masque of the Red Death / Oval Portrait / Pit and the Pendulum / Power of Words / Shadow / Silence / Some Words with a Mummy / System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether / Tale of Jerusalem / Tell-Tale Heart / William Wilson)
Edgar Allan Poe· 1884
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#43
classic-literature
Cuentos clásicos del norte - Primera Serie (Black Cat / Cask of Amontillado / Descent into the Maelstrom / Fall of the House of Usher / Gold-Bug / Ligeia / Masque of the Red Death / Murders in the Rue Morgue)
Edgar Allan Poe· 1920
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#44
science-fiction
The Institute
Stephen King· 2019
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#45
science-fiction
Sleeping Beauties
Stephen King· 2014
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#46
fantasy
If It Bleeds
Stephen King· 2020
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#47
fantasy
Gwendy's button box
Stephen King· 2017
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#48
horror
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe· 1968
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#49
horror
The fall of the House of Usher and other stories
Edgar Allan Poe· 1984
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#50
horror
The Ruins
Scott Smith· 2006
★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score49/100
