Nowadays, life seems to be very quiet. The same things are happening every day: home-work-home. Do you experience a lack of adrenaline in the blood? Is the world around covered with a layer of comfort? There is a perfect solution. Try to tickle your nerves a little with scary stories.
Of course, no one would doubt that student life is sometimes even scarier than the plots of the most thrilling books. Tons of information, endless deadlines, pressure, and stress. Is there something worse to think about?
Every college student experiences a horror story when it comes to passing exams or answering in front of a large audience. Still, if you tend to use assistance services and google “proofread my paper” before its submission, you know how to avoid execution. Thus, only truly fascinating thrillers can stir your blood.
If you are a pure fan of action-packed literature, it is not so easy to surprise or scare you. Still, real masterpieces of this genre can make one experience a sense of true fear just while reading. Make yourself a cup of tea and get acquainted with some chilling stories you haven’t read.
“The Collector” by John Fowles
The author’s debut novel, “The Collector,” has changed the established perception of horror books in literature. Traditionally, the protagonists of such works are dreadful mystery creatures, but not real people.
Fowles made a bold and provocative decision to turn his main character into a maniac. Now, this is one of the best psychological detectives. The book tells the story of a young man who is lucky to win a big sum in the lottery. He adores butterflies and does everything to replenish his “collection.”
“Broken Monsters” by Lauren Beukes
2011’s “The Shining Girls” and 2014’s “Broken Monsters” made this South African writer known as a master of horror and thrillers. But while the first book has managed to become a bestseller, her “Broken Monsters” even surpassed the impressive time travel of the plot of “The Shining Girls.”
“The Broken Monsters” tells the story of a group of heroes surviving in America’s major capitalist failure. But where is the horror, fear, and blood, you would ask? Abandoning the primitive “art of ruin,” Beukes uses bleak Detroit scenery as the background of murders described in detail.
“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
This book is more about exerting psychological pressure than creating artificial consternations. Still, it is considered one of the best thrillers in the genre. The book tells how the life of a prosperous family can be divided into “before” and “after” at once.
With no explanation, a loving wife puts five bullets in her husband’s face. Moreover, Alicia won’t say a word for the next six years. Psychotherapist Theo Faber tries to reveal the hidden agenda of the crime and cure Alicia. But the reasons for her failure to speak are much deeper. And even if she says a word, will the doctor want to hear the truth?
As you read the book, you will involuntarily try to think over
* how it feels to lose everything you live for;
* how to get out of the web of lies;
* how to find a way out of your own subconscious.
“The Bazaar of Bad Dreams” by Stephen King
This one is the big book of horrors for true lovers of King’s writing style. Indeed, even the author considers this work to be unique. The book includes terrifying stories written by this widely-known master of horror. Before each chilling story, the author describes the source of its origin. You can learn about everything – from the birth of the concept to the details of the process and creation of the plot moves.
“The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson
The novel “The Haunting of Hill House” was first published in 1959, but its popularity came later – after two successful film adaptations. This is the story of four researchers of paranormal phenomena who arrive at a notorious house. The group of people looks forward to meeting the inexplicable. Though, the house is unpredictable and follows its own sinister plan.
You may have already heard about the series with a similar name. Yes, today, “The Haunting of Hill House” undergoes a new wave of fame. This time, the plot is used by Netflix.
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs
The unusual plot and characters described in detail draw the reader’s attention to a special atmosphere of crypto sapiens – children who have strange abilities. The reality here is closely intertwined with fantasy. We are no longer sure whether the events actually happen, or they are tricks of strange children?
You may have heard that the book is aimed at teenagers mostly, but even adults often become devoted readers of this novel. The secret is that Ransom Riggs does not stretch out the plot but dynamically develops it, throwing up new facts and fascinating stories.
It is worth saying that the book was ranked a bestseller by The New York Times. The writer admitted that he found the source of inspiration in old photos of real children, which he later used as illustrations.
“Slade House” by David Mitchell
This book has been recognized and appreciated by the most respectable authors of the horror genre. Indeed, Stephen King called it “a rare and glorious thing,” and Anthony Dorr said it is “the New Millennium Dracula.”
This can be seen as a collection of short stories, the protagonists of which end up in a strange house. The first man enters the door of a mysterious building in 1979. The plot ends in 2015 when a psychotherapist finds himself in the Slade House.
Some claim that the book should be read only by those who are familiar with the previous works of David Mitchell. Otherwise, it will entail a lot of questions, even though the author is trying to explain all the incomprehensible terms.
Final Words
Nowadays, it is difficult to surprise people when it comes to the book world. Still, some of the stories intrigue with the intricate novelty plot. The most important thing is to give a chance to the new authors or to the books you have never heard about. This is the only way to experience inartificial and exciting emotions.
