Five Halloween reads

In honor of Halloween’s rapid approach, this week’s literature column features some of my favorite horror novels.

I hope these terrifying thrillers will make your spine tingle, your heart race and your palms sweat.

Warn your roommates — you may be sleeping with the lights on.


“The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty

The novel that inspired the 1973 film, “The Exorcist” chronicles the demon possession of 12-year-old Regan MacNeil.

Two Catholic priests, Father Damien Karras and Father Lankester Merrin, struggle to save the girl through a now familiar horror trope: an exorcism.

“The Exorcist” was written more than 40 years ago, but its lasting popularity makes it an iconic read.  


“American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis

This is a horror story told from the perspective of brutal serial killer Patrick Bateman.
A distinct spin on the typical victim-narrated thriller makes the book even more terrifying.

Readers get an intimate look into Bateman’s deranged mind as well as an up-close-and-personal view of his murders.


“Dracula” by Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker is partially to blame for the sparkly, bloodsucking creatures currently dominating popular media.

His vampire, however, is far too evil to inspire “Team Edward” — or in this case “Team Count Dracula” — memorabilia.
“Dracula” defined our modern understanding of the vampire and remains a classic scary story today.


“Misery” by Stephen King

Any book by this king of horror is scary enough to get you in the Halloween mood, but I’ve always considered “Misery” to be his scariest.

The psychological thriller features Paul Sheldon, a best-selling author held captive and tortured by his “No. 1 fan” Annie Wilkes.

“Misery” always terrified me more than King’s other supernatural horror novels because villains such as Annie Wilkes can actually exist.


“The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James

This novella originated the creepy child motif in horror stories.

The book relatively short, but it still manages to give readers the chills.

­— jenfagan@indiana.edu

Follow columnist Jenna Fagan on Twitter @jenna_faganIDS.