The best horror stories told in novels, ranked from scary to terrifying

There are some Hallowe’en traditions we leave behind with adulthood – trick or treating is just plain weird if you’re not accompanied by a small ghost, for instance – but books offer a fantastic way to get into the spirit. Not a big one for scares? We’ve got books for that. Only interested in the bone-chillers? We’ve got books for that too. Here’s a rundown, rated by scariness:

Unsettling books for the easily scared

Slightly scary books

Very frightening tales

Books to keep you awake at night

Absolutely terrifying