April is the perfect time to dive into spine-tingling reads that will keep you up at night! Whether you love supernatural thrillers, gothic mysteries, or psychological horror, our list of the Best Horror Books to Read in April 2025, curated by Storizen, has something for every horror fan. From eerie staircases in the woods to haunted hotels and monstrous secrets lurking in small towns, these chilling tales will send shivers down your spine. Get ready to lose yourself in nightmares—these books are not for the faint of heart!
1. The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
Twenty years ago, five high school friends made a pact to always protect each other. During a camping trip, they discovered something eerie—a staircase in the middle of the woods leading to nowhere. When one of them stepped up, he vanished without a trace. Now, decades later, the staircase has returned, and the remaining friends are drawn back, determined to uncover the truth about their lost friend and the terrifying mystery lurking beyond the steps. From a modern horror master comes a bone-chilling tale you won’t forget.
2. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
Cora Zeng spends her days scrubbing away the aftermath of violent deaths in Chinatown, but no crime scene can compare to the horror she witnessed—her sister, Delilah, being pushed in front of a train. The killer’s last words, bat eater, still echo in her mind. Since that night, reality feels unstable—paranoia creeps in, her fears of contamination intensify, and unsettling things keep happening. Bat carcasses appear at crime scenes, all her recent cleanups involve East Asian women, and the Hungry Ghost Festival looms, when the dead refuse to be ignored. A darkly humorous, subversive horror novel for fans of Stephen Graham Jones and Gretchen Felker-Martin, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng marks the arrival of a bold new voice in the genre.
3. When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
Struggling actress Jess never expected to find a five-year-old runaway hiding outside her apartment—or that taking him in would thrust her into a nightmare. After a brutal confrontation with the boy’s violent father, they go on the run, but bloodshed follows at every turn. As the bodies pile up, Jess realizes the horrors chasing them are far beyond anything she imagined. Because when the wolf finally comes home, no one is safe. A relentless, blood-soaked pop horror thriller for fans of Joe Hill and Grady Hendrix, from “The Stephen King of TikTok.”
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4. Freakslaw by Jane Flett
The summer of ’97 brings a spark of rebellion to the dreary Scottish town of Pitlaw when the Freakslaw carnival rolls in—an electrifying band of outcasts, queers, and misfits with a flair for spectacle…and a thirst for revenge. Among them are Gloria, a fortune teller with a sinister edge; her daughter Nancy, a contortionist witch; Werewolf Louie, a tightrope walker with a heart of gold; and a host of dazzling, dangerous performers. While the town’s restless teens are drawn to the carnival’s neon allure, the Freakslaw’s true purpose runs deeper—punishment for those who have cast them out for generations. As tensions ignite, an ancient fury is about to erupt. A crackling, subversive horror debut in the spirit of Geek Love and Nights at the Circus, this is a carnival you won’t escape unscathed.
5. The Cut by C.J. Dotson
Fleeing an abusive ex, Sadie Miles takes refuge at the crumbling L’Arpin Hotel—a once-grand lakeside retreat turned eerie, forgotten relic. It’s not the ideal place to raise a toddler while pregnant, but with a housekeeping job and a free room, it’s her best shot at starting over. Then, strange things begin to happen. A drowning that never was. A guest who vanishes without a trace. Security cameras that disappear overnight. And something lurking in the walls, in the water, in the dark. Sadie has spent years being told she’s imagining things—this time, she refuses to ignore the truth. But with nowhere to run and danger closing in, she’ll have to fight to keep herself, her child, and her unborn baby safe from whatever haunts the halls of L’Arpin. A chilling supernatural horror novel where past horrors pale in comparison to what’s waiting in the shadows.
6. Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin
Shell Pine is at rock bottom—newly single, jobless, and back living with her parents—when she stumbles upon a HELP NEEDED sign in a flower shop window. Desperate for change, she steps inside and meets Neve, the enchanting florist who makes her believe in fresh starts. But Neve has a secret, one that’s growing in the shadows of the mall: an orchid named Baby. Baby is young, ravenous, and possessive. He adores Neve, and nothing he devours—no one he devours—can satisfy him like she can. A tangled, twisted tale of love, hunger, and retail horror, this novel explores the monstrous things we nurture and the terrifying things that grow.
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7. Their Monstrous Hearts by Yiğit Turhan
When a stranger arrives with news of his grandmother Perihan’s death, struggling writer Riccardo inherits more than just her decaying Milanese villa—he also inherits her eerie butterfly collection and a web of unsettling mysteries. Hoping for inspiration and financial relief, he moves in, only to find the house far from the grand estate he remembers. Perihan’s enigmatic old friends hover like ghosts, the butterflies seem to watch him from behind glass, and something isn’t right in the greenhouse. Then he discovers her diary—pages filled with secrets that could explain her death or, perhaps, drive him to his own. A gothic, hypnotic tale of ambition, obsession, and the dark price of keeping dreams alive.
8. Polybius by Collin Armstrong
In the fall of 1982, Andi wants nothing more than to escape the sleepy seaside town of Tasker Bay and return to Silicon Valley. Working at the local arcade seems like the perfect way to save up—until a mysterious new game, Polybius, arrives. Almost overnight, the town is gripped by paranoia, rage, and eerie hallucinations, as an unstoppable storm cuts them off from the world. With chaos escalating and no one to trust, Andi and Ro—her unexpected ally and the sheriff’s son—must uncover the truth behind the game before they lose themselves to it. A mind-bending fusion of Stranger Things and The Walking Dead, this chilling thriller reimagines the infamous urban legend in a way you won’t soon forget.
9. Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff
In the seemingly perfect town of Lake Argen, prosperity comes at a price—a dark bargain struck generations ago. As the town’s part-time servant of the eldritch force keeping things in check, baker Cassidy Prewitt has always played her role. But when an outsider goes missing and a private investigator comes sniffing around, things spiral into chaos—shadowy forces rise, the town turns restless, and Cassidy finds herself falling for the very PI who threatens to unravel their secrets. Queer, cozy, and delightfully eerie, this is a charming tale of romance, small-town horror, and the unexpected sweetness of love in the face of darkness.
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As the nights grow longer and the air fills with an eerie stillness, there’s no better time to immerse yourself in these spine-chilling tales. Whether you’re drawn to supernatural hauntings, unsettling psychological horror, or darkly twisted mysteries, the Best Horror Books to Read in April 2025 promise to keep you hooked until the last terrifying page. So grab a blanket, keep the lights on, and prepare for a reading experience that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page!
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