Be afraid, be very afraid, because I’ve gathered the all-around best horror and thriller novels I had the nightmarish pleasure of reading in 2025. For instance, books about masked psychopaths stalking yoga retreats in Joshua Tree, and college artists dabbling in the dark arts to ace their finals. And then there’s the one about a struggling actress trying to keep a little boy safe from his violent father while running for their lives, and a young cannibal’s horrifying, heartbreaking coming-of-age tale, and . . . well, there are so many to choose from, honestly.
This was a pretty blessed year for the genre. Though I of course read some books that weren’t my cup of tea, they were vastly outnumbered by the titles that blew my mind. So, whether you’re trying to have a haunted winter season, or you’re simply looking for more general thrills and chills, I’ve got some solid novels for you to check out below (in no particular order).
