Top new horror books in August 2022
Last updated:
August 31, 2022
August 2022 featuring new releases by Karen M. McManus, Alice Feeney, Ellen Marie Wiseman, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Shea Ernshaw, Katherine Arden, Megan Goldin, Ryan La Sala, Catherine Ryan Howard, Ramona Emerson and many more.
-
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus
Be sure to keep your friends close . . . and your secrets closer. Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved...north-america · usa · massachusetts · romance · mystery · young-adult · fiction · contemporary · audiobook · crime -
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists returns…with a family reunion that leads to murder.After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours... -
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Fact, fiction, and urban legend blend in this haunting story about a young woman mistakenly imprisoned at Willowbrook State School, the real-life institution later shuttered for its horrendous abuses.Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins...historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · audiobook · suspense · mental-illness · abuse · killer · horror -
His Happy Place by Zakiya Dalila Harris
A quiet weekend in the wilderness, just the two of them. How romantic. But new love turns to terror in a suspenseful short story from the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl.When Ama’s straitlaced boyfriend, Nathan, invites her to his secluded upstate New York cabin for the weekend, she can’t say no...new-york-state · fiction · audiobook · horror · mystery · suspense · contemporary · paranormal · thriller · poc-author -
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw
Jack and Sally are "truly meant to be" ... or are they? Sally Skellington is the official, newly-minted Pumpkin Queen after a whirlwind courtship with her true love, Jack, who Sally adores with every inch of her fabric seams -- if only she could say the same for her new role as Queen of Halloween Town...romance · fantasy · young-adult · fiction · retellings · horror · paranormal · audiobook · middle-grade · mystery -
-
Empty Smiles by Katherine Arden
It’s been three months since Ollie made a deal with the smiling man to save her friends’ lives and vanished without a trace. Coco, Brian, and Phil are beginning to worry if they’ll ever see Ollie again when they find a mysterious note, possibly from Ollie, on a poster for a traveling carnival set to arrive in town...book · children-books · fiction · friendship · horror · law-enforcement · middle-grade · mystery · paranormal · spooky -
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers―a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife...adult · amnesia · audiobook · book · contemporary · crime · fiction · horror · law-enforcement · mystery -
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance...horror · young-adult · lgbtq · mystery · contemporary · fiction · audiobook · fantasy · magical-realism · dark-academia -
Run Time by Catherine Ryan Howard
Movie-making can be murder.The projectFinal Draft, a psychological horror. Promising Young Thing Steve Dade will direct.The tagline'Based on a terrifying true story. That hasn't happened - yet.'The locationA cottage deep in a forest, miles from anywhere in the wintry wilds of West Cork.The leadFormer soap-star Adele Rafferty has stepped in to replace the original actress at the very last minute... -
Shutter by Ramona Emerson
This blood-chilling debut set in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation is equal parts gripping crime thriller, supernatural horror, and poignant portrayal of coming of age on the reservation.Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases—she is almost supernaturally good at capturing details...mystery · fiction · horror · paranormal · fantasy · audiobook · crime · indigenous-mc · ghosts · suspense -
Genesis by Chris Carter
A killing like no other.A killer more twisted than he’s ever seen before.A case that will test him to the limit. Has Robert Hunter finally met his match?‘Do you believe the Devil exists, Detective?’ the officer at the end of the line asks. ‘Because if you don’t . . . I’m sure you will once you get here.’ Robert Hunter is called to the most vicious crime scene he has ever attended...crime · fiction · mystery · horror · law-enforcement · audiobook · suspense · serial-killers · thriller · contemporary -
Kismet by Amina Akhtar
From Amina Akhtar comes a viciously funny thriller about wellness—the smoothies, the secrets, and the deliciously deadly impulses.Lifelong New Yorker Ronnie Khan never thought she’d leave Queens. She’s not an “aim high, dream big” person—until she meets socialite wellness guru Marley Dewhurst.Marley isn’t just a visionary; she’s a revelation...mystery · fiction · horror · crime · suspense · contemporary · audiobook · spooky · cults · fundamentalism -
My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton
It’s aliiiiiiiive! The bestselling authors of My Lady Jane are back with the electric, poetic, and (almost) historical tale of the one and only Mary Shelley...19th-century · audiobook · book · female-mc · fiction · gothic · historical · historical-fiction · horror · humor -
The New House by Tess Stimson
A totally addictive and absolutely gripping psychological thriller you won’t be able to put down…Three couples.About to purchase their dream home.How far would you go to get the perfect life?Perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Shari Lapena, this domestic, psychological suspense novel will keep you on the edge of your seat...psychological · audiobook · suspense · fiction · contemporary · thriller · horror · crime · vigilante · justice -
Embers on the Wind by Lisa Williamson Rosenberg
The past and the present converge in this enthralling, serpentine tale of women connected by motherhood, slavery’s legacy, and histories that span centuries.In 1850 in Massachusetts, Whittaker House stood as a stop on the Underground Railroad. It’s where two freedom seekers, Little Annie and Clementine, hid and perished...historical-fiction · fiction · fantasy · paranormal · historical · civil-war · literary-fiction · poc-mc · mystery · lgbtq -
Bloody Fool for Love: A Spike Novel by William Ritter
Bloody Fool for Love from New York Times best-selling author William Ritter marks the beginning of an all-new series that explores prequel stories about fan-favorite Buffy characters.Spike just wants to enjoy the spoils of his new badass reputation. He’s now a legendary slayer-killer, and he’s returning to London—the greatest city in the world...book · children-books · fiction · horror · paranormal · retellings · urban-fantasy · vampires · young-adult · fantasy -
Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R.F. Kuang
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he'll enroll in Oxford University's prestigious Royal Institute of Translation — also known as Babel...alternate-history · asian-mc · book · dark · dark-academia · epic · fiction · historical · historical-fiction · horror -
The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones, Isabella Star LaBlanc
Only on Audio! A new horror novel from the bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw...horror · audiobook · fiction · paranormal · fantasy · mystery · contemporary · supernatural · indigenous-mc · lgbtq -
Dead Flip by Sara Farizan
In this “terrifyingly fun” ( New York Times ) horror comedy two friends must solve the mystery of their long-missing former friend’s supernatural reappearance—perfect for fans of Stranger Things . Growing up, Cori, Maz, and Sam were inseparable best friends, sharing their love for Halloween, arcade games, and one another...horror · young-adult · lgbtq · fantasy · mystery · paranormal · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · supernatural -
-
The Devouring Wolf by Natalie C. Parker
A queer tale about kid werewolves, big bad mistakes, and terrifying creatures in Natalie C. Parker's exciting middle grade debut. Little wolf, little wolf, here I come. They say that the Devouring Wolf isn't real, just an old legend, a giant creature who consumes the magic inside young werewolves. The elders tell the tale to scare young pups into obedience...action-adventure · book · fiction · horror · law-enforcement · lgbtq · middle-grade · mystery · paranormal · shapeshifters -
You Better Run by Willow Rose
Dead.Who is this girl?How did she end up in the pool?Was she even at the party?Even more strange is when they pull her out of the water, Meg realizes the girl looks very familiar. As a matter of fact, she looks just like her.Like an identical twin.But Meg has no twin, at least none that she knows of, and no one at the party knows this girl or can say where she is from...adult · book · contemporary · crime · dark · fiction · hard-boiled · horror · kidnapping · law-enforcement -
Knight Awakened by B.M. Clemton
Coming to Black Veil University irreversibly changed my life.Meeting Daxton Pierce flipped it on end and made me question everything I know.My memories and my family had been ripped from me. I have been stalked, tortured, abandoned, and betrayed… but I’m not broken...romance · reverse-harem · paranormal · fantasy · shapeshifters · magic · university · fae · new-adult · fated-mates -
Lord of the Fly Fest by Goldy Moldavsky
One of Us Is Lying meets Lord of the Flies meets Fyre Fest in this wickedly addictive and funny YA thriller.Rafi Francisco needs something really special to put her true crime podcast on the map. She sets her sights on River Stone, the hearthrob musician who rose to stardom after the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend...young-adult · horror · mystery · retellings · contemporary · audiobook · fiction · humor · action-adventure · thriller -
Sinners & Saints by Lana Sky, Molly Doyle
Traumatized by a family tragedy, Frances “Frey” Heywood resorts to committing the unthinkable—only to be saved at the eleventh hour by a man more troubled than even she can comprehend.Daze Keaton is bad news. A criminal and a drug dealer, he’s a far cry from the safe harbor Frey craves, but all her doubts pale in the face of the way he numbs that cold, broken place inside her... -
A Hint of Darkness by McKenzie Hunter
When I made a deal with the Prince of the Underworld, I knew a lot of things could go wrong. But I never imagined it would be imprisoned-in-the-underworld wrong. My only goals were to escape and resist the blazing chemistry between me and the Dark Prince.After he discovers I’m more than just a mere human who’s had a streak of bad luck, my escape becomes a game of survival...magic · fantasy · paranormal · demons · vampires · romantic-love · urban-fantasy · fiction · dark · new-adult -
The Death Witch by Chandelle LaVaun
His magic ruined me....I will return the favor.He is ash and fire but I am his heir. I’m everything he can’t control and I shall become his worst nightmare.I’m not the girl I once was.I am Death...romance · fantasy · fae · paranormal · witches-wizards · urban-fantasy · supernatural · contemporary · female-mc · alpha-mc -
Teen Killers In Love by Lily Sparks
The Teen Killers Club is on the brink of destruction, with one faction pitted against another in a deadly game of survival. Erik and Signal are part of the group who’ve had their “kill switches” disabled, and the others are under orders to hunt them down—or meet their own demise. Now, Erik and Signal have to find a way to neutralize the others’ switches and clear Signal's name...romance · young-adult · mystery · audiobook · horror · fiction · contemporary · murder · lgbtq · loner-mc -
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
A girl confronts Death—and her own deathly powers—in this Gothic-infused, romantic young adult fantasy. Nineteen-year-old Signa Farrow, orphaned as a baby, has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end...book · dark · enemies-to-lovers · fiction · ghosts · gothic · historical · historical-fiction · horror · low-fantasy -
Of Ghosts and Goblins by Lafcadio Hearn, Coralie Bickford-Smith
Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith...classics · horror · fantasy · fiction · myths · spooky · 20th-century · gothic · anthologies · literary-fiction -
The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
Reminiscent of the works of Margaret Atwood, Shirley Jackson, and Octavia Butler, a biting social commentary from the acclaimed author of Lakewood that speaks to our times--a piercing dystopian novel about the unbreakable bond between a young woman and her mysterious mother, set in a world in which witches are real and single women are closely monitored... -
The Serpent in Heaven by Charlaine Harris
Felicia, Lizbeth’s younger half-sister is attacked by her estranged aristocratic Mexican family of wizards who want to use her as a pawn, what no one expected, even Felicia, is that she may be the most powerful witch in a generation in this startling sequel to the USA TODAY bestseller, The Russian Cage...action-adventure · adult · alternate-history · book · dark · dystopia · female-author · fiction · historical · historical-fiction -
These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall
The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out in a bid for an inheritance that will leave Helen Vaughan either rich...or dead.Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since...book · contemporary · fiction · gothic · haunted-places · horror · lesbian-mc · lgbtq · mystery · paranormal -
How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine
Alice Lawrence is the sole witness in her sister’s murder trial.And in the year since Claire’s death, Alice’s life has completely fallen apart. Her parents have gotten divorced, she’s moved into an apartment that smells like bologna, and she is being forced to face her sister’s killer and a courtroom full of people who doubt what she saw in the corn maze a year prior...horror · young-adult · mystery · fiction · audiobook · contemporary · murder · crime · thriller · time-travel -
-
The Immortal Tailor by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
From New York Times bestselling author Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a new immortal series filled with dark humor, angst, and a brooding hero who loves a good tweed: The Immortal Tailor.THE IMMORTAL WORLD IS IN TROUBLE, AND THE GODS DEMAND . . . THEIR TAILOR COME TO THE RESCUE?Long ago, Damien Greystone hung up his guns, knives, and rope for the quiet life of a tailor...romance · fantasy · paranormal · vampires · urban-fantasy · supernatural · demons · steamy · fiction · enemies-to-lovers -
Fairydale by Veronica Lancet
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞?August 1955,When Miss Darcy O’Sullivan, an orphaned English teacher from Boston, receives a letter that her biological father passed away, she is surprised to find herself included in his will.There is only one condition.She must travel to Fairydale to attend his funeral...adult · age-gap · alpha-mc · angst · book · dark · demons · enemies-to-lovers · fated-mates · female-mc -
Wayward by Chuck Wendig
The sequel to the national bestseller Wanderers, the instant classic that "takes science, politics, horror, and science fiction and blends them into an outstanding story about the human spirit in times of turmoil, claiming a spot on the list of must-read apocalyptic novels" (NPR)Five years ago, ordinary Americans fell under the grip of a strange new malady that caused them to sleepwalk across...action-adventure · audiobook · book · fiction · horror · mystery · post-apocalyptic · suspense · young-adult · sci-fi -
The Mad House by Liza James
A broken home made whole through promises of eternal life and family beyond.On your knees. Whisper the prayers.Obey thy Father and Mother. You'll be made whole in the Spirit once we're all together again.One sister escapes. The other is trapped, carrying the weight of all focus from their parents for years to come...wlw · dark · lgbtq · fiction · lesbian-mc · cults · forced-proximity · horror · fundamentalism · age-gap -
Fangs by Katie May
So, here's the deal.I got locked up for a crime I totally committed. Yup. Your girl stabbed a ho...or four. Stabbed, maimed, ate, slaughtered. You get the picture.Not what you expected to hear from me, huh?But everything changes when I'm broken out of Prodigium Academy by the exact man I've been trying to hide from: Lucifer. Aka, my sperm donor. Aka, the man who tried to kill me as a baby... -
UnderVerse Omnibus 1 by Jez Cajiao
An unfamiliar realm, a reality outside of his own where magic abounds. His survival will determine the fates for them all.Jax is a good man, or he tells himself he is anyway, spilling his own blood out like water over the years to defend the innocent, but when you’re pulled through the veil between worlds and forced into the fight, is it really a choice?He’s about to find out... -
Ensnared by the Shadow King by Lola Glass
He thinks I'm his salvation, but I'll be his demise.Being cursed by the King of Shadows earned me two decades of captivity. Now that I'm free, there's only one option:Find the king and kill him, for the sake of not only revenge but salvation too.Though I manage to get into his court, I learn that he's not as killable as I thought. Our souls seem… connected...fantasy · fae · paranormal · fiction · magic · witches-wizards · dark · audiobook · fated-mates · enemies-to-lovers