There’s something about the act of reading that heightens the experience of fear. The fact that you can’t see or hear it, but only picture it in your mind’s eye, makes it the perfect medium for an unnerving encounter. Who needs sleep anyway?
The cabin at the end of the world
by Paul G Tremblay
When four unrelated strangers carrying homemade weapons come politely knocking on the door of your cabin in the middle of the woods asking you to save the world, you don’t let them in, right? Suspense and horror take turns amidst the pages of this gripping apocalyptic tale, which upholds its characters as much as the pace, and makes you abandon guessing the end for the thrill of the rollercoaster ride.
I’m thinking of ending things
by Iain Reid
From an organic, first-person narrative, it’s effortless to get absorbed in the journey between Jake and his better half as they navigate the relationship and the uncanny recurrences in their lives. As the situation escalates and the truth unravels, the conclusion can be polarizing, but you will love how uncomfortable you get in the journey there.
The silent dead
by Tetsuya Honda
This crime mystery thriller follows Lt Reiko Himekawa on the case of a brutal series of slaughters that share no legitimate pattern, except for the blue plastic tarp the bodies come in. While character development may give you mixed feelings, the Tokyo noir style and action keeps you on your toes all the way to its neat conclusion.
The Coma
by Alex Garland
Due to the success of his screenplays and other cult-classics-turned-films, The Beach and The Tesseract, Garland’s short novella about the subconscious is often overlooked. This hidden gem drifts between the comatose and dreamlike state of Carl, whose psychological adventure leaves gaps in logic. Chilling, lyrically crafted and accompanies by woodcut illustrations by Garland’s father, it’s one to read slowly.