Top new horror books in May 2023
Last updated:
May 31, 2023
May 2023 featuring new releases by S.T. Abby, Gilly Macmillan, Jo Nesbø, Maureen Johnson, Freida McFadden, Megan Abbott, Andrea Mara, Natalie D. Richards, Karen White, Cory Doctorow, Sylvain Neuvel and many more.
-
Power Exchange by S.T. Abby
Strength is earned, never given, and always tested... -
![The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan]()
The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny and What She Knew comes the terrifying story of what can happen after all your dreams come trueBe careful what you wish for...Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight...mystery · fiction · suspense · psychological · crime · contemporary · thriller · horror · domestic-drama · audiobook -
![The Night House by Jo Nesbø]()
The Night House by Jo Nesbø
From the internationally best-selling author, a twisted, multi-layered spin on the classic horror novelIn the wake of his parents' tragic deaths in a house fire, fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote, insular town of Ballantyne...horror · mystery · fiction · paranormal · supernatural · crime · coming-of-age · audiobook · season-autumn · young-adult -
young-adult · paranormal · mystery · ghosts · fiction · supernatural · fantasy · urban-fantasy · horror · contemporary
-
![Ward D by Freida McFadden]()
Ward D by Freida McFadden
Medical student Amy Brenner is spending the night on a locked psychiatric ward.Amy has been dreading her evening working on Ward D, the hospital’s inpatient mental health unit. There are very specific reasons why she never wanted to do this required overnight rotation. Reasons nobody can ever find out...mystery · audiobook · fiction · suspense · horror · psychological · crime · thriller · contemporary · medical -
-
![Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott]()
Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott
From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Megan Abbott, an eerie and prescient novel about a family outing that takes a terrifying turn.Honey, I just want you to have everything you ever wanted. That’s what Jacy’s mom always told her.And Jacy felt like she finally did... -
![No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara]()
No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara
Two children get on the train. Only one gets off...No one saw it happen.You stand on a crowded tube platform in London. Your two little girls jump on the train ahead of you. As you try to join them, the doors slide shut and the train moves away, leaving you behind.Everyone is lying.By the time you get to the next stop, you've convinced yourself that everything will be fine...mystery · fiction · crime · suspense · psychological · contemporary · audiobook · thriller · horror · kidnapping -
![Four Found Dead by Natalie D. Richards]()
Four Found Dead by Natalie D. Richards
At the movie theater where Jo works, the last show has ended. But the nightmare is just beginning.Tonight, Tempest Theaters is closing forever, the last remaining business in a defunct shopping mall. The moviegoers have left, and Jo and her six coworkers have the final shift, cleaning up popcorn and mopping floors for the last time...young-adult · horror · mystery · fiction · contemporary · suspense · audiobook · murder · thriller · killer -
![The House on Prytania by Karen White]()
The House on Prytania by Karen White
A woman is haunted--both literally and figuratively--by ghosts of the past in this second novel of the Royal Street series by New York Times bestselling author Karen White...audiobook · book · contemporary · cozy · female-mc · fiction · ghosts · horror · mystery · paranormal -
![Black Mirror: Volume I by Cory Doctorow, Sylvain Neuvel]()
Black Mirror: Volume I by Cory Doctorow, Sylvain Neuvel
From the creator of Black Mirror comes the first book in an anthology series featuring original stories from leading fiction writers, all set in the world of the cult series...sci-fi · anthologies · fiction · dystopia · psychological · mind-games · technology · human-nature · horror · satire -
![Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban]()
Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban
A juicy mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal set on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, with a diverse cast of delightfully suspicious characters who’ll leave you guessing with every jaw-dropping twist...romance · mystery · young-adult · contemporary · suspense · audiobook · horror · fiction · murder · crime -
![A Hunt So Wicked: Cursed Royals by Britt Andrews]()
A Hunt So Wicked: Cursed Royals by Britt Andrews
Fans of Bridgerton and Game of Thrones will love this brand new dark fantasy romance.The guards arrive at my humble cottage with a ridiculous offer: Come to an exclusive and mysterious isle to compete for the hand of a royal husband.Enjoy a week of glittering balls, dancing, ostentatious wealth…and a royal hunt...romance · fantasy · paranormal · reverse-harem · dark · shapeshifters · suspense · forced-proximity · multi-pov · horror -
![The Ferryman by Justin Cronin]()
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera's lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent...adult · apocalyptic · book · dystopia · fiction · horror · literary-fiction · mystery · post-apocalyptic · psychological -
![The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell]()
The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell
'Seven powerful mages want to make the world a better place. We're going to kill them first.'Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. No doubt he's wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn't protect his frail body from a light breeze...fantasy · magic · high-fantasy · epic · fiction · audiobook · action-adventure · grim-dark · dark · dark-fantasy -
![A Ship of Bones & Teeth: A dark fantasy pirate romance by Karina Halle]()
A Ship of Bones & Teeth: A dark fantasy pirate romance by Karina Halle
An standalone adult dark fantasy romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid from the New York Times Bestselling Author of River of Shadows and Blood Orange .Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.When she was just 16-years old, she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land...romance · fantasy · retellings · dark · outlaws · gothic · fiction · enemies-to-lovers · steamy · paranormal -
![Bet You Can't by Nicole Williams]()
Bet You Can't by Nicole Williams
*From Publisher's Weekly*The first book chronicles the improbable relationship between flamboyant Isla (a member of the "social elite") and nerdy Tristan... -
![We'll Never Tell by Wendy Heard]()
We'll Never Tell by Wendy Heard
A whodunit doused in Hollywood lore.No one at Hollywood High knows who’s behind We'll Never Tell—a viral YouTube channel where the anonymous creators trespass behind the scenes of LA's most intriguing locales...young-adult · mystery · lgbtq · contemporary · fiction · horror · audiobook · thriller · wlw · suspense -
![A Shadow of Betrayal by B.M. Clemton]()
A Shadow of Betrayal by B.M. Clemton
Monsters exist. The only problem is… I'm the only one that can see them. I always thought I would outgrow it. That one day, I would magically wake up, and the nightmares that haunt my life would suddenly be gone. Unfortunately, that hasn't been my luck. Avoidance is key. Don't look at them. Pretend they aren't lurking in the shadows, and never make eye contact...romance · reverse-harem · paranormal · dark · monsters · magic · demons · enemies-to-lovers · fantasy · slow-burn -
![The Pain Tourist by Paul Cleave]()
The Pain Tourist by Paul Cleave
A young man wakes from a coma to find himself targeted by the men who killed his parents, while someone is impersonating a notorious New Zealand serial killer … the latest chilling, nerve-shredding, twisty thriller from the author of The Quiet People… ‘ Paul Cleave is an automatic must-read for me’ Lee Child‘ Riveting from start to finish... -
-
![A Collection of Monstrous Short Stories by Lily Mayne]()
A Collection of Monstrous Short Stories by Lily Mayne
Revisit the Monstrous couples from the first seven novels of the series in this collection of sixteen short stories. Plus, meet a new Monstrous couple in a brand new 20k-word novella, Ruke...romance · mlm · fantasy · monsters · dystopia · paranormal · lgbtq · anthologies · post-apocalyptic · sci-fi -
![A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand]()
A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand
Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She's young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family...book · dark · fiction · high-fantasy · horror · magic · magical-realism · myths · paranormal · young-adult -
![Last Breath by Mary Stone]()
Last Breath by Mary Stone
Welcome to the deadliest show on Earth...When the Ruby Red Spectacle Circus rolls into town, chaos and death follow in its wake. At first, the accidents seem coincidental, but as the body count rises, it becomes clear that a killer is lurking within the big top’s shadows.Smoke and mirrors concealing love and hate...mystery · crime · fiction · murder · horror · suspense · law-enforcement · police-procedural · thriller · female-mc -
![Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland]()
Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland
Sarah J. Maas meets A Deadly Education in A.M. Strickland's lush, queer YA dark fantasy novel. In becoming a vampire, I’m less than a girl. And more.Or maybe I’m becoming what I always have been, deep inside.A blade.When nineteen-year-old Fin volunteers to take her secret love's place in their village's Finding, she is terrified...romance · fantasy · vampires · young-adult · lgbtq · paranormal · horror · wlw · high-fantasy · enemies-to-lovers -
![This Is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde]()
This Is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde
You are cordially invited to spend one fateful night surviving an elite private school’s epic masquerade ballAs an autistic scholarship student at the prestigious Webber Academy in New York City, Waverly is used to masking to fit in—in more ways than one...urban · new-york-state · young-adult · mystery · lgbtq · contemporary · wlw · fiction · dystopia · dark-academia -
![The Twenty by Sam Holland]()
The Twenty by Sam Holland
A tense novel from a fast-rising star, Sam Holland, The Twenty fuses a chilling race-against-time with blood-curdling crime fiction. For fans of Harlan Coben and Thomas Harris, Sam Holland offers readers a page-turning serial killer thriller with “echoes of Lisa Gardner” (AJ Finn, #1 NYT bestselling author, on The Echo Man)...adult · book · cold-case · crime · fiction · horror · murder · mystery · psychological · serial-killers -
![Black Tide Rising: The Graphic Novel by Chuck Dixon, John Ringo]()
Black Tide Rising: The Graphic Novel by Chuck Dixon, John Ringo
New York Times Bestseller John Ringo's Epic Zombie Series, Adapted by Comics Legend Chuck Dixon! A THRILLING ADAPTATION OF THE BEST-SELLING BLACK TIDE RISING SERIES The media calls it the Pacific Flu. The CDC calls it H7D3, and it spreads like wildfire. The virus combines the worst symptoms of Rabies and the common Flu, and is suspected to be man-made... -
![Monster's Bride by Stasia Black]()
Monster's Bride by Stasia Black
I went in search of miracles… and stumbled upon a monster instead. In return for the healing I was so desperate for, I just had to make one teensy weensie promise… To be his consort for, uh…forever. To say I wasn’t exactly thinking things through when I said yes was an understatement. And now I’ve been whisked away to a castle in a wintry wonderland with a ginormous, ferocious chimera...romance · fantasy · paranormal · monsters · steamy · shapeshifters · demons · female-mc · siblings · magic -
![Obsolescence: A Dark Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Anthology by Clay McLeod Chapman, Rob Hart, David Niall Wilson, Eric LaRocca]()
Obsolescence: A Dark Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Anthology by Clay McLeod Chapman, Rob Hart, David Niall Wilson, Eric LaRocca
OBSOLESCENCE is a collection of short stories about horrifying or fantastical interactions with technology.All leaps in technology are scary. Mysterious. Misunderstood. Until they slowly creep into our daily lives and become impossible to get rid of. Like an evolving parasite.The broken cell phone that can only text with your dead husband... -
![Grave Expectations by Alice Bell]()
Grave Expectations by Alice Bell
A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder...mystery · fiction · paranormal · crime · contemporary · supernatural · ghosts · lgbtq · audiobook · fantasy -
![Devils Don't Lie by Kim McDougall]()
Devils Don't Lie by Kim McDougall
Being a working mom chosen to save the world is going to take practice, courage, and a whole crew of creature companions as backup.The forest whispers to Kyra. Something is coming. The creatures are restless. Ash falls on their homestead. And Montreal ward is bursting with refugees.But Kyra doesn’t need omens...supernatural · urban-fantasy · female-mc · alpha-mc · fantasy · humor · action-adventure · fiction · horror · mythical-creatures -
![Season of Skulls by Charles Stross]()
Season of Skulls by Charles Stross
Season of Skulls continues Hugo Award-winning author Charles Stross's Lovecraftian Laundry Files series.Welcome to the sunlit uplands of the 21st century! Britain's avuncular Prime Minister is an ancient eldritch god of unimaginable power. Crime is plummeting as almost every offense is punishable by death... -
![Hush Little Baby by Ashley Michele]()
Hush Little Baby by Ashley Michele
♡ Kinky♡ Home Invasion Horror♡ Plus-sized FMC♡ Quick Read♡ M/FAll I wanted was one fantasy fulfilled, played out perfectly: home invasion sexy times. Mask. Gloves. The whole nine.When my dick boyfriend finally agreed, I was willing to put in the work to keep him around a little bit longer for it... -
![All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley]()
All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley
The Haunting of Bly Manor meets House of Salt and Sorrows in award-winning author Kyrie McCauley’s contemporary YA gothic romance about a dark family lineage, the ghosts of grief, and the lines we’ll cross for love.The Sleeping House was very much awake . . -
-
![Of Heat and Obsession by Katie May]()
Of Heat and Obsession by Katie May
They call me their captive, their pet, their toy.One prince wants to keep me; another desires to steal me away. And a third? I think he wants to end my life.During the day, I’m kept by the possessive and alluring Prince Blaze and the charming Prince Treyton. At night, I find myself…somewhere else. There, I’m no less a prisoner than I am when I’m awake...romance · reverse-harem · fantasy · kidnapping · enemies-to-lovers · paranormal · fae · fighter · new-adult · multi-pov -
![The Other Side of Never: Dark Tales from the World of Peter & Wendy by A.C. Wise, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Catriona Ward, A.J. Elwood]()
The Other Side of Never: Dark Tales from the World of Peter & Wendy by A.C. Wise, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Catriona Ward, A.J. Elwood
Dark tales inspired by J. M. Barrie's classic stories of Neverland, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, and of course Peter Pan, from some the masters of science-fiction, horror and fantasy including A. C. Wise, Claire North, Lavie Tidhar and more. The award-winning Marie O'Regan & Paul Kane bring together the masters of fantasy, science-fiction and horror, to spin stories inspired by J. M... -
![The Unseelie Duke by Kathryn Ann Kingsley]()
The Unseelie Duke by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
In the twisted world of the Unseelie fae, dreams are currency and wishes are power. Izael, the serpentine Duke of Bones, a fae lord with a fierce reputation, finds himself desperate for freedom. And to get it, he only needs one simple thing—a deal with a human. When he sets his sights on Alex, a destitute witch down on her luck, he sees a chance to gain everything he's ever wanted...fantasy · fae · forced-proximity · steamy · dark · dark-fantasy · horror · fiction · myths · paranormal -
![The Morning Wood Tree: A smutty fantasy romance by Siggy Shade]()
The Morning Wood Tree: A smutty fantasy romance by Siggy Shade
Being forced to marry into a sicko cult wasn’t even the weirdest part of my day…I thought my fiancé was a good guy. Not the greatest in the sack, but decent marriage material.Too bad it took finding him in a compromising position—with his mother —to figure out how wrong I’d been.When they told me they’d kill me if I ran away, I believed them...romance · steamy · dark · fantasy · paranormal · monsters · fiction · female-author · revenge · class-difference -
![Satan's Spawn by Danda K., Jenna Styx]()
Satan's Spawn by Danda K., Jenna Styx
It's scary how much life can change in an instant.One minute I'm preparing for a new school year in my San Diego town,and the next I'm being ripped from my childhood home.Making the cut from my father's death two years ago that much deeper...romance · dark · cruel-mc · enemies-to-lovers · death · fiction · mental-illness · grief · multi-pov · anti-hero -
![Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway]()
Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway
A virtuosic mashup of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler by way of Marvel--the story of a detective investigating the murder of a Titan, one of society's most powerful, medically-enhanced elites "Cross-genre brilliance from the superbly talented Nick Harkaway...adult · book · crime · cyberpunk · dystopia · fiction · genetic-engineering · horror · humor · law-enforcement -
![Rot by Candace Wondrak]()
Rot by Candace Wondrak
Grandmother always said I had the rot in me, something dark and vicious, waiting to come out and play. That I got it from my father, a serial killer who attacked my mother. It runs in my blood. She said I can't escape it, no matter how hard I try.She was right.My mother and I are out of options, so we had to run. Leave behind the life we both knew without looking back...romance · high-school · horror · contemporary · dark · womens-fiction · anti-hero · young-adult · new-adult · fiction
