That creaking floorboard. The cold spot in the hallway. The shadow that shouldn’t be there. Few settings create instant dread like a haunted house.
Why? Because your home is supposed to be safe. When it turns dangerous or houses something unknown, you no longer have a place to go.
Why Haunted Houses Dominate Horror Fiction
Houses usually mean safety and comfort. They’re where you’re supposed to feel most secure. So when something supernatural takes over, it strips that safety away. Where do you run when your own home turns against you?
You can run from a monster. But a haunted house traps you inside with fear. You’re forced to face it, room by room.
In stories, houses offer endless ways to scare. Basements, attics, long hallways, and hidden doors are perfect for building tension. And everyone knows what a home is and how they should feel within its walls. Readers instantly recognize the wrongness of a haunted house without needing too much setup.
Homes also hold memories. Secrets. Pain passed down through generations. A haunted house becomes a symbol for things left behind or refuse to stay buried.
Books with Haunted Houses
These haunted house books deliver real chills. Some are classic, others are new. But all of them take you into houses where fear lives in the walls.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Four people arrive at the notorious Hill House to investigate paranormal activity. The house doesn’t lash out, it leans in. Slowly, it suffocates the living, twisting what’s real and what isn’t.
The Shining by Stephen King
Jack Torrance takes a job as winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel, bringing his wife Wendy and psychic son Danny. But the building isn’t empty. It’s full of rage, memory, and something that wants Jack.
Hell House by Richard Matheson
The Belasco House earned its nickname “Hell House” through decades of unspeakable events. A group of researchers enters, intent on proving life after death. But the house is hostile, corrupting, and pitting them against each other.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
When the new Mrs. de Winter arrives at her home, she doesn’t face ghosts; she faces memories. The past clings to the walls and won’t let go. The first Mrs. de Winter may be gone, but she still rules every room, every shadow, and every whisper within Manderlay.
The Elementals by Michael McDowell
Three beach houses stand at the edge of Alabama. Two are used every summer. The third is uninhabitable, half-buried in sand. But something dangerous lies within.
Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco
The Rolfe family rents a stunning summer mansion at a suspiciously low price. The only catch? They must care for the unseen elderly mother of the owners. But upon moving in, they begin to experience bizarre events and personality shifts.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
In post-WWII England, country doctor Faraday becomes involved with the declining Ayers family and their crumbling mansion. Strange events plague the estate, slowly encroaching on the inhabitants’ minds.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
When Louise’s parents die suddenly, she returns to her childhood home to settle their affairs. Together with her estranged brother, they must clean up and sell the house. But the house isn’t just full of old memories. It’s full of something else, and it doesn’t want to leave.
Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
A group of thrill-seeking friends throw a wedding party in an abandoned Heian-era mansion. Legend says a bride was buried alive beneath its foundation, her bones still hidden there. What they don’t know is she’s still waiting in the dark for someone to join her.
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
When Sam returns to her childhood home, she expects comfort, not quiet dread. Her once-cheerful mother now acts nervous, obsessed with keeping the house just right. Sam digs for the truth, only to uncover buried secrets and a presence that refuses to hide.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
With her father dead and her home destroyed, Beatriz seizes a chance at a new life by marrying the wealthy Don Rodolfo Solórzano. She moves to his estate in the countryside, but Hacienda San Isidro proves to be no haven.
With the help of a priest hiding his own secrets, Beatriz must fight the darkness roaming her new home.
White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
The Silver family house has sheltered generations of women. But it’s no ordinary home; it is sentient, xenophobic, and possessive. Those who live within its walls are watched, controlled, and sometimes harmed.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Young lawyer Arthur Kipps travels to isolated Eel Marsh House to settle a deceased client’s affairs. The house, accessible only during low tide, traps him with a vengeful ghost. Over the next several days, he is haunted by increasingly strange events.
What is your favorite horror book about a haunted house? Share your thoughts below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
