My Top Ten Horror Novels

The Rats by James Herbert - What can I say? The ULTIMATE horror novel! I read it one day as a teenager. Totally unputdownable and unforgettable!

The East End of London, where Herbert grew up, is vividly brought to life in this spine-chilling classic. Monster mutant rats, as big as dogs, develop an acute taste for human flesh . . . and go on a bloody rampage throughout London. There are some real terrifying and unforgettable scenes in this book - especially where the hordes of rats attack a school and a train. You can really imagine the sheer horror and terror the people caught up in this incessant, mass rat attack as the author skillfully builds up to the terrifying climax - and WHAT a climax it is too!

The Fog by James Herbert - A great follow-up to The Rats. And who could forget that horrific scene in the school gym?

The peace and quiet of an English village is suddenly - and horrifically - disturbed by an earthquake which unleashes a strange green fog into the atmosphere. Everybody who encounters this fog turns insane, and before long all scenarios of horror and madness are unfolding. Pupils attack and mutilate their schoolteachers, people roam the streets slaughtering everybody in their path. Emergency procedures are immediately implemented. But will they be enough to stop the madness before it is too late?

Lair by James Herbert - His stunning sequel to The Rats. The mutant rodents invade Epping Forest in another bloody rampage!

This time, Epping Forest is the location, as the flesh eating vermin from the previous novel escape from London and start breeding all over again deep within the woods. As in The Rats, the creatures attack their human victims with ferocious power and unbridled viciousness, and every blood-splashed set piece fills the reader with sheer awe and horror. If you loved The Rats, you will certainly regard this as a fantastic sequel!

Salem's Lot by Stephen King - For me, King's BEST horror book. Vampires stalk a modern-day American town.

Writer Ben Mears returns to the town of Salem's Lot, where he once had a rather disturbing experience, as a kid, at The Marsten House: he saw the body of Hubie Marsten hanging from his neck in the house. Now Ben faces a new horror as a vampire, by the name of Barlow, moves into the town to open an antique shop . . . and proceeds to unlease a wave of unimaginable terror and horror through the small-knit community. Dracula comes to modern-day America - and what a thoroughly enjoyable vampire story it is too!

Hell House by Richard Matheson - The traditional haunted house story is vividly evoked by this 1971 classic chiller.

A small group of psychic investigators are summoned to investigate the Belasco House in Maine, widely regarded as the most haunted house in the world. The house got its name from the horrible acts of blasphemy that occurred under the silent supervision of the evil Emeric Belasco. The novel combines supernatural horror with mystery as the researchers attempt to investigate the haunting of the house while their sanity is subtly undermined by its sinister supernatural influence. The greatest haunted house story ever!

Black Angel by Graham Masterton has to be one of the most terrifying, stomach-churning horror novels I have ever read.

I just love Graham Masterton's work, and I especially like the way he takes old myths and legends of supernatural beings and places them into modern settings. Black Angel is a perfect example of Masterton's ability on this score.

A serial killer is on the loose in San Francisco, a killer so evil, whose ritual murders are so horrific, the police have dubbed him "Satan". Only when Lieutenant Larry Foggia is assigned to the case does the true horror of the killer's motive come to light.

Pan Book of Horror Stories - Truly, the BEST series of horror story collections ever compiled. I still love them even to this day!

I have fond memories of buying these volumes as a youngster, or renting them from the library. Each volume never disappointed, as it brought together another new collection of horror stories written by both established and new writers. There are some real classics among these anthologies, some of which have even been adapted for film. The colourful, imaginative covers of each book accentuated brilliantly the appeal of their stories, and no serious horror buff should be without at least one of these volumes on their bookshelf. Very hard to come by now, but still much sought after.

The Exorcist - Utterly terrifying and deeply distubing. The possession of a young girl by the Devil, resulting from her tampering with a Ouija board, is almost too horrific for words!

William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel spawned the movie of the same name in 1973, which caused an absolute sensation when it was released around Christmas of that year. But as horrifying as the movie itself was, I thought that Blatty's original novel was even more terrifying! Definitely NOT the sort of book to leave on your dear old Aunt Agatha's chair!

The images of the possessed Reagan, tied to her bed and uttering demoniacal blasphemies, vomiting green bile and, of course, spinning her head around 360, still haunt the memory long after you put down the book.

Dracula by Bram Stoker - The original novel that started the blood-lusting saga of Count Dracula and his vampire legions.

Well, what is there to say about this true horror classic that hasn't already been said time and time again over the years? Dracula is the sinister figure of all nightmares, travelling from his castle deep in the heart of the Transylvanian countryside to England - slaughtering a few ship's crew on the way - to make his home (or should that be coffin?) in Whitby. Once there, he embarks on a terrifying campaign to spread the curse of vampirism among the English upper class. Only one man, Abraham Van Helsing, knows all about Dracula's evil, and how to defeat him. Assisted by his friends, Van Helsing pursues Dracula relentlessly. But does he have the power to end Dracula's reign of terror for good?

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly - One of the most iconic monsters created in all horror fiction history. Play God and you suffer the consequences!

Frankenstein, next to Dracula and The Wolf Man, is one of my all-time favourite horror characters. In the movies, many actors have portrayed the creature as little more than a savage, unintelligent, lumbering brute. (Karloff did, however, bring some pathos to the role.) But in Mary Shelley's immortal novel, the monster is depicted as being very intelligent and learned. However, despite this intellectual ability, the creature is nevertheless just as ruthless and murderous as he is often portrayed in the movies.

I would highly recommend Frankenstein, along with Dracula, as a great book to study for all budding horror writers. It is a true classic. Utterly timeless.