10 Best Dark Books For A Daring Read – FAVBOOKSHELF

10 Best Dark Books For A Daring Read - FAVBOOKSHELF

Many people read for escapism, but many readers worldwide are big fans of dark books as they provide a kick that a simple rom-com may not give. These books are unique to their premises.

This article will give you our top 10 books with a darker theme only for daring reads.


10 Best Dark Books For A Daring Read - FAVBOOKSHELF
10 Best Dark Books For A Daring Read – Favbookshelf

#1 Animal by Lisa Taddeo


Animal by Lisa Taddeo- dark books
Animal by Lisa Taddeo

About the book

Title: Animal

Author: Lisa Taddeo

Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon Schuster

Pages: 336

Goodreads Rating: 3.72/5

Joan has spent a lifetime enduring the cruel acts of men. But when one of them commits a shocking act of violence in front of her, she flees New York City in search of Alice, the only person alive who can help her make sense of her past. In the sweltering hills above Los Angeles, Joan unravels the horrific event she witnessed as a child that has haunted her every waking moment while finally forging the power to strike back.

Why do we recommend this book?

This heartbreaking, gripping, astonishing masterpiece depicts female rage at its rawest and visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society.

To buy Animal by Lisa Taddeo now:


#2 Bird by Noy Holland


Bird by Noy Holland- best dark books
Bird by Noy Holland

About the book

Title: Bird

Author: Noy Holland

Publisher: Counterpoint

Pages: 176

Goodreads Rating: 3.42/5

This is a novel about the persistence of longing in which the twin lives of the title character blur and overlap. Bird puts her child on the bus for school and passes the day with her baby. Interwoven into the passage of the day are phone calls from a promiscuous, unmarried friend and Bird’s recollection of the feral, reckless love she knew as a young woman. It’s a day infused with fear and longing, an exploration of how the past shapes and dislodges the present. Currently, Bird cares for her husband, infant, and older child. But at the same time, Bird inhabits this rehabilitated domestic life, and she re-lives an unshakable passion: she slummed and wandered—part-time junkie, tourist of the low life—a life of tantalizing peril. “This can’t last,” Bird thought, and it was true.

Why do we recommend this book?

Noy Holland’s writing is lyrical, fired by a heightened eroticism in which every sight and auditory sensation is charged with arousal. The writing in this book – Noy Holland’s first novel — is fearless in depicting sexual appetite and obsessive love. It sheds light on the terror of abandonment and the terrible knowledge that we are helpless to protect ourselves and the people we most love.

To buy Bird by Noy Holland now:


#3 Carrie by Stephen King


Carrie by Stephen King
Carrie by Stephen King

About the book

Title: Carrie

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Pocket Books

Pages: 253

Goodreads Rating: 3.98/5

A modern classic, Carrie introduced a distinctive new voice in American fiction—Stephen King. The story of a misunderstood high school girl Carrie White, her extraordinary telekinetic powers, and her violent rampage of revenge remains one of the most barrier-breaking and shocking books of all time.

Why do we recommend this book?

A modern classic by the master of the horror genre, Stephen King, is the epitome of dark books. This could easily be considered groundbreaking, innovative, and as promising as any of his other dark books.

To buy Carrie by Stephen King now:


#4 Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez


Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez
Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez

About the book

Title: Crosshairs

Author: Catherine Hernandez

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 272

Goodreads Rating: 3.95/5

The author of the acclaimed novel “Scarborough” weaves an unforgettable dystopian tale about the near future where a queer Black performer and his allies join forces to rise when an oppressive regime gathers those deemed “Other” into concentration camps.

Set in a terrifyingly familiar near future, with massive floods leading to rampant homelessness and devastation, a government-sanctioned regime called The Boots seizes on the opportunity to round up communities of color and people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ into labor camps. In the shadows, a new hero emerges.

Why do we recommend this book?

With her signature “raw yet beautiful, disturbing yet hopeful” (Booklist) prose, Catherine Hernandez creates a frightening vision of the future because it is possible. A cautionary tale filled with fierce and vibrant characters, Crosshairs explores the universal desire to thrive, love, and be loved for being your true self.

To buy Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez now:


#5 Geek Love by Katherine Dunn


Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

About the book

Title: Geek Love

Author: Katherine Dunn

Publisher: Random House Vintage

Pages: 348

Goodreads Rating: 3.96/5

This is the unforgettable story of the Binewskis, a circus-geek family whose matriarch and patriarch have bred their own exhibit of human oddities with the help of amphetamines, arsenic, and radioisotopes.

Their offsprings include Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan; Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins; albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious—and dangerous—asset.

Why do we recommend this book?

Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same.

To buy Geek Love by Katherine Dunn now:


#6 The Good House by Tananarive Due


The Good House by Tananarive Due
The Good House by Tananarive Due

About the book

Title: The Good House

Author: Tananarive Due

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 597

Goodreads Rating: 3.98/5

The home that belonged to Angela Toussaint’s late grandmother is so beloved that the townspeople in Sacajawea, Washington, call it the Good House. But that all changes one summer when an unexpected tragedy occurs behind closed doors, and the Toussaint family history—and future—is dramatically transformed.

Angela has not returned to the Good House since her son, Corey, died two years ago. But now, Angela is finally ready to return to her hometown and go beyond the grave to unearth the truth about Corey’s death. Could it be related to a terrifying entity Angela’s grandmother battled seven decades ago? And what about the other senseless calamities Sacajawea has seen in recent years? Has Angela’s grandmother, an African American woman reputed to have “powers,” put a curse on the entire community?

Why do we recommend this book?

A thrilling exploration of secrets, lies, and divine inspiration, The Good House will haunt readers long after its chilling conclusion.

To buy The Good House by Tananarive Due now:


#7 The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones


The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

About the book

Title: The Only Good Indians

Author: Stephen Graham Jones

Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press

Pages: 310

Goodreads Rating: 3.72/5

Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

Why do we recommend this book?

The creeping horror of Paul Tremblay meets Tommy Orange’s “There There” in a dark novel of revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.

To buy The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones now:


#8 The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft


The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft
The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by
H.P. Lovecraft

About the book

Title: The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories

Author: H.P. Lovecraft

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Pages: 443

Goodreads Rating: 4.29/5

The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories presents the definitive corrected texts of these works, along with Lovecraft critic and biographer S. T. Joshi’s illuminating introduction and notes to each story. The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories is Penguin Classics’ second omnibus edition of works by 20th-century American author H. P. Lovecraft. It was released in October 2001 and is still in print.

Why do we recommend this book?

Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions, notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, and up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

To buy The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft now:


#9 The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, John Lawrence (Illustrator)


The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
The Woman in Black by
Susan Hill

About the book

Title: The Woman in Black

Author: Susan Hill, John Lawrence (Illustrator)

Publisher: David R. Godine Publisher

Pages: 138

Goodreads Rating: 3.74/5

What real reader does not yearn, somewhere in the recesses of their heart, for a literate, first-class thriller—one that chills the body but warms the soul with plot, perception, and language at once astute and vivid? In other words, a ghost story written by Jane Austen? We cannot give you Austen, but Susan Hill’s remarkable Woman In Black comes as close as our era can provide.

Set on the obligatory English moor, on an isolated causeway, the story has as its hero Arthur Kipps, an up-and-coming young solicitor who has come north from London to attend the funeral. The rocking chair in the deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child’s scream in the fog, and most dreadfully—and for Kipps most tragically—The Woman In Black.

Why do we recommend this book?

The Woman In Black is a brilliant exercise in atmosphere, controlled horror, and a delicious spine-tingler—proof that this neglected genre, the ghost story, isn’t dead after all.

To buy The Woman in Black by Susan Hill now:


#10 Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates


Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates
Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates

About the book

Title: Zombie

Author: Joyce Carol Oates

Publisher: Plume

Pages: 181

Goodreads Rating: 3.34/5

Zombie is a classic novel of dark obsession by the extraordinary Joyce Carol Oates. A brilliant, courageous journey into the mind of a serial killer, Zombie views the world through the eyes of Quentin P., a newly paroled sex offender, as he chillingly evolves from rapist to mass murderer. Meet Quentin P., the most believably terrifying sexual psychopath, and killer ever brought to life in fiction. The author deftly puts you inside the mind of a serial killer—succeeding not in writing about madness but in writing with the logic of madness.

Why do we recommend this book?

She ranks among America’s most respected and accomplished literary artists with this provocative, breathtaking, and disturbing masterwork. Lovers of dark themed books should definitely give this a try.

To buy Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates now:


We hope our recommendation will be an enjoyable read for you, and don’t forget to tell us your favorite books with a dark theme.


1Animal by Lisa TaddeoBuy now
2Bird by Noy HollandBuy now
3Carrie by Stephen KingBuy now
4Crosshairs by Catherine HernandezBuy now
5Geek Love by Katherine DunnBuy now
6The Good House by Tananarive DueBuy now
7The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham JonesBuy now
8The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H.P. LovecraftBuy now
9The Woman in Black by Susan HillBuy now
10Zombie by Joyce Carol OatesBuy now
Dark Books For A Daring Read

Articles you might like:
Videos you might like:

Are you an author or a publisher? If yes, then you must check our services for promotions and marketing. They will undoubtedly benefit you.


DisclosureAll our recommendations are honest; most importantly, some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we recommend.

What are the best dark books according to you? Leave a comment below. We would love to know your favorite dark themed books!

Subscribe to our newsletter to never miss our updates and book recommendations.

Follow us on InstagramTwitterPinterest, Youtube, Facebook, and Goodreads to learn more about us.

P.S. If you share it, it will make our day.

Happy Reading, and Keep Smiling!!

Have a nice day ahead.🙂

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top