Horror books, just like movies, are like no other genre. They allow the reader to enter a terrifying world that makes our hair stand up on end and keeps us up at night without ever truly being in harm's way. Horror is a roller coaster ride of fear mixed with bigger themes, whether they be the after effects of trauma or a higher social commentary. Horror thrives in the darkness, and is oddly satisfying for those who enjoy it. So many horror novels have become iconic and have been adapted for the big screen, but these 10 transcend the bounds of a good story. Their unique writing alone makes them among the best ever created.

• 'The Hellbound Heart' (1986)

• 'Our Share of Night' (2019)

• 'The Reformatory' (2023)

• 'The Terror' (2007)

• 'Let the Right One In' (2004)

• 'Beloved' (1987)

• 'The Shining' (1977)

• 'The Exorcist' (1971)

• 'Ghost Story' (1979)

• 'The Haunting of Hill House' (1959)