It would be an understatement to say that the first half of 2026 has been a spectacular celebration of genre entertainment and art. You only have to look at the box office to see how horror is dominating the cultural conversation. For those of us who’ve spent most of our adult lives arguing that horror is a vital art form capable of interrogating our deepest social anxieties—rather than just a cheap collection of jump-scares designed to make you spill your popcorn over the seat in front—the current landscape is hugely gratifying. All these stories have so much to say, and thank goodness, people are finally listening.
After much debate, we’ve managed to whittle down the towering stack of upcoming horror book releases into a definitive list of the 20 novels we are most impatiently waiting to dig into over the second half of the year.
Fabulous Bodies, Chuck Tingle (Jul 7, Nightfire)
What it’s about: By day, Poppy Stringer is a chic fashion influencer; by night, she’s a rogue grave robber. When Eddie Michaels—a flamboyant, piano-shattering rock icon—unexpectedly dies, Poppy is hired to snatch his body from the morgue. It should be a routine pickup, but everything goes spectacularly wrong when the corpse suddenly wakes up, plunging them into a blood-drenched, high-camp race for survival across Palm Springs.
Why we’re excited: Chuck Tingle has fast become one of my go-to authors, as their high-concept horror never fails to satisfy. They deliver entirely sui generis genre exercises laced with existential dread and fascination, but always balanced by the author’s signature touch—those glimmers of hope and love that pulse through everything they write. I have actually read this one already, and it’s a relentless ’80s midnight movie by way of Michael Mann’s Collateral, all rolled into an absolute banger.
Carry Me to My Grave, Christopher Golden (Jul 21, St. Martin’s)
What it’s about: As his mother Maggie lies dying, Malcolm is forced to promise he will transport her body back to her mysterious birthplace in Shediak, Maine. But Maggie’s impending death has awakened ancient, dormant evils across the country, all hungry to make her pay for her hidden past. The moment she takes her last breath aboard the Imperial Limited train, a nightmare unleashes, forcing Malcolm to protect her remains from terrifying forces that will slaughter anyone in their path.
Why we’re excited: Based on the early reviews and stellar author blurbs coming in, it’s clear this book brilliantly captures that rare sweet spot in horror—delivering a story that is intensely anxiety-inducing and dark, while remaining an incredibly fun, fast-paced cinematic adventure.
Ripped Up the Middle in Two, Viggy Parr Hampton (Jul 29, Horror Humor Hunger)
What it’s about: Grinded down by the overwhelming loss of identity and autonomy that comes with a three-month-old infant, new mother Sadie finds her reality unraveling when she discovers a hidden trail in the woods. The path leads to a miniature door surrounded by a clearing of tiny bones—a bizarre secret that mysteriously only appears when she is completely alone. Plunged into a claustrophobic, rage-filled nightmare, Sadie must figure out what ancient terror lives behind that door before it comes for her baby.
Why we’re excited: If the early blurbs are any indication, this book won’t be pulling its punches. Authors are already teasing a high-tension psychological thriller packed with gruesome body horror, unsettling “creepy crawlers,” and an atmosphere of pure, unrestrained rage.
Devil Inside, Clay McLeod Chapman (Aug 11, Mira)
What it’s about: Following a near-fatal accident, Jordan is plagued by disturbing hallucinations until a passionate night with a mysterious woman named Lilith gives him a new lease on life. But when she ghosts him, only to reappear later wearing an entirely different face while retaining intimate details of their encounter, Jordan begins to question his own sanity. Desperate for connection, he is drawn into a dark, reality-bending romance where finding love means embracing a terrifying cost.
Why we’re excited: Perfect for fans of Rachel Harrison and Grady Hendrix, and compared to Wes Craven’s Shocker but with romance in the middle, we can’t wait to see where one of the most prolific and consistently great contemporary horror authors takes us in what author Kylie Lee Baker purports to be “horror and heartbreak at its finest.”
Them, W.H. Chizmar (Aug 11, Gallery)
What it’s about: When a top-secret government experiment brings a living, otherworldly entity to Earth, a catastrophic highway accident unleashes the unstoppable nightmare upon the New England countryside. Years after the sudden collapse of human civilization, a scarred survivor journeys through the eerie, monster-infested ruins of the East Coast in search of other remnants of humanity. Navigating a brutal new natural order, he must fight to preserve his own fading sanity and pray that any survivors he encounters haven’t become monsters themselves.
Why we’re excited: Reviewers are already calling the solo debut from the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Widow’s Point: The Complete Haunting a landmark entry into the dystopian canon. Influential authors like Josh Malerman (Bird Box) and Jimmy Juliano (Dead Eleven) are hailing it as one of the best, most assured debuts they’ve ever read, completely side-stepping any typical “first novel” flaws.
Marla, Jonathan Janz (Aug 18, Blackstone)
What it’s about: In the small town of King’s Branch, reclusive Marla Gorman is the stuff of urban legends—a mysterious young woman rumored to be either a prisoner or a witch. When a string of bizarre murders begins, Detective Carl Lancaster becomes convinced Marla is psychically or physically connected to the crimes, while a local social worker and a struggling student view her as a key to their own pasts. But as the bodies pile up, none of them understand her true nature, and Marla is about to plunge the entire town into an unspeakable nightmare.
Why we’re excited: Originally a highly coveted 500-copy limited release that sold out instantly, Jonathan Janz’s Marla is finally getting a wide release. Reviewers hail this modern gothic nightmare as an instantly unputdownable masterpiece that perfectly channels an eerie, small-town Stephen King vibe. Genre icons warn it is far too terrifying to read after dark, packed with brutal tension, monstrous secrets, and a surprisingly heartbreaking core.
We Turn Gruesome At Night, Eric LaRocca (Sept 8, Titan)
What it’s about: Ten years after a devastating Christmas morning massacre, the residents of a small New Hampshire town remain trapped in a cycle of unbearable monotony and unresolved trauma. But when a mysterious courier introduces local resident Rupert to a secret organization called The Perdido Society, he uncovers a sinister web of town secrets and dark temptations. What follows is a blood-soaked odyssey into the depths of depravity, forcing two lost souls to realize how terrifyingly easy it is to become the monsters they once despised.
Why we’re excited: As the fierce second installment in Eric LaRocca’s Burnt Sparrow trilogy, We Turn Gruesome at Night is already being hailed by advance reviewers as the author’s emerging masterwork. Top horror voices promise a beautifully poetic yet unapologetically deviant odyssey that drags mankind’s darkest, most perverted impulses directly into the light. If you love fiction that aggressively pushes boundaries, early blurbs tease a brilliant, wretched blend of Shirley Jackson and Ray Bradbury—making this an absolute must-read miasma of immorality.
Pictures of You, Josh Malerman (Sept 10, Del Rey)
What it’s about: After a magical night with her fiancé Jack, Emily wakes up trapped in a strange, surreal bedroom where a looming silhouette treats her like a living piece of art. Held hostage by an unseen voice, she discovers that both her life and Jack’s hang in the balance of this living nightmare. If Emily attempts to escape the bed and break the frame of this twisted masterwork, neither of them will survive the experience.
Why we’re excited: Following his recent, deeply personal relationship with Evil Dead – a book that quickly became a bit of a bible for me – Pictures of You marks bestselling author Josh Malerman’s return to pure horror fiction. Genre fans are especially eager to see how he delivers his signature, relentless dread by turning a kidnapping into a twisted, living work of art where every second counts.
Kiss Slay Replay, Rachel Harrison (Sept 15, Berkley)
What it’s about: Willa is already having a miserable time at her best friend’s wedding weekend thanks to her ex-fiancé’s presence, but things go from awkward to fatal when a masked killer crashes the reception. Just as she faces a brutal end, Willa wakes up on the morning of the wedding, realizing she is trapped in a terrifying, time-looping night of carnage. To save her friends and survive the night, she must figure out how to stop the unrelenting killer and break the cycle—or face a fate worse than death as an eternal wedding guest.
Why we’re excited: Rachel Harrison’s latest is already being hailed as a career-best from the “Queen of Contemporary Horror.” Early praise promises a brilliant, “bonkers” take on the time-loop subgenre that doubles down on intense unease, dark humor, and gory slasher delights while injecting entirely original twists. It’s a whipsmart, bittersweet, and highly addictive nightmare that critics say you’ll want to read on a perpetual loop.
This Movie Doesn’t End the Way We Want, Hailey Piper (Sept 15, Titan)
What it’s about: Thirty years after her sister and best friend vanished inside a movie theater showing an obscure film, Val McQueen is forced back into the nightmare when a stranger’s murder reopens the case. Desperate for answers, she teams up with a former classmate to track down the elusive movie, only to discover they aren’t the only ones searching. Something tied to the film is on the hunt as well—and it’s coming to claim the one girl who got away.
Why we’re excited: This Movie Doesn’t End the Way We Want delivers a brilliantly eerie reinvention of the cursed-film subgenre, blending sharp mystery with unsettling cosmic horror reminiscent of The King in Yellow. Taut, unpredictable, and introducing an instant icon of psychological terror in the Toad Man, this claustrophobic thrill ride is one of the year’s most sharply crafted releases.
Mazywood, Tananarive Due (Sept 22, Saga)
What it’s about: Spanning three generations of rage, this supernatural thriller follows the dark legacy of Mazelle Washington, a young Black actress who brushed shoulders with Old Hollywood giants after a childhood wish came true. Fifty years after her death, her descendant Johnny uncovers the terrifying secret she kept nurtured for decades. By moving his family back to her ancestral home, Johnny unwittingly brings them directly into the hunting grounds of a hidden, generational monster.
Why we’re excited: Following her multi-award-winning bestseller The Reformatory, Tananarive Due’s Mazywood arrives with an incredibly high-profile pitch, described as S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed meets Percival Everett’s Erasure. The multi-generational horror novel explores the dark legacy of Old Hollywood through a young Black actress and her modern-day descendants. By pairing a biting, satirical look at the film industry with a classic creature-feature hidden in the mountains, this highly anticipated release promises a sharp, terrifying blend of historical reckoning and supernatural suspense.
Worry Box, Chris Panatier (Sept 22, Angry Robot)
What it’s about: For the Martin family, a beautiful new home in Tumbling Hills feels like the perfect place to finalize their foster daughter Lailah’s adoption. But the house’s quiet attic does little to soothe Lailah’s escalating, deeply violent, intrusive thoughts – which urge her to commit unspeakable acts against her new family.
Why we’re excited: Said to be reminiscent of A Head Full of Ghosts, and a major new milestone in suburban gothic fiction, Panatier’s unsettling domestic nightmare sounds set to leave readers questioning whether a troubled teenager is losing control, or if something far more sinister is pulling the strings.
Crone, Keith Rosson (Sept 29, Random House)
What it’s about: A decade after his daughter’s disappearance, broken ex-detective turned gang enforcer Eli Lamp is offered a clean slate if he can solve the vicious murder of his boss’s son. Teaming up with his daughter’s former best friend, Eli’s investigation uncovers a decades-spanning conspiracy that ties the town’s current tragedies directly to his own buried grief. But as they dig deeper, they realize they are being hunted by a vengeful, clawed entity lurking in the woods—a nightmare no one dares name out loud.
Why we’re excited: Following a spectacular run of recent releases, we are incredibly excited for Keith Rosson’s Crone, which promises a masterful, heart-shattering evolution of his distinct style. This highly anticipated release looks to deliver a powerhouse combination of gritty crime noir, folk horror, and devastating grief horror, all written in his signature razor-sharp, brutal prose.
Nightjars, Michael Wehunt (Sept 29, St. Martin’s)
What it’s about: When Luke Oshel is mysteriously stood up on a date, he is left with a disturbing childhood photograph depicting a corpse in his bedroom shadows—an event he has no memory of. As more graphic photos surface framing him for a new string of serial killings, Luke is plunged back into the repressed paranoia of his late father’s horrific legacy. To protect his ex-wife and young daughter, he must venture into the North Georgia Appalachians to unearth a centuries-old secret tied to the crimes. In a desperate race for the truth, Luke must face his family’s darkness to discover what monsters truly are—and decide if he is one of them.
Why we’re excited: We are incredibly excited for Michael Wehunt’s Nightjars, which is already being lauded as a breathtaking, beautifully crafted sophomore masterpiece. Promising a heart-thudding and highly unpredictable blend of Memento and Dracula, this highly anticipated release is already being hailed as close to genre perfection. We can’t wait to lose ourselves in what reviews promise will be an immersive, claustrophobic nightmare.
Newbourne Park, Jennifer Thorne (Sept 29, Putnam Pub Group)
What it’s about: Exhausted from years of caregiving, twenty-six-year-old Martha Shaw reluctantly agrees to a covert weekend getaway at a vacant, opulent 200-acre country estate. What begins as a carefree escape into luxury quickly devolves into a bloody battle for survival when the estate’s rightful master returns under the cover of night. Confronted by a vicious, hungry entity lurking in the moonlight, Martha is forced to cast aside her exhaustion and fight back against an unthinkable nightmare.
Why we’re excited: Having absolutely loved the supernatural downward spiral of Diavola, we cannot wait for Jennifer Thorne’s next wickedly funny horror novel. Following the massive success of her USA Today bestseller, Thorne has firmly established herself as a master of blending toxic family politics with genuine, teeth-baring terror. We are incredibly excited to see her bring that signature dark humor and sharp commentary on class back to the page, delivering another exquisitely paced, atmosphere-drenched nightmare that promises to twist classic gothic tropes completely on their head.
Other Worlds Than These, Stephen King & Peter Straub (Oct 6, Scribner)
What it’s about: Years after his harrowing journeys through America, the Territories, and the Black House, an older Jack Sawyer must face his most desperate mission yet to prevent the destruction of all existence. With his ka-tet fraying and the stakes higher than ever, Jack is forced to confront a rampaging gang of infected teenagers from Earth while simultaneously battling the mysterious, reality-threatening forces of the Gullet at the edge of Mid-World. It is a nearly impossible task that bridges our world and Roland’s universe in a final, cataclysmic stand.
Why we’re excited: We are absolutely thrilled for the long-awaited return of Jack Sawyer in the final installment of the iconic Talisman trilogy. As the culmination of the #1 New York Times bestselling collaboration between master craftsmen Stephen King and Peter Straub, this upcoming release is easily one of our most anticipated books of the year. We cannot wait to see how this legendary partnership wraps up the journey of one of horror’s most beloved and enduring protagonists in what promises to be an epic conclusion.
What Feeds Below, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne (Oct 6, Bindery)
What it’s about: Orphaned best friends Petra and Jade survive the slums by guiding treasure-seeking tourists into the Void, a massive, monster-infested chasm at the edge of their city. While Petra prefers the safer upper levels, she reluctantly agrees to Jade’s plan to risk a high-paying descent into the mysterious and deadly Sixth Layer to secure their freedom. But when the excursion goes horribly wrong and Jade is lost in the chasm, Petra must plunge into the terrifying, unknown depths on a desperate rescue mission—entirely unaware of the dark truth that waits for her below.
Why we’re excited: We are incredibly excited to dive into Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s What Feeds Below, which critics are hailing as an uncompromisingly bleak, “spine-tingling cave horror.” We can’t wait to experience the novel’s lush, innovative world-building, which reviewers praise for its hypnotic mix of fantastical, toxic botanical horror and terrifyingly vivid monsters. With advance praise celebrating the book’s gruesome body horror, fierce central friendship, and a fast-paced, “anime-style quest” structure that demands to be devoured in a single sitting, this claustrophobic nightmare is easily one of our most anticipated reads of the year.
Off the Reservation, Stephen Graham Jones (Oct 13, Saga)
What it’s about: Five years after the devastating massacres on the Blackfeet reservation, survivor Nate Yellow Tail miraculously cheats death in a horrific accident that leaves his best friend on the brink of life. Desperate for a fresh start and a way to save his friend, Nate joins three Blackfeet elders in a rundown camper van on a mission to exhume and bring home the remains of a boy who died at the notorious Carlisle Indian Industrial School. But as they venture to unearth a dark chapter of history where Indigenous children were systematically abused, Nate quickly learns that the past is more than just bones—and that the most deeply buried traumas are often the most terrifying to dig up.
Why we’re excited: From the bestselling, multiple-award winning modern master of horror, and author of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, comes this much-anticipated sequel to the much-loved Only Good Indians so we can’t wait to get back inside that same world to see where it takes us. And if a return to that word weren’t enough, the always brilliant Black Crow Books will be releasing a lavish duo release of The Only Good Indians and Off the Reservation that is not to be missed.
Phantom Limb, Brian Evenson (Oct 13, Coffee House)
What it’s about: After destroying the headquarters of an underground amputation cult, a badly burned and battered Kline finds himself trapped in a holding cell. Desperate to commute his prison sentence, he enlists the help of an ex-cop, only to inadvertently tangle with a dangerous breakaway faction of the very same cult. To win his freedom, Kline must investigate the sect’s brutal, ritualistic murder spree—all while fighting to avoid being lured into their twisted ranks.
Why we’re excited: Having only recently read Brian Evenson’s Last Days—and absolutely loved it—this is easily one of our most anticipated books on the list. Phantom Limb serves as a highly anticipated follow-up to that 2016 masterpiece, promising a frigid, precise interrogation of our notions of wholeness, fate, and the lengths we are willing to go to connect with a higher power. Finishing Last Days left us absolutely craving more of Evenson’s unique vision, and we cannot wait to dive right back into this world.
Depth Charge, Tyler Jones (Nov 10, Shortwave)
What it’s about: After being bullied and alienated in the fifth grade, Julian finds an unexpected ally in Marcy, who learns his terrifying secret: he sees eerily accurate visions of death in his own blood. Years later, Julian has transformed his dark gift into a career as a famous artist, but his success inadvertently pulls Marcy and her son into a dangerous vortex of secret government programs, murder, and blood-soaked canvases. As a horrific, catastrophic version of the future barrels toward them like a nuclear weapon, they are forced to confront the brutal reality of fate and how every choice shapes the world left behind.
Why we’re excited: We are incredibly excited for Tyler Jones’s new novel, which promises a “propulsive and mesmerizingly original” nightmare where the future itself is written in blood. Having established himself as a major force in the genre with Heavy Oceans, Midas, and Burn the Plans (which Esquire named one of the best horror books of 2022), Jones is back with a story that early praise warns “is going to be felt far and wide.”
Before we leave you, here are:
