Ghosts: Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t escape them in literature. We’ve been telling spooky stories ever since we were painting on cave walls—and now, millennia later, our obsession shows no signs of waning. But a ghost story is rarely just a ghost story. Rather, the spirits often symbolize the more nebulous things that haunt us, from trauma to secrets to unsolved mysteries. Contemporary ghost stories have edged their way into psychological horror territory, lending themselves to fractured minds and haunted house settings.
To revel in the spooky side of fall, we’ve rounded up ten of our favorite ghost stories, which exemplify all that the modern version of such stories can do and be. These novels make us think; they ask us to interrogate our past and question our prejudices. They’re also really, really scary, so keep the lights on while you read, lest you start looking for ghosts around the dark corners in your own home. (And if you need more terrifying page-turners after, check out our favorite horror books as well. Many of these have been adapted into works for the screen, no less haunting.)
To celebrate spooky season, we’ve rounded up ten of our favorite ghost stories, which exemplify all that the modern version of such stories can do and be.
