The TOP 5 Scariest Stephen King Novels to Read this Halloween
By #1 Bestselling Author Matt Miksa
If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that Stephen King is my favorite author and the biggest influence on my writing. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a classic novel by the King of Horror himself? These are five Stephen King books that definitely gave me chills. How many have you read?
#5
NEEDFUL THINGS. Selecting a fifth novel for this Top Five list was difficult, as there are so many incredible options in King’s backlist.
In a small town (in Maine, naturally), a new curio shop has opened its doors. Needful Things, owned by the very creepy Leland Gaunt (that name!) has something for everyone. But can they pay the price?
This novel exploits so many of our human failings—jealously, envy, gluttony, to name a few. As the title implies, Needful Things is a thought provoking critique of runaway consumerism. A product of the early nineties, the story takes the suburban, middle-class concept of “Keeping up with the Joneses” to a sinister extreme. Like many of King’s epics, you’re invited into the living rooms (and bedrooms) of a massive cast. By the end of it, you’ll feel that you’re a part of the town, where everyone knows everyone else’s nasty business.
#4
IT. We can’t have a Best Halloween Horror Books list without including the ultimate killer-clown novel! Coming in just over a thousand pages, It may take a while to get through, but you probably won’t even notice.
Even if you’re not afraid of clowns, don’t fret. The monster in this tale takes the form of your worst nightmare, so you’re covered.
I love the structure of this story, how King alternates between the character’s lives as adults and as children. King has often cited Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House as “one of the finest horror novels of the late 20th century.” Jackson’s influence on King is apparent in It, particularly in the way his characters’ childhood traumas and fears follow them into adulthood.
#3
THE SHINING. This may be the most classic of King’s novels and contains some of his most iconic imagery. Jack Torrance, also a writer (a popular theme in King’s books), takes an off-season job as the sole caretaker of the mysterious Overlook Hotel. Ultimately, the evil forces gathering within the hotel test the limits of Jack and his family, including his gifted son.
King’s books are often atmospheric – after all, setting is crucial to ratcheting up the fear factor – but The Shining reaches a new level, as the hotel itself becomes a pivotal character. I’ve always admired how King can take things we may already find frightening, and twist the knobs up to eleven. Elevators, big empty buildings, bathrooms, mirrors…and I’ll never look at topiaries the same way again!
#2
PET SEMATARY. Even the spelling of the book’s title is genius, intended to reflect the way a young child might misspell the word. The eerie name references the makeshift burial site children have established for their deceased pets. But the land in this rural Maine town possesses a dark magic that the main character, Louis, and his young family are about to meet head-on.
I’ll admit, I avoided this one for a while, mistakenly assuming it was about a psycho-killer cat or something. Had I only known this simple, yet powerful story would ultimately make my top list of all-time favorites. The relationship between Louis and his elderly neighbor is incredibly well-developed. King endearingly captures an often ignored connection that can form between adult men of different generations.
But the kicker, of course, is Louis’s relationship with his three-year-old son Gage. My own child was the same age as Gage when I first read this novel, and my heart is still recovering from Part Two. Even King admitted to hiding this manuscript in his desk drawer after completing it, concerned he had gone too far.
#1
MISERY. A relatively short novel by King’s standards (about 350 pages), this one really flies. A successful novelist is held hostage in a remote cabin by a deranged fan who isn’t too pleased with how his latest story ended.
This 1987 classic won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel and holds up beautifully as an edge-of-your-seat, truly chilling tale. I found myself passionately routing for the main character, Paul Sheldon, and I’d read enough King to know just about anything could happen to the poor guy.
The best thing about Misery, though, is the terrific advice King gives authors through the voice of his fictitious, bestselling-writer character. Paul describes the value of the “Gotta” when crafting unputdownable stories. As in “I think I’ll stay up another fifteen-twenty minutes, honey, I GOTTA see how this chapter comes out.” This novel sure had that effect on me!
I highly recommend these books. So, this Halloween, curl up with a warm blanket and a pumpkin spice latte, and scare yourself to sleep. That’s pretty much how I do it. My dreams are amazing.
MATT MIKSA
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