Reading Recommendations

If You Like Horror

09/29/25 Horror, If You Like

6 Ways to Find Your Next Terrifying Read

1. Read an award winner.

Given out yearly since 1988, The Bram Stoker Awards® are the premiere awards for outstanding writing presented by the Horror Writers Association. To place convenient requests in our catalog, see all the Bram Stoker Award winners in our collection.

2. Borrow e-books, downloadable audiobooks, or movies.

Here are some quick links to fiction & films you can borrow with your IndyPL library card.

If you have never borrowed from OverDrive before both OverDrive app directions and OverDrive browser directions are available. Additionally, you can watch an OverDrive video tutorial or consult with Overdrive Support. If you have never borrowed from Kanopy before here are some Kanopy directions and a Kanopy video tutorial.

3. Get reading recommendations from Library staff.

Click on our featured lists or browse through all of our horror staff lists.

Staff Picks 2024- Best of Suspense

In the mood to freak yourself out? Check out our staff’s favorite horror, mystery, and thriller novels from 2024.

We’ve got stories of missing children that span decades (The God of the Woods and The Middle of the Night, All the Colors of the Dark), lots of haunted houses (Incidents Around the House, We Use to Live Here, and Model Home), and indigenous suspense (The Angel of Indian Lake and Where They Last Saw Her).

4. Make a selection from this list of horror authors.

5. Subscribe to the horror newsletter from NextReads.

Receive reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue. Subscribe to NextReads!

6. Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus.

On Novelist Plus you’ll find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books. There are several horror categories to choose from including:

Find a book discussion near you!

You are invited to join in one of our many in-person or online book discussions that take place several times each month. In our book discussion groups we read and talk about both fiction and non-fiction books. We express our opinions (both likes and dislikes!) with other avid readers in the city.

Event: WitLITS Book Discussion Group
Date & Time: Friday, November 21, 10:30am
Location: Spades Park Branch
Description: A read aloud group exploring classic literature in a group reading. Do you like classic American Literature? Do you enjoy listening to literature read out loud? Then consider WitLITS where our bookclub requires one thing – show up.
No Registration Required.

Event: Zine Salon
Date & Time: Monday, November 24, 6:00pm
Rescheduled Date & Time: Tuesday, November 25, 6:00pm
Location: East 38th Street Branch
Description: Spend some time reading, talking about, and making zines. We’ll pass around and read five selected titles. If you need to wait while others read, use one of our kits to draw, write, and make a zine of your own.
Register Here

Event: Black Author Book Club
Date & Time: Monday, November 24, 6:00pm
Location: East 38th Street Branch
Description: Come celebrate the wide array of books by Black authors. We will explore various genres ranging from poetry, urban fiction, nonfiction, and adult fiction. There are a limited number of spots so reserve yours today!
Register Here

Need more help?

Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Tags Horror, If You Like