Since Halloween is almost over, I thought it is a bit late to do this post now. But then I said to myself – Does it really have to be halloween to read some of the best gothic horror novels? That’s when I decided that I wanted to do this post where I share some of the top gothic horror novels the world has been reading since ages and thoroughly loving them too.
You don’t have to be a horror lover to experience the thrill of these books, to enjoy some exquisite creepy writing, to feel the anxious jitters from some of the top-notch gothic villains. And these titles have been a rich source of all this and much more since decades. I’ve read all these books multiple times and I highly recommend each title. Let me hand-hold you while we revisit these haunts through my post – 5 gothic horror novels every book lover must read.
But first, let’s understand what exactly is gothic horror.
In the most general terms, Gothic literature can be defined as writing that employs dark and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic narrative devices, and an overall atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, fear, and dread. Often, a Gothic novel or story will revolve around a large, ancient house that conceals a terrible secret or serves as the refuge of an especially frightening and threatening character.
Source: thoughtco.com
Let’s check out the books now.

Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine’s father. After Mr. Earnshaw’s death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine’s brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.
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The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives–presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave.
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Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.
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The story is presented as a first-person narrative using an unreliable narrator. He is a condemned man at the outset of the story. The narrator tells us that from an early age he has loved animals. He and his wife have many pets, including a large black cat named Pluto. This cat is especially fond of the narrator and vice versa. Their mutual friendship lasts for several years, until the narrator becomes an alcoholic. One night, after coming home intoxicated, he believes the cat is avoiding him. When he tries to seize it, the panicked cat bites the narrator, and in a fit of rage, he seizes the animal, pulls a pen-knife from his pocket, and deliberately gouges out the cat’s eye.
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Angelfield House stands abandoned and forgotten. It was once the imposing home of the March family–fascinating, manipulative Isabelle, Charlie her brutal and dangerous brother, and the wild, untamed twins, Emmeline and Adeline. But Angelfield House conceals a chilling secret whose impact still resonates…
Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield’s past–and the mystery of the March family starts to unravel. What has Angelfield been hiding? What is its connection with the enigmatic author Vida Winter? And what is it in Margaret’s own troubled past that causes her to fall so powerfully under Angelfilds spell?
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Here’s a video link of the same. You can watch by clicking the link below.
What say, reader? Have you read these books? What are some of your favorite gothic horror novels. Tell me all. Share your thoughts in comments below.
Happy reading till we meet next. Until then, carpe diem!

Thanks for sharing Asha. Wuthering Heights is such an amazing literature tale about love and fallacy. How I wish to do fiction and interpret in modern times. I would love reading Poe’s Black Cats. An interesting gothic horror tales and hope can check few of them.
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I hope to read Wuthering Heights again this year. I have realised I can never read it enough.
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What about “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte”? Oh, wait– that was a movie… 😊 Great capsule reviews, Asha, thanks. I’ve heard of the first four books, but have never read them. I DID read Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” in high school, and was immediately traumatized for life!! Hope this finds you well– Merry Christmas!!
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How are you, Mark? I’m late to reply but I hope the new year has been fantastic for you. I usually do catch up with Poe’s tales every now and then. They are always a perfect break from ordinary fiction.
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Some great suggestions Asha! I know Daphne du Maurier is the queen of gothic thrillers, but I’m ashamed to say I haven’t read a single one of her books! I can, however, recommend Laura Purcell’s new one, Bone China. It has all the essential elements and plenty of creepiness.
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Then her short stories are a good place to begin. You could start with The Doll or the Birds or The Blue Lenses are some of the terrific ones. You could go for the heavier novels later. Even Jackson’s short stories are ones I’ll vouch for. Consider picking up The Lottery.Bone China is one I’ve never heard of. I need to check it out. It sounds like a book I’ll regret not reading.
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Such a great list! Definitely adding them to my TBR 🖤
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You’ll enjoy them, of that I am sure. There are several other titles I wanted to add in the list but I thought of limiting it to the best of the lot I’ve read. Do share your thoughts too when you do get around reading them.
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Thank you! I’ll be sure to do so. x
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I think I would have to nominate The Librarian, unfortunately I have forgotten the authors name other than that it was Eastern European.
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Ill look for it. Although, the title hints nothing about the genre. But that’s the beauty of it. The best books in this genre, you can’t tell by the titles. Thanks, Marsh.
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Interesting list! I haven’t read any of these but I want to read Rebecca for long time.
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Oh then, you must right away. Here’s my video review of it:
Hope this nudges you to pick it up sooner.
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I’ve read the first three. I couldn’t easily forget the narrator’s cruelty to the cat in the Poe story, so I don’t like it very much. I’d much rather awful things happened to people, preferably adults. I do love the genre though. Isn’t it funny that gothic generally pertains to the upper class. You don’t hear about bogan gothic…
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The Black Cat was very disturbing indeed. But Poe’s characters are massive gripping just as the plots. I remember the creepy protagonist and trembled when he kills his wife. That part is true, but Poe’s dark tales are often also about the lesser crowds. And so are some of Algernon’s and du Maurier’s.
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It got hit on ‘sent’ before I could type that I do not know very much about bogan gothic. I need to google up that term.
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