Gothic Thrillers for the Haunted at Heart

Haunted house stories and horror don’t have to be historical, but there’s something about the genre of gothic fiction in particular that just feels right in a historical setting. Maybe it’s because the genre is so strongly associated with books from the past, like Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, and The Mysteries of Udolpho. Today’s authors have certainly shown that contemporary gothic novels can be just as compelling (see Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas, Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, and Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey), but even many modern-day authors of gothic fiction populate their worlds with historical settings. Think Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Isabel Cañas, and Sarah Waters. These four gothic thrillers fall into that latter category of historical gothic novels written by contemporary writers. Their perspective lends something new to these stories of old, twining together past and present and drawing upon gothic stories we’re already familiar with, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Crack them open if you dare, but beware the haunting stories that await inside. Get 15% off annual All Access memberships for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot’s 15th anniversary! Savings...