written by: matt molgaard
Which novels were a great success among readers this year? The truth is that it is a difficult question to answer, since we all seem to be looking for something a little different. however, we can definitely tell you about the books that really won us over. The following are the top 10 novels published in 2014, as voted on by myself and several of our contributors!
You are reading: List of 2014 horror fiction books
10 sergey kuznetsov – butterfly skin
verdict: butterfly skin reads, at times, like a vintage giallo image… mixed with a little girl who kicked the hornet’s nest. it’s wonderfully written and as addictive as I imagine crack to be. An impressive story that offers tons of chills, the novel is as disturbing as it sounds. reviews of the novel seem to be a bit mixed, but fans of the extreme will love this one.
09 Benedict Ashforth – Abbot’s Keep
Verdict: Benedict Ashforth’s spooky ghost story, The Abbot’s Keep remains a seriously underrated work. it’s quite haunting and stands out compared to other haunted house tales, which is essentially what the story boils down to. At least on the surface, right? read it, ASAP!
08 sean munger – zombie rebellion
verdict: how the hell can we be hypocritical enough to include a zombie novel when we’ve made it clear that we don’t agree with the zombie movement? To be honest, I can’t really tell you…well, at least not about the story. I haven’t read it though, several of our contributors have, and this one garnered enough votes to slip comfortably into the top 10 for the year. maybe I’ll have to betray my stubborn insistence on avoiding undead-centric books and give this one a chance.
07 hunter shea – the montauk monster
verdict: it was incredibly difficult to determine exactly where to classify the montauk monster. at the end of the day, maybe it doesn’t matter. hunter shea had a breakout year and is getting the kind of recognition she deserves. The Montauk Monster was one of two novels published by Shea in 2014, and while it’s a truly wacky story (about killer creatures created from different parts of different animals), it’s a great charm that echoes the old Stephen King. . We know you hear that comparison all the time, but in this case, it’s actually true!
06 eric red – wait below
Verdict: Aquatic surprises seem few and far between, but in 2014, Eric Red gifted us with a beauty that awaits next. this one has a bit of everything, but the claustrophic nature of the queue and balls-against-the-wall conclusion help push it into almost uncharted territory. red is a beast!
05 matthew gillies – the electric coma dream
verdict: matthew gillies electric coma dream is weird, fantastical and sometimes extremely relatable. it could be described as a complex examination of human growth, and it could be described as something darker altogether. Regardless, it was an incredible read that has yet to get the attention it deserves.
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04 stephen king – rebirth
verdict: revival received a lot of criticism from many readers. One of the biggest complaints we’ve come across is the fact that the novel is too tame and lacks the explosive moments that King is known for. We say to hell with those complaints, the revival is a rich read with some of the strongest recent character creations from the legendary author. definitely worth your time!
03 john everson – the family tree
Verdict: It didn’t seem likely that Bram Stoker winner John Everson would be able to infuse his patented eroticism into a book titled The Family Tree. He did. he did it wonderfully, in fact. this is a crazy, insanely engaging story that takes readers down an exciting yet unexpected path. amazing characters, amazing conflict, amazing setting, amazing execution. yes, it’s pretty impressive, we say!
02 joe r. lansdale – prisoner 489
Verdict: Unanimously adored by HNR contributors who read it, Joe Lansdale’s New Prisoner 489 is Joe Lansdale at his best. It’s absolutely horrifying, unlike much of Lansdale’s work, and it’s extremely creepy to begin with. who is prisoner 489? Is he alive, even after multiple attempts to electrocute his evil tail? and if not, what fate awaits those near his numbered burial place? an absolute masterpiece that needed to be longer if anything!
01 shea hunter – hell hole
verdict: we told you hunter shea had an amazing year. Some may prefer The Montauk Monster to Hell, but personally, Hell is not only superior to Shea’s two efforts, it’s also the most engaging and entertaining read of the year. This western-themed creature piece is loaded with everything a fan of the genre could hope for. There’s even a bit of historical flirtation, as Teddy Roosevelt himself makes an appearance! if that’s not cool, nothing is!
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