Hello Readers,
There are tons of upcoming horror book releases hitting
shelves over the next few months, and my TBR pile is already sweating. From folk horror and werewolf thrillers to gothic horror
mysteries, festive holiday horror, and yes, actual killer sharks, there is a
killer line up of new horror books dropping from late 2026 into early 2027.
Whether you’re hunting for your next spooky book recommendation, craving a deeply unsettling read for a dark winter night, or just keeping up with the most anticipated horror releases, here are the upcoming titles that need to be on your radar.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the cover images featured in this post. It is used under Fair Use for the purposes of review and recommendation, in line with sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright Act.
One Last Scare by Bill Wood (Lets Split up 3)
Synopsis: The past comes back to kill —when a haunted theme park reopens and true crime turns deadly in the final, blood-soaked mystery of the Let’s Split Up trilogy.
The gang thought they were done with murder.
After surviving one too many mysteries, they’re finally ready for a normal summer —until Chillshore reopens. Once a beloved island theme park, it shut down after a tragedy no one ever fully explained. Now it’s back and rebranded as a spooky attraction that leans hard into its dark past, complete with a creepy mascot known as the Groundskeeper and a guest list that includes horror influencers, true crime celebrities, and supernatural thrill-seekers.
Then a storm hits. No boats. No phones. No escape.
When guests start dying one by one, it becomes terrifyingly clear that the murders aren’t random. Each death exposes a piece of Chillshore’s buried history.
As paranoia spreads and the Groundskeeper stalks the island, the gang must untangle a web of lies, cover-ups, and long-suppressed guilt before the killer strikes again. Because this time, the mystery isn’t just about who is doing the killing — it’s about why the truth was buried in the first place.
Dark, twisty, and relentless, Bill Wood’s final instalment in the Let’s Split Up trilogy delivers a blood-soaked locked-room mystery that confronts the cost of turning real tragedy into entertainment and proves some stories will always come back to haunt you.
Release Date: 8th October 2026
Synopsis: Some curses don't die. They wait.
Melissa Hendrix arrives in the remote village of Hathersage desperate for a
fresh start. Crumbling Elm Tree Cottage seems isolated, affordable and far away
from the scandals she left behind.
But as the new village midwife, Melissa is quickly drawn into something she doesn’t rituals disguised as tradition, silence that feels like a threat, and an ancient elm tree no one will go near after dark.
As Melissa uncovers the village’s dark past, she discovers the story of a young woman condemned to the flames as a witch three centuries earlier. A woman who died cursing them all.
The descendants of those who betrayed her still walk Hathersage’s winding streets. Old loyalties remain. Old superstitions endure. Something buried long ago is stirring once more. And Melissa may be the only person who can stop it – or the one destined to set it free.
Release Date: 9th October 2026
Synopsis: In 1970s Mississippi, a Black detective and his temporary partner are assigned to a case that shifts from murder to paranormal conspiracy with life-altering repercussions.
Wenton, Mississippi: A man enters the bathroom of a local gay bar and doesn't come back out. Instead he's found cold, on the floor, and facing the wall. And no one seems to know how this happened.
Samuel Barkley is Wenton's only Black detective. Assigned to the case, Samuel's one goal is to keep his head down with eyes on moving up in the police ranks. But it's not easy with Harvey, a new, temporary partner who Samuel can't seem to like...or hate. Nor with the cold, questioning eyes and fake smiles from those in town. Persistent. Judging. Wrong. Samuel is reaching his breaking point.
As his investigation leads him to a curious plane crash cover-up, Samuel's placid existence is turned on its head. Because what crashed in Wenton isn't a plane. There are others here. They like it here. And if Samuel can't stop them, they will find a way to stay.
With shades of The X-Files and S. A. Cosby, There Used to Be People Here deftly explores race, queerness, and existing as other in a society that demonizes everything different.
Release Date: 3rd November 2026
'Twas the Night by Kevin Johnson
Synopsis: Yuletide cheer is served with a double dose of horror in Kevin Johnson’s gripping debut, in which a young reporter follows a string of disappearances into the middle of a terrifying Christmas cult inspired by our favourite holiday classics.
You better watch out. You better not cry.
It’s Christmas in the village of Yule, Maine.
In fact, it’s always Christmas in Yule. Here, Santa Claus isn’t a storybook figure. He’s an icon. A god. The villagers don’t just believe in him—they worship him. And the world is better for it.
Halley Belanger hates Christmas, and she doesn’t have much love for Santa either. But when a string of child disappearances across Maine seems to spare only the village of Yule, Halley—a sharp, skeptical reporter—decides to investigate.
What she finds is a town that guards its secrets with gingerbread smiles and a snow globe sheen. Outsiders aren’t welcome. She isn’t welcome. And something sinister is keeping the Christmas spirit alive.
As Halley digs deeper, she begins to uncover the horrifying truth behind Yule’s eternal cheer. Christmas comes at a grisly cost. And Santa Claus is no saint.
Release Date: 19th November 2026
Motherfucking Sharks by Brian Allen Carr
Synopsis: Where I come from, the children sing a song:
Oh, the motherfucking sharks; Oh, they're gonna come to town.
Oh, they're gonna kill the babies; Oh, they're gonna make you drowned in your blood.
Oh, the motherfucking sharks; Oh, they're gonna mince the flesh.
They're gonna swim up and surround you; Don't you know you'll never pass the test, it's over.
Oh, the motherfucking sharks; Oh, they don't care about the gods.
And they don't care about the families
And they don't care about the cries or tears they're killers.
Motherfucking sharks.
Motherfucking sharks.
Motherfucking sharks.
Motherfucking sharks.
Release Date: 14th
January 2027Stay Spooky
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