“Horror’s not a symptom, it’s a love affair.”
Slashers have risen to become one of the most iconic subgenres in the world of horror since their heyday in the early 1980s. With their formulaic approach, featuring final girls and final-frame jump scares, slashers offer a unique and creative expression that graces screens with sights that would never be allowed in any other genre.
Moreover, they tap into our universal desire to survive against all odds, as our heroes exhibit remarkable resilience, resourcefulness, and courage in overcoming their would-be killers. So, why not join us at What We Reading in celebrating the enduring popularity of slashers with horror fans across the globe? In this article, we’ll guide you through 7 of the best slasher books, providing thrilling recommendations for your next great scare!
My Heart Is A Chainsaw – Stephen Graham Jones
My Heart Is a Chainsaw is a gory, raw, and disturbing tale that takes readers on a stomach-churning, wild ride through the slasher genre. Nominated for Best Horror in the Goodreads Choice Awards, this book follows Jade Daniels, an angry outcast living in the sleepy town of Proofrock. Jade’s life is like a horror movie, and she narrates it as if she were the final girl in her own flick. But as blood starts seeping into Indian Lake, Jade finds herself relying on her encyclopedic knowledge of the genre to predict how events will unfold. Along the way, she uncovers more and more about her true self hidden beneath the surface. This gripping tale will keep readers on the edge of their seats as you join Jade in her quest to survive the horrors that lurk in her town.
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The Final Girl Support Group – Grady Hendrix
From the bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, comes a fast-paced and thrilling tale that introduces readers to six incredible final girl heroines. In horror lore, the final girl is the last surviving member of a cast of characters – the one who fights back overcomes the bad guy and walks off into the sunset.
But what happens after the credits roll? In The Final Girl Support Group, author Grady Hendrix delves into the aftermath, as six final girls come together once a month for a therapy support group. However, when one of the girls fails to show up for a meeting, the group realizes that someone is aware of them and is committed to tearing their lives apart again. With suspenseful twists and turns, this gripping novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth behind the mysterious threat that looms over the final girls’ lives.
Most Likely To Die – PJ Stanley
Most Likely to Die pays homage to the classic whodunnit slashers of the 1990s and tells the gripping story of Brynn Baldwin, a popular cheerleader who has won the title ‘Most Likely to Succeed’. However, Brynn’s world turns upside down when someone defaces her yearbook photo with the chilling line ‘Most Likely to Die’.
As if that wasn’t enough, a psychotic killer dressed as the school mascot begins to target Brynn’s closest friends, unleashing chaos, comedy, and suspense in this thrilling tale. Most Likely to Die serves as a poignant lesson in how in high school, you never truly know the ones closest to you. With its nostalgic nods to the slasher genre of the 90s (an underrated horror era), this book is a must-read for fans of heart-pounding mysteries and suspenseful storytelling.
There’s Someone Inside Your House – Stephanie Perkins
Stephanie Perkins, known for her acclaimed fluffy romance novels, takes a daring leap into the world of gory slasher flicks with There’s Someone Inside Your House, now adapted for Netflix.
The story follows Makani Young, who moves to Nebraska to live with her grandmother and start anew. As she settles into a new school, she begins to form a connection with a boy named Ollie and finds herself making new friends. However, the tranquil facade shatters when a series of gruesome murders terrorize the students of Osborne Hugh, and Makani’s past begins to catch up with her. With heart-pounding suspense and unexpected twists, There’s Someone Inside Your House is a must-read for fans of both romance and horror genres.
Clown In A Cornfield – Adam Cesare
Adam Cesare’s Clown in a Cornfield series debuts with a gripping tale that follows Quinn Maybrook, a young woman who relocates to Kettle Springs, a town deeply divided between the old and young, and traditional and progressive values. As tensions rise, the town’s mascot, Frendo the clown, goes on a homicidal rampage against the town’s youth, convinced that they are a threat to the town’s well-being and must be eradicated. The series expertly blends horror, suspense, and social commentary, making for a chilling, thought-provoking and deliciously gory read.
Tastes Like Candy – Ivy Tholen
Ivy Tholen’s Tastes Like Candy: A Slasher Novel takes readers on a thrilling and chilling journey alongside Violet Warren and her friends as they venture into the Poison Apple Carnival after hours for the infamous Senior Scavenger hunt. But their excitement turns to horror when a masked killer starts gruesomely slashing their way through the carnival-goers. As Violet’s friends fall victim to the killer’s twisted attacks in increasingly macabre ways, she realizes that the carnage is not random, but personal to her. With her survival instincts kicking in, Violet must fight for her life and uncover the dark motivations behind the blood-soaked night.
Ten – Gretchen McNeil
Gretchen McNeil’s Ten is a gripping young adult slasher novel that follows a group of friends as they gather for an exclusive house party on the remote Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie are looking forward to two days of wild partying, but their plans turn dark when they discover a DVD with a chilling message: “Vengeance is mine.” As a storm rages outside, the friends find themselves stranded on the island, and a killer begins to systematically pick them off in gruesome ways.
With tensions running high and suspicions mounting, Meg realizes that the killer could be someone from within their own group. As fear and paranoia grip the friends, they turn on each other, and Meg must confront the disturbing possibility that the killer is someone she thought she knew. With no way to escape the island and the body count rising, Meg must race against time to uncover the truth and stop the bloodshed before it’s too late.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
