“How little do we know of anyone, let alone ourselves?”
Adam Nevill is one of the most acclaimed horror writers in recent times. Known for his tales set in the most remote environments, Nevill is a master storyteller and an expert in ramping up the terrors through suspense. Nevill’s work pushes characters to their psychological limits, with the sinister forces at play often representing their flaws or biggest worries. One of Nevill’s best stories remains The Ritual, famously adapted into a 2017 blockbuster.
The story of four friends who take a hiking trip into the Swedish wilderness is a stellar piece of storytelling delving into the dreary creepiness of isolation and the effects it has on people. To celebrate Nevill’s third published work, check out the best books like The Ritual at What We Reading!
Last Days – Adam Nevill
Where better to start than with one of the other great books by The Ritual’s author? Last Days follows the story of Kyle Freeman, an independent filmmaker who is given the opportunity of fame and fortune by making a documentary on an infamous cult.
Led by the infamous Sister Katherine, the mysteries surrounding the Temple of The Last Days take Kyle and his crew across the UK and France, before ending in the desert wastelands where this cult met their grizzly fate. But, as Kyle interviews the cult’s few survivors, a series of strange and sinister occurrences threaten to plague the production and entangle the crew in the cult’s hideous vestiges.
Harvest Home – Thomas Tryon
Labelled ‘a brilliantly imagined horror story’ by the New York Times, Thomas Tryon’s Harvest Home is the pulsating tale of a family who flees the crime-ridden streets of the city, only to discover somewhere far, far worse. Readers follow Theodore Constantine and his family as they move to the idyllic farming village of Cornwall Coombe.
There, they win the favour of the local matriarch, Widow Fortune, and are invited to partake in their ancient festival, Harvest Home. It is only then that the family begin to understand the truth behind these villagers and their bizarre customs. Credited with inspiring Stephen King’s The Corn, Harvest Home is a timeless example of slow-burning gothic horror.
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The Troop – Nick Cutter
One of the best books like The Ritual for capturing the terrors of isolation on a remote setting, Nick Cutter’s The Troop follows a group of boys and their scoutmaster on a weekend trip to Falstaff Island. But, when a stranger washes up on the beach with an insatiable hunger, things take a quick turn towards the terrifying.
A truly terrifying look at gruesome body horror and how fear and paranoia can consume a group, The Troop remains one of the most chilling tales in the genre and Cutter’s imaginative way of presenting it makes it a page-turner any reader will devour.
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Brother – Ania Ahlborn
Like with The Ritual, Ania Ahlborn’s Brother takes place in a remote setting where all manner of horrors lurk in the shadows. In it, readers follow the disturbing Morrows family. Nineteen-year-old Michael doesn’t want to be like the rest of his family, taking no pleasure in the screams that slip between the West Virginian woods that he and his family call home.
Pining for a normal life, he runs into a girl named Alice in a local record store, instantly falling for her. But, just as he begins to plan for a pleasant life with her, his brother Rebel is on hand to remind him of what his true calling really is.
Penpal – Dathan Auerbach
Dathan Auerbach’s Penpal began as a series of viral short stories on online horror forums, expanding into illustrations, audio recordings and films. It has now become an acclaimed novel, and one of the books if you loved The Ritual!
The story follows a man and his investigations into making sense of his strange childhood. Through the book’s narrator, readers follow him across the various stages of his upbringing in a series of short, scary stories that end up culminating in one terrifying conclusion. With its eerie surroundings and gripping mystery, Auerbach is a master at conveying suspenseful storytelling.
Stolen Tongues – Felix Blackwell
In a remote cabin high on the windswept Pale Peak, Faye and Felix are celebrating their recent engagement. However, a series of animal screams, children wailing and a series of whispers in Faye’s ears hints that the pair are not alone in the wilderness. As the weather continues to take a turn towards the deadly, Felix begins to realise that his wife-to-be is communicating with something outside.
Originally a horror award winner on Reddit, Stolen Tongues is one of the best books for capturing the terrifying sensation of being watched from the shadows.
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The Ruins – Scott Smith
Scott Smith’s The Ruins follows the story of two young couples on a lazy holiday across Mexico. Sun-drenched, tipsy nights and friendly encounters with fellow tourist groups, this dream trip takes a sudden shocking turn when the brother of one of the couples disappears. The group decide to venture deep into the jungle in an effort to find him, only to stumble upon ancient ruins that harbour a sinister past.
That is where things begin to descend into nightmare territory in a similar vein akin to Adam Nevill’s work.
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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).
