Short But Scary: 12 Horror Stories to Devour Quick

There’s something wonderful about a story that can scare you silly in a single sitting. Something you can read before bed, over lunch or while your tea slowly goes cold beside you as you turn page after page, desperate to get to the end because you just have to see what happens.

If you love a short but scary horror story, then these twelve short horror reads are exactly what you need. They prove you don’t need 400 pages to feel your pulse quicken. From gothic dread to twisted modern tales, these stories are perfect for anyone who likes their stories eerie, atmospheric, bloody and over before the lights start to flicker.

165 pages
Retelling of the Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
Gothic Horror
Full of Dark Humour
Non-Binary Protagonist
Fungal & Botanical Horror
First in Series

128 pages
Body horror
Dark Fairytale
A Mermaid and A Plague Doctor walk into a creepy little village and find a cult
Dark Bloody
Horror Fantasy
Queer Gothic Vibe

cover of crypt of the moon spider by nathan ballingrud

128 pages
Gothic Horror
Alternate History
Giant Spiders on the Moon
Medical Horror
Science Fiction + Fantasy + Horror Mash-up
Spider Silk in the Brain

208 pages
Horror Romance
Twisty and Shocking
Dark Cottage Core Vibes
Sapphic Horror
Lush and Decadent Prose

cover of the pale house devil by richard kadrey

128 pages
Cosmic and Supernatural Horror
Darkly Funny Gallows Humour
Gothic Gore
Horror Noir
First Book in a Series

cover of the monster of elendhaven by jennifer giesbrecht

160 pages
Gothic Horror
Revenge Fantasy
Razor-Sharp Prose
Queer Characters
Monstrous Love

185 pages
Cosmic and Body Horror
Historical Fiction and Fantasy Sci-Fi Mash-up
Folklore
Occult Thrills
Monster Hunting
Alternate History

128 pages
Body and Cosmic Horror
Costal Gothic
Coming of Age Story
Toxic family secrets coming to light

163 Pages
Paranormal Horror
Told in Multiple Points of View
Atmospheric and Eerie
On the set of a Reality TV Show
Darkly Funny

224 Pages
Techno Horror
Sci-Fi Thriller
Fast Paced
A haunted House with a twist
Atmospheric and Claustrophobic

The Night Stockers by Kristopher Triana and Ryan Harding Cover

230 Pages
Extreme Horror
Bloody Battle Royale
Grocery Store Satanic Cult
Gory Horror Comedy

238 Pages
Horror Mystery
Unsettling Illustrations
Crime Thriller
Multiple Points of View
9 Drawings, 4 Stories and 1 Puzzle

Whether you love a slow-burn ghost story or a sharp shock of terror, these bite-sized horrors deliver the goods. If you’ve read any of them (or have your own short, scary favourites), I’d love to hear about them. Chat with me over on Instagram or drop a comment below.
And if you’re in the mood for more blood, mystery, and midnight reading, check out my latest book lists and reviews. There’s always something lurking on the shelves.