The Halloween season is the perfect occasion to dive into a spine-chilling book. And who better to recommend terrifying reads than authors who specialize in horror?

From the iconic Edgar Allan Poe to H.P. Lovecraft, and later R.L. Stine and the master of horror himself, Stephen King, these novels have brought suspense and terror to readers young and old. While new horror stories emerge throughout the year, there’s something uniquely enjoyable about reading them under the October night sky.

Interested in something truly unsettling? We’ve asked 10 authors with fresh horror titles released this fall to share the book that terrified them the most. Read on if you dare.

‘The Changeling’ by Victor LaValle

“Perhaps it’s the all-too-familiar chilling grayness of a New York winter. Or the idea of being watched and followed. Or the fear of losing one’s sanity – both your partner’s and your own – especially the unimaginable: losing a child. But to pinpoint it, ‘The Changeling’ terrifies me because it reveals a primal fear that I never knew existed: the possibility of unexpectedly giving birth on the A train. There’s so much to say about this exquisitely crafted (I would even say flawless) book. So I’ll just conclude: If you haven’t yet read it, do so.”

– CJ Leede, author of “American Rapture” (released Oct. 15), a portrayal of Americana featuring a Catholic girl navigating the Midwest amid a pandemic that infects its victims with overwhelming desire.

‘Deliverance’ by James Dickey

“The film version might lead us to categorize ‘Deliverance’ as an action story, but Dickey’s beautifully intense writing adds a level of profundity that the movie lacks. Yes, the sadistic mountain men are genuinely frightening, but underneath that, Dickey alludes to a deeper, ancient terror that lurks in the seemingly serene wilderness our urban adventurers first attempt to embrace, then desperately try to flee. Few books blend beauty and horror so effectively.”

– Andrew Pyper, author of “William” (available now under the pseudonym Mason Coile), a cyber-noir psychological thriller that follows an agoraphobic engineer, his pregnant wife, and their high-tech house haunted by a rogue AI.

‘Floating Dragon’ by Peter Straub

“It’s always a tough question, but one particular book immediately came to mind. There are other horror novels that I appreciate more, even by this author, but the one that has haunted my dreams the most is ‘Floating Dragon.’ It features medical body horror, supernatural elements, and human monstrosities. Just recalling this book has triggered yet another unsettling dream about the ‘leakers’ I had last night.”

– Johnny Compton, author of “Devils Kill Devils” (available now), a Southern Gothic horror story centered on a woman whose guardian angel commits murder, leading her to encounter devils, vampires, and demons on her quest for revenge.

‘It’ by Stephen King

“The moment young Ben Hanscom walks home one winter evening and encounters the clown on the ice in the Derry canal changed everything for me. You know the scene I mean, right? ‘One hand grasped a bundle of strings with a bright bunch of balloons floating toward him, and Ben felt a wave of unreality wash over him.’ For the past 35 years, I’ve dedicated my career to capturing a scene this haunting and terrifying.”

– Richard Chizmar, author of “Memorials” (set to release on Oct. 22),

A spine-tingling supernatural tale about college students creating a documentary on roadside memorials that takes a dark turn in the Appalachian backwoods.

‘The Militia House’ by John Milas

“Set in 2010 at a military base in Kajaki, Afghanistan, ‘The Militia House’ follows Corporal Loyette and his squad of American Marines. After hearing about a rumored haunted militia house from the Soviet era, the team decides to investigate. They soon realize the horrors within are relentless. The chilling elements in ‘The Militia House’ are vivid, haunting your mind and staying with you long after reading – an everlasting reminder of the harsh realities of war.”

– Rachel Harrison, author of “So Thirsty” (now available), a vampire novel blending elements of “Lost Boys” and “Thelma & Louise” about two best friends having a transformative night out with a group of attractive strangers.

‘Nightwatching’ by Tracy Sierra

“Growing up, I was captivated by ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,’ and Stephen Gammell’s eerie illustrations have been etched in my memory. Recently, I finished a book that genuinely scared me: In ‘Nightwatching,’ a mother and her two children must hide from an intruder in their home. As a mother myself, this plot gripped me with its relatable fears. My heart raced the entire time. Thanks, Tracy, for adding to my list of anxious thoughts!”

– Jacquie Walters, author of “Dearest” (now available), a domestic thriller featuring a new mom who desperately seeks assistance as the unexpected return of her estranged mother brings forth deeper fears.

‘Nightworld’ by F. Paul Wilson

“It’s a terrifying exploration of Earth when the fundamentals of reality are upended. This bold apocalypse serves as a spine-chilling ‘Avengers: Endgame’-style conclusion (but with horror) to a multi-book lore Wilson has developed over the years. Familiar heroes join forces once more to tackle an insurmountable threat while illuminating a sliver of hope amid endless darkness. Plus, there’s a magic sword involved. Find it. Read it. You’ll thank me later.”

– Lamar Giles, author of “Ruin Road” (now available), a young-adult thriller about a Black football star on the run from police who seeks refuge in a pawn shop, makes a wish to stop being feared — and the wish comes to fruition in the most unexpected way.

‘No One Gets Out Alive’ by Adam Nevill

“The main character is confined in a house, but not in the typical sense. While she has the option to step outside, she has nowhere to escape to. The true dread lies not in her confinement but in what ensnares her. The supernatural elements and the constant apprehension kept me reading this with all the lights on!”

– Del Sandeen, author of “This Cursed House” (now available), a Southern gothic tale about a young Black woman in the 1960s who has the ability to see spirits. After moving from Chicago to New Orleans, she encounters a family that believes she can free them from their curse.

‘Pet Sematary’ by Stephen King

“The first book to ever give me nightmares. I was only 10 when I discovered it, despite my mother trying to keep it hidden from me. I couldn’t resist and ended up consuming it. Gage with that scalpel, wanting to ‘play’? Absolute chills. Now that I’m a mother, the thought of possessed children sends shivers down my spine and fuels my deepest fears. Josh Malerman’s ‘Incidents Around the House’ has also added to the terror.”

– Delilah S. Dawson, who wrote “It Will Only Hurt for a Moment” (available Oct. 22), offers a gripping thriller about a young woman seeking a fresh start in an artists’ colony, only to stumble upon a corpse.

‘Tell Me I’m Worthless’ by Alison Rumfitt

“An unnerving and surreal experience that feels all too real. If houses were siblings, then the ones in ‘Tell Me I’m Worthless’ and ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ would share a deed. While Shirley Jackson’s Hill House radiates a sense of despair, Rumfitt’s Albion house brims with a forthright loathing – it despises, relentlessly and intensely, and in my opinion, nothing is more terrifying than an entity that harbors such malevolence, intent on destroying you and all you hold dear.”

– Sofia Ajram, the author of “Coup de Grâce” (currently available), tells the story of a man contemplating suicide in Montreal’s St. Lawrence River, who finds himself trapped in an eerie subway station that has no way out but is filled with nightmarish visions.

Suicide Lifeline: If you or someone close to you is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can reach out to the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, available 24/7, or connect online.

Crisis Text Line offers free, confidential support around the clock for individuals in crisis. Just text “HOME” to 741741.