30 Books like Night of the Living Dummy

Incidents Around the House

by Josh Malerman

The woman in the closet wants a little girl's heart. Refusing only makes it kill.

3.56

101k+

🏠 Domestic Horror 🧒 Childhood Possession 🧸 Imaginary Friend Horror 😰 Creeping Dread 🖤 Bleak Ending

Incidents Around the House 92%

The woman in the closet wants a little girl's heart. Refusing only makes it kill.

by Josh Malerman 2024

3.56

101k+ ratings

🏠 Domestic Horror 🧒 Childhood Possession 🧸 Imaginary Friend Horror 😰 Creeping Dread 🖤 Bleak Ending

How to Sell a Haunted House

by Grady Hendrix • 2023

Her dead parents' house is stuffed with puppets. And her mother's favorite, Pupkin, has woken up.

3.63

172k+

🏚️ Haunted House 🎭 Evil Dolls And Puppets 👥 Sibling Rivalry 🔒 Family Secrets 🖤 Darkly Comic Horror

How to Sell a Haunted House 93%

Her dead parents' house is stuffed with puppets. And her mother's favorite, Pupkin, has woken up.

by Grady Hendrix 2023

3.63

172k+ ratings

🏚️ Haunted House 🎭 Evil Dolls And Puppets 👥 Sibling Rivalry 🔒 Family Secrets 🖤 Darkly Comic Horror

Whistle

by Linwood Barclay • 2025

Her son's toy trains kill, and the creature behind them demands she take its place.

3.91

10k+

🖤 Supernatural Horror 🚂 Cursed Toys 🏚️ Small Town Horror 👩‍👦 Mother Son Bond 🌀 Psychological Unraveling

Whistle 92%

Her son's toy trains kill, and the creature behind them demands she take its place.

by Linwood Barclay 2025

3.91

10k+ ratings

🖤 Supernatural Horror 🚂 Cursed Toys 🏚️ Small Town Horror 👩‍👦 Mother Son Bond 🌀 Psychological Unraveling

Alone

by Cyn Balog • 2017

Trapped by snow in a murder-mystery hotel, a girl's imaginary friend starts leaving real footprints.

3.58

2k+

🏚️ Gothic Mansion ❄️ Snowbound Horror 🫥 Imaginary Friend 👥 Hidden Twin 🎯 Deadly Game

Alone 90%

Trapped by snow in a murder-mystery hotel, a girl's imaginary friend starts leaving real footprints.

by Cyn Balog 2017

3.58

2k+ ratings

🏚️ Gothic Mansion ❄️ Snowbound Horror 🫥 Imaginary Friend 👥 Hidden Twin 🎯 Deadly Game

The Godsend

by Bernard Taylor • 1976

A family's kindness to a pregnant stranger yields a baby and a tally of dead siblings.

3.77

690

🧠 Psychological Horror 👧 Evil Child 👶 Sinister Foundling 👁️ Unreliable Narrator 💔 Grief Horror

The Godsend 90%

A family's kindness to a pregnant stranger yields a baby and a tally of dead siblings.

by Bernard Taylor 1976

3.77

690 ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 👧 Evil Child 👶 Sinister Foundling 👁️ Unreliable Narrator 💔 Grief Horror

The Grownup

by Gillian Flynn • 2014

A fake psychic cleanses a Gothic mansion. The ghosts are fake; the danger is real.

3.55

155k+

🏠 Domestic Noir 🧠 Psychological Horror 🗣️ Unreliable Narrator 🃏 Con Within A Con 👦 Manipulative Child

The Grownup 90%

A fake psychic cleanses a Gothic mansion. The ghosts are fake; the danger is real.

by Gillian Flynn 2014

3.55

155k+ ratings

🏠 Domestic Noir 🧠 Psychological Horror 🗣️ Unreliable Narrator 🃏 Con Within A Con 👦 Manipulative Child

A Path Begins

by J.A. White • 2014

After finding a spellbook, an outcast girl must protect her sick brother from a rival witch.

3.97

6k+

🔥 Witch Hunt 📖 Forbidden Spellbook 💉 Addictive Magic 👧 Protective Sister ⛪ Puritan Village

A Path Begins 90%

After finding a spellbook, an outcast girl must protect her sick brother from a rival witch.

by J.A. White 2014

3.97

6k+ ratings

🔥 Witch Hunt 📖 Forbidden Spellbook 💉 Addictive Magic 👧 Protective Sister ⛪ Puritan Village

Small Spaces

by Katherine Arden • 2018

Her class trip vanishes into mist where scarecrows walk and a smiling man bargains for souls.

4.01

30k+

🧒 Middle Grade Horror ☕ Cozy Horror 📖 Haunted Diary 💔 Grieving Protagonist 🤝 Dangerous Bargains

Small Spaces 91%

Her class trip vanishes into mist where scarecrows walk and a smiling man bargains for souls.

by Katherine Arden 2018

4.01

30k+ ratings

🧒 Middle Grade Horror ☕ Cozy Horror 📖 Haunted Diary 💔 Grieving Protagonist 🤝 Dangerous Bargains

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman • 2002

Her other mother is perfect, doting, and wants to keep Coraline forever behind sewn-shut eyes.

4.13

788k+

🚪 Portal Fantasy 🌑 Dark Fairy Tale 👁️ Uncanny Doppelgangers 🧠 Clever Girl Hero 🕯️ Creeping Dread

Coraline 91%

Her other mother is perfect, doting, and wants to keep Coraline forever behind sewn-shut eyes.

by Neil Gaiman 2002

4.13

788k+ ratings

🚪 Portal Fantasy 🌑 Dark Fairy Tale 👁️ Uncanny Doppelgangers 🧠 Clever Girl Hero 🕯️ Creeping Dread

Sour Candy

by Kealan Patrick Burke

A Walmart candy aisle encounter costs a man his teeth, his girlfriend, and his reality.

3.59

26k+

🌌 Cosmic Horror 🦷 Body Horror 🧬 Parasitic Entity 😵 Reality Gaslighting 👔 Reluctant Father

Sour Candy 90%

A Walmart candy aisle encounter costs a man his teeth, his girlfriend, and his reality.

by Kealan Patrick Burke 2015

3.59

26k+ ratings

🌌 Cosmic Horror 🦷 Body Horror 🧬 Parasitic Entity 😵 Reality Gaslighting 👔 Reluctant Father

The Silver Eyes

by Scott Cawthon • 2016

A memorial brings Charlie home, but the derelict pizzeria's mechanical mascots are still alive.

4.07

24k+

🕰️ Nostalgic Horror 🤖 Haunted Machines 👥 Childhood Friends Reunite 🏚️ Small Town Secrets 🧒 Missing Children

The Silver Eyes 90%

A memorial brings Charlie home, but the derelict pizzeria's mechanical mascots are still alive.

by Scott Cawthon 2016

4.07

24k+ ratings

🕰️ Nostalgic Horror 🤖 Haunted Machines 👥 Childhood Friends Reunite 🏚️ Small Town Secrets 🧒 Missing Children

Anathema

by Nick Roberts • 2020

A family's suburban fresh start is hijacked by a demon neighbor who weaponizes their guilt.

3.97

5k+

👿 Demonic Possession 🏘️ Suburban Horror 🧠 Psychological Horror 🏚️ Family Under Siege 👤 Evil Imaginary Friend

Anathema 90%

A family's suburban fresh start is hijacked by a demon neighbor who weaponizes their guilt.

by Nick Roberts 2020

3.97

5k+ ratings

👿 Demonic Possession 🏘️ Suburban Horror 🧠 Psychological Horror 🏚️ Family Under Siege 👤 Evil Imaginary Friend

All Hallows

by Christopher Golden • 2023

When lost children beg for help on Halloween, a neighborhood learns what hides in the dark.

3.52

13k+

🌲 Suburban Folk Horror 🎃 Halloween Horror 🏘️ Haunted Neighborhood 😱 Children In Peril 🔒 Family Secrets

All Hallows 90%

When lost children beg for help on Halloween, a neighborhood learns what hides in the dark.

by Christopher Golden 2023

3.52

13k+ ratings

🌲 Suburban Folk Horror 🎃 Halloween Horror 🏘️ Haunted Neighborhood 😱 Children In Peril 🔒 Family Secrets

Scritch Scratch

by Lindsay Currie • 2020

A ghost boy haunts a science-loving girl, his only clue a number scrawled on her wall.

3.91

5k+

👻 Kid Ghost Hunters 🤔 Skeptic Protagonist 📜 Forgotten History 🧪 Girl Scientist 🌃 Urban Ghost Story

Scritch Scratch 90%

A ghost boy haunts a science-loving girl, his only clue a number scrawled on her wall.

by Lindsay Currie 2020

3.91

5k+ ratings

👻 Kid Ghost Hunters 🤔 Skeptic Protagonist 📜 Forgotten History 🧪 Girl Scientist 🌃 Urban Ghost Story

The Caretaker

by Marcus Kliewer

A broke housesitter follows a dead man's rules to keep out whatever knocks at night.

3.63

35k+

🏚️ Haunted House 🌫️ Gothic Atmosphere 🔮 Unreliable Reality 💔 Grief As Horror 🔥 Slow Burn Dread

The Caretaker 90%

A broke housesitter follows a dead man's rules to keep out whatever knocks at night.

by Marcus Kliewer 2026

3.63

35k+ ratings

🏚️ Haunted House 🌫️ Gothic Atmosphere 🔮 Unreliable Reality 💔 Grief As Horror 🔥 Slow Burn Dread

Finch House

by Ciera Burch • 2023

Grandfather vanished inside the forbidden Victorian. Micah must enter a house that traps children.

3.70

386

🏚️ Haunted House 🏠 Sentient House 👧 Missing Children 👻 Bargain With Ghosts 🩸 Family Curse

Finch House 91%

Grandfather vanished inside the forbidden Victorian. Micah must enter a house that traps children.

by Ciera Burch 2023

3.70

386 ratings

🏚️ Haunted House 🏠 Sentient House 👧 Missing Children 👻 Bargain With Ghosts 🩸 Family Curse

The Undrowned

by K.R. Alexander • 2020

A bully pushes her friend into a cursed lake. She returns, and a vengeful haunting follows.

3.89

2k+

🧟 Supernatural Revenge 👊 Bully Protagonist 💔 Toxic Friendship 🌊 Cursed Lake 😨 Creeping Dread

The Undrowned 91%

A bully pushes her friend into a cursed lake. She returns, and a vengeful haunting follows.

by K.R. Alexander 2020

3.89

2k+ ratings

🧟 Supernatural Revenge 👊 Bully Protagonist 💔 Toxic Friendship 🌊 Cursed Lake 😨 Creeping Dread

Apart in the Dark

by Ania Ahlborn • 2018

A timid secretary is consumed by loneliness. Her mute brother's cure is murder.

3.82

610

🧠 Psychological Horror 💔 Toxic Sibling Bond 🏢 Workplace Horror 🏚️ Haunted House 🕯️ Family Curse

Apart in the Dark 90%

A timid secretary is consumed by loneliness. Her mute brother's cure is murder.

by Ania Ahlborn 2018

3.82

610 ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 💔 Toxic Sibling Bond 🏢 Workplace Horror 🏚️ Haunted House 🕯️ Family Curse

The Restless Ones

by Abe Moss • 2024

A survivor returns to the massacre house to film a documentary, but the dead are waiting.

3.97

2k+

🏚️ Haunted House Horror 🎬 Documentary Horror 🖤 Toxic Sisterhood 👻 Vengeful Spirits 🌊 Gothic Seaside

The Restless Ones 90%

A survivor returns to the massacre house to film a documentary, but the dead are waiting.

by Abe Moss 2024

3.97

2k+ ratings

🏚️ Haunted House Horror 🎬 Documentary Horror 🖤 Toxic Sisterhood 👻 Vengeful Spirits 🌊 Gothic Seaside

The Night Gardener

by Jonathan Auxier • 2014

Two orphans take work at a crumbling manor where a wish-granting tree extracts a terrible price.

4.05

22k+

👻 Middle Grade Horror 🏚️ Gothic Fantasy 🪵 Cursed Wishes 🐺 Dark Fairy Tale 🕯️ Cursed Estate

The Night Gardener 91%

Two orphans take work at a crumbling manor where a wish-granting tree extracts a terrible price.

by Jonathan Auxier 2014

4.05

22k+ ratings

👻 Middle Grade Horror 🏚️ Gothic Fantasy 🪵 Cursed Wishes 🐺 Dark Fairy Tale 🕯️ Cursed Estate

It Will Just Be Us

by Jo Kaplan • 2020

A faceless boy in her ancestral swamp manor presages the monster her unborn nephew will be.

3.63

2k+

🌿 Southern Gothic 👻 Haunted House 🌾 Folk Horror 😈 Evil Child 🏠 Domestic Horror

It Will Just Be Us 91%

A faceless boy in her ancestral swamp manor presages the monster her unborn nephew will be.

by Jo Kaplan 2020

3.63

2k+ ratings

🌿 Southern Gothic 👻 Haunted House 🌾 Folk Horror 😈 Evil Child 🏠 Domestic Horror

The September House

by Carissa Orlando

Margaret obeys her haunted house. Her daughter, arriving to find her missing father, does not.

3.86

101k+

👻 Haunted House Horror 🏚️ Victorian Gothic 👶 Ghost Children 💀 Murderous Ghost 🛡️ Domestic Abuse Survivor

The September House 90%

Margaret obeys her haunted house. Her daughter, arriving to find her missing father, does not.

by Carissa Orlando 2023

3.86

101k+ ratings

👻 Haunted House Horror 🏚️ Victorian Gothic 👶 Ghost Children 💀 Murderous Ghost 🛡️ Domestic Abuse Survivor

The New Girl

by R.L. Stine • 1989

Everyone on Fear Street says the new girl is dead, but Cory has kissed her.

3.57

10k+

🔪 High School Horror 🧠 Psychological Horror 🖤 Obsessive Love 🔍 Dead Girl Mystery 👯 Sister Rivalry

The New Girl 90%

Everyone on Fear Street says the new girl is dead, but Cory has kissed her.

by R.L. Stine 1989

3.57

10k+ ratings

🔪 High School Horror 🧠 Psychological Horror 🖤 Obsessive Love 🔍 Dead Girl Mystery 👯 Sister Rivalry

House of Hollow

by Krystal Sutherland • 2021

Three sisters came back wrong from a childhood disappearance. Now the eldest is missing.

4.00

103k+

🖤 Dark Fairy Tale 🪵 Folk Horror 🚪 Portal Fantasy 👁️ Changelings 👩‍👩‍👧 Sisterhood Under Strain

House of Hollow 90%

Three sisters came back wrong from a childhood disappearance. Now the eldest is missing.

by Krystal Sutherland 2021

4.00

103k+ ratings

🖤 Dark Fairy Tale 🪵 Folk Horror 🚪 Portal Fantasy 👁️ Changelings 👩‍👩‍👧 Sisterhood Under Strain

The Last House on Needless Street

by Catriona Ward

A girl disappeared. Her sister's new neighbor is the suspect. His cat is the only witness.

3.81

153k+

🧠 Psychological Horror 🏚️ Gothic House 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🧩 Dissociative Identity 👹 Mother As Monster

The Last House on Needless Street Summary

The Last House on Needless Street 90%

A girl disappeared. Her sister's new neighbor is the suspect. His cat is the only witness.

by Catriona Ward 2021

3.81

153k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 🏚️ Gothic House 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🧩 Dissociative Identity 👹 Mother As Monster

Hidden Pictures

by Jason Rekulak • 2022

A nanny fresh from rehab discovers the child's drawings are messages from a murdered woman.

4.14

623k+

🖤 Supernatural Thriller 🚼 Nanny In Peril 🎨 Creepy Child Drawings 🌫️ Atmospheric Suspense 🔥 Slow-Burn Dread

Hidden Pictures 91%

A nanny fresh from rehab discovers the child's drawings are messages from a murdered woman.

by Jason Rekulak 2022

4.14

623k+ ratings

🖤 Supernatural Thriller 🚼 Nanny In Peril 🎨 Creepy Child Drawings 🌫️ Atmospheric Suspense 🔥 Slow-Burn Dread

The Bad Beginning

by Lemony Snicket • 1999

Three gifted orphans face a wicked guardian who stages a play to steal their inheritance.

4.03

575k+

🖤 Orphaned Siblings 🧠 Resourceful Orphans 👹 Wicked Guardian 💀 Macabre Humor 📖 Narrator Intrusion

The Bad Beginning 91%

Three gifted orphans face a wicked guardian who stages a play to steal their inheritance.

by Lemony Snicket 1999

4.03

575k+ ratings

🖤 Orphaned Siblings 🧠 Resourceful Orphans 👹 Wicked Guardian 💀 Macabre Humor 📖 Narrator Intrusion

The Haunting of Leigh Harker

by Darcy Coates • 2021

A woman's home becomes a trap, haunted by a silent figure; the locked door hides truth.

3.92

8k+

🏚️ Haunted House 👻 Ghost Pov 🤥 Unreliable Narrator 🔪 Hidden Killer 🌫️ Atmospheric Horror

The Haunting of Leigh Harker 90%

A woman's home becomes a trap, haunted by a silent figure; the locked door hides truth.

by Darcy Coates 2021

3.92

8k+ ratings

🏚️ Haunted House 👻 Ghost Pov 🤥 Unreliable Narrator 🔪 Hidden Killer 🌫️ Atmospheric Horror

Mister Magic

by Kiersten White • 2023

She remembers nothing of the children's show she starred in. The desert reunion has not forgotten.

3.55

30k+

📺 Haunted Media 🧠 Repressed Memories 👫 Childhood Reunion 💛 Found Family 💔 Sibling Grief

Mister Magic 90%

She remembers nothing of the children's show she starred in. The desert reunion has not forgotten.

by Kiersten White 2023

3.55

30k+ ratings

📺 Haunted Media 🧠 Repressed Memories 👫 Childhood Reunion 💛 Found Family 💔 Sibling Grief

The Silent Companions

by Laura Purcell • 2017

A pregnant widow inherits a crumbling estate where wooden figures with painted eyes appear to move.

3.87

46k+

🪆 Haunted Dolls 🔁 Generational Curse 🤐 Unreliable Narrator 🕯️ Victorian Gothic 🏚️ Crumbling Estate

The Silent Companions 90%

A pregnant widow inherits a crumbling estate where wooden figures with painted eyes appear to move.

by Laura Purcell 2017

3.87

46k+ ratings

🪆 Haunted Dolls 🔁 Generational Curse 🤐 Unreliable Narrator 🕯️ Victorian Gothic 🏚️ Crumbling Estate

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