Apparently, April is a killer month for spooky releases, so I decided to compile a list for all you horror lovers! This list has everything readers could want, from the spine-chilling and grotesque to the surreal and … cozy (yes, that’s actually a thing).
Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
April fools! Not all of these books are April releases after all! This March release is already available, so go snag yourself a copy.
Sarah won’t eat, and worse yet, her nonsensical mumblings and bizarre obsession lead a doctor to diagnose her with temporary insanity brought on by a fever. Desperate to save Sarah from the horrors of a lunatic asylum, her twin Lucy embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her sister’s mysterious affliction. But the deeper she digs, the more she suspects that Sarah is hiding something — and so is Lucy herself.
Lucy soon fears that something dark and supernatural is taking over her sister. But is it possession … or madness? As Sarah transforms before her eyes, Lucy must confront the monstrous truth — or lose her forever.
Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin
This is a story about desire, dreams and decay ― and working retail at the end of the world.
Single, jobless and living with her parents again, Shell Pine’s luck seems to turn around when she lands a job at the florist shop in the mall — and it’s not just because of the beautiful flowers. Neve, the enigmatic and stunning shop manager, might just be making everything feel a little brighter in her world.
However, you can’t plant a garden without getting your hands dirty — and Neve’s secrets are darker and more dangerous than Shell could ever imagine. In the back room of the shop, a sentient orchid actually calls the shots, and he’s not just hungry for attention — he has a sinister plan for all of them.
The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents comes a mesmerizing exploration of the horrors of knowing — and being known.
Five high school friends, bound together by a solemn vow to protect one another at all costs, find themselves on a camping trip in the forest. There, they uncover something inexplicable: a mysterious staircase that leads to nowhere.
One of them climbs it — and never returns. Then, the staircase disappears.
Two decades later, the staircase reappears. The friends reunite, determined to find their lost comrade and uncover the secrets hidden beyond the eerie staircase in the woods. What they discover will force them to confront not only the horrors of the past but the terrifying unknown lurking just beyond the steps.
Freakslaw by Jane Flett
In this riotous horror debut, a traveling carnival of deviant queers and architects of mayhem rolls into a small Scottish town, bringing with it more than just spectacle — it’s bringing revenge.
It’s the summer of ‘97, and the quiet, repressed town of Pitlaw is itching for something new. Enter Freakslaw, a dazzling, chaotic carnival full of outsiders: fortunetellers and contortionists, illusionists and tightrope walkers. Against Pitlaw’s miserably gray landscape, the carnival shines electric and bright, and it doesn’t take long for the town’s teenagers to be seduced by its neon charms and the possibility of escape.
But the carnival has a darker agenda. Rejected and punished for merely existing, unwelcome and unable to settle, they seek vengeance. As tensions reach a fever pitch between the stoic, unwelcoming locals and the dazzling intruders, a violence that’s been brewing for centuries threatens to erupt.
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
Cora Zeng works as a crime scene cleaner, scrubbing away the aftermath of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. But the bloody messes don’t really bother Cora — not after witnessing the horrific death of her sister, Delilah, after she was pushed in front of a train. The killer’s last words — bat eater — haunt her. As do the germs on the subway railing and the bare hands of strangers. The hidden viruses in every corner.
Since Delilah’s death, Cora can no longer tell what’s real and what’s in her mind. She pushes away all feelings and ignores her aunt’s warnings to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open. But as bat carcasses turn up at crime scenes and the bodies of East Asian women pile up, Cora realizes that some ghosts refuse to stay ignored.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
Nat Cassidy, author of the acclaimed horror Mary and bestselling Nestlings, returns with an unabashed, adrenaline-fueled pop horror thriller where your darkest fears can become reality.
One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a 5-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy’s father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives.
As they attempt to evade the boy’s increasingly desperate father, Jess slowly comes to a horrifying understanding of the butchery that follows them ― the boy can turn his every fear into reality. And when the wolf finally comes home, no one will be spared.
Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff
This cozy horror — yeah, you heard that right! — perfectly mixes the creepy and the charming, the dark and the delightful, for a snarky, queer romp you won’t soon forget.
Generations ago, the founders of Lake Argen struck a pact with a dark force, offering their servitude in exchange for success and prosperity. For years, the deal kept everything running smoothly — until a wealthy visitor disappeared and a private investigator was hired to find him.
Now, Cassidy Prewitt, the town’s baker and reluctant part-time servant to the dark power (a family business, unfortunately), must face a growing threat of darkness, a town on the brink of chaos and an undeniably charming PI who might just be stealing her heart. Together, they’ll have to survive a hometown apocalypse — and maybe, just maybe, find a way to be happy despite it all.
The Cut by C.J. Dotson
Sadie Miles never imagined she’d be raising a toddler and expecting another baby in a run-down hotel along The Cut, a questionable Lake Erie beach. But after escaping her abusive ex-fiancé, a housekeeping job and a free room at L’Arpin Hotel are the best she can do.
Soon, strange things start to happen around the hotel, but her manager just brushes it off. But after living with her ex, Sadie refuses to let anyone convince her that what she’s experiencing isn’t real. Determined to uncover the truth, she digs deeper into the hotel’s secrets — uncovering strange staff behavior, disappearing security footage, missing guests and chilling supernatural events.
With no way out and no one to trust, Sadie must rely on her instincts to protect herself, her toddler and her unborn child from whatever horror lurks nearby.
Polybius by Collin Armstrong
Have you heard of the urban legend about a video game created by the government for psychological warfare? Well, now you won’t stop thinking about it!
In 1982, high schooler and self-taught tech genius Andi gets a job at the dingy local arcade to bankroll her dream of returning to her life in Silicon Valley. But then Ro, the quiet son of the town sheriff, begins hanging around the arcade — and Andi begins to wonder if maybe Tasker Bay isn’t so bad after all.
Then, Polybius arrives — a mysterious cutting-edge game of unknown origin that quickly becomes an obsession for everyone who plays it. Just as a violent coastal storm traps the town, people begin to unravel — angry, paranoid, hallucinating. Desperate to uncover the truth, Andi and Ro race to find clues that might stop the spreading madness before it consumes them too.
Their Monstrous Hearts by Yiğit Turhan
When a stranger arrives at Riccardo’s apartment with news of his grandmother Perihan’s death, Riccardo is shocked to learn that he’s inherited her villa in Milan — and her renowned butterfly collection.
Desperate for a fresh start, the struggling writer hopes the change of scenery will ignite his creativity and provide enough money to keep him afloat. But the villa isn’t the grand home he remembers. The butterflies now seem more ominous than artful. Perihan’s enigmatic circle of old friends is always lurking in the shadows. And there’s something off about the greenhouse.
As Riccardo delves deeper into the crumbling estate, he discovers Perihan’s diary, which may hold the key to understanding her mysterious death — or at least inspire him to finish his stalled manuscript. But he might not survive long enough to write it.
Senseless by Ronald Malfi
When the mutilated body of a young woman is found in the desert outside Los Angeles, the media is quick to label the crime as the work of a budding serial killer. But Detective Bill Renney can’t stop thinking about a similar murder from the previous year — and the secret that ties him to the first victim’s husband.
Maureen Park expects a night of celebration at her engagement party — until Landon, her soon-to-be stepson, arrives uninvited. Landon seems determined to infiltrate Maureen’s life, and the more she gets to know him, the more she suspects his involvement in the recent desert murder.
Toby Kampen, known as the self-proclaimed “Human Fly,” becomes fixated on a woman who’s unlike anyone he’s ever encountered. A woman who has trapped him in her spell. A woman who may or may not be completely human.
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
April fools — again! Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait till June to read this one. But wow, does it sound like a killer read!
Demeter’s job is simple: ferry humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. But then a nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill off her humans. To avoid being decommissioned, Demeter must rally a team of her own monstrous allies: a werewolf, an engineer built from the dead, a pharaoh with otherworldly powers, a vampire with a grudge, and a fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this mismatched crew must confront the ultimate evil — Dracula.
A wild blend of pulp horror and classic sci-fi, this dazzling odyssey delves into what it means to be one of society’s monsters — and the unexpected friendships that make us human.