My sort of top ten:
1 - THE CEREMONIES by T.E.D. Klein
Often overlooked/forgotten classic.
Atmospheric, Lovecraftian horror.
'SALEM'S LOT by SK
Nuf said.
SUMMER OF NIGHT by Dan Simmons
One of the scariest books ever IMO.
2 - KOKO/MYSTERY/THE THROAT by Peter Straub
The wonderfully dark, grisly, gripping Blue Rose Trilogy from which I take my moniker.
3 - USHER'S PASSING by Robert R. McCammon
Chilling, page turning stuff.
4 - VAMPYRRHIC by Simon Clark
An original, very spooky, sort of British 'SALEM'S LOT.
5 - TWILIGHT EYES by Koontz
I love so much of his darker, earlier work.
6 - IT by SK
While most consider THE STAND and/or THE DARK TOWER series King's epics.
To me, this is it.
7 - THE KEEP by F. Paul Wilson
Actually, this spot is for the ENTIRE Adversary Cycle.
8 - NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER by Richard Laymon
I debated long & hard with myself over whether to use this as the Laymon representative
or THE CELLER ( really, the whole BEAST HOUSE series ). And, as much as I love the latter,
this gem won out.
9 - DARK HOLLOW by John Connolly
The author's entire Charlie "Bird" Parker series are as much genre fiction as they are hardboiled
detective fiction & this is my fav of the lot. Though, not by a lot as they're ALL excellent.
Infact, this one & THE UNQUIET in particular, are scary as hell.
10 - GHOUL by Michael Slade
Terrific, gory, blend of a mystery, a police proceedural & a Lovecraft homage.
I love the entire Special X series.
11 - TAP TAP by David Martin
Guaranteed to have readers looking behind their doors, in their closets & under their beds.
A real skin crawler.
12 - MUCHO MOJO/VANILLA RIDE by Joe Lansdale
Pretty much the ENTIRE Hap Collins & Leonard Pine series deserves to be here.
But, these are my fav two.
13 - OFF SEASON by Jack Ketchum
Thoroughly enjoy ALL of Ketchum's work, but this wickedly brutal take on the Sawney Bean
legend is still #1 IMHO.
OK.
I'll leave it at a baker's dozen for now.
Can't wait to see other's lists.
