The most recommended paranormal books

Who picked these books? Meet our 343 experts.

343 authors created a book list connected to the paranormal, and here are their favorite paranormal books.
Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What type of paranormal book?

Loading...
Loading...

Book cover of Interview with the Vampire

Michelle M. Pillow Author Of Merely Mortal

From Michelle's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Photographer Book hoarder Traveler Coffee addict

Michelle's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Michelle M. Pillow Why did Michelle love this book?

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice is a masterfully crafted novel. It's one of the books that first inspired me when I started writing.

She looks deeply into the complexities of the human condition through her immortal characters. Epic in scope and rich in atmosphere, the story is hauntingly beautiful, exploring themes of love, loss, and existential despair through the eyes of its unforgettable characters.

Rice's prose is both lyrical and dark, immersing readers in a world where moral ambiguity reigns and eternal life brings with it both profound beauty and inescapable torment. A must-read for lovers of deep, character-driven fantasy. If you enjoyed this book, readers say you'll like the Tribes of the Vampire series.

By Anne Rice,

Why should I read it?

19 authors picked Interview with the Vampire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Anne Rice, this sensuously written spellbinding classic remains 'the most successful vampire story since Bram Stoker's Dracula' (The Times)

In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life - the story of a vampire, gifted with eternal life, cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood.

When Interview with the Vampire was published the Washington Post said it was a 'thrilling, strikingly original work of the imagination . . . sometimes horrible, sometimes beautiful, always unforgettable'. Now, more than forty years since its release, Anne…


Book cover of The Haunting of Hill House

Paula Cappa Author Of Draakensky: A Supernatural Tale of Magick and Romance

From my list on Horror for the supernatural mystery magick lover.

Why am I passionate about this?

An avid reader, I began a project in 2012 to read one short story a week in supernatural mysteries, ghost stories, and quiet horror genres. I began with the classic authors: Poe, MR James, Lovecraft, Shelley, Stoker, du Maurier, etc. I began a blog, Reading Fiction Blog, and posted these free stories with my reviews (I’m still posting today). Over the years, it turned into a compendium of fiction. Today, I have nearly 400 short stories by over 150 classic and now contemporary authors in the blog Index. I did this because I wanted to learn more about writing dark fiction and who better to learn from than the masters?

Paula's book list on Horror for the supernatural mystery magick lover

Paula Cappa Why did Paula love this book?

Jackson’s Gothic horror flows like black chiffon over a yawing window. That’s how I felt reading about Hill House. I loved the way the house sneaks up with its psychological weights swinging and jarring. Eleanor possesses a dark ambiance. She desperately needed to belong to something or someone, and I couldn’t let go of that.

Her emotions and fears were right there with me. But it was the romantic underbelly that got me: Eleanor’s romance with Hill House. The statuesque gardens, the light, and shadows, all tempted her into its sinister realm. As it tempted me. I felt deeply for Eleanor, wanting to belong to something extraordinary to replace her dull life. Shirley Jackson is quoted as saying, “I delight in what I fear.” This book proves it.

By Shirley Jackson,

Why should I read it?

36 authors picked The Haunting of Hill House as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Part of a new six-volume series of the best in classic horror, selected by Academy Award-winning director of The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro

Filmmaker and longtime horror literature fan Guillermo del Toro serves as the curator for the Penguin Horror series, a new collection of classic tales and poems by masters of the genre. Included here are some of del Toro's favorites, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Ray Russell's short story "Sardonicus," considered by Stephen King to be "perhaps the finest example of the modern Gothic ever written," to Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and stories…


Book cover of The World That We Knew

Maureen McQuerry Author Of Between Before and After

From my list on family secrets with a literary voice and a touch of wonder.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always believed in magic, the kind that’s just around the corner, out of view. I loved books and libraries. So, it was no surprise that I became a teacher, and later, a poet and novelist. Now, as the author of four novels, I want my books to capture what I love best from poetry and teaching: beautiful, unexpected language, a touch of wonder, and themes that probe the big questions of life. A library shows up in most of my novels along with a bit of the fantastic.

Maureen's book list on family secrets with a literary voice and a touch of wonder

Maureen McQuerry Why did Maureen love this book?

What’s a better family secret than a golem tasked with protecting the main character?

Set against World War II in France, remarkable characters that I rooted for faced unspeakable odds. The book is a testament to what makes us human: The power of love and redemption. The golem, Ava, is a fully fleshed character with her own character arc. 

By Alice Hoffman,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The World That We Knew as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

* LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL *

'Oh, what a book this is! Hoffman's exploration of the world of good and evil, and the constant contest between them, is unflinching; and the humanity she brings to us - it is a glorious experience. The book builds and builds, as she weaves together, seamlessly, the stories of people in the most desperate of circumstances - and then it delivers with a tremendous punch. It opens up the world ... in a way that is absolutely unique. By the end you may be weeping' Elizabeth Strout, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Olive…


Book cover of Payback's a Witch

Alexa Sullivan Author Of I Dream of Demigods

From my list on upbeat paranormal romances.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a lifelong reader who cut my teeth on Narnia and Nancy Drew. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a later-in-life revelation, combining the fantasy and mystery elements I’d loved in childhood with a butt-kicking heroine and plenty of romance. I’m always seeking that same blend of humor and action in the paranormal romances I read, as well as the ones I write. It can be tough to find paranormal romances that aren’t deeply intense and moody, so I hope this list will help you enjoy the lighter side of paranormal.

Alexa's book list on upbeat paranormal romances

Alexa Sullivan Why did Alexa love this book?

I picked this one up on the recommendation of a friend, and was she ever spot-on. I loved the empathetic narrator and her distinctive voice, as well as the heartfelt relationship between the two witches. But there was also something eminently cozy about the reading experience. Maybe it was the small-town setting, maybe it was the Happily Ever After. It read like a spicy chai—and that’s the perfect beverage to sip on while spending a few rainy afternoons with Emmy and Talia. 

By Lana Harper,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Payback's a Witch as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling New York Times bestselling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But…


Book cover of How Real is Real?: Confusion, Disinformation, Communication

Ted Schick Author Of How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age

From my list on evaluating claims of the paranormal.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been interested in philosophy ever since I heard the album Poitier Meets Plato, a product of the 60’s coffee house culture, in which Sidney Poitier reads Plato to jazz music. As a professional philosopher, I investigate the nature of knowledge and reality, and if paranormal claims turn out to be true, many of our beliefs about knowledge and reality may turn out to be false. In an attempt to distinguish the justified from the unjustified—the believable from the unbelievable—I’ve tried to identify the principles of good thinking and sound reasoning that can be used to help us make those distinctions.

Ted's book list on evaluating claims of the paranormal

Ted Schick Why did Ted love this book?

The book introduced me to time travel, hyperspace, superstitious rats, psychic horses, conspiracy theories, and UFOs. Watzlawick, a psychologist by trade, explores the many facets of communication: how it occurs, how it fails, and how we can be misled by it.

One of the first people to explore the psychology of conspiracy theories and disinformation, he alerts us to the perils and pitfalls of all sorts of communication—both verbal and nonverbal-- through amusing anecdotes and erudite examples.

By Paul Watzlawick,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How Real is Real? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The connection between communication and reality is a relatively new idea. It is only in recent decades that the confusions, disorientations and very different world views that arise as a result of communication have become an independent field of research. One of the experts who has been working in this field is Dr. Paul Watzlawick, and he here presents, in a series of arresting and sometimes very funny examples, some of the findings.


Book cover of The Medium, the Mystic, and the Physicist: Toward a General Theory of the Paranormal

Dave Pruett Author Of Reason and Wonder: A Copernican Revolution in Science and Spirit

From my list on bridging science and spirituality.

Why am I passionate about this?

A late bloomer—Ph.D. at 38, married at 39, father at 47—I struggled to “individuate,” torn between my rational nature, inherited from Dad, and my intuitive side from Mom. Serendipitously, in mid-life, I happened upon an extraordinary mentor, the late Quaker mystic John Yungblut. Through John, I encountered shining examples of those who successfully navigated the “struggle of the mystic,” among them the iconic psychoanalyst Carl Jung and the French paleontologist-priest Teilhard de Chardin. As I subsequently achieved some success at individuation, I came to see my struggle as symptomatic of broader tensions within Western society: the perennial conflict between science and religion. Reason and Wonder celebrates both modes of knowing.

Dave's book list on bridging science and spirituality

Dave Pruett Why did Dave love this book?

In 2009, while completing my book, I had the privilege to meet pioneering experimental psychologist Lawrence LeShan. I’d quoted LeShan several times in my book and wanted to know more of his story. He received me graciously at his cluttered Manhattan apartment and patiently filled in details of his writing The Medium, the Mystic, and the Physicist (MMP).

As a young Turk with a Ph.D. in psychology, LeShan set out to debunk all the “nonsense” about so-called paranormal phenomena. By his own admission, he “made a mistake”: he looked at the data. The data were so compelling that LeShan shifted focus from trying to debunk to trying to understand the paranormal.

MMP is the fascinating story of the different threads that LeShan’s subsequent intellectual journey followed.

By Lawrence LeShan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Medium, the Mystic, and the Physicist as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This text is the story of an adventure, of a search for the meaning of impossible events. The paranormal by definition is impossible - so what are the implications when, from time to time, in everyday life and in the laboratory, individuals reveal knowledge of things so separated from them by space or time that their senses could not under any circumstances have brought them the information they are able to demonstrate? Exploring the mysteries of precognition, telepathy and clairvoyance, the author seeks a wider understanding of the nature of human beings and the universe that takes into account the…


Book cover of Ember Burning

Kayla Krantz Author Of The Council

From my list on creative magical realms in fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a writer of all genres that’s found a lot of love, particularly in fantasy and thrillers. My love for epic fantasies first began when I was young, and like all young readers, was introduced to Harry Potter and the Magic Tree House series. The idea of being whisked away to a magical world captivated me, and so, I started to create my own stories to keep that magic alive. 

Kayla's book list on creative magical realms in fantasy

Kayla Krantz Why did Kayla love this book?

After Ember loses her grandmother, she finds herself retreating from the Real World and going into the woods. They’re no ordinary woods though. They’re a portal to another world. One where Ember isn’t lonely. The only catch? She can never return to her real life. This book I felt had a lot of good metaphors for depression and grief mixed with the fantasy elements to give it both a powerful message and an entertaining feeling.

By Jennifer Alsever,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ember Burning as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

She wanted an escape from reality. Her ticket home could cost her life.
 
Ember Trouvé was never the same after her parents died tragically. Obsessed with finding other lost souls like herself, she collects missing-teenager flyers. But when they lead her to explore the eerie woods rumored to contain strange happenings, she's shocked to discover a group of happy-go-lucky high-schoolers.
 
As welcoming new friends and seductive boys show her the fun she's forgotten, Ember is reminded of the sweet taste of happiness. But just as her inner joy reignites, she learns there's a price for the forest's wondrous gift: She…


Book cover of The Nonsuch Lure

Terry Segan Author Of Spirit in Tow

From my list on mystery with a paranormal twist.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been intrigued with books containing paranormal twists—I’m talking ghosts, mysticism, time travel. I also have, what I like to call, a healthy curiosity about spirits. Having gone on ghost tours in York (England), Salem (MA), and New Orleans, I’ve yet to spot one. But I know what some of you may be saying—be careful what you wish for! My writing career began later in life, when I realized the stories in my head demanded to be released into the world. From the start I attempted writing a straight-up mystery, but paranormal aspects crept into my chapters, and I decided to let them stay.

Terry's book list on mystery with a paranormal twist

Terry Segan Why did Terry love this book?

The Nonsuch Lure is another book I read years ago, when it came out in the late seventies, but has stuck with me. The paranormal twist has a modern man being hypnotized to find out he’s lived two other lifetimes, each 200 years apart, in England. His soul has loved and lost the same woman over four centuries because of an unknown force. At the time I read this, I was fascinated with visiting England, which I did several times over the following decade. Nonsuch Castle, where the story centers around, actually existed and had been built by King Henry VIII on confiscated land. The three timelines depicted drew me into the mystery and broken romance, while I rooted for the modern main character to break the sad chain of events.

By Mary M Luke,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Nonsuch Lure as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Beyond Chance, Beyond Time, Beyond Forgetting... The 18th-century journal of a young man's tragic love affair...The four-hundred-year-old portrait of a beautiful woman, inexplicably familiar... Wealthy jet-setter Andrew Moffat is led to the ruined walls of a [16]th-century palace by what seems an alluring series of coincidences. But once inside those haunted walls, he discovers it was destiny that lured him to Nonsuch Palace--to begin a journey deep into the past, to vanquish an evil which has twice destroyed him...to consummate a love he has found and lost throughout the centuries, but which he means to have and to hold for…


Book cover of Wildest Dreams

Krystyna Allyn Author Of Twisted Origin

From my list on sating your paranormal urges.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved the supernatural world since my dad took me to see The Lost Boys in the theater. There’s just something about the unbelievable that drags me into this genre. I enjoy the escapism aspect because real life is hard enough. Plus, what girl wouldn’t want to be taken to a castle and live happily ever after with her prince? I know I would.

Krystyna's book list on sating your paranormal urges

Krystyna Allyn Why did Krystyna love this book?

Kristen Ashley is known for her contemporary books with heroines that rock and commanding alphas. In this book, you have the same, but with a supernatural twist. Wildest Dreams gives you the raw emotion you’d expect from a KA book, while adding a fantastical story and some hilarity to boot.

By Kristen Ashley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wildest Dreams as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Seoafin “Finnie” Wilde was taught by her parents that every breath was a treasure and to seek every adventure she could find. And she learns this lesson the hard way when they perish in a plane crash. But she never forgets and when she discovers there is a parallel universe where every person has a twin, she finds a witch who can send her there so she can have the adventure of a lifetime.

But upon arrival in the Winter Wonderland of Lunwyn, she realizes she’s been played by her twin and finds herself walking down the aisle to be…


Book cover of The Shepherd

Carol McKibben Author Of Snow Blood: Season 1

From my list on vampire novels that swept me away.

Why am I passionate about this?

All my books are narrated by either dogs or wolves except two. First, animals are a prevalent force in my life, and I have many. I see them with souls. I have combined them with my love of vampires, werewolves, and monsters. After I read Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, I was hooked on vampire stories. I hold a master’s degree in English. After teaching writing for a decade, becoming a magazine editor and publisher, and then starting my own writing and editing company, I have published 16 novels. Oddly enough, even with the subject matter, they all are about unconditional love. 

Carol's book list on vampire novels that swept me away

Carol McKibben Why did Carol love this book?

I must include my friend Travis Luedke’s book, The ShepherdIt totally took me by surprise. From the uncensored male teen dialogue to the games girls will play, I totally returned to high school. Travis captured the entire clique strata. Mike has had visions that he does not discuss. His life is depressing with an unemployed, alcoholic father. Then, he meets Nadia, a young girl Mike barely avoids hitting with his car. She is mysterious and latches on to Mike. The reader has no idea who she is, where she is from, or why she acts as if she has always known Mike. Neither does Mike. When weird, awful events begin to happen, Nadia is the key. Travis keeps this twisted tale going in high gear and keeps us enthralled all the way to the shocking end.

By Travis Luedke,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Shepherd as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Skate punks, kleptomaniacs, clairvoyant visions and reincarnation... THE SHEPHERD is unlike any other Young Adult novel you have ever read.

For me, Mike Evans, a skate punk living in a white-trash trailer park, high school blows.

My dad's an out-of-work drunk. My ex-girlfriend avoids me like the plague. My best friend, Anita, won't keep her hands off me...then there's Moses Lake's champion wrestler. The a-hole is waiting for an excuse to beat my face into the skate park concrete.

Worse, my visions of grisly death are back again, and if I tell anyone what I've seen I might actually cause…