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There is something uniquely chilling about a ghost that has waited centuries to whisper your name.

Historical horror taps into a primal fear – that the past, no matter how deeply buried, never truly stays dead. Unlike contemporary horror, which reflects modern-day anxieties, historical horror looks backward, unearthing terrors rooted in superstition, repression, and historical trauma. These stories don’t just frighten us, they unsettle us, reminding us that horror isn’t new, and the shadows behind us are just as frightening as the ones ahead. 

The genre works not only because history is horror, but also because it taps into horror as cultural memory. It often comes with a side dose of supernatural meeting psychological terror, all set somewhere inherently eerie. It speaks to our deepest fear: that the past is not gone, and worse, that we haven’t learned from it. Below are eight novels that do more than scare us; they remind us of the truths we have buried, the wounds we have ignored, and the power of memory to haunt.

Because sometimes, the most terrifying ghost is the one holding a mirror.

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

A Victorian widow takes up residence in her late husband’s ancestral home, only to discover lifelike wooden figures scattered throughout the mansion. These strange “companions” seem to move on their own, and they may be linked to the family’s tragic legacy. This unnerving tale explores the dangers of female isolation and the suffocating weight of Victorian domestic life.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Set in post-World War II Britain, The Little Stranger follows a country doctor who becomes entangled with a declining aristocratic family living in a once grand manor. When inexplicable events begin to unfold, the question arises: is the house haunted, or is the family’s downfall purely psychological? A master class in slow-burning dread and social critique, this novel examines class tensions, loss, and postwar disillusionment.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

Set during the Mexican-American War, a young woman joins a militia to battle both invading forces and blood-drinking creatures drawn from Mexican legend. This novel blends military history, indigenous myth, and a love story in the midst of chaos, exploring themes of imperialism, identity, and survival in a landscape haunted by more than war.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

The Reformatory is inspired by the brutal reality of segregated juvenile facilities in 1950s Florida. When a 12-year-old boy is wrongly imprisoned, he encounters not only ghostly “haints” but also deeply human cruelty. Combining supernatural terror with historical fact, the novel confronts racial injustice and systemic abuse, using horror as a powerful form of witness.

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell

Spanning decades in Argentina, the novel follows a father and son caught in the grip of a secretive occult society. As the country descends into dictatorship, the lines blur between political violence and magical horror. This sweeping, brutal novel examines grief, generational trauma, and complicity in the face of unspeakable power.

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

A governess takes a position at a remote estate, but her arrival sets off a series of disturbing events, and it becomes clear that she may not be what she seems. Twisting the familiar tropes of gothic literature, the story delves into repressed rage, feminine monstrosity, and the violent undercurrents of polite society.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

Set in 1912 Montana, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is at its core a revenge story. But the true horror here is rooted in the genocide of Indigenous peoples and the destruction of the buffalo herds that sustained them. A powerful blend of supernatural and historical horror, the novel offers a sharp meditation on revenge, memory, and the cost of survival.

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

A mother and her daughters move to a remote Scottish island to restore an old lighthouse. Unfortunately, the island holds a history of witch trials, missing children, and strange symbols painted on cave walls. As timelines intertwine and reality warps, the story explores grief, motherhood, and the way folklore never truly dies.

Happy scary reading!

Featured in the October 4, 2025 issue of The Independent