Paranormal fiction revolves around creatures and phenomena that go beyond current scientific understanding. This can range from beings popularized by folklore and popular culture to pseudosciences such as cryptozoology and ghost hunting.
The exploration of the unknown captures a lot of people’s imaginations. The idea of something that exists that we don’t know of, much less understand tickles our collective curiosity, fears, and doubts.
Best Paranormal Fiction
Whether it’s creatures from folklore and popular culture, or pseudosciences such as cryptozoology and ghost hunting, a lot of fiction has been written that revolves around the paranormal. Below are just a few of the best paranormal fiction books you can read.
1. Our Trespasses by Michael Cordell
Matthew Davis is flipping burgers when he suddenly collapses in agony. As the pain sears through him, he knows that his twin brother, Jake, has just suffered a vicious death.
But instead of being severed, their psychic connection seems to only strengthen. Now Matt must share Jake’s agony from the afterlife. When a demon begins to corrupt their link, he must find a way to sever the bond or watch the world burn in the flames of Hell.
2. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Diana Bishop is a Yale history of science professor who also happens to be a witch. However, she’s rejected witchcraft ever since her parent’s death when she was young.
But while doing research at the Bodleian Library, she stumbles upon a lost manuscript that reacts to her. The discovery stirs the supernatural community. If Diana wants to survive, she needs to brush up on her magic—fast.
3. Wendigo By Vaughn C. Hardacker
To John Bear, the Wendigo was a myth; a creature his grandpa used to tell scary stories about when he was a kid. But when they find a brutally butchered corpse, he begins to believe the stories.
From the corpse’s torn out heart to the mysterious tracks around it, everything points to a Wendigo’s kill. As it begins to stalk their isolated outpost, John must find a way to destroy a monster he once thought wasn’t real.
4. Strange Practice By Vivian Shaw
When banshees have sore throat or barrow-wights need help with their arthritis, Greta Helsing is the one with the cure. Like her family before her, she’s made a career out of curing the undead of their various ills.
When someone begins indiscriminately killing the dead and the living, Greta finds herself drawn into a battle for her city. If she hopes to save herself and her practice, she must rely on her unusual friends and family legacy to stop whoever’s bringing chaos to the city.
5. The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Trying to find a simple life, Helen and Nate move away from the city and settle on rural land. They begin building their dream home but discover the land they’re building on has a disturbing story to tell.
The couple are drawn into the history of the land, incorporating special materials into their home. But as the project progresses, they find themselves getting closer to a tragedy that’s waiting to happen once again.
6. The Lingering By S.J.I. Holliday
Looking for a fresh start, Jack and Ali Gardiner move into the Rosalind House, once a psychiatric house now turned into a residence. They settle quickly, but are beset by ghostly sightings and unexplained events.
Digging deeper into the house’s history, the couple find its past slowly breaking down their present. And the deeper they dig, they more they realize how much danger they’ve unknowingly put themselves into.
7. Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
Seasoned detective Gabriella Versado faces a new kind of case: investigating the half-human, half-animal bodies that begin to litter the streets of Detroit. But where does she even start?
Reality’s tearing apart and everyone’s trying to hold on the best way they can. To Gabriella’s daughter, its by flirting with a potentially dangerous person online. To a failing journalist, its securing the horror scoop of the century. And to a homeless guy, its protecting the family he found in the streets.
8. The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle
Pepper—big, rambunctious, and a troublemaker— is the newest resident of New Hyde Hospital’s psychiatric ward. He’s not mentally ill, but he also doesn’t remember the crime he is accused of.
On his first night there, he almost gets killed by a creature before the staff ushers it away. With a demon roaming the halls, Pepper rallies some of the oddball patients together in a bid to kill it and escape.
9. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Following the death of their parents, a young boy and girl move into a country house and are held under the care of their uncle. Not interested in raising children, he hires a governess and gives her full charge of the kids.
But soon after starting her duties, the governess begins to suspect that something’s haunting the house and the children. With no one else able to see the danger, she must find a way to protect the kids from those unable to move on into the next life.
10. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse works as a cocktail waitress in small-town Bon Temps, Louisiana. She mostly keeps to herself, except that her ability to read minds involuntarily has her rooting through people’s thoughts.
Then along comes Bill Compton—dark, mysterious, and handsome. He’s the first person whose thoughts she can’t hear. But never did she imagine that getting involved with him meant being introduced to vampire intrigue and violence.
11. Fated by Benedict Jacka
Alex Verus runs a shop in London for people who can do magic—real magic. And while he’s not the flashiest mage out there, his ability to see probable futures is a nifty skill to have in a fight or when hacking certain magical items.
When multiple factions approach him for help in cracking open an ancient relic, he gets roped into a potential war. And thanks to his ability, he knows that opening the artifact can put his chances of survival down to none.
12. Spellbound by Allie Therin
Arthur Kenzie has devoted his life to protecting the world from relics that could destroy it. So when an amulet that can control the tides is shipped to New York, he must take it before it is used for unimaginable destruction.
To do so, he needs a psychometric, but the one powerful enough to help has already sworn off his abilities. As they fight to save the city, an emotional and magical bond begins to be forged between them.
Paranormal Vs. Supernatural Fiction
Paranormal fiction involves beings, events, and things that can’t be explained by science. Given this, the term is often used interchangeably with supernatural fiction. But while there are surface similarities between the two, there are also subtle differences that necessitate their treatment as separate genres.
The biggest difference between the two is their treatment of elements that are not normal. In a paranormal setting, these elements are outside of current scientific understanding, which means they could potentially be explained by science someday, however slim the chances are. For example, werewolves, vampires, and zombies might be found to be people who are afflicted with extreme genetic diseases.
In a supernatural setting. these elements are forever out of scientific explanation. It’s believed that no matter how much science progresses, these phenomena will remain a mystery. God, the soul, and the afterlife are some common elements of supernatural fiction.
What’s your favorite paranormal fiction book? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
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- Exploring Gothic Horror: A Brief History and Examples
- Cosmic Horror: Your Guide to Incomprehensible Terrors
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
