Addison Rizer is a writer and reader of anything that can be described as weird, sad, or scary. She has an MA in Professional Writing and a BA in English. She writes for Book Riot and Publishers Weekly and is always looking for more ways to gush about the books she loves. Find her published work or contact her on her website or at addisonrizer at gmaildotcom.
Hannah has been running from her demons ever since she emerged from a harrowing wilderness trip without her fiancé. No one knows what happened the day Ben died—and his ghost still haunts her with waking nightmares. So when she is invited to a spiritual retreat, Hannah believes it could be the fresh start she needs. But the peaceful journey of self-discovery quickly descends into a fight for survival when a killer starts picking off attendees in increasingly gruesome ways. As the body count rises and Hannah’s sanity frays, she’ll have to confront her past and uncover a monster hellbent on killing her vibe for good.
As a true horror fan, I believe one of the most beautiful things about the genre is the variety of types of scares that exist. No matter how niche, there’s sure to be at least one book exactly suited to your particular spooky taste. And the comedy horror sub-genre is no different! While I love a good bone-chilling book that will haunt me for years, I also love a scary book that skews toward the silly side. It’s a truly delightful and unique experience to laugh while you’re absolutely terrified.
Whether it’s Bigfoot terrorizing a reality TV cast in the remote Washington woods or a housewife whose desperation to keep her husband sends her to the extreme, the books on this list are sure to tickle your funny bone while chilling you to your core. Just remember, humor comes in just as many forms as horror does, so while some on this list might make you laugh out loud, others are more situational-based humor. Regardless, check out these six darkly humorous horror books!
Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
The final contestants on The Catch, a reality dating show complete with its own skeezy leading man, travel to a remote Pacific Northwest island to film the show’s finale episodes. While the conflict at first is typical reality TV style with clashing personalities and dramatically-revealed secrets, soon contestants start to have run-ins with something lurking in the woods, something bigfoot-shaped and named Patricia. And she’s out for blood!
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
After a rough relationship with her mother growing up, Abby has finally found her perfect husband and job, working as a caretaker in a nursing home. The only thing that would make her happier is a child to dote on. But after her husband’s mother dies, grief begins to tear him apart. When he starts seeing the ghost of his mother in the basement, Abby and her perfect future are threatened, and she will do anything to get him back to normal.
Popular Hits of the Showa Era by Ryū Murakami
After a young man attacks and kills a middle-aged woman in their neighborhood, a small-scale war breaks out between two groups. The twenty-something young men take this act as a rally cry, but the middle-aged women, called the Midori Society, seek revenge for the death of their friend. While both groups feel a sense of purpose in their anger, it sets off a chain reaction of violence with a lasting impact.
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
Julie Crews is a freelance magic practitioner, trying to make a name for herself by handling the gross and the dangerous in New York City’s underbelly. When her ex-boyfriend gets her into trouble, her career stalls out, and her best friend comes to her seeking refuge from an abusive partner, she turns to a guardian angel for help. Except the guardian angel may not be who they say they are after all, and Julie’s attempt might just have put the whole city in danger.
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
For shorter bits of humorous horror, this debut short story collection is the perfect choice. With stories about a drug that stops people from feeling emotions to a theme park where attendees can live out their superhero or super villain fantasies, this collection is full of violence, satire, and moments of strange humor that will delight and terrify you.
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
In the aftermath of a nasty divorce, Kara agrees to work at her uncle’s Museum of Wonders while he recovers from a much-needed knee surgery. When a hole appears in the wall of the museum’s second floor, Kara finds a tunnel inside that leads to other worlds where terrifying creatures and horrible environments lurk. As Kara explores more and more, though, it becomes less and less clear whether she’ll be able to make her way back home.
I hope one of these darkly humorous horror novels caught your eye! If you’re in the mood for more horror, check out these best horror books of 2025 so far or these scary beach reads!
English (US) · 