Horror Audiobook Recommendations
Let’s Get Listening with Haylee
Hi everyone! I’m Haylee! I’m a houseplant enthusiast, baseball lover, and LEGO builder from Kansas City! Audiobooks are my favorite way to read. You can always find me consuming an audiobook; whether I’m going on a walk, doing chores, building LEGOs, or just lounging around! I am able to listen on 2.4–2.5x speed, and I love doing a tandem read where I listen while following along with my physical copy! In this second installment of Let’s Get Listening!, I’ll be going over four of my absolute favorite horror audiobooks. I got more into reading horror within the last year and it has truly become one of my favorite genres! Whether you have chores to do, a long drive ahead of you, or want to cozy up with your favorite game, I hope there’s a recommendation here that you will enjoy!
THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD
by Tiffany D. Jackson (2022)
LENGTH: 10 hours, 55 minutes
READ BY: Joy Nash, Christopher Salazar, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, JD Jackson, Karen Malina White
Trigger Warnings: racism, racial microaggressions, bullying, police brutality, mentions of lynching, racial slurs, child abuse (physical and emotional), sexism, graphic violence, mentions of vomiting and blood
I have read The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson twice now and it remains one of my favorite YA horror books! This book grabs you from page one and does not slow down or hold back until the very end.
I really appreciated all of the layers Jackson added to this book; throwing in new POVs as the story progressed to add more nuance, the podcast interludes that were a scathing critique on true crime podcasts and how they can be harmful, and a blazing discussion on how racism is so deeply ingrained and normalized in our society. All of those elements were bundled up to create a fantastic retelling of Carrie. On top of those elements, the character work in this book was so well done. Maddy is such a deeply nuanced character, though I can’t really go into why without giving away some key details! While I did want to fight almost every single side character, save like two, I think Jackson did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. The audiobook is narrated by a full cast and Joy Nash, Christopher Salazar, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, JD Jackson, and Karen Malina White didn’t just bring this story to life, they created what I would consider a masterful audio production.
If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @gigireadswithkiki also loved The Weight of Blood!
“On the surface, the plot of this book reads like a Black girl getting her comeuppance on the racist student body of her sundown town, but looking within, you’ll find layers upon layers of stories woven masterfully into a perfect Carrie retelling. Though the cast of characters is large and continues to grow as the plot thickens, each POV is purposeful, each adding a lush richness to the story. Juggling between a critique of true crime podcasts, the many different faces of racism, an examination of internalized anti-Blackness/colorism, and a darkly accurate portrayal of abusive parents, The Weight of Blood is not a light and easy read, but it hits the nail on the head in every way.”
VAMPIRES OF EL NORTE
by Isabel Cañas (2023)
LENGTH: 12 hours, 3 minutes
READ BY: Krysta Gonzales, Jose Nateras
Trigger Warnings: classism, colonialism, descriptions of blood & gore, gun violence, war, violence, animal attacks, animal death injury detail, sexual content, grief
Vampires of El Norte is such a lushly written, terrifying, and entertaining gothic horror book. Cañas took the classic vampire novel and spun it on its head, creating such a unique and fresh take.
I appreciated the discussion on colonialism, with the added scariness of vampires. The vampires in this book are not the ones that glimmer and sparkle in the sun; these are things of nightmares. Our main protagonists Nena and Néstor both had a POV, which built beautifully off one another. Nena is determined and strong. Her vampire slaying abilities are incredible. Néstor is the definition of “if he wanted to he would,” and I loved how tender he is. This is a horror book, but it is also a romance, and the romance was filled with yearning. I was kicking my feet and giggling every time Nena and Néstor interacted. The writing in Vampires of El Norte is very easy to digest, but I always had an overall uneasy and eerie feeling. Krystsa Gonzales and Jose Nateras put in the work for this audiobook. I felt the yearning. I felt the tension. I felt scared. They truly did this book justice and it’s going to remain a favorite for a very long time.
If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @reading.with.sydney also loved Vampires of El Norte!
“Vampires of El Norte" by Isabel Cañas tackles westward expansion and colonialism through the added lens of vampirism. We follow Nena and Néstor as they navigate the creatures of the night, men who feel entitled to the land they don’t own, and their burgeoning feelings for one another. Cañas’s writing transports you to 1840s Mexico and is haunting, surprisingly tender, and gives you two characters who you want to root for with some of the most amazing narrators (Krysta Gonzales and Jose Nateras). If you love gothic horror, some of the most romantic and genuine longing from the MMC, and lush Mexican culture, I highly recommend checking out Vampires of El Norte. ”
MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW
by Stephen Graham Jones (2021)
LENGTH: 12 hours, 25 minutes
READ BY: Cara Gee
Trigger Warnings: gore, suicide attempt, murder, sexual assault, child abuse, incest, vomit, cultural appropriation
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones is probably the reason I fell in love with horror as a genre. Jade is such a compelling protagonist; she is angry and upset at everyone who has hurt her, has such a thirst for vengeance, and an obsession with final girls. My Heart is a Chainsaw is first and foremost a love letter to slasher films.
As someone who has only seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn 3 I am not super familiar with slasher films, but this book taught me so much about them without ever feeling like I was being lectured. Jade has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to slashers and her ability to compare her experiences to certain movie plot points was so intriguing to me. This book is a slow burn. There is a lot of build up and the gore really ramps up at about 60 percent in, but I had such an overarching sense of dread and fear the whole time reading this book. To me, this is a testament to how Graham Jones plotted this story so meticulously. This was the perfect start to one of my favorite trilogies of all time. Cara Gee brought Jade Daniels to life. I felt like I was right there with Jade the whole time.
If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @booksandlindsey also loved My Heart is a Chainsaw!
“Stephen Graham Jones takes us through the tropes of a typical slasher movie, as a killer arrives in Proofrock, leaving you to wonder alongside Jade: who is going to be the final girl? I fell in love with Jade’s passion for slashers and enjoyed learning more about iconic slasher movies through her constant references and the Slasher 101 entries. The audiobook narrator, Cara Gee, is a perfect voice for this novel and I felt as if she IS Jade Daniels. My Heart is a Chainsaw had me hooked from beginning to end and is the perfect start to the Indian Lake Trilogy.”
THE REFORMATORY
by Tananarive Due (2023)
LENGTH: 20 hours, 51 minutes
READ BY: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Trigger warnings: racism, child abuse, racial slurs, sexual assault, pedophilia, sexual violence, death of a parent, slavery
Set in 1950s Jim Crow Florida and based on the true story of The Dozier School for Boys, The Reformatory was horrifying and devastating. This book was so meticulously plotted and paced. Every aspect of this book felt so incredibly intentional and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Every character in this book, main or side, was written with such detail.
Even the side characters that didn’t have much page time were well developed. The dual POV between Robbie’s time in The Reformatory and Gloria fighting to rescue her brother was so well done. Each chapter built so beautifully on the last. This was truly a masterclass in storytelling. The supernatural element was very interesting and added a lot of depth to the overall plot. However, the supernatural element isn’t what made this book terrifying but the lack of humanity and the racism that is still so deeply ingrained in this country. This was my first book by Due and it definitely won’t be my last. Joniece Abbott-Pratt is also my favorite audiobook narrator, so I was very excited when I discovered she was the voice of The Reformatory. Abbott-Pratt brought this story to life and added so much emotion to an already gut wrenching story.
If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @shonnareads also loved The Reformatory!
“Tananarive Due's writing is phenomenal and the audiobook narration is so immersive. I could see and feel everything. Although this book is gut wrenching, it is also an important piece of literature that is very much needed to reflect the truth of our history. I highly recommend!”
Next Steps to Get Listening!
These four books have such a special place in my heart and whether you’re a seasoned audiobook lover or just getting started, I think there is a recommendation in here for everyone! I always get my audiobooks through Libby or Libro.FM! With Libby you can utilize your local library and search through their catalog for audiobooks! Libro.FM is a subscription service where a portion of your subscription price goes towards a local indie bookstore of your choice! You can find me on Instagram @haylee.reads where you can find me talking about all the audiobooks I am reading and loving!!
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