This has to be one of the best years for books! I read everything from the legends to the indie authors, and the genres I read stem from human monsters to the paranormal, historical horror to serial killers–and everything else in between. I also discovered many amazing authors and added more of their work to my TBR! I’m also fortunate to have met some of these authors, and everyone in the horror community I’ve met has been so nice.
It was extremely difficult making this list of the best books I read in 2022. Note that not all of these books were released this year, just ones I stumbled upon.
Without further ado, here are the best books I read this year, starting from 10. I will also list some honorable mentions at the bottom.
10. Body Art by Kristopher Triana
Kristopher Triana is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. And if you’re looking for a good book that introduces the sheer depravity of Triana’s mind, well, this is the book for you. This book features everything—porn stars making a snuff film, some necrophiliac building the woman of his dreams with dead body parts, and other crazy stuff I would never have thought of. Let’s put it this way–the ending is a perfect combination of Marquis de Sade and David Lynch.
9. The Clown Hunt by Judith Sonnet
First, I have to say that I hate clowns. I never liked them, even before I knew that It was a thing. But this isn’t your normal clown horror story. After reading The Clown Hunt, I have a little more sympathy for these odd characters.
This was the first Judith Sonnet book I ever read, and I’m a fan. This book contains as much gore and murder as any extreme horror fan could ever want. But this book was more than just clown torture—Sonnet creates realistic characters and writes excellent stories. The twist at the end added to the fun of reading this book. I also met Sonnet at Killercon this year, and she’s such a sweetheart.
8. Tender Is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica
I’m a hipster when it comes to books and avoid anything overly hyped. However, Tender Is the Flesh deserves the hype it’s receiving. This is one of the few books that is powerful enough to change lives.
Even though the videos of slaughter farms and animal testing labs have changed our perceptions of our treatment of animals, we still exploit animals regularly. Think about it. We use animals for entertainment, keep them as pets, and hunt them for fun. The list goes on. These are facts I already knew, but this concept may be mind-blowing for some readers.
But what if we don’t have animals? Would humans magically become a bunch of happy hippies, munching on carrots grown freshly in the garden while worshipping Mother Earth? Yeah, right. We would start exploiting other humans the same way we do animals.
This book is sick and depraved in ways that other books aren’t. While reading Tender, you’re deconstructing your perception of society and understanding how much we rely on animals.
While this is a horror/dystopian book, there is some serious gore. Humans get cut up, tested for substances, hunted, and bred for slaughter.
Augustina Bazterrica also writes a story within a story. On one part, you’re focusing on this new terrifying world where humans are bred for meat. Conversely, Bazterrica focuses on one character struggling with his turmoils while slaughtering humans for work. This is a very complex and eye-opening book with a sudden twist.
7. Talia by Daniel J. Volpe
All I can say is I want to be Talia when I grow up.
Talia is part “suburban woman moves to NYC and gets caught up in the porn business”, part snuff film, and part supernatural. Because of this, you connect with Talia’s character. At first, she got caught up in the wrong business working for bad people. But it’s when she becomes the “bad character” is when you fall in love with her.
The book becomes sicker and sicker as you read. It’s even beyond the gore; there’s evil in every word, and it hooks you in until the very end. There is a lot of violence in the book, but it’s not “gore for the sake of gore.” Overall, this is a very well-written extreme horror book and one I will add to the neverending “Favorite Books By Daniel J. Volpe” list.
6. Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison
“My dick could cut through diamonds right now.” Man, do I wish I was the wrote who wrote that line. Chandler Morrison, you are something else.
And where do I begin with this book? Morrison created a story where two fucked up people meet and connect over…well, how they’re fucked up. These two characters have been rejected by society and can only indulge in their immoral pleasures to each other.
But do you feel dead inside after reading this book? I honestly thought it was a fun read. Morrison injects the right amount of humor into this depraved book; some scenes make you gag, while others make you laugh.
Chandler Morrison is an excellent writer whose characters are well-developed, but this book isn’t for everyone. But if you don’t mind reading about grotesque and taboo desires, then you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did.
5. The Groomer by Jon Athan
Even in extreme horror, there are taboos. Any violence or depravity against children is a total blackmark for most publishers. Unfortunately, violence is committed against children every day. Horror is a brutal genre but an honest one. It’s up to horror writers to talk about these heinous acts but in a safer fictional space.
Jon Athan did just that with The Groomer. But Athan has a way of telling a disturbing story while not glorifying violence or victimizing anyone. Instead, Athan proves how easy it is for a child to end up in the hands of a predator. It must have been difficult to do that with a story like The Groomer, but the vigilante dad trope added the much-needed break from the other sick scenes.
With that being said, this is a book I wouldn’t recommend to just anyone. But it is a very important read in the extreme horror genre—especially for parents.
4. True Crime by Samantha Kolesnik
I struggled with the top four, unsure of where to place all of these books. I honestly think these four books are my number one pick.
This is one of the few books I read where the writing is so amazing that I wish I wrote this book. Kolesnik has such a beautiful yet unsettling way of portraying a psychopath. At the same time, Kolesnik doesn’t go overboard with her darlings. There’s just enough poetic language to where the book grips your soul, but it still takes you along for the ride.
This story is more than your traditional horror book. The main character, Suzy, and her brother, Lim, are victims of abuse at the hands of their mother. But then the siblings tick, and they go on a murderous rampage.
What I think I love most about this book is there is no clear line between perpetrator and victim. Suzy and Lim are victimized in one chapter, then they murder in the next. You read about the horrid crimes that Suzy commits and the harassment and abuse she receives—from her mother and various men. Because of this, their characters are more realistic.
The book isn’t too long; I think it’s technically a novella. If you can, listen to it on audiobook. The narrator they chose is fantastic.
3. 400 Days of Oppression by Wrath James White
With 400 Days of Oppression, Wrath James White takes the abhorrent treatment of African slaves and re-tells it into a BDSM horror novel. Kenyatta wants his girlfriend, Natasha, to devote her love to him. How does he do that? By putting her through the horrors that the slaves endured for 400 days. Kenyatta built a slave ship for Natasha, forced her to clean and cook, and even sold her at a slave auction.
Wrath James White portrays Kenyatta as a man who was the victim of racism, which morphed him into a monster. Knowing this, the reader struggles throughout this book. Should you empathize with Kenyatta or hate him? White also combines depravity with sex, forcing many emotions on the reader.
At the end of the day, this is a horror novel. But the real horror isn’t the blood and guts. The real horror is a reminder that the actions Kenyatta forced upon Natasha happened at one point in history.
This is more than just one of the best books I read this year. This is one of the best books I read, period.
2. Left to You by Daniel J. Volpe
Volpe has been praised for this book, and for good reason. I love this book because it’s one you think you know what it’s about, but then Volpe takes an even darker turn.
We first meet Robert Sinclair, a young man working two jobs while caring for his cancer-stricken mother. We also meet Josef Lazerowitz, a Holocaust survivor who befriends Sinclair. Lazerowitz is also dying but wants to give his friend Sinclair something before he passes. Something inhuman and sinister, but something that could save his mother. Very quickly, Robert finds himself doing unspeakable things in hopes that his mother’s health will improve.
This book is not only filled with horror but is also filled with love, fear, tragedy, and heartbreak. Volpe doesn’t hold back when discussing the brutal reality of Auschwitz, yet he also takes the story in a different yet equally dark direction. I have to say, I’m not a fan of the paranormal, but I am a fan of history. But the paranormal twist does bring unexpected life into this book.
As with anything by Volpe, the book is extremely well-written. Even before opening a page, I knew I would love this book.
I have one complaint. There is a brief animal abuse/death scene. Animal abuse/death is my only trigger, and I know it’s a common trigger for others. The scene occurs in chapter 4, so skip that one if you don’t want to read about animal abuse. It doesn’t give away anything important but hints at the twist.
1. Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck
Wow. Just wow. This is one of the most disturbing yet amazing books I’ve ever read. It was randomly recommended to me, and I honestly can’t remember by who. I love crime fiction, so I decided to give it a shot. What I didn’t expect was the depravity, abuse, and torture, yet also the heartbreak and love contained in this one book.
I follow BookTok and watch every “most disturbing book I ever read” video. No one has mentioned this book. Not one. Other than the person who recommended this book to me, I’ve only seen it promoted on my favorite subreddit, r/ExtremeHorrorLit.
A man, Mark, is on some mundane road trip. He’s eating at a diner when he sees a Missing Girl poster and also notices the girl in the diner. However, things take a drastic turn for this man, and his life will never be the same.
One of my problems with extreme horror is you don’t often connect to the characters. But this book is the exception. The survivors in this book fell into the hands of a monster and endured unspeakable abuse. Because of this, you cheer them on throughout the entire book. Mark begins as a funny but annoying character, but he quickly turns into one of the best protagonists I’ve ever read.
This is another book where you think you know what it’s about, but it takes a turn you don’t expect. The beginning is a little boring, but it gets so much better. I won’t give anything away, but the descriptions will haunt me for life.
Honorable Mentions
Bug Spray by Felix I.D. Dimaro
We Are Here to Hurt Each Other by Paula D. Ashe
Into the Wolves’ Den by Jon Athan