The Best Horror Book Covers. Ever!

1. "The Children of Old Leech" edited by Ross E. Lockhart and Justin Steele

If there's one thing I hate, it's faux-pulp covers. There's nothing easier or lazier than aping those old paperbacks. Whatever's bad about the cover, you can claim its part of the charm; you did it on purpose.

Matthew Revert on the other hand, is a master of his art. His book covers look like the real deal. Where others slap on some folded paper textures and call it a day, Revert's work just looks real. As if you're somehow holding a book that came out in 2015 and at the same time in 1975.

2. "Haunted" by Chuck Palahniuk

I mean, I don't know if it's a horror book per se, and I already went with a vintage-style cover for #1, but I have to go with my gut. Palahniuk's books have always had good designers, but the UK edition of this book is my favorite. This is actually a pretty good depiction of my expression while reading some of the stories in Haunted.

3. "The Ritual" by Adam Nevill

One of the most terrifying novels I've read in the last few years, Adam Nevill's The Ritual has one of my favorite covers ever (well, duh). I believe this is the first edition cover for the UK. The new US and UK versions aren't as good.

This book takes place in my backyard, so it made for some sleepless nights.

4. "It" by Stephen King

And here's an actual vintage cover. I can't decide if I like it for the actual design or just because of nostalgia. If you've read the book, the cover is visceral. I can't comment on how good it is for the heathens who've never read it. But you knew a King book was going to make this list. It was either going to be this one, the cover for Night Shift or Doctor Sleep. It won. It always wins.

5. "Dark Harvest" by Norman Partridge

Coincidentally, the best Halloween novel ever. Norman Partridge is extremely underrated. The art is great, and unlike most book covers, some thought went into fitting the title design in there. Art by Jon Foster.

6. "Horrorstör" by Grady Hendrix

As far as clever book covers go, it doesn't get better than this. Found out about this book by clicking on it and wondering why Amazon was trying to sell me IKEA catalogues. Designed by Andy Reid, interiors by Michael Rogalski.

7. "Borderlands" edited by Thomas F. Monteleone

Dave McKean needs no introduction. Borderlands however, might. Borderlands was a series of anthologies published by an imprint of White Wolf (makers of the Vampire: The Masquerade roleplaying game). They still hold up as some of the best weird anthologies I've ever read, and the art on all of them is superb.

8. "This Book is Full of Spiders" by David Wong

For some reason, good, unique design is rare in mass market paperbacks. Wong's previous novel is an exception (his latest one is pretty cool too!). You rarely see this kind of creativity, unless your name is Murakami.

9. "The Gospel of Z" by Stephen Graham Jones

I love typography-based covers, but I know very little about the subject, so I all I can say here is, I really like this one. The faux-leather cover isn't always a big hit for me, but it works so well here.

10. "Drood" by Dan Simmons

I'll be honest: the book put me to sleep a bunch of times. But the cover stuck with me long after. Sometimes design needs to be simple to be effective. 

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I know you're shaking your head. Judging me. Go ahead then, tell me I'm wrong in the comments.