Top 10 Fantastic Scary Stories for Halloween

Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound! “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving:

Set in a small village along the Hudson River, this timeless classic introduces us to the infamous headless horseman and the spine-chilling mystery that surrounds him.

Such is the general purport of this legendary superstition, which has furnished materials for many a wild story in that region of shadows; and the spectre is known at all the country firesides, by the name of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving Open book

2. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:

Sherlock Holmes investigates the legend of a supernatural hound that haunts the Baskerville family in this eerie mystery set in the foggy moors of Devonshire.

3. The Skeleton by Rabindranath Tagore:

The Skeleton is a short story by Rabindranath Tagore. When the narrator was a young boy, there was a skeleton on the wall in the room next to the bedroom. It was used to learn anatomy. A few years later the narrator is suddenly awakened by a ghost looking for its skeleton.

4. The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs:

Be careful what you wish for in this classic tale. A magical monkey's paw grants its owner three wishes, but the results are far from what they expected.

“It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,” said the sergeant-major, “a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.”

The Monkey’s Paw, W.W. Jacobs Open book

5. The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe:

No list of scary stories would be complete without Edgar Allan Poe. “The Black Cat” is a disturbing tale of a man who descends into madness, driven by his obsession with a seemingly innocent black cat. Poe's masterful storytelling and psychological horror make this a must-read for Halloween enthusiasts. A psychological thriller about a man driven to madness by his own guilty conscience and a malevolent feline companion.

One night, returning home, much intoxicated, from one of my haunts about town, I fancied that the cat avoided my presence. I seized him; when, in his fright at my violence, he inflicted a slight wound upon my hand with his teeth.

The Black Cat, Edgar Allan Poe Open book

6. The Viy by Nikolai Gogol:

A chilling story in which a young priest encounters supernatural horrors in a remote village church.

There was still the same atmosphere of menacing silence in the church, in the centre of which stood the coffin with the terrible witch inside it.

The Viy, Nikolai Gogol Open book

7. The Haunted House by Charles Dickens:

Charles Dickens, known for his classic Christmas tales, presents a haunted house story, filled with the eerie and the unexplained.

8. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:

This feminist gothic story delves into the descent into madness of a woman who is confined to her room and becomes obsessed with the strange pattern on the yellow wallpaper.

9. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde:

A humorous and ghostly tale where an American family moves into an English mansion inhabited by a not-so-scary ghost, who becomes the target of the American family's practical jokes.

To her immense surprise, however, it was the Canterville Ghost himself! He was sitting by the window, watching the ruined gold of the yellowing trees fly through the air, and the red leaves dancing madly down the long avenue.

The Canterville Ghost, Oscar Wilde Open book

10. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James:

A classic ghost story that tells of a governess tasked with caring for two young children in a remote English estate, who begins to suspect supernatural forces are at play.

He sprang to his feet again. “Yes — tomorrow. Now I must go to bed. Good night.” And quickly catching up a candlestick, he left us slightly bewildered. From our end of the great brown hall we heard his step on the stair; whereupon Mrs. Griffin spoke. “Well, if I don’t know who she was in love with, I know who HE was.”

The Turn of the Screw, Henry James Open book

These ten stories span different eras, themes, and styles, making them perfect for anyone seeking a good scare on Halloween. Whether you prefer the classic legends, the subtle psychological horror, or the eerie mysteries, these stories are sure to send shivers down your spine and keep you captivated on a dark and stormy Halloween night. So, grab a cozy blanket, light a few candles, and prepare to be transported to a world where the macabre meets the mysterious. Happy Halloween!