What to read this year for Christmas? Find your favorite Christmas Horror Books here.
Updated April 29, 2026
It’s that time of the year again. Christmas is here! It’s time to decorate the house with fancy lights and shiny ornaments. To smell the Christmas spices and to feel warm and be cuddled up inside with loved ones while outside it’s cold and snowing. You’re safe and warm inside under a cozy blanket by the fire. But not all Christmases are cozy and nice.
The darkest days of the year are nearing and therefore this is the ultimate time to tell ghost stories and stories that scare us. During these cold and dark days and nights all kinds of creepy things are lurking in the shadows, even Santa is watching us if we were good this year or bad.
Christmas horror comes in all sorts and sizes. From the mighty Krampus and Gryla, evil Christmas elves, ghosts, Perchten, and even brutal human killers who want to destroy the Christmas Spirit. From aliens, cursed ornaments hanging upon the Christmas tree, or even demons who disturb the most wonderful time of the year. Whichever is your favorite scare or horror villain, you’ll find something Christmassy and scary to read during the Holidays.
To make things even easier I have made a list of perfect horror Christmas novels for you to read. This is a list for those of you who love a good slasher or other evil carving up Christmas. But it’s also a list with Christmas horror with a fairytale of ghostly vibe.
So whether you’re a slasher fan or just want to read some supernatural ghostly spooky tales for Christmas, there’s a Christmas horror book for everyone.
I have put together a list of Christmas Horror Books that I have read and personally recommend. It’s not a list with all the Christmas horror books out there or the best ones, but this is a selection of books that I enjoyed reading.
The list is set up by decade and by year. Starting with the most recently published books. Each time I have found a new book within this genre that I highly recommend it will be added to the list.
So save this post for more recommendations.
The list consists of 24 books at the moment.
On One Ghastly Christmas Eve by Tiffany Hepworth (2025)
(148 pages)
Genres: Christmas, slasher, novella
Meryl, a middle-aged woman, is stalked during December by a serial killer, her daughter brings her new boyfriend unannounced to Christmas Eve Dinner and she gets a horrible Secret Santa gift. But she has a secret of her own. This Christmas will be bloody.
The story is alternately told from Meryl’s perspective and the killer’s perspective in 24 chapters. They both are unreliable narrators and that leaves the reader wondering who the killer is and who Meryl herself actually is. Each chapter can be read each day of December like an Advent Calendar.
It’s a perfect short mystery slasher for Christmas that will surprise you at the end and treats you to a lot of gore and gruesome kills, while Meryl tries to keep the Christmas Cheer alive.
Candy Cain Kills Again: The Second Slaying by Brian McAuley (2024)
(114 pages)
Genres: Christmas, slasher, social commentary, novella
See below for the first novel. We pick up the story right where we left it. The three survivors want to get the hell out of dodge but not before Austin wants to give the congregation a piece of his mind. And that’s exactly what Abby was thinking too. But she takes it a step further and wants her revenge on the people who treated her and her sister horribly. So now we can enjoy a Christmas Day massacre, while Abby slaughters all those who had it coming.
It’s a good for her kind of story. Not only because the real bad people are being punished in a very graphic and violent way. Serves them right. But also because every other chapter is written from Abby’s perspective. That way we learn a lot about her childhood and her sister and how they were abused, not only by their parents but the whole religious community.
A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman (2024)
(159 pages)
Genres: Christmas, folk horror, gothic, ghost story, novella
Angie and her 15-year-old son Rust get unusual Christmas Cards every day of December. The cards are weird and each time the drawing and the text gets weirder and creepier but they’re pieces of a puzzle that has something to do with an old BBC Christmas Ghost Story tale that was broadcast at Christmas in 1979, and which Angie watched as a little girl. Except that year was the first year the BBC stopped making those Ghost Stories. Did Angie imagine the tv-show, or is there something sinister at play?
This story is written in an unconventional way. The writing is superb and the style is original and unique. The conversions Angie has with her son Rust are evenly unusual and therefore very interesting. It feels like a fever dream, like a surreal Christmas nightmare that doesn’t need a rational explanation, rather it plays out on an emotional and psychological level. You can Read the Full Review.
Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley (2023)
(140 pages)
Genres: Christmas, slasher, novella
Austin and his sister have to stay with their parents in a rental house this Christmas to reconnect. They are unaware of the massacre that took place there ten years ago. And it’s about to start again.
This slasher throws a young queer romance, a mysterious past of the house with some disturbing history, a brother-sister relationship, and a deranged killer in the mix, who seems to be supernaturally strong. It’s a fast paced story with likable characters, and a lot of gore and violence, some of it you won’t see coming.
Although the violence and kills are very graphic there’s also a lot of room for some dark humor, romance and even the heavy topic of child abuse rears it’s ugly head, but is treated seriously and respectfully. This Christmas slasher magically mixes all these topics and different vibes together into a short novella that takes you on a wild ride.
Continue reading below this announcement.
Did you know I also make Art & Designs.
This Merry Christmas design of an Evil Gingerbread Man is made with soft pastels. You can buy this design on a Unisex Sweater and other apparel in my shop at Printify.
Everything is Temporary by Jon Cohn (2023)
(252 pages)
Genres: Christmas, coming-of-age, monsters & creatures
When Tom Barnes was a teenage boy he worked as a Christmas Elf for Mrs. Claus to bring Christmas joy to sick children. While Tom was first enchanted by the magical Christmas items in her house that came to life, he begins to suspect she has something to do with the deaths of these children. Together with his friends he has to stop her.
In the present when Tom has a family of his own, his daughter seems to be lured by a man who resembles Mrs. Claus and now he has to save his family. He wrote everything down in a book that his wife Sarah is now reading. That results in an original narrative about what happened back then, told by Tom and what happens now though Sarah’s perspective. It’s a fairytale-like coming-of-age story abut friendship, grief, death and monsters. You can Read the Full Review.
I Found Christmas Lights Slithering Up My Street by Ben Farthing (2023)
(148 pages)
Genres: Christmas, coming-of-age, cosmic horror, novella
Last Christmas Douglas has lost his little sister and now he wants to give his parents a great Christmas by decorating a house under construction in their neighborhood with Christmas lights. When he finds a huge strand of Christmas lights in the sewer he has a funny feeling about it. And he’s right. Soon these lights are creeping into the neighborhood taking over the houses, streets and even the people, eating them up and turning things into a surreal nightmare. Together with his friends he has to stop it before the whole neighborhood is overtaken.
It’s a very original story that is a quick read and a fast paced adventure that has scary surreal scenes. It deals with grief and friendship and that makes it more than just a thrilling story. You can Read the Full Review.
My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon (2023)
(320 pages)
Genres: Christmas, possession, dysfunctional family
Childhood trauma, abuse and possession turn this family Christmas into a horrifying holiday. A well written mystery with a shocking supernatural secret. This book is included in my Possession in Horror Books List (coming soon).
Slay Ride by L.A. Birchon (2023)
(194 pages)
Genres: Christmas, slasher, supernatural, novella
Nish and a couple of strangers are stranded in a small village after their bus broke down. They seek refuge in a pub and wait for help. But instead of help they are attacked by massive killer Reindeer who are looking for Santa. They must run and hide and fight and uncover the town’s dark secret to survive the night.
This is an absolute original story that may seem too absurd, but it all comes together in the end. It’s a fun slasher, with great kills and humor and a good mystery and with a great twist on top of that. It starts out a little slow but the characters of Nish and Effie are adorable and you really cheer them on. The story does get more interesting. Meanwhile the kills make up for a slower pace, that eventually catches up.
Continue reading below this announcement.
Did you know I also make Art & Designs.
This Merry Christmas design of a motley crew of Christmas Creatures is made with soft pastels. You can buy this design on a Unisex Baseball Shirt and other apparel in my shop at Threadless.
Lamplighter in the Yule Black by Cale Thomason (2022)
(269 pages)
Genres: Christmas, ghost story
It’s 1992, Adam is twelve years old and it’s Christmas Eve and outside his window he sees his friend Brady beckoning him to follow him. Only Brady died a year ago. He follows him to a looming castle, where they spend the night together. It’s full of Christmas spirit and wonders and horrors.
Now in 2022 Adam is in a mental hospital being treated for his hallucinations about that night. And now a documentary team wants to hear his story. But was it all a dream or did it really happen? He has to go back to his hometown and find the castle again for answers.
It’s a magical story abut friendship, grief, murder, not letting go, but also about Christmas past, present and even future. The ending is very surprising and emotionally charged, and makes you rethink all that you have read. You can Read the Full Review.
Wildacre by Shani Struthers (2022)
(186 pages)
Genre: Christmas, ghost story, novella
Isla is a 24-year-old carer on her way to a new job, when she crashes her car. She finds her client Jessica all alone in a big dusty house, suffering from dementia. She can’t believe the former carer has left Jessica all alone. But with no car, no phone and the cold outside she can’t leave Jessica again to get help right away. Determined to aid Jessica, also driven by her own trauma, Isla stays and finds the house haunted with it’s own trauma.
The isolated environment, the snow, the old big dusty house, ghosts, an old woman with a story of her own she isn’t able to tell, create a modern gothic ghostly tale of dread with grief and trauma.
You Better Watch Out by Matt Forgit (2021)
(271 pages)
Genres: Christmas, slasher, comedy
Mary is the successful CEO of the tinsel family business. Her whole live revolves around Christmas as does the town. Then a killer comes to town dressed in a Reindeer suit and starts a killing spree.
This Christmas slasher/Hallmark romance is a wonderful original story that mixes these two opposite genres in a perfect way. It’s cheesy, it’s gory and full of violence, there’s romance in the air and above all it’s very Christmassy. This well written novel full of lovely characters and a brutal killer is a joy to read and very refreshing. While the killer makes his way through town and the tinsel factory, we have an opportunity to figure out who this killer is and why he has come to Tinselvania. Although it’s a slasher it still keeps the Christmas Spirit alive and with a strong determined Mary a new final girl is born.
Continue reading below this announcement.
Did you know I also make Art & Designs.
This Merry Christmas design of an angry Gingerbread Man is made with soft pastels. You can buy this design on a Mug and other products and on other various apparel in my shop at Redbubble.
The Christmas Bell by L.A. Detwiler (2020)
(160 pages)
Genres: Christmas, ghost story, novella
Candace returns home for Christmas to celebrate Christmas with her mother Marian and her grandmother Anne. When Candace wants to surprise them by putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it with old ornaments she found in the attic, strange things start happening. The Christmas Bell with an eerie engraving is not only possessed but holds the key to a lifelong secret Anne has been carrying. This secret might be even the dead of them.
The focus is on the mystery behind it and grandma Anne’s dark past. It’s about a family secret that will haunt them. These hauntings are described by each of the main characters so you’ll get a piece of the puzzle from different perspectives. It’s not a very original haunting story but it has some brutal kills (and if you, like me, don’t like animal cruelty, the cat dies).
Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer (2020)
(220 pages)
Genres: Christmas, monsters & creatures, eighties vibe, comedy
Lussi is a horror book editor in the eighties and is about to apply for a job at a serious publisher with no horror department. By sheer luck (or was it something else?), the big boss dies in front of her just after he dismissed her. Nobody knows that and she makes up the story that she was hired. But all this might have something to do with the little Percht on the self in the boss’ office. The same Percht she gets as a present during Secret Santa. Soon accidents start to happen at work, especially to those she has encounters with. Something evil is roaming the office and Lussi gets more then she’d bargained for.
It’s a great eighties throwback horror movie with an evil entity, German folklore, a great female lead, dark humor, gruesome kills, a mystery Lussi has to solve and all during Christmas. You can Read the Full Review.
The Visitor by Sergio Gomez (2020)
(72 pages)
Genres: Christmas, aliens, novella
At Christmas five strangers take shelter from a huge snowstorm in a diner. But there’s more danger outside than just the snowstorm. Something is lurking in the snow and soon the five strangers are fighting and running for their lives.
Short but sweet and something completely different. This time we don’t have to deal with ghosts, hauntings, evil elves, demons, possessions or deranged killers but with aliens. That alone makes this very short story a unique take on how to not want to spend Christmas. First of all nobody wants to be trapped in a diner in the middle of nowhere with strangers at Christmas and second you don’t want to run for your life. Still it might be fun to read about it.
Candy Canes and Buckets of Blood by Heide Goody & Iain Grant (2019)
(297 pages)
Genres: Christmas, comedy, fantasy
Guin’s father Dave has new girlfriend Esther. She and her son Newton are coming to visit them during Christmas. When they arrive they first go to a Christmas market, but things quickly turn into a very strange visit. Suddenly the market is over and their tires are slashed and they have to stay at the local inn. That night they are attacked by evil Elves. When the kids are kidnapped Dave and Esther have to save them from the elves. But Guin and Newton are no helpless kids, they are smart and inventive and can handle some little elves.
It’s a great romp of a story. It’s a crazy adventure that is a rollercoaster of fun. All the characters are very outspoken and create a fun family dynamic. The violence is graphic and bloody, while the story still remains light with a lot of humor.
Continue reading below this announcement.
Did you know I also make Art & Designs.
This Merry Christmas design of an Evil Snowman Christmas Bauble is made with soft pastels. You can buy this design on a Unisex Sweater and other apparel in my shop at Printify.
Hell for the Holidays by D.M. Guay (2019)
(107 pages)
Genres: Christmas, comedy, novella
Lloyd celebrates Christmas with his parents and the whole neighborhood is invited. As are his colleagues and friends and some demons from the store Demon Mart where he works, but nobody can know that they are demons. When some ghostly demons escape from a hell portal, Lloyd has to save the party and all the people with the help of his crush Dee Dee, his demon kicking friends, his guardian angel living in a magic eight ball, a cockroach named Kevin and a giant blue centipede named Bubby.
This hilarious adventure is a mashup between the National Lampoon Christmas Vacation and Ash vs. Evil Dead bringing all the fun and absurd events and incidents and also a fun bunch of characters. Throw some possessed snowmen, an ignorant socialite, a sexy grandma and a lot of alcohol and demonic spells in the mix and you will definitely have a wonderful Christmas time.
Mistletoe by Alison Littlewood (2019)
(253 pages)
Genres: Christmas, ghost story, winter
After the deaths of her husband and son, Leah buys Maitland farmhouse in the country to fix up and sell. It’s almost Christmas and the countryside is covered in a thick layer of snow. Leah starts to have visions about the former residents from way back and they start to reach out to her, blending the hauntings and her visions with the real world. Leah doesn’t feel save but she wants to know what tragedy took place at the farm, because her own maiden name is Maitland.
It’s a slow burn, with a gothic haunted house feel, about grief and loss and maybe hope, about trying to start over but the past won’t let Leah go. The atmosphere is eerie and the Christmas vibe is very present, but not the modern Christmas, it’s about the old ways of Christmas old traditions long forgotten that find their way back to the present to Leah.
Krampus and the Thief of Christmas by Eldritch Black (2016)
(320 pages)
Genres: Christmas, fairytale, YA , middle grade
Gabrielle Greene and her little brother Percival have to stay with their uncle for Christmas while their parents are “working things out”. To make some extra money Gabrielle takes the blame for all sorts of petty crimes of the village children in exchange for money. What she doesn’t know is that Krampus Night is coming and Krampus himself has his eye on her for she is the baddest thief and has to steal the key to Christmas from Santa so Krampus can take over the Holiday. In order to lure her he orders Gryla to kidnap Percival. To save her little brother Gabrielle must make a decision. Be a bad girl or a good girl or maybe be a very smart girl.
It’s a perfect adventurous Christmas fairytale for kids and also fun for adults.
Christmas Eve on Haunted Hill by Bryan Smith (2015)
(95 pages)
Genres: Christmas, slasher, ghosts, possession, novella
Exactly ten years ago Luke’s father killed his whole family on Christmas Eve. Luke is the only one who made it out alive. Now he’s back in his old town wearing a Christmas suit, just like his father did that night, to end his own life in that same house up on the hill. But things take a turn when he meets his old friend Greg in the bar while drinking to build enough courage. He changes his mind and together with Greg he wants to burn down the house.
Meanwhile a group of young people went up to the house to see the ghost of the killer as a dare. A rite of passage. Of course the ghost shows up and Luke is confronted again with the same evil from ten years ago.
It’s a short fast-paced read with gory kills and a ghostly killer that possesses people in a haunted house.
Winterwood: A Krampus Tale by J.G. Faherty (2015)
(111 pages)
Genres: Christmas, fairytale, novella
In 1911 Anders Bach and his friends are chased down the street by the Yule Cat because they are outside at Christmas Eve. Anders is saved by his father who just in time gifts him new clothes just before the Yule Cat wants to strike.
Years later in 1979 he tells this story as a warning to his grandchildren the 9-year-old twins Jack and Nick but they don’t listen and are caught by the Yule Lads and taken to Winterwood. Anders summons the Yule Elf to open a portal to Winterwood, the magical kingdom of Krampus the Holly King, unaware that Anna and Paul are also sucked into this dangerous realm. Together they have to find Jack and Nick before they end up as an Elf or worse, in a pie.
An adventurous fairytale in a magical land full of Christmas lore and horrors.
Continue reading below this announcement.
Did you know I also make Art & Designs.
This Merry Christmas design of an Eye Bauble is made with soft pastels. You can buy this design on a Unisex Sweater and other apparel in my shop at Threadless.
A Christmas Horror Story by Sebastian Gregory (2014)
(160 pages)
Genres: Christmas, fairytale, YA, middle grade, novella
Twelve-year-old Katie is home alone watching her little brother Jake and sister Emily at the night before Christmas Eve when the Child Eater or Kinderfresser is coming for them. But Katie doesn’t let this Christmas monster take her siblings and sets out on a rescue mission.
Every other chapter tells a little tale throughout the ages about other children who have faced the Child Eater. These four tales of children being taken by the Child Eater together make up a gruesome fairytale for young adults or middle-graders who can stomach a scary and horrible Christmas tale.
Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke (2013)
(276 pages)
Genres: Christmas, psychological, winter
Holly and her 15-year-old adopted daughter Tatiana from Russia are home alone at Christmas Day strange things start to happen. With Holly as an unreliable narrator, in a stream of consciousness tells an intriguing tale of mystery. This book is included in my Psychological Horror Book List (coming soon). Or you can Read the Full Review.
Christmas Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley (2012)
(104 pages)
Genres: Christmas, ghost stories, anthology, YA, middle grade, novella
Seven short stories written in a Victorian Ghost Story style for middle-graders and young adults will give you some goosebumps. There’s a story about a Green Man, a cursed Musical Box, a Snowman that takes revenge, and many more, all cautionary tales to better be good during Christmas. Though the emphasis is always on the ghostly story and not too moralistic. Because we all know not to bully others, especially around Christmas time.
These seven short tales are perfect little reads for if you don’t have much time to read during the holidays. You can always squeeze in one of these little tales. Due to the writing style that may seem a little old fashioned not every child will warm to it, but those who can appreciate this Victorian style will absolutely enjoy it, as will adults.
Krampus the Yule Lord by Brom (2012)
(357 pages)
Genres: Christmas, fairytale, folklore
This is an epic mythological tale about Krampus, the devilish figure from the folklore originating from the Alps. The counterpart and enemy of Santa. The story revolves around Jesse a struggling songwriter and an absent dad who as per chance finds not only Santa’s sack but also himself in the clutches of Krampus who wants to destroy Santa. Now as one of his minions, becoming a Belsnickel he has to find a way to free himself, and redeem himself by bringing back Christmas, in this epic rollercoaster Christmas adventure.
If you want to learn more about the lore of Krampus this epic story gives a nice twist to the folklore about Yuletide. It’s an epic Christmas adventure with an anti-hero and a lot of other mythical Yule figures. It’s very entertaining, not a too big of a read, but big enough to get you through the dark days.
I hope you have a very happy and merry Christmas, without creepy monsters or ghosts, or a dysfunctional family. Without nasty mail, but with a nice home to go to. I hope the Christmas lights and ornaments won’t attack you nor that Krampus will pay you a visit.
Be kind this Christmas to everyone, celebrate your loved ones and read a good Christmas horror book.
Explore more Lists of Horror Books:
- The List of Coming-Of-Age Horror Books
- The List of Halloween Horror Books
- The List of Summer Horror Books
- The List of Summer Camp Horror Books
Did You Know I Also Make Art and Designs?
you can buy my designs on apparel or stationary, mugs and more. You can learn more about it on my art & design shop page or go directly to one of my shops.