For all of you horror aficionados out there, we’re taking a frightening trip down under today! And these authors are definitely bringing the scare. We have listed the most spine-chilling horror novels from these astonishing Aussie authors. Are you afraid yet?
Contrition by Deborah Sheldon
Trigger Warning: The mention of alcoholism and mental health issues might be triggering to some readers.
Deborah Sheldon knows the human mind and is not afraid to use that knowledge. Residing in Melbourne, her career path in journalism and screenwriting proved to be a strong foundation for her fiction. Sheldon also writes for medical journals, giving her realistic, bone-chilling facts to add into her horror. Her novels are some of the best psychological horrors out there. Through the exploration of themes like obsession and guilt, Sheldon delves into what it means to be human. These realistic aspects are often combined with the supernatural or the macabre to create truly unsettling pieces of fiction.
Are you looking for a slow-burning horror story with some noir elements? Contrition ticks all those boxes. John Penrose is battling a lot of demons. He has mental health issues and an alcohol addiction that he won’t admit to. But the biggest monster of them all has a name and is hidden away in his apartment: Meredith.
Netherkind by Greg Chapman
This author from New South Wales cannot be missed. His love for cosmic horror started at a young age when he began devouring books by authors like M. R. James. Chapman is a master of worldbuilding, and it shows. An artist as well as an author, his dark designs for book covers and illustrations are as spooky as his fiction. If you are a fan of H.P. Lovecraft or M.R. James, Chapman’s novels should definitely be added to your TBR. Inspired by these classic horror authors, Chapman’s novels combine dark gothic elements and the supernatural — with an Australian twist. Creating eerie, otherworldly settings is one of Chapman’s specialties, and his novel Netherkind is no exception.
Netherkind is set in a world where monsters have been forced to live underground. His depiction of their labyrinthian underground world is oppressive and paralyzing. Follow Asha on her journey through this terrifying maze filled with monsters. As a monster herself, this shouldn’t be difficult, but now she is questioning where she fits into this society. Can she accept herself for what she truly is?
The Grief Hole by Kaaron Warren
Born in Melbourne and raised in Canberra, Warren is a celebrated horror author across Australia. Ghost stories and dark folklore drew her into the world of horror. Her earlier works of fiction were mostly short stories, but her focus on the horror genre has always been consistent. Warren is able to tackle complex and chilling topics such as grief and death while adding sprinklings of humor. An appreciation for hauntingly dark humor is a must when reading Warren’s work. She combines psychological horror and the supernatural with the darker aspects of human nature. Warren’s fast-paced narratives truly know how to evoke an unsettling sense of dread in readers.
In this terrifyingly haunting read, Theresa can see grief holes, which are visual manifestations of grief and places full of sorrow and loss. These holes are all around her and keep taking people she loves. But how can she possibly close them? Her trouble doesn’t stop there. She can also see ghosts that tell her how people will die. So why are there no ghosts surrounding the charismatic singer, Sol Evictus? Find out the answers in The Grief Hole.
Beneath the Dark Ice by Greig Beck
Beck grew up in Sydney, right across from Bondi Beach. For him, the sunshine, sand, and surfing days are intermingled with science fiction. While sitting on the beach and feeling the sand between his toes, Beck got lost in the otherworldly settings created by H.G Wells. Growing up in the 1980s, he experienced one of the greatest eras for horror authors. Out of all the legends, Graham Masterton influenced him the most. Beck’s novels can be categorized as horror thrillers. They often feature military specialists in uncharted terrains dealing with otherworldly terrors.
Beneath the Dark Ice is the first in a series of novels about an elite soldier named Alex Hunter. Alex has seen his fair share of action. Highly trained and with nerves of steel, he trusts himself and his squad. But nothing could have prepared him for this mission. A plane crash in the Antarctic uncovers a massive cave and a group of researchers is missing. Alex and his team are tasked with finding the missing researchers but his Instincts are telling him that something is wrong. Will he risk the lives of his squad to get the bottom of this?
The Dead Path by Stephen M. Irwin
Film and fiction go hand in hand for Brisbane-born Stephen M. Irwin. He is an accomplished storyteller, both as an author and as a screenwriter. His love for horror led him to explore what scares people the most. On his journey, he has realised that the answer to what truly scares us often lies within ourselves. Irwin’s horror is built on foundations of dark folklore. He is known for supernatural thrillers that are packed with tension and haunting imagery. How would you react if you were confronted by the existence of supernatural beings? This is one of the main questions Irwin asks the characters and the readers in his stories.
In The Dead Path, Nicholas Close is mourning the death of his wife. But death suddenly seems to be all around him. He’s beset by ghosts who are doomed to repeat the violent moments before their death over and over again. The woods behind his childhood home seem to have some answers. But does he dare take that path?
These Aussie authors are definitely taking the horror genre to the next level. It might be hot down under, but these novels are guaranteed to give you the chills. Are you ready for your next terrifying adventure?
Follow us on our trip around the world while we give you the best international bookish recommendations!
For some deliciously dark horror recommendations, click here.
