Books Like...
'The Seance in Apartment 10' by Ambrose Ibsen follows Tori, a college girl who rents an efficiency apartment for the summer to take an extra course. The atmosphere in the complex is foreboding, with rusted mail slots, threadbare carpets, and only one other tenant. Tori's decision to show her independence quickly turns eerie as she realizes the space is not fully her own. The story unfolds with a seance held in the apartment, leading to encounters with malevolent spirits and escalating tension, making Tori question her safety and sanity.
The plot of 'The Seance in Apartment 10' is a mix of supernatural elements, isolation, and characters delving into the occult, creating a creepy and suspenseful ghost story. The writing style of Ambrose Ibsen is praised for its ability to steadily increase tension, develop sympathetic characters, and deliver a satisfying ending that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
If you liked The Seance in Apartment 10, here are the top 11 books to read next:
- #1
Save:'77 Shadow Street' by Dean Koontz is a horror thriller set in an upscale apartment building called the Pendleton. The story follows a range of unusual characters, including a serial killer, as they face mysterious hauntings, creepy creatures, time travel, and alternate realities every 38 years. The plot involves madness, mass murder, shadows, and whispers, creating a terrifying atmosphere within the building. The book weaves together elements of science fiction, horror, and suspense, with a slow build-up that intensifies as the mystery deepens towards a gripping conclusion.
The writing style of '77 Shadow Street' features detailed descriptions, internal dialogues, and multiple perspectives from various characters living in the Pendleton. Dean Koontz delves into the minds and motivations of his characters, creating realistic portrayals that add depth to the story. The novel explores themes of technology, humanity, and the darkness of the world, while incorporating elements of suspense, horror, and supernatural elements to keep readers engaged throughout the narrative.
Bitter and drunk, Earl Blandon, a former United States senator, got home at 2:15 A.M. that Thursday with a new tattoo: a two-word obscenity in blue block letters between the knuckles of the middle fin... - #2
Save:Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill is a horror novel that follows the intertwined stories of an American girl inheriting an apartment in an affluent part of London and a struggling artist who works as the night porter in the same building. Strange events and visions plague the inhabitants of the building, linked to a previous resident's dark past. As the characters uncover the building's unsettling history and face demonic forces, they are drawn into a chilling and suspenseful narrative that blurs the lines between reality and the occult. The writing style mixes elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural, creating a creepy atmosphere that keeps readers on edge throughout the book.
Swept up the concrete stairs by the bustle and rush of people about her, she emerged with her backpack onto the sidewalk. She’d been on the subway for so long the steely light smarted against the back... - #3
Save:'The Complex' by Brian Keene is a fast-paced survival horror novel that follows a group of characters trapped in an apartment complex under siege by crazed killers. The story unfolds with intense action, gore-filled scenes, and a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and personalities. Keene's writing style keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, creating a sense of urgency and suspense as the characters fight for survival.
The novel explores themes of survival, horror, and the human instinct to band together in the face of danger. Keene's storytelling captivates the readers with its fast-paced narrative, vivid descriptions, and unexpected twists that keep the tension high throughout the book. With a mix of gore, violence, and character-driven plotlines, 'The Complex' delivers a thrilling and engaging read for fans of the survival horror genre.
When everyone starts killing each other, Sam doesn’t notice at first because he’s too busy preparing to kill himself. Samuel L. Miller is pushing fifty and still struggling with the type of financial ... - #4
Save:'Our Lady of Darkness' by Fritz Leiber is a horror novel set in 1970's San Francisco, delving into the supernatural world of paramental entities and the eerie geometries of megapolisomancy. The story follows horror fantasy writer Franz Westen as he becomes entangled in the occult theories of Thibaut de Castries, exploring the inherent occult power of cities and the posthumous attempts to prove these theories. Leiber weaves a complex narrative involving famous genre writers, occult history, and a mystery that slowly builds into a rich and terrifying climax, leaving readers immersed in a world of eerie mysteries and strange occurrences.
THE SOLITARY, steep hill called Corona Heights was black as pitch and very silent, like the heart of the unknown. It looked steadily downward and northeast away at the nervous, bright lights of downto... - #5
Save:'Dark Water' by Koji Suzuki is a collection of short stories that all revolve around the theme of water. The stories delve into paranormal elements, touching on horror, mystery, and suspense, while also exploring primal and subconscious feelings associated with water. Suzuki's writing style is described as skillfully weaving elements of suspense and tension within the plots, providing spine-chilling moments that surprise readers.
Thinking again about drinking the tap water, Yoshimi Matsubara held the glass up to the fluorescent light in the kitchen. Rotating it just above eye level, she saw tiny bubbles floating in it. Tangled... - #6
Save:The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike is a slow-paced horror story that follows a young family moving into an apartment next to a graveyard. As they settle in, strange and terrifying occurrences begin to unfold, leading to a sense of unease and menace seeping through the building. The plot gradually builds up to reveal a dark secret lurking in the basement, causing residents to move out one by one and leaving the family isolated against a supernatural threat.
The writing style in The Graveyard Apartment is described as patient and atmospheric, with a focus on developing tension and suspense throughout the story. The author skillfully builds a sense of dread and terror, creating a genuinely spooky atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. The book explores themes of haunted houses, supernatural forces, and the psychological horror faced by the characters as they navigate through the eerie events unfolding in their new home.
When they got up that first morning, the little white finch was dead. The bottom of the cage was covered with a thick layer of loose feathers, and it looked as if there had been a violent struggle bef... - #7
Save:Thirteen Storeys by Jonathan Sims is a modern haunted house story that unfolds through interconnected short stories set in Banyan Court, an apartment building haunted by various supernatural occurrences. The narrative weaves together tales of different characters, each facing eerie and disturbing experiences within the building, leading up to a climactic event involving the death of the building's owner, Tobias Fell. The book explores themes of classism, fear, and the consequences of capitalism, all while maintaining a creepy and unsettling atmosphere that keeps readers engaged.
Five years on, it’s an all-to-familiar cliché that the only thing more interesting than the life of Tobias Fell was his death. For most of his eventful career, he was lauded by the public as an entrep... - #8
Save:"No One Gets Out Alive" by Adam Nevill is a dark and disturbing tale that follows Stephanie Booth as she moves into a new room at 82 Edgware Road. Initially drawn in by the affordable price, Stephanie soon realizes that the house is not what it seems, with eerie occurrences such as whispers, scratching, and weeping haunting her every night. As the story unfolds, the horror escalates with the arrival of Knacker's cousin Fergal, leading to a terrifying journey of supernatural dread and distress. The writing style captures the absolute despair and depression felt by Stephanie as she navigates through a world spiraling out of control, creating a chilling atmosphere that keeps readers on edge.
The dream receded quickly and Stephanie recalled little of it, beside an anxious desire to leave a cold, greyish place; a narrow space in which people stood too close to her. One of them had been cryi... - #9
Save:Jules, a young woman facing unemployment and heartbreak, takes a job as an apartment sitter in a luxurious and mysterious building called the Bartholomew. Despite being warned about strange rules and disappearances of previous sitters, she accepts the job for the high pay. As she delves deeper into the secrets of the building and its residents, Jules uncovers a sinister truth that puts her own life in danger. The story is described as a suspenseful and atmospheric thriller with unexpected twists that keep the reader on edge.
But the woman next to me certainly fits the bill, with her blue Chanel suit, blond updo, perfectly manicured hands weighed down by several rings. She might be in her fifties. Maybe older. Botox has ma... - #10
Save:Kill Creek by Scott Thomas is a haunted house story that follows four horror writers invited for an interview at the infamous Finch House on Halloween night. The novel delves into themes of writing, grief, and buried trauma while exploring the maintenance and circulation of horror. The characters, especially the four main authors, are well-developed and represent various facets of the horror genre. The house itself becomes a malevolent entity, adding an extra layer of suspense to the plot.
Their eyes were focused on a man in his late thirties, his brown hair buzzed to the scalp. He was handsome, just over six feet tall, dressed in old black Levi’s and a henley that showed off a thin, sl...
