'Wakenhyrst' author Michelle Paver counts off her five favourite gothic thrillers
The Haunting of Hill House
by Shirley Jackson
‘Some houses are born bad’ writes Jackson – and yet four people decide to stay in this one overnight. The unease builds masterfully to a shocking yet strangely satisfying climax. This is quite simply the best haunted house novel ever written.
Rebecca
by Daphne du Maurier
This plays with key elements of Gothic – the intrusion of the past into an enclosed and atmospheric present – in a brilliantly original way. And Mrs Danvers is terrifying.
The Aspern Papers
by Henry James
A bit of a stretch to call this a thriller, as there’s more suspense than dread, but it’s a taut and absorbing tale of a researcher’s quest to extract a precious hoard of letters from an old lady and her niece in a crumbling Venetian palazzo.
The Brimstone Wedding
by Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell)
Two women, one old and one young, gradually share their secrets in a compelling story laced with superstition. I love the fenland setting, which just happens to be within a stone’s throw of where I set my own Gothic tale.
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
by James Hogg
A devout Calvinist is corrupted by a demonic alter-ego, and turns to murder. First published in 1825, this starts slowly but develops into a nightmarish tale of the evils of religious dogmatism.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver is out now (Head of Zeus, £14.99)
Support the Big Issue
For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
