Best of Horror with Meredith Monday Schwartz (Currently Reading) | Ep. 216
Wed Feb 04 2026
Episode 216 continues the Best of… series with a deep dive into the horror genre. Meredith Monday Schwartz of the Currently Reading podcast joins the show to discuss her all-time Top Ten favorite horror books, along with a few buzzy titles that didn't quite work for her. Meredith also talks about how she came to the genre and the wide range of reading experiences horror has to offer.
This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).
CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.
Highlights How Meredith defines the horror genre — and where she draws the lines Subgenres of horror that don't get talked about as much Meredith's personal relationship with reading horror What draws her to the genre and how she approaches her horror TBR The role of women in horror, both as authors and within its themes Meredith's All-Time Top Ten Horror: Ranked [18:47] 10) Daphne by Josh Malerman (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:33] 9) How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:10] 8) The Ruins by Scott Smith (2006) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:42] 7) Near the Bone by Christina Henry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:02] 6) Diavola by Jennifer Thorne (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:19] 5) We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:44] 4) Slewfoot by Brom (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:01] 3) The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:40] 2) The Stand by Stephen King (1978) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:46] 1) I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:50] High-Profile Horror She Didn't Love [49:39] The September House by Carissa Orlando (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:03] The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:55] Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:34] Other Books Mentioned The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (1977) [9:57] 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by Sadie Hartmann (2023) [13:25] Feral and Hysterical by Sadie Hartmann (2025) [13:37] Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) [22:47] The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi (2025) [28:33] Psycho by Robert Bloch (1959) [31:01] The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer (April 21, 2026) [33:29] Krampus by Brom (2012) [36:42] The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James (2012) [39:07] The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (2022) [39:23] 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [43:13] Foe by Iain Reid (2018) [49:00] Bird Box by Josh Malerman (2014) [52:39] Other Links
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Episode 216 continues the Best of… series with a deep dive into the horror genre. Meredith Monday Schwartz of the Currently Reading podcast joins the show to discuss her all-time Top Ten favorite horror books, along with a few buzzy titles that didn't quite work for her. Meredith also talks about how she came to the genre and the wide range of reading experiences horror has to offer. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights How Meredith defines the horror genre — and where she draws the lines Subgenres of horror that don't get talked about as much Meredith's personal relationship with reading horror What draws her to the genre and how she approaches her horror TBR The role of women in horror, both as authors and within its themes Meredith's All-Time Top Ten Horror: Ranked [18:47] 10) Daphne by Josh Malerman (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:33] 9) How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:10] 8) The Ruins by Scott Smith (2006) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:42] 7) Near the Bone by Christina Henry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:02] 6) Diavola by Jennifer Thorne (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:19] 5) We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:44] 4) Slewfoot by Brom (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:01] 3) The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:40] 2) The Stand by Stephen King (1978) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:46] 1) I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:50] High-Profile Horror She Didn't Love [49:39] The September House by Carissa Orlando (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:03] The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:55] Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:34] Other Books Mentioned The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (1977) [9:57] 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by Sadie Hartmann (2023) [13:25] Feral and Hysterical by Sadie Hartmann (2025) [13:37] Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) [22:47] The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi (2025) [28:33] Psycho by Robert Bloch (1959) [31:01] The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer (April 21, 2026) [33:29] Krampus by Brom (2012) [36:42] The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James (2012) [39:07] The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (2022) [39:23] 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [43:13] Foe by Iain Reid (2018) [49:00] Bird Box by Josh Malerman (2014) [52:39] Other Links Sadie Hartmann (@Mother.Horror) on Instagram Talking Scared with Neil McRobert Slow Read: The Stand with Sarah Stewart Holland & Laura Tremaine