The best Stephen King books to get lost in—if you dare
Stephen King is one of the most iconic names in horror. Over his 55-year career, he’s made the darkest and most haunting nightmares comes to life, giving us some of the best thrillers and scary books to ever see a printer. While horror and the supernatural are his bread and butter, he’s also known to explore the science fiction, time-travel, fantasy and even Western genres. The best Stephen King books are sprinkled over various categories, but they all have two things in common. One, they thrill you into turning page after page. Two, they put you on high alert—especially if you hear something go bump in the night.
Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.
How many books has Stephen King written?
Stephen King has written 65 books so far. King’s first professional sale came when he sold a short story to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967, and he’s brought intricate and twisted worlds to life ever since. His first published novel was 1974’s Carrie, and his latest work is 2022’s Fairy Tale, already a bestseller.
How we chose the best Stephen King books
We rounded up the best Stephen King books based on a number of factors, including but not limited to:
- The work’s influence on the horror and fiction genres
- The story’s popularity and relevance in pop culture
- Overall ratings, along with critical and commercial success
Ready to dive into King’s frightening tales? If so, start with these 20 best Stephen King books. There are enough frights to go around, whether you’re into a classic horror tale like The Shining (which made our list of the best books ever written) or a sci-fi series like The Dark Tower books.
Looking for your next great book? Read four of today’s bestselling novels in the time it takes to read one with Reader’s Digest Select Editions. And be sure to follow the Select Editions page on Facebook!
1. The Shining
It’s no surprise the twisted horror classic The Shining kicks off our list of the best Stephen King books. His third published novel is about a writer named Jack Torrance who moves his young family to a remote hotel after landing the role of winter caretaker. It’s not long before the ominous forces in the Overlook Hotel—as well as Jack’s personal demons—send him down a path of pure madness and rage.
Published in January 1977, The Shining cemented King as a master of horror writing. His ability to vividly bring paranormal and personal terror to life truly shines (no pun intended) in this page-turner. The story came to life on the big screen in 1980, with the chilling film adaption giving us Jack Nicholson’s iconic performance as Jack Torrance. Today, it’s one of King’s most popular novels. It’s also tied with his novel IT as his top-rated book on Goodreads.