If you find stories about creaky old houses that harbor a secret irresistible, or a mysterious whisper in the night both terrifying and enticing, these 5 wonderfully unsettling fiction recommendations are going to keep you reading late into the night.
For readers who love their eerie fiction to have a gothic feel but be grounded in faith, these book recommendations offer the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, supernatural intrigue, and spiritual truth. They remind us that even when the darkness seems to be closing in, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen
Julie Klassen is known for atmospheric historical fiction filled with mystery, romance, and richly drawn settings, and Whispers at Painswick Court delivers the kind of gothic intrigue that makes you want to keep reading long after dark.
A mix of Agatha Christie and Jane Austen, Whispers at Painswick Court follows the story of Anne Loveday. As a surgeon's daughter trying to escape the matchmaking pursuits of her stepmother, Anne accepts an invitation from an old friend to move to Painswick Court. Purported to be haunted, Painswick Court is the backdrop for Anne's desperate attempts to keep her patient—Lady Celia—from falling prey to a suspected killer, while also avoiding falling for an untrustworthy suitor.
If you enjoy uncovering the hidden truths beneath the surface, Whispers at Painswick Court invites you to step into its shadowy halls, where secrets linger and the past refuses to stay buried.
The Inklings Detective Agency by John R. Kelly
The Inklings Detective Agency is what happens when mystery, literary history, and supernatural intrigue collide. Offering a different kind of eerie adventure, this book by John R. Kelly brings you into the gloomy streets of 1936 Oxford England, where members of a secret society keep turning up dead.
You'll recognize the cast of characters from the pages of this book, including J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and other literary masterminds. These famous authors must work together to catch the killer before time runs out.
If you're in the mood for a cozy whodunit with plenty of intrigue that defines the mystery genre, The Inklings Detective Agency is one you don't want to miss.
The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright
Jaime Jo Wright has a gift for creating stories where the past and present intertwine and The Bookshop of 99 Doors is no exception.
Our 1888 heroine—Minnie Tipton—is plagued by a vengeful spirit. Suffering from the lingering impact of the civil war and a gruesome tale of murder she stumbles across, Minnie is determined to bring peace to the war captain haunting her family's Pennsylvania mansion.
Our present day heroine—Triss Bellamy—manages the bookshop currently inhabiting Minnie's former home. When her brother and his team of paranormal investigators wreak havoc on her workplace all in the pursuit of finding a rumored 100th door in the mansion of 99 doors, Triss must uncover the truth or watch her brother lose himself in the pursuit.
If you love gothic settings, dual timelines, and stories that explore the unseen, put The Bookshop of 99 Doors high on your TBR list.
The Resurrection of Evania James by Jaime Jo Wright (October 27th, 2026 Release)
The Resurrection of Evania James promises another haunting mystery from one of Christian fiction's masters of atmospheric suspense.
Our historical timeline follows the mystery of what happened to Eloise James's sister—Evania. Having gone missing from an asylum, no one knows if Evania is alive, or dead. Eloise is intent on solving the reason for her sister's disappearance, along with grappling with what to do when evidence is found of patients dying and their remains are missing.
In the present day timeline, Tilly Thompson is compelled to investigate the past as it relates to her grandfather's recently purchased Gothic mansion when they find old human remains buried in the wall.
As with Wright's other novels, you can expect an eerie, layered story in which mystery isn't simply about uncovering what happened in the past. It's also about confronting the things that haunt us, the wounds we carry, and the possibility of redemption.
Secure your copy of The Resurrection of Evania James before its October 27, 2026 release if you're ready for a story that's both unsettling and full of hope.
The House at Blood Falls by Dana Mentink (March 16th, 2027 Release)
Dana Mentink knows how to keep you turning pages, and her upcoming release—The House At Blood Falls—is definitely one you'll want to have on your radar.
After a training flight ended in tragedy for Grayson Solari, he trades the cockpit for scouting locations to feature in a docuseries about the forgotten places of America. Brooklyn Palmer, whose past with Grayson Solari is painful to say the least, also finds herself at the decaying 1920s mansion being featured on Hidden America. As the two uncover more about the house's past, they capture the attention of someone determined to keep those secrets buried by any means necessary.
If you enjoy learning about decaying, isolated houses that once held such promise and edge-of-your-seat suspense, you need to pre-order your copy of The House At Blood Falls today.
