7 demonic possession books to freak you out

Demons are no joke. From stories of human possessions to demented monsters, these seven books tap into the fear that the unknown can destroy you. Enjoy with caution.

Dan Simmons’ 2007 novel takes readers through a fictionalized version of Sir John Franklin’s 1840s trip to the Arctic, and things go dark as Franklin and his crew travel further and further into the hostile climate. There’s rebellion, cannibalism, and one lingering polar bear-like monster. A non-linear narrative told from diary entries and third person exposition, The Terror shows the Northwest Passage may be more dangerous than we ever expected.

Sure, the film version is scary, but imagine reading the actual narrative without the pea soup vomit image in your head. For the uninitiated, 12-year-old Regan MacNeil is possessed by a demon spirit, and her famous mother enlists a priest to perform an exorcism. Inspired by rumors and partially true events, The Exorcist is a classic portrayal of the demonic possession.

Four childhood friends reunite in a tiny town in rural Germany to pay tribute to Anka, the fifth member of their group. Throughout the creepy book, we hear stories from all five of the characters as they weave horrifying tales of life in the village, which has its own rules and is essentially cut off from the world. Here, murder and folklore intertwined.

The short story collection Get In Trouble took Kelly Link 10 years to produce, and tells tales of fairy-like “summer people,” superhero boyfriends, and wealthy families who put microchips in their children. It’s absurdist, surrealist fantasy fiction made to creep you out.

Sara Gran’s 2011 novel is a haunted story for the modern age. Protagonist Amanda burns her husband with cigarettes, dreams of affairs, and insults her boss after a demon named Naamah takes over her brain, behavior, and life. The pace quickens as Amanda’s happy marriage takes dark, dark plunge.

Justin Evans’ debut novel solidified his title as a horror author to watch out for. A Good & Happy Child, released in 2007, follows new father George Davies, who can’t stand to hold his newborn son. But as he tries to deal with his issues, George finds repressed memories from his childhood, friendships that may not have existed at all, and supernatural forces he can’t explain.

The 1950s are ripe for demonic possessions in Daryl Gregory’s 2008 novel. No one is safe and exorcism is sometimes futile.