A meticulously researched retelling of the Donner Party tragedy, Katsu's book is a slow-spooled tragedy and creeping horror of intense claustrophobia and distrust.

And that's before the supernatural elements take hold! This book is meaty, with a lot to chew on and a ton of character drama packed into its relatively brief word count, but you'll leave it thinking quite differently about the forces that shaped our American frontier...

While many turn to Lovecraft’s Cthulu writings as his best work, it was this short story of Houdini’s fictional encounter with an unspeakable beast beneath the Great Sphinx of Giza that had the most impact on me. Told from the perspective of Harry Houdini, the tale masterfully captures the mounting dread and claustrophobia of the famous escape artist as he unwittingly delves further underground, to say nothing of the fantastical horrors that await him. Forced to witness strange mummified creatures, under the direction of the malevolent Nitokris, give offerings to one of Lovecraft’s trademark many-tentacled monstrosities, Houdini may dismiss his encounter as a mere flight of fancy but the implication that some gruesome Old One was responsible for the creation of some of the world’s most awe-inspiring structures hits just a little differently.

One of the first novels set in COVID times, The Fell, by British author Sarah Moss, is presented from the perspective of four neighbours living in an English village over the timespan of a single night in the winter of 2020. The narrative charts their experiences and reflections on life as they struggle with boredom, loss of employment, having to work and learn from home, and feelings of isolation and claustrophobia. One of the characters simply can’t take it anymore and leaves her home during a period of mandated quarantine. These people care about and watch over each other as best they can, but the feelings of being under surveillance are strong. A dark but compelling read, masterfully written.

This mesmerizing book started my love affair with Sweden. The story was spellbinding, and the chilly Nordic winter crept into my bones. It made me book a long holiday to explore the Swedish archipelago, a landscape that has inspired so many brilliant Scandinavian authors.

I found the plot riveting. I used to dream of starting a new life in a country idyll with my husband and kids, but the reality of such a huge life change can be much more challenging. This book explores the impact of losing a child, which has always been my biggest nightmare.

The combination of exquisite landscapes, believable characters, and a horrifying dilemma make this book one of my all-time favorites.

The story is set in the Warhammer 40’000 universe, but anyone can read it without feeling lost. I love the way the author subverts the reader’s expectation from a story of “military squad Vs. monster” to “military squad Vs. everything-on-the-planet.”

A fantastic blend of (John Carpenter’s) The Thing and Predator. An enjoyable and easy-to-read tale of claustrophobic, slow-burning tension and Hollywood 80s action hero. I loved the ever-increasing sense of paranoia they endure by gradually discovering that absolutely everything wants to kill them.

I love a twisty book that makes me shiver.

This thriller flips between viewpoints and timescales as we follow Bonnie, who struggles to survive not only the elements, but her deceitful husband Steffan and creepy Annalise, who may or may not be the white witch of the Alps.

This gave me feelings of claustrophobia, and, although it requires a bit of stretch of the imagination, it was a quick and easy page-turner.

I picked up this book thinking I’d skim a few chapters—and resurfaced days later, rattled and amazed.

The claustrophobic atmosphere, the paranoia, the emotional depth—it’s dystopian storytelling at its sharpest. It influenced how I write tension: close, quiet, and always just about to blow. Avis wants to read it too, which means it’s canon.

Shalini Boland is one of the authors who got me hooked on psychological thrillers and when she releases a new book, it’s an automatic buy for me. The Couple Upstairs is set in Bournemouth (on the south coast) and features Nina and Zac who move into a new apartment. They quickly befriend their neighbours and soon all sorts of things start to go wrong. There’s a wonderfully claustrophobic feel to this book, plenty of twists and turns and a shocker twist at the end.

The opening of this book had me hooked. It was late at night, I’d just finished another novel, and I opened this book, intending to read just a few pages. I quickly realized it was going to be a late night. I loved the tension and mystery created in the writing, and the dynamics between the characters had me cringing for them.

The descriptions of the teen girls had me flashing back to dance classes. Most of the action takes place on an airplane, and I loved the way the author set up a sense of claustrophobia. The characters not being able to escape each other as pressures rose really added to the tension. I highly recommend it as a fast-paced, tense read.

I love a book set in a work setting, especially as I’m a full-time author, so I no longer have dodgy colleagues! The Flatmate follows Ria, who has returned to work following an enforced sabbatical after the shocking death of her colleague and best friend, Livvy.

Enter Amanda, her new flatmate, and Livvy’s replacement. When Ria starts receiving messages and gifts from dead Livvy, her colleagues think Ria is losing her mind.

Author Gemma Rogers is great at pacing and creating believable and sometimes unpleasant characters. I loved the believability of this story and read the book in one sitting.