Gothic fiction is a general term for literature that creates a sense of foreboding, often set around haunted buildings and whispers in the dark. Common character include the upper crust of society who are not all they appear, the victims are innocent and the heroes are unexpected. There is a sense of strangeness, of being ever on the back foot, as you navigated dilapidated corridors and eerie woods as the feeling of supernatural cold seeps into your very bones. The moon watches you, for you cannot escape.

In this article, Rosie Andrews, author of The Leviathan and The Puzzle Wood, shares her book recommendations for gothic fiction ahead of her ‘Behind the Book’ event on Saturday 16 November.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Rosie: ‘The classic ambiguous gothic thriller, complete with isolated manor house, governess and memorable, malignant ghosts.’

The Turn of the Screw is considered one of the first offerings in the gothic horror genre. Only a novella, it encapsulates the tone of the style and has inspired many, many stories since its publication in 1898. It follows the story of a young governess caring for two orphaned children in their parents’ home, where something dark lurks.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rosie: ‘The ghost story that isn’t really a ghost story… or is it? Rebecca is sumptuously written and has aged beautifully.’

Another classic, Rebecca was first published in 1938. Unlike The Turn of the Screw, Rebecca is a romance novel with a dark undertone of strangeness, suspense and mystery. The unnamed protagonist marries a rich man in a whirlwind romance, only to realise that her new home, and her new husband, harbour a dark secret.

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

Rosie: ‘Moss’s harrowing coming-of-age tale makes full use of its northern setting and includes a truly memorable villain.’

Perfect for the lovers of haunted settings, Ghost Wall follows 17-year-old Silvie through a archaeology exhibition with her father and his team in rural Northumberland. As they uncover evidence of ancient rituals, Silvie’s strained relationship with her father worsens, and feelings of dread grow as past and present begin to blur.

Melmoth by Sarah Perry

Rosie: ‘Self-consciously gothic and melodramatic, Melmoth recreates the ancient strangeness of Prague, telling a story of dark legend that borders on the fairy tale.’

Shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize 2019, Melmoth follows Helen Franklin whose life is haunted by something she did 20 years ago. When a strange manuscript falls into her lap, something else begins to haunt her as well: the spectre of a women dressed in black with bleeding feet, who stares silently. Title inspired by Melmouth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin, published in 1820.

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

Rosie: ‘One of my favourite Halloween reads, The Silent Companions is a true ghost story, wonderfully imagined, with a haunting that is quite out of the ordinary.’

Taking inspiration from gothic greats Shirley Jackson and Susan Hill, The Silent Companions follows Elsie, a young, pregnant widow sent to her late husband’s estate, The Bridge. The place is crumbling, the staff unsympathetic, and the locals cruel. Trapped with only one person for company, Elsie begins to realise there is more to the house than she first thought when she finds a mysterious diary and a wooden figure hidden for two-hundred years.