What’s even more frightening than facing a ghost, demon, haunted house, desolate space station, serial killer, or frozen tundra? Facing all of the above on your own. The following horror novels do a superb job of isolating its protagonists—whether that means they’re on their own or the location they’re in is perilously far away from safety and civilization. These characters have to fight tooth and nail to survive what’s waiting just out of sight for them, and that amps up the tension and the scares in the best way possible.
Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie
In this terrifying novel by Craig DiLouie, Matt and Claire Kirklin, the husband and wife team behind the popular ghost hunting show, Fade to Black, are invited to explore the Paranormal Research Foundation located on the grounds of a decrepit and isolated mansion. The team that they bring with them hope to find proof that the building is haunted, but what begins as a ghost hunt quickly turns into a waking nightmare as the house itself turns against them.
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
Inspired by the 1200 mile Kolyma Highway in Siberia, which is said to have been built on top of Stalin’s gulag, desolation and darkness are king in Christopher Golden’s horror novel, Road of Bones.
When documentary producer, Felix Teigland, and his crew learn about the Kolyma Highway and its dark history, they decide to try and capitalize on it before anyone else thinks to. What they’re not expecting to find is a mysteriously abandoned village or an animistic shaman determined to hunt them down.
Stranded by Bracken MacLeod
If you’d like a book about a group of men stuck on a boat together who have to face unspeakable horrors but with more of a sci-fi twist, then Stranded by Bracken MacLeod is the one for you.
Icebound and battered after a brutal storm, the crew of the ship the Arctic Promise find themselves struggling to stay alive as conditions swiftly worsen. When they begin to fall mysteriously ill, and deckhand Noah Cabot is the only one unaffected, fingers are pointed, and he’s forced to find an answer and a way home before his neck is on the line.
All The Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld
All The Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld is easily one of my favorite horror novels that demonstrates how terrifying isolation can be.
Set on a remote British island, All The Birds, Singing tells the story of Jake Whyte, a young woman who is haunted by her past and only has the sheep she tends and her border collie to keep her company. When something begins to pick off her sheep one-by-one, rumors of an ancient beast are dredged up as well, and Jake soon finds herself facing something incomprehensible.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
The Ruins—both the novel and the movie—is considered a classic for a reason.
Written by Scott Smith, The Ruins is an edge-of-your-seat tale about a group of friends on vacation in Mexico. When the brother of one of the friends mysteriously disappears, they decide to go looking for him. What they find instead is a terrifying fever dream.
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
Billed as The Martian meets Annihilation, The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling is a perfect example of how isolated—and terrifying—outer space can be.
Gyre Price is being blackmailed. After lying her way into an expedition to map mineral deposits on a distant planet, her crewmate, Em, quickly discovers the truth about her credentials. And as Em’s psychological and physical torture continues, Gyre’s own self-control begins to slip away.
The Terror by Dan Simmons
If you’re anything like me, then you have a morbid fascination with arctic exploration. Furthermore if you love arctic exploration, supernatural horror, stories of isolation, and somehow haven’t read The Terror by Dan Simmons, then you’re seriously missing out.
Set in 1845, The Terror tells the story of the 125 men aboard the Terror, one of the first steam powered vessels that was part of Franklin’s expedition to discover the Northwest Passage. The men find themselves struggling to survive for a second summer with dwindling supplies as the ice begins to crush their ship and a seemingly supernatural entity begins to attack them.
