If you enjoy reading books by William Peter Blatty then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s blend of supernatural horror and psychological tension may appreciate the intense worlds created by Clive Barker.
Barker is known for his imaginative approach in “The Hellbound Heart,” a novella that introduces mysterious puzzle boxes and the terrifying Cenobites—beings summoned from another dimension through dark human desire.
When Frank Cotton opens a strange puzzle box, he unleashes horrors that blur the lines between pleasure and pain, leading to sinister consequences for himself and those close to him.
Barker crafts vivid imagery and intense suspense, exploring themes of desire, obsession, and the boundaries of human experience. Fans of supernatural horror with psychological depth will find “The Hellbound Heart” a captivating read.
Dean Koontz is an author known for blending suspense, horror, and supernatural suspense. If you enjoyed William Peter Blatty’s exploration of the supernatural realm in “The Exorcist,” you might find Koontz’s “Phantoms” equally intriguing.
This book follows sisters Jenny and Lisa Paige, who return to their hometown to find it mysteriously emptied. As they search for answers, strange events occur, and an ancient evil emerges from the shadows.
Koontz crafts suspenseful, atmospheric scenes filled with unexpected turns, eerie encounters, and moments that will linger long after the book ends.
Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s blend of supernatural suspense and intense storytelling may also appreciate Joe Hill’s novels. Hill, the son of Stephen King, has carved out his own space in horror fiction.
His novel “Heart-Shaped Box” offers an original twist on ghost stories. It follows aging rock star Judas Coyne, who collects macabre artifacts in his secluded farmhouse. But when he buys a dead man’s suit online, he unwittingly invites a sinister presence into his life.
This chilling tale moves swiftly with dark humor, unforgettable characters, and mounting dread, perfect for readers seeking both scares and substance.
Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s blend of suspense and supernatural themes may appreciate Peter Straub’s novels. Straub is known for weaving eerie atmospheres and deep psychological tension into his storytelling.
His novel “Ghost Story” centers on four elderly friends haunted by a chilling secret from their past. They gather regularly to share ghost stories, yet as strange events intrude upon their quiet lives, old fears resurface.
The boundary between ghostly tales and reality blurs dangerously. Straub builds suspense carefully, drawing readers gradually into the sinister secrets hidden within the group’s history.
For those intrigued by haunting narratives and atmospheric scares, “Ghost Story” offers a satisfying exploration into the chilling depths of guilt, memory, and supernatural terror.
Ramsey Campbell is a British author known for atmospheric and psychological horror. Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s dark explorations of evil and the supernatural in “The Exorcist” might appreciate Campbell’s novel “The Influence.”
The story follows Rowan, a young girl sent to stay with her great-aunt after troubles in the family. Once she arrives, mysterious events begin to unfold. Dark and eerie changes appear in both the house and Rowan herself.
Campbell crafts a tense narrative filled with dread, blending subtle supernatural elements and compelling character studies that leave readers unsettled.
If you enjoy William Peter Blatty’s blend of psychological suspense and horror, you might appreciate author Robert Bloch. Bloch’s writing often dives into dark psychological themes, notably in his novel “Psycho.”
This chilling story follows Norman Bates, a seemingly ordinary motel owner with unsettling secrets. The tension builds steadily throughout the narrative until Bates’ disturbing reality is unveiled.
Bloch expertly explores human psychology, creating an eerie atmosphere that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.
Shirley Jackson is an author whose stories explore quiet terror beneath the surface of ordinary life. Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s psychological twists and eerie atmosphere in “The Exorcist” may appreciate Jackson’s haunting novel, “The Haunting of Hill House.”
The book follows a group of strangers invited by a researcher to a secluded mansion. He hopes to discover evidence of supernatural activity. As the days pass, the house begins to affect each guest, blurring reality and imagination.
Jackson slowly builds tension, letting readers experience how subtle fear can invade everyday moments, transforming them into something terrifying.
Books by Stephen King often blend psychological suspense with supernatural horror, similar to William Peter Blatty’s style. One notable example is “The Shining,” which follows Jack Torrance, a writer who accepts a caretaker job at the isolated Overlook Hotel.
Along with his wife and young son, Jack expects a quiet winter to overcome writer’s block and rebuild family bonds. But the hotel holds dark secrets and past tragedies that gradually haunt and affect Jack’s sanity.
As the harsh winter isolates them further, the family confronts terrifying forces they can’t escape. Readers intrigued by Blatty’s exploration of supernatural evil in everyday life may find Stephen King’s chilling storytelling equally engaging.
Bentley Little is an author known for crafting disturbing and unsettling horror stories set in ordinary life situations.
Readers who were captivated by William Peter Blatty’s blend of supernatural and psychological elements in “The Exorcist” may find themselves drawn to Little’s novels.
In “The Store,” Little takes readers to a small Arizona town where the arrival of a mysterious new retail chain starts to impact the community’s behavior and sanity.
As the townspeople increasingly fall under the store’s influence, the line between consumerism and sinister intent becomes chillingly blurred. Little’s emphasis on everyday settings and subtle horror creates an eerie atmosphere readers won’t easily forget.
Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s stories of supernatural horror might find H. P. Lovecraft fascinating. Lovecraft is famous for his eerie atmosphere and gripping themes of cosmic terror.
In his classic tale “The Call of Cthulhu,” readers encounter strange cults, madness, and ancient entities hidden beneath the surface of our world. The story unfolds from the notes of a man researching the sudden death of his great-uncle, who left behind disturbing documents.
He discovers odd sculptures, unsettling dreams spreading around the globe, and clues pointing toward a monstrous entity known as Cthulhu. Lovecraft creates a sense of mounting dread as the protagonist pieces together dark secrets that humanity might be safer never knowing.
M. R. James was an English author famous for his eerie ghost stories. Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s atmospheric tales might appreciate James’ collection titled “Ghost Stories of an Antiquary.”
These stories explore supernatural events through a subtle, suspenseful approach. In one memorable story called “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad,” a skeptical professor finds an antique whistle that leads to terrifying consequences.
James demonstrates how curiosity and the unknown can create deep unease and lingering dread. If you like stories that quietly build tension before delivering their chills, M. R. James could be an engaging choice.
Richard Matheson was an American author known for blending horror, suspense, and psychological thrills in his stories. Readers who enjoyed William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist” would probably find Matheson’s book “Hell House” equally appealing.
In “Hell House,” a wealthy man hires a team of investigators to uncover the secrets of Belasco House, an infamous haunted mansion once owned by a man rumored to have been deeply involved in dark rituals.
As the team arrives at the isolated estate, events unfold that push each character toward their limits, both mentally and physically. The book dives deep into the supernatural world, psychological terror, and the hidden secrets of the human soul.
Algernon Blackwood was an English writer known for his supernatural and eerie stories. His works lean heavily into psychological terror and the mysteries of the unknown. One of his most famous books, “The Willows,” follows two friends on a canoe trip down the Danube.
As they set up camp on an island surrounded by willow trees, strange occurrences begin. The atmosphere grows oppressive, the trees seem alive, and an unseen force gradually draws nearer.
Readers who appreciate William Peter Blatty for his blend of horror and subtle suspense may find Blackwood’s quiet yet powerful storytelling similarly unsettling and memorable.
Books by Anne Rice often explore themes of horror, spirituality, and the supernatural with intense psychological depth, making them appealing to readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty.
Rice is best known for her novel “Interview with the Vampire,” the first book in “The Vampire Chronicles.” The novel centers around Louis, a vampire who tells his life story to a reporter.
Louis reveals his transformation into a vampire at the hands of the charismatic yet sinister Lestat. He struggles with his immortal identity, morality, and the loneliness of eternity.
Rice skillfully captures Louis’ internal conflict while creating vivid and atmospheric settings like late 18th-century New Orleans and haunting European cities. Her rich storytelling, driven by strong emotional undercurrents, pulls readers into a dark, mesmerizing world.
Readers who enjoy William Peter Blatty’s blend of psychological suspense and supernatural horror will likely appreciate Thomas Ligotti. Ligotti is a master of atmospheric horror fiction known for unsettling and surreal narratives.
His collection “Songs of a Dead Dreamer” offers strange and disturbing stories that linger with readers long after the final page.
In tales such as “The Frolic,” readers encounter a psychiatrist confronted by a patient whose unsettling fantasies hint at something terrifyingly real. Ligotti explores nightmares, madness, and darkly imagined worlds filled with dread and uncertainty.
Fans of Blatty’s unsettling realism and exploration of human darkness will find Ligotti’s work both disturbing and unforgettable.