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Quick answer: If you loved Cujo, read Stephen King's Misery, Pet Sematary and The Shining, then Peter Benchley's Jaws, then Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby, and Josh Malerman's Bird Box and Nick Cutter's The Troop. All are tense animal horror.
Stephen King's Cujo is about a rabid dog that traps a mother and son. These picks share its dread.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misery | Stephen King | Adult | obsession and fear |
| Pet Sematary | Stephen King | Adult | readers who want pure dread |
| The Shining | Stephen King | Adult | readers who like ghosts |
| Jaws | Peter Benchley | Adult | readers who want the classic |
| Rosemary's Baby | Ira Levin | Adult | readers who like psychological horror |
| Bird Box | Josh Malerman | Adult | readers who like suspense |
| The Troop | Nick Cutter | Adult | readers who like body horror |
| Heart-Shaped Box | Joe Hill | Adult | modern ghost stories |
| The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson | Adult | parents who want a classic |
| Something Wicked This Way Comes | Ray Bradbury | 12+ | older kids and teens |
| 'Salem's Lot | Stephen King | Adult | readers who like small-town horror |
| It | Stephen King | Adult | readers who want the original clown |
| Meg | Steve Alten | Adult | readers who want shark thrills |
| Congo | Michael Crichton | Adult | jungle adventure |
| The Girl with All the Gifts | M.R. Carey | Adult | readers who like dystopian horror |
1. Misery by Stephen King
A novelist is rescued from a car crash by his number one fan, who will not let him leave. A claustrophobic thriller.
Best for: obsession and fear.
2. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Louis Creed buries his daughter's cat in an ancient burial ground. Dark and heartbreaking.
Best for: readers who want pure dread.
3. The Shining by Stephen King
Jack Torrance and his family are caretakers of a haunted hotel. A masterpiece of slow fear.
Best for: readers who like ghosts.
4. Jaws by Peter Benchley
A great white shark terrorizes a beach town, and the sheriff must stop it. A classic that deserves the fame.
Best for: readers who want the classic.
5. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Rosemary suspects her neighbors want her baby for a dark purpose. Short and paranoid.
Best for: readers who like psychological horror.
6. Bird Box by Josh Malerman
Malorie tries to lead her children down a river blindfolded because seeing is dangerous. Tense and original.
Best for: readers who like suspense.
7. The Troop by Nick Cutter
Scouts on an island face a horrifying parasite. Brutal and terrifying.
Best for: readers who like body horror.
8. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
An aging rock star buys a ghost online and is haunted by it. Fast, scary and by King's son.
Best for: modern ghost stories.
9. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Four people stay in a house with a bad reputation. A masterpiece of ghostly dread for adults.
Best for: parents who want a classic.
10. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
A mysterious carnival arrives in town, and two boys face the sinister Mr. Dark. Lyrical and creepy, for older readers.
Best for: older kids and teens.
11. 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
Vampires arrive in a small Maine town. Atmospheric and horrifying.
Best for: readers who like small-town horror.
12. It by Stephen King
Seven friends fight a shape-shifting evil that appears as Pennywise the clown. Huge, scary and unforgettable.
Best for: readers who want the original clown.
13. Meg by Steve Alten
A paleontologist faces a giant prehistoric shark in the Mariana Trench. Pulpy and fast.
Best for: readers who want shark thrills.
14. Congo by Michael Crichton
An expedition searches the African jungle for diamonds and finds danger. Pulpy adventure.
Best for: jungle adventure.
15. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Melanie, a girl who is held in a cell and taught in a classroom, is not what she seems. A fresh zombie story.
Best for: readers who like dystopian horror.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Cujo: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Cujo. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For King, read Pet Sematary or Misery. For animal fear, try Jaws. For domestic horror, pick Rosemary's Baby.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Cujo?
Stephen King, in 1981.
Is there a film?
Yes, a 1983 film.
Is it scary?
Yes, it is tense and violent.
Which book here is best for readers who like dystopian horror?
Try The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey, which suits readers looking for readers who like dystopian horror.
Which book here is best for jungle adventure?
Try Congo by Michael Crichton, which suits readers looking for jungle adventure.
Which book here is best for readers who want shark thrills?
Try Meg by Steve Alten, which suits readers looking for readers who want shark thrills.
Which book here is best for readers who want the original clown?
Try It by Stephen King, which suits readers looking for readers who want the original clown.
Which book here is best for readers who like small-town horror?
Try 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King, which suits readers looking for readers who like small-town horror.