Friday the 13th: Immerse yourself in these haunting audiobooks 

We have curated five spine-chilling horror audiobooks for you to obsess over this Friday the 13th

Some superstitions like the breaking of a mirror or crossing paths with a black cat are widespread across cultures and continents. They are deeply embedded even when there is a stark absence of reason or proof. The superstition of Friday the 13^th being an unlucky day is one such that has endured. Although we cannot trace its origins to one incident in history, we know that the ominous belief has evolved into a commercial urban legend that popular media regularly dabbles in and marries with the horror genre. Any fan of the genre knows the crucial role of sound in creating eerie atmospheres and complementing thrilling narratives. We have curated five spine-chilling audiobooks that offer immersive experiences for you to obsess over this Friday the 13^th. 

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Narrated by Marin Ireland, this suspenseful novel delves into themes of class, race, and parenthood. Clay and Amanda head to a luxurious and remote place in Long Island for a vacation with their teenage kids but trouble brews when an older black couple who claim to own the house show up unexpectedly, proclaiming that an unforeseen blackout has swept the city. Without access to news or any connection with the outside world, the couple doesn’t know whom to trust or what to believe.

Duration: 7 hours 26 minutes
Available on: Audible, Audiobooks

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Narrated by Hillary Huber, the horror novel follows Mouse who has travelled to North Carolina to clear out her late grandmother's cluttered house. She takes her dog along to the remote house and prepares to sort through her grandmother’s numerous belongings. Things take an ominous turn when she discovers her step-grandfather’s journal. If you’ve wondered what is the worst thing you can come across after a loved one passes away, this book will hold special appeal to you.

Duration: 11 hours 4 minutes
Available on: Scribd

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Narrated by Frankie Corzo, this modern gothic novel set in 1950s Mexico tells the story of a family’s complex relationships and tragic past. The protagonist Noemi’s father receives a letter from her cousin Catalina who claims she’s being poisoned. Even though Noemi has not seen Catalina since she got married and moves away to the high house, she goes to see Catalina upon her father’s insistence which is when strange things start happening. The mystery surrounding the high house is interlinked with the family’s past and draws listeners in. 

Duration: 10 hours 39 minutes
Available on: Audible

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

Narrated by XE Sands, this magnetic book ticks many boxes with elements of Victorian queer romance, sharp humour, metafictional horror, and Hollywood intrigue. At the Brookhants School for Girls, Clara and Flo encounter each other in 1902 and bond over their mutual love for writer Mary Mclane. They create a private book club- the plain bad heroines society and meet in secret. Their bodies are later discovered in an apple orchard with a copy of Mclane’s book. The school eventually shuts its doors after three more people meet their untimely deaths. Over a century later, writer Merritt Emmons publishes a book celebrating the feminist and queer history surrounding the cursed institution which is adapted into a controversial horror film. Strange occurrences happen when shooting begins as the curse and Hollywood intermingle.

Duration: 19 hours
Available on: Scribd

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Narrated by Brianna Colette, this book feeds your cravings for a suspenseful story about witches. Residing on the fringes of Bethel, our protagonist Immanuelle does her best to conform to the values of the church. The story takes a dark turn when she accidentally ends up in the forbidden Darkwood, the place where the first prophet chased and killed four mighty witches. Immanuelle chances upon the diary of her dead mother and begins to understand more about the church she has placed her blinding faith and trust in, and why her mother consorted with the powerful witches.

Duration: 11 hours 37 minutes
Available on: Audible, Audiobooks

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