I’m pissed off at Mother Horror, and I’ll tell you why. Before reading 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered, my TBR stack was…okay, not manageable, but, if I quit my job and stopped sleeping, I could probably read them all before my 65th birthday (I’m 63 right now). Now, with all the remarkable books Hartmann discusses, that dream is but a distant memory. I will never, ever, read all the books I want to read, and all these damn authors keep writing more books, every year, without regard for us poor readers. Life ain’t easy for a book junkie.

101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered is so much more than a simple list of books worth reading. Hartmann is a hardcore fan and aficionado of horror fiction, and this is a love letter to the genre. She concentrates on works published in the past 20 years or so, which makes sense, because in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in something of a horror explosion. I know, I know, it’s never gone away, but in the past few years a ridiculous number of new horror writers have appeared, and man, they are fucking things up in the absolute best way.

Hartmann divides 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered into categories such as Haunted Houses, Demons and Possession, Slashers & Serial Killers, Eco-Horror, and more. And she offers small, perfect write-ups that describe each book without ever crossing into spoiler territory. There are also author spotlights and guest essays to spice things up.

Will your favorite horror book be included here? Maybe, maybe not. Many of mine were, but just as many were not, and that’s part of the fun. Hartmann has written an intensely personal book. These are her favorites, and she tells you why with intelligence and eloquence. I think I’m going to find a bunch of new favorites here, and you just might as well.

Whether you live and breath horror, or just dabble, 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered is essential reading.