This week was a freebie, but it was supposed to be a *Halloween* freebie, and as you all know, I don’t do scary books. Or even, really, Halloween.
I swear, I’m going to just take next October off.
But, in the spirit of the spooky, scary season, I present 10 book covers that are scarier than the books themselves:
10. Mr. Mercedes, Stephen King
Even though this is a Stephen King book, it’s a pretty straightforward detective novel. But that cover? Tell me those two guys aren’t serial killers.
9. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Look at her. But not too closely or she will steal your damn soul.
8. Luckiest Girl Alive, Jessica Knoll
I don’t know…something about the black rose, sort of withered, and the scrawl of the review at the top…that scrawl was not written by someone who’s mentally stable, is all I’m saying.
7. Die Again, Tess Gerritson
This girl is about to go on a killing spree.
6. The Racketeer, John Grisham
Don’t blink or he’ll get you.
5. Dr. Knox, Peter Spiegelman
I wasn’t sure which of these skulls was creepier. What do you think?
4. Conspiracy in Death, JD Robb
Nothing to see here. Just an old-fashioned haunted house.
3. Tell No One, Harlan Coben
“Tell No One” is what echoes through the house. And that font. *shudder*
2. Hamlet, William Shakespeare
I mean, it’s a creepy-looking dude holding a skull. I’m out.
1. Robopocalypse, Daniel H. Wilson
So, these robots were taking over the world, which IS kind of scary. But this dude looks like he could be chasing you through the woods.
Bonus Entry: Ok, I didn’t read Robogenesis, so I don’t know how scary it was. But those eyes…let’s just say I won’t be sleeping well tonight.
So, there you have it. Do you have a book cover that you think is scarier than the book? I’ll peek through my fingers at the comments.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I couldn’t agree with you more, especially when it comes to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Wayward Children. I started that book assuming it was horror. It was not! 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-halloween-picture-books/
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I’ve always thought the Peregrine’s cover was creepy. And that Robopocalypse cover is awesome (I’m surprised I haven’t read that yet lol). :):)
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W-o-w, that Robogenesis cover is definitely the creepiest of the lot 🙈 I wish I could unsee those creepy eyes! Lol I totally agree about Miss Peregrine’s and Mr. Mercedes though—I didn’t find those books scary although Miss Peregrine’s cover is definitely spooky! Great list 🙂
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I looked away from the little girl on the Peregrine cover before you warned me to do so and I’ll go with the black and white skull … I kinda like the warm skully colors in the other.
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Oh goodness, that is sooo true about Miss Peregrine’s Home. I never read the book thinking it was horror, and then I watched the movie… and I wondered for days at the mismatch. Haha. What a truly innovative spin on Halloween TTT post, this was fun!
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The Miss Peregrine’s Home covers are so creepy, I’m already hesitant to pick them up haha 🙂
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Great take on a Halloween Top Ten. I read Mr. Mercedes and yes, the cover makes it look a lot scarier than the book. I agree all the Miss Peregrine covers are creepy, but the books are not. I read the first three.
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Wow – these are some creepy looking book covers, but I’m glad to hear that they’re actually not as scary inside that they seem to be on the outside! Great list.
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Oh no! Those robots will freak me out completely! I loved Mr Mercedes man and the whole series. You are so right about Miss Peregrine’s Home for peculiar children! I think she can really steal your soul.
Clever clever post today. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier!
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Fun list! That cover of Mr. Mercedes is pretty creepy. And I loved Robopocalypse; it’s such a great book! 🙂
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Just reading this post and looking at these covers creeped me out. Especially those eyes on Robogenesis, brrr!
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I remember reading Mrs. Peregrine’s and kept waiting and waiting for something scary to happen. 🙂
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Miss Peregrine’s is such a creepy cover! Interesting list 🙂
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I always find it disappointing when the cover is scarier than the book. I had this happen to me too a few times. One example was They Wish They Were Us! I thought that would be a good thriller mystery, especially since the description even made it sound like that. What I got was a straight up contemporary read with a mystery happening the background every 100 pages or so.
Thanks for visiting my TTT post!
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The MISS PEREGRINE really aren’t that scary at all, but the covers certainly make them look creepy!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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I love the spin you put on the Halloween topic. Very thoughtful and fun. And true!
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Cool topic! Those robot covers are so creepy. The eyes really get to me. The Miss Peregrine covers are eerie too and I completely agree that they’re way scarier than the actual series.
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The cover and photographs for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children are definitely creepier than the actual story.
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Great covers for Halloween. I especially love the Hamlet one.
Thanks for visiting my TTT which presents books with food on their cover.
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I admit that I have judged Miss Peregrine’s books just off the cover and won’t read them. You can’t convince me that they aren’t creepy.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/12-books-with-orange-covers-pick-a-color/
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I really like this angle for a topic! I do think the photo’s included in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children were by far the spookiest part of the book.
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Those are some scary/creepy covers!
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I no longer do scary books like Stephen King, but did in my younger years.
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I’ve always thought Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children had a super creepy cover and I never understood why when its a kids book!
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I don’t do horror either. October is a hard month for me in that way! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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Hamlet is such a perfect addition for this week’s TTT!
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What a fresh idea for a post! I’ve always thought that the illustrations on the cover and in the children’s book, In a Dark, Dark Room by Alvin Schwartz, were much scarier than the text of the book itself. But that’s what kids look at first.
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Cool post idea! I love spooky stuff, so I’m always disappointed when the book doesn’t live up to the cover.
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I read Miss Peregrine and I totally agree, that cover is disturbing. And all those pictures inside the book! Creepy.
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I have a pretty scary cover on my copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles, with a snarling dog on it, much more horrifying than the descriptions in the book! 😅
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Haha I agree that Miss Peregrine’s cover is scarier than the actual book
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