I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday, which was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Check out upcoming Top Ten themes on Jana’s blog.
Today’s prompt is “Bookish Places I’ve Visited” but I’m changing it to Horror Themed Bookstores I’d Love to Visit! These are located in five different states, and most I’ve come across on Instagram. Let me know if you’ve been to any of these!
1. Butcher Cabin Books, Louisville Kentucky
Butcher Cabin books was founded by horror writer Jenny Kiefer (and I’ve read one of her books!). I have never been to Kentucky but I’d make an exception to check this out! (I couldn’t find any specific information about the store on their website)
2. The Twisted Spine, Brooklyn New York
I have purchased a few books from The Twisted Spine’s website, and they have prompt, friendly service. Here’s more about the store from their website:
“The Twisted Spine is more than just a bookstore — it’s a portal into the macabre, a haven for horror enthusiasts, and a tribute to the chilling art of storytelling. Having launched in Fall 2024 as NYC’s first bookstore dedicated exclusively to horror and dark literature, we pride ourselves on curating a diverse selection of books that span the spectrum of fear and fascination.
The Twisted Spine materialized as a permanent brick and mortar location at 306 Grand Street in Brooklyn, NY in September 2025, not only as a bookstore, but also featuring a full espresso cafe with Devoción coffee & beer and wine bar.
Fueled by a love for all things unsettling, our founders Lauren Komer and Jason Mellow have set out on a journey to create a space where the world of horror can thrive — not just a place to buy books, but a sanctuary for like-minded souls who revel in the darker side of literature, film, theatre, and other artistic forms.
We’re dedicated to showcasing artistic and literary stories from all backgrounds, with a strong commitment to promoting marginalized voices. We celebrate the horror genre in all its complexity and nuance, and believe that horror plays a vital role as a reflection of our deepest fears and darkest imaginings. Through our carefully selected inventory and in-person events, we aim to foster a deeper appreciation for horror and build a community where its fans can thrive.”
3. Thrillerdelphia – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Calling themselves “Philly’s first horror and thriller bookstore,” their website is pretty slick, and they seem to have a great selection and lots of in store events. Here’s more from their website:
“Thrillerdelphia is a love letter to the dark.
Not the hopeless kind. The kind that pulls you closer. Thrillerdelphia is Philadelphia’s first horror, thriller, and true crime bookstore, created for readers who want to feel something when they read. Fear. Tension. Curiosity. Dread. That quiet thrill of being alone with a story that understands exactly what scares you.”
4. Dark Delicacies, Burbank California
I lived in Burbank for many years and it’s a place I’ll always call home, even if I don’t live there anymore. I haven’t been to Dark Delicacies in years, sadly, but it’s such a great bookstore. Here’s more about the store from their website:
“Your genial (g)hosts are Sue and Del Howison, who formed Dark Delicacies in 1994. We started selling at conventions, and opened the store December 3, 1994. We have been featured on the SciFi Channel’s SciFi Buzz, we’ve been written up in the second edition of J. Gordon Melton’s THE VAMPIRE BOOK: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE DEAD, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Daily News, Fangoria magazine, and Bookcase magazine. The New Times issue on the “2000 Guide to the Best of Los Angeles” named us “Best Horror/Fantasy Bookstore”. We worked with the Transylvanian Society for Dracula on the Dracula 97 convention, and with Fool’s Progress on a series of Horror Writers Calendars. We also work regularly with the Neva Foundation (a dog rescue charity).”
5. Alice’s Little Haunted Bookshop, Mystic Connecticut
This book store is a little different from your average shop, but wow I want to go! Plus their website is very cool and even has ghosts:-) Here’s more about them from their website:
“Alice’s Haunted Little Bookshop is a small and unique bookshop inspired by the 18th century Victorian library of Lewis Carroll in Oxford England.
A home for special, strange and forgotten books, many of which never had a chance to be on a best seller list or in a traditional bookstore. In fact, you won’t find any current best sellers lurking around, instead a specially curated collection for all ages awaits you on our shelves.
Aside from our fabulous books, you can find Victorian items, gifts and even original 19th century newspapers. When coming to visit us, please beware, things might not always seem to be what they appear as spirits still roam free and Victorian England was not always the safest place to be….”
Taking notes for my wife if we ever travel in any of these directions, ahaha. Hope you get to visit them someday!
Thanks! They are all pretty far away from me, but I’m sure there are others I don’t know about yet that would be less of a drive.
I didn’t know there were horror-themed bookstores. Butcher Cabin Books has a KILLER (ahem ;D) logo! I love the Twisted Spine’s mission. Dark Delicacies has such a long history! I had to go and look at Alice’s LHB’s ghosts – fun!
There are way more than these five, I just ran out time to make a longer list:-)
I didn’t know horror-themed bookstores existed! There definitely aren’t any here in Belgium. Sadly enough!
They seem to be everywhere in the US!
Louisville is only about 4 hours away from me, so.maybe sometime I can take a road trip down there some time!
Oh cool, that sounds like fun!
There is one in Michigan called Deadtime Stories that I enjoy going to!
Oh cool, good to know!
These are so cool. I would love to go to Alice’s in Connecticut but logistically speaking, I have better chances of hitting the Kentucky one.
Alice’s is pretty far away from me too, but it sounds like fun!
I’m not a horror girlie but I admit that all of these places sound cool. I’d probably feel my soul exit my body if I went to Alice’s Little Haunted Bookshop (at least based on their description) but a part of me is definitely curious about it. It sounds very cool! I hope you get to go to visit the places you haven’t been one day 🙂
LOL Alice’s does sound very creepy!
Ooh, these all sound amazing!
They do, right? I wish I had more time to travel and visit them.
I have to say — I didn’t even know there were horror book stores! We have a sci-fi/fantasy bookstore here that expanded to include horror and mystery several years ago, but that’s the closest to me geographically that I”m aware of. These all sound amazing! I wish I’d known about the one in Mystic when I visited there a few summers ago!
It does seem very niche for sure! Now you’ll have to go back to Mystic:-)
These places sound too good to be true! A couple of them are in the areas of where I hope to travel soon (Kentucky during next spring break and passing by Connecticut on the way to New England to visit mother in law) so I’ll have to make a note to stop by if I can!
Ooh I hope you do, I’d love to hear from someone who visited them first hand:-)
These sound like they’d be fun to visit if they lean into the theme. I’m not aware of one in Australia
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
Now I want to do some research to see if there are any in Australia:-)
I bet you would have a grand time in these stores Tammy!
I’m sure I would!
These all sound fantastic, I depserately want to see The Twisted Spine! Amazing list!
Me too, The Twisted Spine also has so many fun events, based on the emails I get from them.
I am going to Louisville in a few weeks!!! I am adding that bookstore to our list of places to go!
Oh cool, I hope it’s fun!
I love your list so much!! I’m starting to feel so much regret with my list because I never thought of so many different options I could’ve done with my list, from seeing everyone else’s ideas! We have this great horror themed bookstore here in Calgary if you ever plan to visit – Nocturne Books, that I could’ve added to my list if I’d thought of it. I’m definitely visiting those on your list too if I find myself there, especially the Alice one!
I have never been to Calgary but now I want to go so I can check it out!
I’m sure my daughter would love visiting all these bookstores! I believe there’s a horror-themed bookstore in Toronto, but I’m not certain.
Here’s my TTT for the week: https://readbakecreate.com/fictional-bookstores-i-would-love-to-visit/
They seem to be everywhere! I didn’t realize horror was so popular:-)
How cool, I love when bookstores are themed! 🙂
Me too, it makes them more special, for some reason.
I enjoyed the stores in Minneapolis Uncle Edgar and Uncle Hugo. Not quite horror but they had some.
I might have to check them out:-)
Adding these to my bucket list because yes! Would love to see more horror-themed book events as well. Great list!
Thanks Alicia! I hope to get to these at some point.
I didn’t even know that horror-themed bookstores were a thing. How terrifying! Ha ha.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
They seem to be a thing, and there are so many more I could have added to my list!
Woah these all look so intriguing! I’d especially like to go to Alice’s Little Haunted Bookshop. There’s a horror bookstore in my town called Little Ghosts and even though I haven’t been to it yet, I have a tshirt from them that I love and I did buy a book from them at a stall from an event. This is a good reminder to actually go there!
I hope you get to go!
I’d heard of SFF bookstores, and I just assumed that horror would be lumped in there, like it so often is. I didn’t know there were horror/thriller-specific bookstores! That’s so great to find a niche like that.
There are a ton more too! This could have been a very long list.
These look fun! I’ll have to add the Brooklyn one to my to visit list. I haven’t visited any horror bookshops but I love an Indie bookstore! I’ve been on a blog break but I might have to do this topic next week. I want to visit Mystic Connecticut because of Mystic Pizza the movie lol
I think out of all of them, The Twisted Spine is at the top of my bucket list. And oh I do love the movie Mystic Pizza!
This is such a fun topic. I’ve seen a romantasy themed bookstore here in the UK on Bookstagram recently (that I really want to visit sometime) but I’m not sure if there are any horror ones they all have such memorable names and logos. All those ghosts in the library call to me in the one from your old hometown. And the Alice one definitely sounds eerie and unique, that last line definitely makes you know just what goes on there. I hope you get to visit them all one day.
*makes you want to know.
Thanks Charlotte! I would have to travel a lot to get to them, but you never know…
Couldn’t ask for a better location for a themed bookstore than Mystic! I don’t believe I’ve ever been to a horror themed bookstore, but it’s cool to know they’re out there.
I hadn’t thought about the name “Mystic” but you’re right!
I have never been to a horror themed bookstore but love the idea! We have a few romance bookstores in KC, and we are going to be getting a mystery one soon I think?
Ooh, these all sound amazing. I would love to visit the Haunted Alice shop.
Lynn 😀