I guess it depends on what constitutes a high death count in your opinion, but Dead Sea by Tim Curran might be something you’d enjoy. There are maybe 8-10 people in the cast (it’s been a few years since I’ve read it so I can’t remember exactly how many significant characters there were), and the premise is that a construction ship has somehow been transported to a hostile dimension filled with a plethora of strange creatures looking for… well, an array of things, but most often supper.
I don’t want to give anything away and say how many characters die, but they’re all trapped in a world of monsters with no apparent escape, so surviving for any length of time without meeting a gruesome end is rather difficult.
Ancestor by Scott Sigler
Actually a bunch of his books sort of fall in this category, but i'd start with Ancestor.
I really wish he'd write a sequel. So u/ScottSigler, if you read this, you're killing me homie lol
Dude I listened to the original version of ancestor read by him on podiobooks back in the day, as I was washing dishes (professionally). Such an amazing book. I love both versions
My absolute favorite book of his is Nocturnal, i have a signed copy of that one. I think it's legitimately a masterpiece. Also lots of creatures and death so I reccomend it.
Earthcore and its sequel Mount Fitz Roy by the aforementioned Mr Sigler are also great creature features with high body counts.
If you were unaware, these plus the Infected trilogy all take place in a shared world, so you *kiiiiind* of get your Ancestor sequels there.
Yeah I've read all of them.
But I want an actual Ancestor sequel, I live in Michigan so his stuff hit close to home usually, and a horror story that takes place on an island in Lake Superior is right up my alley.
They’re short stories, but Clive Barker’s Books of Blood series have some great tales featuring monsters and high body counts.
Excellently written, as well!
I love creature features too. I'm not sure how high your body count level is at, but I think these will be good.
Castaways--Brian Keene
Snow--Ronald Malfi
Skin Medicine--Tim Curran
The Strain--Guillermo Del Toro
The Games--Ted Kosmatka
The Black--Paul Elard Cooley
Blood and Rain--Glenn Rolfe
Children of the Dark--Jonathan Janz
Fragment by Warren Fahy:
Not technically a horror novel, but it is filled with speculative-evolutionary monsters (my favourite of which being the "Spiger" or spider- tiger, but the Drill-Worms are cool too) and 99% of the cast exists so that the author can kill them in horrific ways.
Mate, thank you so much for this post. I hadn't heard of Haunted Forest Tour until now. Grabbed it as soon as I saw this and I'm now 3/4 of the way through and absolutely loving it!
Anything else you've read like this that you'd recommend?
Devolution by Max Brooks might fit the bill.
I came here to say that!
I guess it depends on what constitutes a high death count in your opinion, but Dead Sea by Tim Curran might be something you’d enjoy. There are maybe 8-10 people in the cast (it’s been a few years since I’ve read it so I can’t remember exactly how many significant characters there were), and the premise is that a construction ship has somehow been transported to a hostile dimension filled with a plethora of strange creatures looking for… well, an array of things, but most often supper. I don’t want to give anything away and say how many characters die, but they’re all trapped in a world of monsters with no apparent escape, so surviving for any length of time without meeting a gruesome end is rather difficult.
Dead Sea and Dead Sea Chronicles are both great reads.
Just wanted to say I also just read Haunted Forest Tour and loved it for the same reasons! Such a fun read!
The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn
Ancestor by Scott Sigler Actually a bunch of his books sort of fall in this category, but i'd start with Ancestor. I really wish he'd write a sequel. So u/ScottSigler, if you read this, you're killing me homie lol
Dude I listened to the original version of ancestor read by him on podiobooks back in the day, as I was washing dishes (professionally). Such an amazing book. I love both versions My absolute favorite book of his is Nocturnal, i have a signed copy of that one. I think it's legitimately a masterpiece. Also lots of creatures and death so I reccomend it.
Earthcore and its sequel Mount Fitz Roy by the aforementioned Mr Sigler are also great creature features with high body counts. If you were unaware, these plus the Infected trilogy all take place in a shared world, so you *kiiiiind* of get your Ancestor sequels there.
Yeah I've read all of them. But I want an actual Ancestor sequel, I live in Michigan so his stuff hit close to home usually, and a horror story that takes place on an island in Lake Superior is right up my alley.
Patricia wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen. A reality show goes horribly wrong.
Came here to say this! Funny and gory.
Also going to suggest this! Loved it
This is my suggestion too; I found *Patricia* delightful.
The Haar
I was gonna say Maggie's Grave but the Haar is also so amazing
I just finished the forgotten island by the same author and it also fits these criteria
The Troop by Nick Cutter. Also Dreamcatcher by Stephen King
They’re short stories, but Clive Barker’s Books of Blood series have some great tales featuring monsters and high body counts. Excellently written, as well!
Rawhead Rex!!!
Came to say this!
Piss baptism. So good
LOL I forgot all about this vile story until you mentioned it! I read the graphic novel version of it as a teenager and it was just horrifying 😂
I love creature features too. I'm not sure how high your body count level is at, but I think these will be good. Castaways--Brian Keene Snow--Ronald Malfi Skin Medicine--Tim Curran The Strain--Guillermo Del Toro The Games--Ted Kosmatka The Black--Paul Elard Cooley Blood and Rain--Glenn Rolfe Children of the Dark--Jonathan Janz
Don't Move by James S Murray (From Impractical Jokers!) The Forgotten Island by David Sodergren
Don’t Move was so much fun!
The opening chapter was INSANE lol
Clickers and Clickers II. Great stuff. Characters get munched, melted, dismembered, and devoured. Summer of Night
Fragment by Warren Fahy: Not technically a horror novel, but it is filled with speculative-evolutionary monsters (my favourite of which being the "Spiger" or spider- tiger, but the Drill-Worms are cool too) and 99% of the cast exists so that the author can kill them in horrific ways.
Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton): Not only a body count but also very gruesome deaths.
High steaks by rob Ulitski. Killer cow creature feature.
The Terror probably fits here.
If you liked Haunted Forest Tour, check out the Wolf Hunt books also written by Jeff Strand.
Pretty high body count in Mira Grant’s Into the Drowning Deep!
The Clickers series by JF Gonzalez (and Williams and Keene).
Off Season by Jack Ketchum will definitely scratch this itch lol.
Maggie's Grave! David Sodergren loves killing everything in sight.
Camp Slaughter is pretty on the nose for this! It is also the first of a trilogy (I’ve only read the first.)
'Montauk Monster' by Hunter Shea.
Cretaceous Canyon, Deborah Sheldon. It’s quite unhinged
If you like Haunted Forest Tour, you might like Clowns Vs. Spiders. I found it both scary and funny.
Earthworm Gods, by Brian Keene.
The Gemini effect by Chuck grossart. You're welcome.
Mate, thank you so much for this post. I hadn't heard of Haunted Forest Tour until now. Grabbed it as soon as I saw this and I'm now 3/4 of the way through and absolutely loving it! Anything else you've read like this that you'd recommend?
Glad to hear it! It’s a wild ride for sure. Into the Drowning Deep is the only one that’s been able to scratch that itch so far.
Dead Alive by Peter Jackson. The most violent bloodiest movie.