Over the years , King has write more than 70 novels , which signify he has explored pretty much every trope in the book . From daemon to psychic ability to appal curses , King ’s books often get to the core of humanity ’s scariest folktale and fears , all in very unequalled ways . Therefore , King has quite a few spectral stories in his repertoire , both in his novel and his inadequate stories . The succeed ten King story can be consider some of the best ghost stories he has ever pen up to this power point .

10Sneakers

A Man Finds A Pair Of Haunted Sneakers

One hearty touch tale from King is the short story , Sneakers . This 1989 tarradiddle follow a military man named John who works at a recording studio . While using the bathroom , John discovers a duad of former muddy gym shoe that he has never seen before . Over the next few days , John find the shoes moving around and collecting flies and insect . finally , John discovers who the sneakers really go to , and bad , that his workplace is hiding a homicidal enigma .

Sneakerswas first published in story compilation , Dark Visions .

Sneakersis notKing ’s most shameful or horrifying storey , but it is still entertaining and unique . Where other King books let in one C of pageboy of backstory and traditional knowledge , Sneakersis as aboveboard as it gets . A man function into a ghost and discovers a arcanum . What setsSneakersapart is the fact that the account rely on an unexpected objectin an unexpected place . King give the traditional ghostwriter story a particular panache inSneakers .

Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise holds balloons in IT Chapter Two

9Joyland

An Amusement Park Is Being Haunted In More Than One Way

Another King ghost story that goes beyond what is expect isJoyland . A more late King projection , Joylandis a 2013 novel that centers on a young homo bring up Devin who start solve a summer Book of Job at an entertainment commons call Joyland . There , Devin learns about a horrific murder that come at the parking lot , and the fair sex who allegedly carry on haunting the spot . However , Devin soon realizes that this slaying is not just a thing of the past , but could impact him in the present day .

Stephen King has written many iconic and acclaimed novels , including these unforgettable second that remain sincerely terrifying twelvemonth later .

Joylanddoesn’t focus whole on spectre , as slaying plays a big part in the novel as well , but it can unquestionably still be categorized as a ghost tale . It is n’t necessarily that Devin is haunted by an actual spirit , but it is that he is haunted by the cause of the spirit and what it mean today . King record how hauntings can take place in various ways , and how ghost story can actually have actual - sprightliness aftermath . Thus , Joylandisn’t just a scary account , but a life sentence lesson .

Roland with the Dark Tower behind him on Stephen King book cover

8Duma Key

An Artist Is Possessed

One King novel where the ghost is front and center isDuma Key . In this 2008 book , a contractor moves to a beach house on the Florida coast after digest a traumatic accidentwhich head to Einstein terms and an amputated weapon . The contract begins pee prowess as a form of therapy , but soon discovers that he has gained psychic abilities wherein his picture can change realness . Yet , this exciting ability turn dark when he discovers who - or what - is really behind it all .

What is even better is that the book ’s central villain is not just a nameless ghost , but has a backstory that is as interesting as the present daytime plot line .

LikeSneakers , Duma Keyis not your distinctive repulsion storywhich might take place in a haunt business firm or a cemetery . Duma Keyhas a beautiful beach setting and an unexpected character at its substance , but it still manages to be frightening . What is even good is that the volume ’s cardinal villain is not just a nameless ghostwriter , but has a backstory that is as interesting as the present twenty-four hours storyline . In this elbow room , Duma Keyoffers a riveting and tight - pace ghost account .

Barlow from Salem’s Lot Screaming with Blood Next to Stephen King Pointing

7Sometimes They Come Back

Old Villains Return Decades Later

Another far-famed short story surrounding ghosts is King’sSometimes They Come Back . in the beginning published in 1974 , this story is about a man whose brother was kill in a brutal beating in the 1950s . Then,20 long time later , the man finds himself case - to - typeface with his brother ’s attackersonce again , yet they have n’t aged a daylight since the slaying . The humans must figure out why these spectre are re-emerge and what their intention is with him and his peers .

Every Stephen King Short Story Collection

yr of Publication

Book Cover Imagery from Bag of Bones and The Shining

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

Night Shift

1978

Skeleton Crew

Nightmares and Dreamscapes Cover Stephen King

1985

Nightmares & Dreamscapes

1993

Stephen King Joyland cover

Everything ’s Eventual

2002

Just After Sunset

Duma Key

2008

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

2015

A Custom Wallpaper for Nightshift Collection’s VHS

You Like It Darker

2024

As the statute title says , Sometimes They make out Backanswers the interrogative of what happens when bad people riposte from the afterlife , intent on destruction . UnlikeSneakers , this story is a bit full and has more tragical and appall consequences . It is truly chilling to catch the protagonist reunite with those who cause the greatest loss of his living . Sometimes They Come Backis a satisfying and dark tarradiddle within King ’s impressive catalog .

Cropped version of Stephen King’s Christine cover art

6Christine

A Car Is Taken Over By A Violent Ghost

A notable King novel with a ghostly element isChristine . This 1983 book succeed friends Arnie and Dennis as they purchase a 1958 Plymouth Furynamed Christine . Arnie quickly becomes obsessed with the car while Dennis gets a bad feeling from it . Soon enough , Christine begins to affect Arnie , and not only that , but expose behaviors that prove she is more than just a car . Dennis must act out who is possess the auto before it is too late for his supporter .

Stephen King ’s account book are sometimes criticized for their closing , but which of his novels had the most solid and memorable conclusions ?

The conception of a witting railway car is n’t of necessity fresh , but the way King employs this figure for horror is telling . watch Arnie change under the powers of Christine is fabulously creepy-crawly , and it is easy to take root for Dennis , who senses something is wrong right on from the very beginning . Furthermore , birth a car as a baddie leads to some pretty intriguing top executive dynamics and scenes . Overall , Christineis theperfect King bookfor fan of possession stories .

The book cover for Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew collection of short stories.

5The Reach

A Woman Comes Face To Face With The Afterlife

One story that is as dear as it is eerie isThe Reach . The 1981 short news report is set on Goat Island , where 95 - year - older Stella has never provide . However , asStella ’s cancer begins to set up its unworthy head and she realizes her life is at last coming to an end , Stella is convinced to cross the Reach , a section of rooted lake that divide the island from the mainland . On her quest , Stella reunites with her loved one who have already slip away away .

The Reachis one of those stories that tries to put up some comfort around the idea of death , and King deliver the goods in offering this spirit through this meaningful story .

Ghost stories can sure enough be scary , but they can also be aroused , andThe Reachmixes the two feelings . While it is for sure unsettling to see an old woman trekking to her inevitable death , it is also sweet to watch her reunite with those she bang who have come to show her to her grave . The Reachis one of those story that tries to cater some solace around the idea of dying , and King bring home the bacon in volunteer this feeling through this meaningful history .

later stephen king cover cropped

4Later

A Young Boy Can Speak To Dead People

Though many may not have heard of this account book , Lateris a King ghost narrative emphatically worth checking out . Latercenters on Jamie Conklin , a young son who has the power to see and speak to the bushed . Jamie resents his index and yearns for a normal life story , but he seems to always find his way into trouble . His life gets even more bad when an NYPD officer tries to employ Jamie to help puzzle out a crime committed from beyond the grave accent .

Characters who can speak to the numb are one awing trope within the ghost history genre . King ’s grapheme Jamie is challenging not only because of his power but because of how he feel about it , and the manner it affects those around him . Lateris not just a ghostwriter story but a novel about crime , ethical motive , and the loss of innocence . Those who have delight King ’s other young type will probably observe a destiny to love in this book .

31408

A Man Stays In A Haunted Hotel Room

One last King short story surrounding ghosts is his 1999 tale,1408.The tale centers on Mike , a writer who specializes in shade , despite not conceive in the supernatural . For a projection , Mike decides to stay in what is consider to be one of the most haunted hotel rooms in America . Despite Mike ’s superstitions , he ends up continue in the way for only a brief period of clock time after finding himself in a horrifying hellscape .

1408may be one of themost explicitly shuddery ghost stories that King has write . It is not just tension that King builds , but visuals that puzzle with readers as much as they stick around to the protagonist.1408deploys its scare in ways that consultation may not expect , which in turn , makes them even creepy . Ultimately,1408is the close King get to a traditional haunted house tale .

2The Shining

A Family Is Terrorized In A Haunted Hotel

What is likely King ’s most democratic wraith write up isThe beam . His 2d ever issue novel , The Shiningfollows Jack Torrance as he take a task as an off - season caretakerat the Overlook Hotel . Jack brings along his untried son Danny and his married woman Wendy . Though Jack attempts to be a creditworthy male parent and husband , fight back against his alcoholism , he quickly start losing control due to supernatural forces within the hotel .

Notably , Stephen King dislike Stanley Kubrick ’s movie adaptation ofThe Shining .

There is a intellect whyThe Shiningis so well - loved among revulsion devotee . This book is full of haunting images and scene that have become iconic parts of popular civilisation . From the creepy-crawly twin and the elevator of blood to Jack cry " Here ’s Johnny,“The Shiningis a fireball in building tension and having a Brobdingnagian proceeds . Of of course , the ghosts dally a massive part in this . The Shining’ssupernatural forces are the base of Jack ’s reign of terror .

Everything’s Eventual book cover

1Bag of Bones

A Writer Grieves His Ghostly Wife

Finally , King ’s good ghost level of all clip isBag of Bones . print in 1998 , this novel follows Mike Noonan , a writer who is struggling to work after the unexpected death of his wife . As a result , Mike travels to his lake house to try and sorrow and get his spark back . However , Mike before long becomes obsessed with a young girlfriend in township , and worse , finds himself haunted by the ghost of his deceased married woman .

Stephen King adaptations are n’t stopping anytime shortly , and these four stories need the remake treatment .

Bag of Bonesis precisely what one would expect from a King novel . There is a traumatized supporter , an eerie lake house context , and a complex set of plot line that blend and deviate into a wanderer web of questions that are finally answered in one big climactic moment . Of all the shade in King ’s stories , Bag of Bones’ghost may be one of the dear . at long last , this is a belovedStephen Kingbook that more people should check over out , especially if they ’re search for a spooky read .

Stephen King Bag Of Bones

Stephen King