Welcome to the inaugural edition of “5 frightening novels to keep you up at night.” It’s a bit late in the month but hey, still plenty of time to read through these five fantastic books. You won’t find any sparkly vampires or amorous werewolves in this bunch. Instead, we’re delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche, examining the monsters that lie within ourselves and those around us.

Starting with the all-American psychopath, moving on through an excess of deviant behavior, to apocalyptic loneliness, to the monster next door, and on to a Gothic tale of a dysfunctional family, these five novels are guaranteed to haunt you long after you’ve read the final chapter.