Our Favorite Books About the Dead and Undead

One of the best vampire novels ever written, Interview with the Vampire is exactly what it sounds like: the 200-something vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac narrates the story of his life to a reporter. It covers the details of his short human life as a plantation owner in Louisiana, his despondency following his brother’s untimely death, and then embracing vampiric immortality under the influence of the charismatic vampire, Lestat de Lioncourt. But instead of reveling in his new-found immortality, Louis is horrified by his own bloodlust and wracked with guilt. Atmospheric, decadent and oozing with homoerotic subtext, this is the perfect Gothic novel to sink your fangs into. 

Right from the opening page, Diane Setterfield’s debut novel is absolutely unputdownable. Like Interview with the Vampire, the narrative of The Thirteenth Tale is essentially an interview of Vida Winters, a reclusive novelist who recounts the true story of what went down in the Angelfield estate (where she grew up) to Margaret Lea, an amateur biographer. If you loved The Haunting of Hill House, you’ll adore this Gothic book, and although there aren’t any literal ghosts here, the novel is a suspense-ridden deep dive into what it means to be haunted by the past. 

TJ Klune’s novels are known for their feel-good vibes and queer themes, and Under the Whispering Door is no different. It focuses on Wallace, a mean-spirited workaholic lawyer who gets a chance to truly live a life and make meaningful connections—after he’s dead. It’s a witty and heartwarming novel about what it means to be alive and the transformative power of friendship, love and community. If you’re in the mood for a cozy queer love story, with the occasional humor and set in the afterlife, pick this one up and pair it with a warm cup of tea. 

Another one for the gays, Aiden Thomas’s YA urban fantasy novel focuses on Yadriel, a trans Latino boy whose family won’t accept his gender. Determined to prove his true gender and brujo powers to them, he accidentally ends up summoning the ghost of Julian Diaz, a former classmate who died under mysterious circumstances. Now the two of them are stuck helping each other out—and perhaps, they’ll even fall in love along the way. Packed with adventure, hilarity and romance, The Cemetery Boys promises to be a charming and haunting read. 

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders: If you’re more in the mood for an experimental lit-fic novel, you can try George Saunders’ critically acclaimed Lincoln in the Bardo. The “bardo” is an intermediate space between life and death—and much of the novel unfolds within this liminal space and is told from the perspective of the deceased. 

It primarily deals with the death of Willie, the young son of Abraham Lincoln, and the president’s grief becomes a moving story about father-son relationships and grappling with life’s unexpected tragedies. Extensively researched and carefully plotted, Lincoln in the Bardo is an emotional tour de force that will surely linger in your mind after you’ve turned the last page. 

The Lovely Bones centers on Susie, a fourteen-year-old girl who was raped, murdered and dismembered by her neighbor and now watches upon her family and her killer—from heaven. Despite the dark and grisly premise, Alice Sebold’s debut novel manages to be an uplifting and impactful tale, as Susie’s loved ones struggle to move on from the tragedy while Susie herself slowly comes to terms with her own death. 

If you’re looking for a plausible sci-fi twist on the concept of the afterlife, you might be interested in Dennis Taylor’s We Are Legion that deals with the premise of one’s consciousness being encoded into computer code. This space opera follows the exploits of one Bob Johansson whose free time is cruelly cut short when he gets killed and then uploaded into computer hardware—part of a probe on the lookout for new habitable planets. It’s a tongue-in-cheek exploration of capitalist overexploitation and ownership of workers’ bodies, told in an energetic, high-stakes vein.

Finally, if you’re keen on the macabre aesthetics without all the spooks, Megan Bannen’s The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy might be a good fit. It features a delicious and cutesy enemies-to-lovers romance between Hart, a lonely marshal and Mercy, an overworked undertaker. Packed with old gods, zombies, and adorable love letters, the novel balances whimsy and the ghastly very well and makes for a unique and satisfying read. 

Yangsze Choo’s debut novel is a rich exploration of the Chinese afterlife, narrated through the eyes of Li Lan, a girl who becomes a “ghost bride”—married to the dead son of a wealthy and powerful family as a means of placating restless spirits. Choo’s prose is carefully infused with folklore, superstition, history and myth, ensuring an immersive and unforgettable experience for the reader.