Can you recommend some best books of scary short stories?

One such book is 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' by Alvin Schwartz. It contains a collection of really spooky short tales that have been popular for decades. The stories are often accompanied by creepy illustrations which add to the overall scare factor.

There's 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that can grant three wishes. However, each wish is granted in a twisted and horrible way. Their first wish for money results in their son's death at work, which is a really spooky take on how wishes can go wrong and the unexpected consequences that can follow.

One of the best scary short stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's 'vulture - like' eye and ultimately murders him, only to be haunted by the sound of the old man's still - beating heart.

Then there's 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman. While it's also a children's book, it has a very dark and scary undertone. The other world that Coraline discovers is full of terrifying creatures, and the story has a sense of real danger that makes it a great short scary story.

There is a story about a guy who worked late at the office. As he was leaving, he heard footsteps following him in the empty corridor. He was so scared. But when he turned around, it was his clumsy co - worker who had lost his keys and was trying to find them while walking in the same direction. This short story has that sudden shift from scary to funny.

Well, there's a story in it about a cursed doll. The doll seems to move on its own and has this really eerie look in its eyes. People who come near it start having nightmares. It's quite a creepy one.

From '20 short scary stories', I like the story of the abandoned asylum. The dark corridors and the echoes of screams that seem to still linger there are really terrifying. It makes you wonder what really happened in that place. And the story of the cursed mirror, where people see things that aren't there in their reflection, is also a great one.

Sure. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is great. Her stories are filled with Southern Gothic elements, exploring religious and moral themes in a rather dark and often shocking way. The title story, for example, is a complex exploration of good and evil.

Edgar Allan Poe's short story collections could be considered among the best for scary stories. His works, such as 'The Tell - Tale Heart' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher', are masterpieces of horror. Poe has a way of creating a sense of unease and dread through his vivid descriptions, complex characters, and dark themes.

One great option is 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' by Alvin Schwartz. It has a collection of really spooky short stories that are perfect for young adults. The illustrations also add to the overall creepiness.