About the author
Peter Francis Straub was an American novelist and poet who achieved success with horror and supernatural fiction, as well as the mystery genre. His work includes novels such as Julia, Ghost Story, and The Talisman, which was co-written with Stephen King. He also explored mystery with the Blue Rose trilogy, consisting of Koko, Mystery, and The Throat, and fused the supernatural with crime fiction in Lost Boy, Lost Girl and In the Night Room. In addition to writing, he edited volumes for the Library of America, including H. P. Lovecraft: Tales and the anthology American Fantastic Tales. During his career, he received literary honors such as the Bram Stoker Award, World Fantasy Award, and International Horror Guild Award. For readers looking to explore his writing through available selections, the shop stocks several notable works by the author. Ghost Story and Julia offer strong entry points into his acclaimed horror and supernatural fiction. Readers can also find In the Night Room, which combines supernatural elements with crime fiction. Additionally, Shadowland is available for those interested in further examples of his fiction.
📖 Where to start with Peter Straub
💬 What our editors say about Peter Straub's books
“Straub demonstrates his mastery of psychological unease by blending supernatural thrills with occult mystery in a way that feels both timeless and deeply personal. The narrative succeeds not through sudden action but through an…”
Horror Reads editorial team, Horror desk · on In the Night Room
“Peter Straub delivers a meticulously crafted tale that merges the structure of an American road trip with the tropes of high fantasy. The narrative’s strength lies in its atmospheric dread and the seamless integration of the…”
Horror Reads editorial team, Horror desk · on The Talisman
“Peter Straub crafts a dense narrative that blends police procedural elements with high fantasy horror. The story does not offer easy answers or simple heroes, creating a tone that may alienate those seeking light entertainment.…”
Horror Reads editorial team, Horror desk · on Black House
📋 Editions by Peter Straub in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the Night Room | 2025 | Ballantine Books | 336 | 9780593975916 |
| The Talisman | 2018 | Scribner Book Company | 769 | 9781501192272 |
| Black House | 2018 | Scribner Book Company | 672 | 9781501192296 |
| Ghost Story | 2016 | Berkley Books | 518 | 9781101989197 |
| Black House | 2012 | Scribner Book Company | 672 | 9781451694925 |
| Julia | 2014 | Vintage | 291 | 9780804172837 |
| A Dark Matter | 2026 | Vintage | — | 9798217010561 |
| Koko | 2009 | Knopf Doubleday Publishing | 635 | 9780307472205 |
| Last Days | 2016 | Coffee House Press | 200 | 9781566894166 |
| Floating Dragon | 2021 | Berkley Books | — | 9780593335000 |
| The Throat | 2010 | Knopf Doubleday Publishing | 689 | 9780307472236 |
| Mystery | 2010 | Anchor Books | 548 | 9780307472229 |
| Interior Darkness: Selected Stories | 2017 | Anchor Books | 496 | 9781101971222 |
| Magic Terror: 7 Tales | 2025 | Ballantine Books | 384 | 9780593975923 |
| Shadowland | 2024 | Berkley Books | — | 9780593818190 |
| The Island of Dr. Moreau | 2002 | Random House Publishing Gr | 206 | 9780375760969 |
| Magic Terror: 7 Tales | 2001 | Random House Publishing Gr | 384 | 9780449006887 |
| In the Night Room | 2006 | Random House Publishing Gr | 368 | 9780345491329 |
| Penumbra No. 4 (2023): A Journal of Weird Fiction and Criticism | 2023 | Hippocampus Press | — | 9781614984245 |
| Floating Dragon | 2003 | Berkley Books | 595 | 9780425189641 |
| A Dark Matter | 2011 | Anchor Books | 588 | 9781400096725 |
| Hauntings: The Official Peter Straub Bibliography | 2000 | Overlook Connection Press | 200 | 9781892950161 |
| Hauntings: The Official Peter Straub Bibliography | 2000 | Overlook Connection Press | 200 | 9781892950154 |
| The Monstrous | 2015 | Tachyon Publications | 378 | 9781616962067 |
| A Dark Matter | 2011 | Orion | 397 | 9780753828823 |
| The Talisman: A Talisman Novel | 2026 | Thorndike Press Large Prin | — | 9781420539240 |
| Black House: A Talisman Novel | 2026 | Thorndike Press Large Prin | — | 9781420539257 |
| The Stepford Wives | 2024 | Blackstone Publishing | 159 | 9798212642576 |
| If You Could See Me Now | 2015 | Vintage | 353 | 9780804172851 |
| Dracula | 2001 | Penguin Random House LLC ( | 394 | 9780375756702 |
