Are There Books Like Thirteen Storeys With Haunted Buildings?

Haunted buildings are such a fascinating trope in horror literature, and 'Thirteen Storeys' by Jonathan Sims nails that eerie, claustrophobic feeling of a place that’s alive with malice. If you’re craving more stories where the walls themselves seem to breathe, there are plenty of titles that dive into similar territory. One that immediately comes to mind is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s a labyrinthine nightmare about a house that’s bigger on the inside than the outside, shifting and changing in impossible ways. The book’s experimental format—with its footnotes, layered narratives, and chaotic typography—mirrors the disorienting horror of the setting itself. It’s not just about ghosts; it’s about the architecture becoming a character, almost predatory in its unnaturalness.

Another great pick is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. While the Overlook Hotel isn’t an apartment building like in 'Thirteen Storeys', it’s absolutely a place with a personality, one that preys on its inhabitants. King’s mastery of atmosphere makes the hotel feel like a living, breathing entity, with its history of violence seeping into every corridor. For something more modern, 'The Apartment' by S.L. Grey is a brutal, unsettling ride about a luxury apartment block where the residents are trapped in a cycle of grotesque horrors. It’s less about traditional hauntings and more about the building as a manifestation of societal decay, but the sense of dread is just as palpable. I love how these stories make the setting itself the villain—there’s something primal about fearing the place you call home.