I look at Goodreads shelves. For 'The Cellar', top shelves are 'dark', 'disturbing', 'could-not-put-down'. For 'The Cabin', it's 'mystery', 'suspense', 'quick-read'. That tells me the subtle differences in reader experience. Pick the set of shelf tags that most appeals to your current mood.
It's a more nuanced way than just the blurb. You're seeing how actual readers categorized the feeling of the book. That's invaluable for choosing your entry point.