Short Horror and Ghost Stories
Short horror stories and ghost stories for reading after dark. Ten Minute Stories collects Algernon Blackwood's eerie supernatural shorts; Please Lock the Door is a complete detective horror that begins with a strange phone call in the early hours; and The Drowned Bride's Lament is a Ghanaian ghost story of love and grief.
Everything here is free to read online and short enough for one or two sittings.
This list has 5 stories you can read free online, 2 of them completed. The most read right now are Please Lock the Door, Ten Minute Stories and What is reflected under the rain. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Readers of this list also browse Ghost, Gothic Horror and Horror.
Novels in this Topic (5)
Short Horror and Ghost Stories: questions readers ask
Who was Algernon Blackwood?
An English writer (1869–1951) and one of the masters of supernatural fiction. Ten Minute Stories is a collection of his short pieces.
Are these horror stories free?
Yes. Every story here can be read online for free on ChapterChase. Some authors also publish premium chapters, which a premium membership unlocks.
Which stories in this list are most popular?
The most read on ChapterChase right now: Please Lock the Door, Ten Minute Stories, What is reflected under the rain.
Which stories in this list are completed?
Please Lock the Door, The Drowned Bride's Lament are complete.
What was added to this list most recently?
Recently updated: The Drowned Bride's Lament, Ten Minute Stories, Please Lock the Door.