What do you do when one of the most dangerous dolls in paranormal history escapes her heavily protected glass case and hits the road? Nothing. You stay on your couch, grab popcorn and watch the chaos unfold from a safe distance.
That doll? Annabelle. Said to be demonically possessed and responsible for everything from car accidents to house fires and she recently disappeared while on what appears to be her Eras Tour. (Yes, really.) Was she found? Maybe. But not before the internet had a collective meltdown.
Whether you believe the stories or just love a good scare, there’s something uniquely disturbing about cursed objects — everyday items like dolls, paintings, cars, or furniture that carry more than just sentimental value. They don’t have to move or whisper. Nope. Their existence alone is enough to ruin lives.
So, if you’re fascinated by haunted heirlooms and possessed playthings, these 7 fiction and nonfiction books about cursed objects will scratch that deeply unnerving itch.
The Demonologist by Gerald Brittle
If you want the original, real-world Annabelle horror, this is the place to start. Gerald Brittle’s The Demonologist is the authoritative biography of Ed and Lorraine Warren, demonologists who investigated some of the most famous hauntings in modern history and who inspired The Conjuring universe. Their account of Annabelle is brief, but unforgettable. A Raggedy Ann doll possessed by the spirit of a little girl … or something far more sinister? You’ll never look at your childhood toys the same way again.
The House of Small Shadows by Adam Nevill
If dolls, puppets and taxidermy animals don’t freak you out already, this book will finish the job. Catherine, a recovering mental health patient, is hired to catalog a collection of bizarre antiques in a decaying English manor. What she uncovers is a twisted blend of folklore, occult history and psychological horror that clings to every object in the house.
Credenza by Wendy Dalrymple
When Veronica Marquette inherits her grandmother’s cherished credenza, she thinks she’s just bringing home a beautiful antique, until strange occurrences begin unraveling long-buried family secrets. Behind the doors of this heirloom lies a dark relic and with it, a centuries-old enemy who’s finally come to collect. Atmospheric and quietly unnerving, Credenza explores the dangers of inheritance, independence and the objects we think we own.
An Oral History of the Dybbuk Box by Jason Haxton
Before The Possession movie terrified audiences, there was the real story: a small wine cabinet listed on eBay that brought nothing but tragedy to its owners. Linked to Jewish folklore and said to house a malevolent spirit, this so-called Dybbuk Box has been blamed for financial ruin, illness and even madness. Jason Haxton, one of the box’s caretakers, tells the story from firsthand experience and it’s every bit as disturbing as you’d expect.
Christine by Stephen King
What’s more cursed than a haunted doll? A murderous, jealous car with a mind of its own. In Christine, Stephen King introduces us to a 1958 Plymouth Fury with a deadly temper and a taste for revenge. As teenager Arnie restores the rusting wreck to its former glory, he begins to change … and so does the car. Obsession, possession and blood-soaked chrome drive this novel into the pantheon of cursed-object horror. You’ll never look at a vintage car the same way again.
The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror by Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates’ mastery of psychological horror shines in this collection, especially in the titular story about a boy who collects dolls that might not be as lifeless as they seem. Cursed or not, these objects worm their way under your skin and into your nightmares. The stories are subtle, strange and thoroughly unsettling.
Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker
Want to go global with your cursed-object obsession? J.W. Ocker’s book is a darkly delightful (and often humorous) journey through the world’s most infamous haunted items. From the Anguished Man painting to the Hope Diamond, this nonfiction collection examines each object’s origin story, lore and lingering effect on those who dare to interact with it.
