It can feel as though half the movies or TV series these days are adaptations of Stephen King’s work. His books have become the source material for huge movies, and while not every film has been a winner, that doesn’t stop people trying. And even those are just the tip of the iceberg – King has been at this since the 1960s, the prolific author writing many books and short story collections in his time. With that many tomes out there, it can be daunting to start reading, and if you’re wondering where to kick off your adventure in King’s strange, often supernatural worlds, we’ve got you covered.

From small towns with dark secrets, through vicious creatures that haunt humanity and terrifyingly human monsters, King has cracked the formula that keeps us all returning to his novels, and our guide will show you some that you should consider. Perhaps your only experience of his writing has been through the adaptations, but there’s no substitute for experiencing it all first-hand, seeing how his turns of phrase and compelling characters have led to so much success.

No matter what your taste in thriller or dramatic tome is, King has something to tempt you in. Just be careful once you dive in that you don’t start seeing killer clowns lurking in sewers…