The Vampire Chronicles
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Series · horror
Fear Street
The Fear Street series by R. L. Stine has 49 known books (49 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with The New Girl (1989).
- Books
- 49 known books (49 novels)
- Published
- 49
- First published
- 1989
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Horror
- Last checked
Start here: The New Girl (1989) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The New Girl
The New Girl is the book that started it all: published in 1989, it launched R.L. Stine's Fear Street with the first of what would become a fresh cast of doomed Shadyside teenagers caught in a slasher-plot twist ending, a formula the series would repeat for 49 volumes and over 80 million copies sold. It runs 168 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The New Girl - Book 2:
The Surprise Party
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, The Surprise Party followed The New Girl in 1989 and precedes The Overnight in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 176 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Surprise Party - Book 3:
The Overnight
The Overnight came out in 1989 as the 3rd Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 151 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Overnight - Book 4:
Missing
Like every Fear Street book, Missing (1990) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between The Overnight and The Wrong Number in the original numbered run. It runs 168 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Missing - Book 5:
The Wrong Number
The Wrong Number is the 5th installment of R.L. Stine's best-selling YA horror line, published in 1990 with the same relentless cliffhanger pacing and twist-ending structure that made Fear Street a defining series for a generation of teen readers. It runs 165 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Wrong Number - Book 6:
The Sleepwalker
Published in 1990, The Sleepwalker follows The Wrong Number in the Fear Street sequence, another standalone trip down Shadyside's body-count road before Haunted. The book runs 164 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Sleepwalker - Book 7:
Haunted
Haunted (book 7, 1990) is one of the fresh-cast standalone entries that made Fear Street the best-selling YA horror series of all time, R.L. Stine's slasher-plot take on Shadyside's teenage body count. It runs 164 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Haunted - Book 8:
Halloween Party
Halloween Party is book 8 in R.L. Stine's Fear Street, published in 1990, dropping a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers into another slasher-plot mystery built toward Stine's trademark twist ending. It runs 176 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Halloween Party - Book 9:
The Stepsister
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, The Stepsister followed Halloween Party in 1990 and precedes Ski Weekend in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 176 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Stepsister - Book 10:
Ski Weekend
Ski Weekend came out in 1991 as the 10th Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 167 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ski Weekend - Book 11:
The Fire Game
Like every Fear Street book, The Fire Game (1991) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between Ski Weekend and Lights Out in the original numbered run. It runs 157 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Fire Game - Book 12:
Lights Out
Lights Out is the 12th installment of R.L. Stine's best-selling YA horror line, published in 1991 with the same relentless cliffhanger pacing and twist-ending structure that made Fear Street a defining series for a generation of teen readers. It runs 167 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lights Out - Book 13:
The Secret Bedroom
Published in 1991, The Secret Bedroom follows Lights Out in the Fear Street sequence, another standalone trip down Shadyside's body-count road before The Knife. The book runs 167 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Secret Bedroom - Book 14:
The Knife
The Knife (book 14, 1991) is one of the fresh-cast standalone entries that made Fear Street the best-selling YA horror series of all time, R.L. Stine's slasher-plot take on Shadyside's teenage body count. It runs 176 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Knife - Book 15:
The Prom Queen
The Prom Queen is book 15 in R.L. Stine's Fear Street, published in 1992, dropping a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers into another slasher-plot mystery built toward Stine's trademark twist ending. It runs 167 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Prom Queen - Book 16:
First Date
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, First Date followed The Prom Queen in 1992 and precedes The Best Friend in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of First Date - Book 17:
The Best Friend
The Best Friend came out in 1992 as the 17th Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Best Friend - Book 18:
The Cheater
Like every Fear Street book, The Cheater (1993) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between The Best Friend and Sunburn in the original numbered run. It runs 153 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Cheater - Book 19:
Sunburn
Sunburn is the 19th installment of R.L. Stine's best-selling YA horror line, published in 1993 with the same relentless cliffhanger pacing and twist-ending structure that made Fear Street a defining series for a generation of teen readers. It runs 150 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sunburn - Book 20:
The New Boy
Published in 1994, The New Boy follows Sunburn in the Fear Street sequence, another standalone trip down Shadyside's body-count road before The Dare. The book runs 167 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The New Boy - Book 21:
The Dare
The Dare (book 21, 1994) is one of the fresh-cast standalone entries that made Fear Street the best-selling YA horror series of all time, R.L. Stine's slasher-plot take on Shadyside's teenage body count. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Dare - Book 22:
Bad Dreams
Bad Dreams is book 22 in R.L. Stine's Fear Street, published in 1994, dropping a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers into another slasher-plot mystery built toward Stine's trademark twist ending. It runs 148 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Bad Dreams - Book 23:
Double Date
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, Double Date followed Bad Dreams in 1994 and precedes The Thrill Club in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Double Date - Book 24:
The Thrill Club
The Thrill Club came out in 1994 as the 24th Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Thrill Club - Book 25:
One Evil Summer
Like every Fear Street book, One Evil Summer (1994) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between The Thrill Club and The Mind Reader in the original numbered run. It runs 176 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of One Evil Summer - Book 26:
The Mind Reader
The Mind Reader is the 26th installment of R.L. Stine's best-selling YA horror line, published in 1994 with the same relentless cliffhanger pacing and twist-ending structure that made Fear Street a defining series for a generation of teen readers. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Mind Reader - Book 27:
Wrong Number 2
Wrong Number 2 is Fear Street's direct sequel to The Wrong Number, one of the handful of numbered pairs in R.L. Stine's otherwise standalone Shadyside horror line -- a rare case where picking up the earlier book actually matters. It arrived in 1995 as book 27 of the original run, running 165 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Wrong Number 2 - Book 28:
Truth or Dare
Truth or Dare (book 28, 1995) is one of the fresh-cast standalone entries that made Fear Street the best-selling YA horror series of all time, R.L. Stine's slasher-plot take on Shadyside's teenage body count. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Truth or Dare - Book 29:
Dead End
Dead End is book 29 in R.L. Stine's Fear Street, published in 1995, dropping a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers into another slasher-plot mystery built toward Stine's trademark twist ending. It runs 147 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dead End - Book 30:
Final Grade
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, Final Grade followed Dead End in 1995 and precedes Switched in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Final Grade - Book 31:
Switched
Switched came out in 1995 as the 31st Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Switched - Book 32:
College Weekend
Like every Fear Street book, College Weekend (1995) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between Switched and The Stepsister 2 in the original numbered run. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of College Weekend - Book 33:
The Stepsister 2
The Stepsister 2 is Fear Street's direct sequel to The Stepsister, one of the handful of numbered pairs in R.L. Stine's otherwise standalone Shadyside horror line -- a rare case where picking up the earlier book actually matters. It arrived in 1995 as book 33 of the original run, running 145 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Stepsister 2 - Book 34:
What Holly Heard
Published in 1996, What Holly Heard follows The Stepsister 2 in the Fear Street sequence, another standalone trip down Shadyside's body-count road before The Face. The book runs 145 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of What Holly Heard - Book 35:
The Face
The Face (book 35, 1996) is one of the fresh-cast standalone entries that made Fear Street the best-selling YA horror series of all time, R.L. Stine's slasher-plot take on Shadyside's teenage body count. It runs 150 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Face - Book 36:
Secret Admirer
Secret Admirer is book 36 in R.L. Stine's Fear Street, published in 1996, dropping a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers into another slasher-plot mystery built toward Stine's trademark twist ending. It runs 123 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Secret Admirer - Book 37:
The Perfect Date
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, The Perfect Date followed Secret Admirer in 1996 and precedes The Confession in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Perfect Date - Book 38:
The Confession
The Confession came out in 1996 as the 38th Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Confession - Book 39:
The Boy Next Door
Like every Fear Street book, The Boy Next Door (1996) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between The Confession and Night Games in the original numbered run. It runs 147 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Boy Next Door - Book 40:
Night Games
Night Games is the 40th installment of R.L. Stine's best-selling YA horror line, published in 1996 with the same relentless cliffhanger pacing and twist-ending structure that made Fear Street a defining series for a generation of teen readers. It runs 149 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Night Games - Book 41:
Runaway
Published in 1997, Runaway follows Night Games in the Fear Street sequence, another standalone trip down Shadyside's body-count road before Killer's Kiss. The book runs 240 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Runaway - Book 42:
Killer's Kiss
Killer's Kiss (book 42, 1997) is one of the fresh-cast standalone entries that made Fear Street the best-selling YA horror series of all time, R.L. Stine's slasher-plot take on Shadyside's teenage body count. It runs 149 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Killer's Kiss - Book 43:
All-Night Party
All-Night Party is book 43 in R.L. Stine's Fear Street, published in 1997, dropping a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers into another slasher-plot mystery built toward Stine's trademark twist ending. It runs 147 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of All-Night Party - Book 44:
The Rich Girl
Set on the cursed road running through Shadyside, The Rich Girl followed All-Night Party in 1997 and precedes Cat in the Fear Street lineup. The volume runs 132 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Rich Girl - Book 45:
Cat
Cat came out in 1997 as the 45th Fear Street book, part of R.L. Stine's run of standalone Shadyside horror that mixes slasher plotting with real supernatural scares depending on the story. It runs 119 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cat - Book 46:
Who Killed the Homecoming Queen?
Like every Fear Street book, Who Killed the Homecoming Queen? (1997) hands its cast of Shadyside teens a new self-contained mystery rather than continuing a previous book's story -- it sits between Cat and Into the Dark in the original numbered run. It runs 176 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Who Killed the Homecoming Queen? - Book 47:
Into the Dark
Into the Dark is the 47th installment of R.L. Stine's best-selling YA horror line, published in 1997 with the same relentless cliffhanger pacing and twist-ending structure that made Fear Street a defining series for a generation of teen readers. It runs 147 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Into the Dark - Book 48:
Best Friend 2
Best Friend 2 is Fear Street's direct sequel to The Best Friend, one of the handful of numbered pairs in R.L. Stine's otherwise standalone Shadyside horror line -- a rare case where picking up the earlier book actually matters. It arrived in 1997 as book 48 of the original run, running 160 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Best Friend 2 - Book 49:
Trapped
Trapped closes out the original numbered Fear Street run, arriving in 1997 after Best Friend 2 as the 49th and final entry in R.L. Stine's Shadyside horror line before the series' many spin-off sub-series took over. It runs 146 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Trapped
About the Fear Street series
Shadyside is a small town with a body count -- and Fear Street, the road running through it, is where the bodies pile up. R.L. Stine's teen horror line traded Goosebumps' younger, gentler scares for real stakes: characters in Fear Street actually die, romances turn homicidal, and the killer is as often the popular girl next door as any supernatural force. Every book is a fresh cast of Shadyside teenagers -- cheerleaders, prom queens, campers, babysitters -- caught in a slasher-movie plot with a twist ending Stine builds the whole book toward.
Launched in 1989 with The New Girl, the original run became the best-selling YA horror series of all time, moving over 80 million copies and defining the genre for a generation of readers who'd outgrown Goosebumps but weren't ready for adult horror. Stine mixed pure slasher plotting (masked killers, body counts, whodunit structure) with genuine supernatural horror (curses, ghosts, witchcraft) depending on the book, unified by the same relentless cliffhanger pacing that made his other series addictive.
Fear Street exploded back into pop culture with Netflix's 2021 film trilogy, introducing the Shadyside curse to a new generation and sending readers back to the source material -- a sprawling, interconnected universe of standalone terror that this entry begins tracking with the original 49-book run.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the original Fear Street series?
49 books, published from The New Girl (1989) through Trapped (1997).
What order should I read Fear Street in?
Any order -- nearly every book is a standalone story with a new cast. The exceptions are a few direct sequels (Wrong Number 2, The Stepsister 2, Best Friend 2), which are best read after their originals.
Is Fear Street connected to the Netflix movies?
Yes -- Netflix's 2021 Fear Street trilogy is set in Shadyside and draws on the book series' premise of a town cursed across centuries, though the films tell their own original story rather than adapting a specific book.
Is the original Fear Street series finished?
Yes, the original 49-book run concluded in 1997. R.L. Stine continued the Fear Street brand afterward across several spin-off lines, including a 1998-99 relaunch and the historical Fear Street Sagas.
How is Fear Street different from Goosebumps?
Fear Street is aimed at teens rather than middle-grade readers, with real character deaths, slasher-style plotting, and higher stakes than the younger, gentler scares of Goosebumps -- both are by R.L. Stine but are separate series.
If you like the Fear Street series
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