If Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil thrilled you, scared you and left you wanting more action-packed gross-out monster horror, then here’s five recommendations for just that, in book form.

The Troop – Nick Cutter

A Boy Scout troop on a weekend camping trip come under attack by a highly-contagious, bio-engineered pathogen—one that makes the effects of the T-virus on the human body look like the common cold. It’s Lord of the Flies, but somehow even more disturbing.

If you can’t get enough of the bioweapon monsters of Resident Evil, then pick this one up.

The Z-Word – Lindsay King-Miller

I once heard the author perfectly describe this novel as “Dykes on Bikes with chainsaws.” A group of lesbians fight to survive an outbreak during Pride against zombies that, without giving anything away, share a certain similarity with those made by Umbrella…

Quirky, irreverent, bloody and heartfelt, The Z-Word is perfect if you like your survivors carving up the undead with a heavy dose of dark humor.

The Shuddering – Ania Ahlborn

Arguably the most cinematically-striking part of Resident Evil is when Bryan is fighting (and fleeing) through the snowy night, in a white field decorated by sprays of blood. Is that aesthetic—monsters in the snow—your vibe? Then the story of a group of snowboarders fending off bloodthirsty humanoid creatures during a blizzard is just what you need.

Freaky monsters, body parts in the snow and a heartwrenching fight for survival—check this one out for some intense winter horror.

The Shrinking Man – Richard Matheson

At first glance, the story of a man who continues to shrink after being exposed to a radioactive cloud might not sound like Resident Evil—but a significant part of the novel concerns protagonist Scott Carey fighting for survival against a black widow spider that gets bigger and bigger as he gets smaller and smaller. Sound like the amalgam monster relentlessly pursuing Bryan? Well, at least Bryan had help; Carey, too small for a normal-sized person to notice, is on his own. And it’s also the story of a man coming to terms with a horrific, creeping fate… much like Bryan once his infection sets in.

For man versus monster, and man versus his impending doom, check out this sci-fi/horror classic.

Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Another one that, at first glance, might not look like it has anything in common with Resident Evil, but without giving anything away, let me assure you it definitely does. Some of that commonality might also be shared with The Last of Us, too…

And although the setting is at odds with the movie, it fits right into a Resident Evil game: a gorgeous mansion that hides lurking horrors. In many ways, protagonist Noemí is like an RE hero, wandering this beautiful, enclosed nightmare in order to save someone she loves. This one’s a recommended read if you love the more Gothic settings in the franchise, and if you like a slower plot and enjoy post-colonial horror.

Cover image credit: instagram.com