Horror and gothic novels
Horror fiction, horror literature and also horror fantasy is a genre of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, scare or startle viewers/readers by inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural. Often the central menace of a work of Horror fiction can be interpreted as a metaphor for the larger fears of a society.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_fiction

Gothic horror is a genre of literature that has elements of both romance and horror. 

Prominent features of Gothic fiction include terror (both psychological and physical), mystery, the supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic architecture, castles, darkness, death, decay, doubles,madness, secrets, and hereditary curses.

The stock characters of Gothic fiction include tyrants, villains, bandits, maniacs, maidens, madwomen, magicians, vampires, werewolves,monsters, demons, dragons, angels, ghosts and the Devil himself.
Horror Story Conventions
  • Usually set in unfamiliar or desolate environments
  • Creation of a ghostly, eerie atmosphere
  • Sense of remoteness in character’s situation and mind  
  • Sense of indefiniteness; nothing is exactly explained or described
  • The characters may possess some sort of psychic communication  
  • May include a monster that can’t function in the “normal” world
  • There may be communication between the living and the dead
  • The possibility of life after death (immortality?)