The Reference and User Services Association division of the American Library Association has named its picks for the most outstanding contributions to genre fiction this year (here’s a link to the entire list, in case you’re interested). Below you’ll se the choice for the horror genre, some read-alikes, and the short list– those books that came close. Congratulations to all!

RUSA’s choice for most outstanding contribution to the horror genre in 2013 is…

The Ritual by Adam Nevill
Summary: In the remote forests of Sweden, the friendship between four men disintegrates when they wander off the hiking trail and find themselves stalked by an unseen and increasingly violent menace. “Blair Witch” meets black metal in this dark and suspenseful horror novel.

Read-alikes
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Deliverance by James Dickey
Neverland by Douglas Clegg

Short List
Breed by Chase Novak (Mullholland Books, 9780316198561)
The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James (New American Library, 9780451235688)
This Book is Full of Spiders: Seriously Dude, Don’t Touch It by David Wong (St. Martin’s Press, 9780312546342)
The Return Man by V. M. Zito (Orbit, 9780316218283)

So what do you think? Do you agree? What is the most outstanding contribution to horror fiction for 2013?