I would round this book up to 3.5 stars solely based on the ending. This was a tough book to get through, because the first 60% was so boring. The story just seemed to ramp up out of nowhere and I really enjoyed the ending. Unfortunately, I would have never made it to the ending if I was better at DNFing books I don’t enjoy.

The premise of this book is fantastic. I’m just disappointed that the first half of the book isn’t more enjoyable.

This is a new-to me author and a new-to me genre, horror. I grabbed this one, knowing Golden is a New York Times bestselling author so felt it would be a good place to start a new genre. I'm not sure if it was the genre for me, but did finish this one. The weird rooms, strange noises and random opening doors are too much for me right now, especially when priests were thrown into this one. Thanks for the copy!

Loved this thriller! It was spooky and love the setting! The story did take so time to speed up but it helped with building up the suspense! The characters were enjoyable but not my favorite thing about the story. Definitely recommend reading this book!

What a wild ride this one was. It was yet another possible supernatural turned horror thriller storyline but it was intriguing so I did binge the audio in one day. Including the church and the grandparents and that’s what made this one a bit unique. I will say the twist at the end wasn’t something I expected but overall a pretty good read.

Christopher Golden writes a haunting tale that starts as a slow burn but quickly picks up the pace and takes you for a dangerous and terrifying narrative through the times.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book. Were the couple is looking for a fresh start and move to a house in a small village as part of a program to bring people back the the village. The village sits on top of various catacombs where bodies are buried. What i didn’t like is the bodies are of people/children that where mental ill or had disabilities and where sent to this place in order for the priests to perform exorcisms because it was thought that these people were processed by demons.. Other than that it was a pretty good read.

Thank you st Martin’s press and netgalley for an arc.

For my love of round numbers, it stands to mention that this is 1000th review of this book on GR.
Since most of them have averaged out to just about three stars, you may get the idea that this isn't the author's bets work. That idea would be accurate. Golden can and has done better.
Maybe the epigraph from someone primarily famous for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was a warning.
At any rate, I expected more from this book. The idea was there, credit where credit's due, the author did come up with something original for this haunted abode. The location was there, a small town in Sicily that lures in fresh blood with promises of one-euro real estate. And if that sounds too good to be true, it is. It really is. As the couple in the book quickly finds out.
Now here's everything that was missing or left you wanting more:
1.The pacing was way off. The novel kept getting bogged down in descriptive details, which only served to highlight that there did not seem to be enough plot.
2.The couple is the story was generic in the way that left the reader utterly indifferent to their fate.
3.The explanations and overexplanations never stopped. The overall result was highly predigested and repetitive.
This is all very frustrating because it clearly could have been a much better read. There are glimpses of that here and there, in the genuinely creepy moments and a fun ending. But overall, a bit of a slog, though thoughtfully brief. Thanks Netgalley.

This book was incredible! I absolutely loved the unique twist on the haunted house trope, set against the backdrop of beautiful Italy. It's a slow burn, but once the tension kicks in, it grips you hard. The atmosphere, the suspense—it all came together in such a captivating way. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment!

"Their beautiful adventure. With just a hint of haunting. She had decided that if ghosts really did exist, as long as they kept their mischief to slamming the occasional door, she could survive that."

Tommy and Kate (hello old fashioned quintessential American names) buy a house in the small coastal town of Becchina in Sicily. They bought their house for $1, with the promise that they will make improvements and bring promising endeavors to this small dying town. There is also the added benefit that Tommy has family here, and actually used to visit his grandparents there regularly when he was a child, until his father and grandfather had a falling out and stopped talking. Tommy and Kate's new house is huge and beautiful, but Tommy's grandmother won't cross the threshold and they begin hearing all kinds of things in the night. Plus there's a mysterious door that won't open....

What this book does masterfully is setting the scene.
"The darkness breathed down here. It had a heartbeat."
The setting is chef's kiss for a horror story and it was so easy to visual this rambling old house in a coastal Sicilian town and the beauty and the history but also the inherent creepiness. Add to that the fact that Tommy and Kate's beautiful house was once owned by the Vatican and how it was used. I won't spoil it as that is one of my favorite parts of the book.

Despite all this, the book ends up being just ok. The characters don't feel very real or very interesting and this was not as creepy as it could have been. It ending up feeling like a formulaic horror movie when it had the potential for more. Not mad I read it, but won't be one I highly recommend either.

I had to DNF and half way through. It was creepy but I just couldn’t connect with the characters, or the writing. Just wasn’t for me.

I got about 22% into this and I think I'm DNF'ing for now. I haven't had any pull to it to continue. It's rather slow and in parts feels a bit rambling. I've been in a bit of a reading slump, and particularly a thriller/horror slump, and since i have no pull to this currently, it's not helping my ability to pick it up. 3 stars because I can see where this has promise if it pics up

Book Review:
Title: The House of Last Resort
Author: Christopher Golden
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

Tommy and Kate Puglisi are an American couple who decide to move to Becchina, a small town on a hilltop in Italy. Hoping to revitalize the area with a younger generation, Tommy and Kate are focused on getting fellow young friend couples to make the move as well. Especially when the mayor of Becchina makes the offer to sell abandoned homes in the area for just a single euro. To take this offer, you must live there for at least five years. Does this not sound suspicious? Hmmmm......🤔.

Fortunately, Tommy does have family in the area, his grandparents. Although, they don't quite give the welcoming arms like you'd expect, once they find out where the young couple are living. His grandmother is especially upset, which Kate can't help but take personally. Although they soon hear whispers around town about the house they're living in, "la casa dell'ultima risorsa"- the house of the last resort. This house has a history-a haunted history, and Tommy and Kate will soon be living in terror and wondering if that one euro deal was really worth it.

I was definitely into the creep factor surrounding this home - the catacombs, the hidden chapel, but eventually, it just seemed to go on and on for too long. I was a little bored. Overall, not too shabby.

Published: January 30th, 2024

Thank you, @netgalley and @stmartinspress, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Christopher Golden’s “The House of Last Resort” is a gripping horror novel that offers a chilling and immersive experience. The story unfolds in a decaying mansion with a dark, sinister past, and Golden’s atmospheric writing excels at creating a palpable sense of dread. The plot is engaging, with well-developed characters who each contribute to the unfolding mystery. While the narrative occasionally follows familiar horror tropes, the author’s skillful storytelling and eerie settings keep the suspense high. The pacing is steady, though some moments may feel drawn out. Golden’s ability to blend psychological and supernatural horror makes for a captivating read, though a bit more originality could have elevated it to a five-star level. Overall, “The House of Last Resort” is a solid, entertaining horror novel that will satisfy fans of the genre and keep readers eagerly turning pages.

I struggled with this book. Despite the story begin intriguing, I was couldn't connect with it like I had hoped for. The feel of this book was lacking for me. Another issue I had was I felt like the book took forever to get going. I much prefer faster paced reads that are action packed from begging to end. I felt like all of this is very subjective and the likability of this book would depend on the unique taste of each reader. I tend to enjoy going into books blind without reading the synopsis but if you find the synopsis intriguing then I'd suggest giving to book a shot.

What can I say, I really love this author...but really hated this story. It seemed a bit immature and I found plenty of plot holes in it. The cover was epic and gives a good horror vibe, but that's all it does.

I started this book expecting creepy house in Italy, or a haunted house kind of scary. Unfortunately for me I am starting to think Christopher Golden's adult horror is not for me. They always seem a little younger oriented in the way of understanding the characters. Very dimple, and kind of immature. If you like horror novels I would still give this one a chance. You might vibe really well with this author.

The House of Last Resort” recounts the journey of Tommy and Kate Puglisi, an American couple who acquire a run-down property in the Italian town of Becchina for just one euro. In an ambitious endeavor to rejuvenate the fading village, the local municipality extends this opportunity to anyone willing to commit to permanent residency for at least five years and contribute to necessary repairs. Tommy and Kate eagerly embrace their new adventure, only to discover that the house they purchased harbors a dark history. Once owned by the Church, it is rumored to have hosted exorcisms and other occult rituals in its past. As they settle in, strange noises and unexplained occurrences lead Tommy and Kate to believe that a malevolent presence lingers within the walls. I won’t delve into further plot details, as I believe readers derive the most enjoyment from discovering these stories independently. However, I must highlight that the book’s Sicilian setting captivated me. The author skillfully breathed life into it through vivid descriptions. #netgalley #the house of last resort

Mini synopsis: Tommy & Kate make a major life change by moving to Italy on a once in a lifetime deal. One euro & you get a grand home in an Italian village? Sound too good to be true? Maybe it is 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wanted to love this I really did! I mean the setup was so fascinating and the Italy setting was the perfect place! I’ve liked a little religious horror before but I didn’t like this and I’m sad! I think where this fell flat for me was in its pacing. The beginning was soooooo slow. I mean i was about 40/50% in before anything happened. I was bored! 😩 AND THEN! Whiplash! So so so so much happened in the last third that it was too much to take in. I think if the build works for you this pacing won’t be an issue but I found it jarring. I will say, this book is creepy & gross. It does ALOT with rats & I hate that so much 🙅🏻‍♀️ there were a lot of characters that I couldn’t keep straight either, but that’s probably a me problem! If you do choose to pick this up, try the audiobook! The two narrators were fantastic!

This was a fun atmospheric read that had a really cool premise with moving to a different country to buy a house. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of where this took place and how well the author described the city, village, people, and right down to the food. This started off really well, but there was some things that bothered me and wish that it was executed a bit differently. overall I did enjoy the book though!

This one is an atmospheric horror novel that follows Tommy and Kate as they move to the fictional town of Becchina in Sicily, lured by the promise of a grand old house for just one Euro. This seemingly perfect opportunity quickly turns into a nightmare as they uncover the dark history of their new home, known to locals as "La casa dell’ultima risorsa" or "the house of the last resort."

Golden's descriptions of Sicily are vivid and immersive, making the setting a significant highlight of the book. The decaying mansion, hidden chapel, and eerie catacombs add to the novel's haunting atmosphere. However, the story unfolds slowly, with the real tension building up only in the last third of the book. While this gradual buildup creates a sense of foreboding, some readers might find the pacing too slow.

The characters, Tommy and Kate, are central to the narrative, but their development feels somewhat lacking. Their "American savior" mentality can be irritating, as they quickly assume they know best how to restore the ancient catacombs and integrate into the local community. Despite these flaws, the supernatural elements, particularly the scenes involving Kate and the eerie occurrences in the house, deliver the desired creepiness.

The ending is both shocking and satisfying, tying together the mysteries surrounding the house. However, the novel leaves some questions about the house's history unanswered, maintaining a veil of mystery that some readers may appreciate while others might find frustrating.

Read if you like:
Travelling to new places
Haunted houses
Slow burn
Shocking endings

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.