This has got to be my absolute favorite book that I have read this year so far! It’s truly terrifying and so beautifully written! The environment of Italy described was so well done and the horrors within their home were so creepy! This was such a quick and great read and it left me wanting so much more!

I'm a big fan of Christopher Golden; his horror and thrillers can always be relied up on to entertain. Sure, they might not be the best written or the best plotted, but his ideas are always interesting and his action sequences always deliver a good fright.

This was how I mostly felt about The House of Last Resort, a novel about a couple who move to Italy to live in a house that they got from economic program meant to bring life back to historical towns. But you know what they say: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The couple soon find out the truth about their house, and it's much more than they bargained for.

Other than the unique setting and the intriguing premise, the end result read like a typical haunted house novel. The Italian backdrop did make for different kind of read and I liked how the local culture, history, and traditions were incorporated into certain elements of the plot. Pacin was a little uneven in places, especially a flagging second half. However, the finale was explosive and intense. Overall, it was an entertaining and quick read.

“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥.”

After hearing lots about Christopher Golden’s All Hallows on Bookstagram (but not having read it yet), I was excited to be approved for his latest.

This was an overall interesting read - Golden does a really interesting juxtaposition of the bright setting of Becchina, a crumbling yet beautiful hilltop town, with the creepy vibes of a sudden earthquake, mysterious footsteps and a vanishing figure in the window of Tommy and Kate’s house, all in the first two chapters. There are a lot of unexplained happenings, including strange sounds at night, locked doors that suddenly are opened, and villagers who don’t want to talk about the history of the house. I loved the culturally rich and super vibrant setting that would make for such stunning visuals in an adaptation. Although the pacing seemed off in places (I found myself skim reading in parts), Golden’s prose mostly kept the tension building, centered by Tommy and Kate. I liked their relationship (it gives a sense of grounding to all that happens around them), alongside Tommy’s cousin, Marcello. I did feel the story would’ve been stronger if some of the other relationships (fellow Imports Rohaan and Patrick in particular) had been build further, which I also think would’ve helped the ending land with more of a punch - although it was appropriate for a horror novel, it didn’t quite work for me.

The House of Last Resort is a story of new beginnings, fear, superstitions, and demons. Although not my favourite read, there was enough that caught my attention that I do want to go back and read All Hallows. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I thought this book was alright. The dive into being a religious horror wasn’t for me, there wasn’t enough character development for me to really feel a connection with the two main characters, and the dialogue felt very juvenile a lot of the time. The atmosphere is well done, and the slow burning tension is very effective.

I’m a bit conflicted when it aimed to my review for this book. On one hand, I really enjoyed the premise. I liked the setting, the creepy house vibes, and the chance for new beginnings. I enjoyed the characters and found them mostly believable.

What didn’t work so well for me was how drawn out the story was. I found that a lot of stuff was repeated. The author would have each character rehash things without really adding anything to the overall story. It got a little tedious by the end.

I have read from this author before and enjoyed his work. I think this was just a case of a book that didn’t hit a home run for me. I look forward to reading more of his books in the future.

Review:
In recent years, Christopher Golden has consistently delivered literary works that leave readers eagerly anticipating his next book. Although I joined the party a bit late, my introduction to his brilliance began with the captivating Ararat, a book that not only lived up to its promise but also paved the way for an exceptional sequel. Notably, Golden continued to enchant readers with gems like Road of Bones.

As we eagerly await the arrival of mid-January, the anticipation is justified with the imminent release of Golden's latest creation, The House of Last Resort. It's not merely another addition to his impressive repertoire; it's a phenomenal read that surpasses expectations. Pardon the clichés, but with each new release, Golden consistently proves himself as a literary maestro, weaving tales that captivate and resonate long after the final page is turned. The House of Last Resort is no exception, and Christopher Golden continues to solidify his place as a virtuoso in the realm of contemporary horror and thriller literature.

If you know me, you know I love gothic stories so very much. The House of Last Resort hits all those marks and expectations, and more.

I really enjoyed All Hallows by this author, so I was excited to receive an approval for this title.

The premise of this book was great. I remember seeing articles a few years ago about European towns offering very cheap homes to people willing to relocate, so I like how the author used that as the basis of this story. I thought there were some great creepy moments throughout, and I thought there was some good buildup, however overall I thought the story fell a little flat. I would have loved for it to be really creepy/scary, and it felt like it didn't get there until the end. I also wasn't crazy about the ending. I felt like the author could have chosen to go one of two ways with the ending, but somehow ended up in the middle, which was kind of underwhelming.

Overall, it certainly wasn't a bad book, and I did enjoy parts of it. I just didn't really love it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The House of Last Resorts follows a young American couple moving to a dying town in Italy, with the promise that they can buy a home for 1 euro, renovate it, and live in it for 5 years, then own it forever. Tommy and Katie accept, and happily move to Becchina to be closer to Tommy's aging grandparents. But all is not right in their new home, and the past may just back to haunt them. The first half of this book is more of a slow burn, but the author uses this to lay breadcrumbs that eventually lead to an explosion of action in the second half. The tale is taunt with mystery and suspense, and I was left with my jaw on the ground. Golden really outdid himself with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and views expressed are my own.

The House of Last Resort is a very atmospheric story set in the small town of Becchina in Sicily. Americans, Tom and Kate Pugilisi take advantage of the opportunity to purchase a home there for a very low amount, and to take on a new adventure in their lives. This also allows Tom to be closer to his grandparents whom he's been estranged from.

Once they arrive to their beautiful new home, they quickly learn that the locals refer to it as The House of Last Resort and quickly discover the secrets of their new residence, including the discovery of the catacombs beneath.

Honestly, I went back and forth with how I felt about this book pretty much the entire time. At points, I was bored. At other points, I was utterly creeped out and considered putting it down purely because of a specific element that always gives me the heebie jeebies. At other points, I was engrossed in the story and wanted to find out what was going to happen. It was truly a mixed bag of emotions. In the end, I finished the book and found the story to be good. It all came together in the end.

Spoiler: If anything involving exorcisms or rats creep you out, this book will NOT be for you.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sad to say I didn't love this one.

As the kids say these days...hi! I’m the problem it’s me. Probably?

Another great read from Christopher Golden. This novel had great characters, that I really cared about, and were well developed. And the story was also great, and had great pacing. Will be looking forward to any new releases from Christopher Golden.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy to review!

I loved this one, the Italy setting was amazing, it was perfect for a religious horror setting. Tommy and Kate were a wonderful couple, they had real issues being newly married, but were very hopeful about their house situation, that is until they learned what was really going on in their house they had just purchased after inquiring about all the weird stuff going on. It is a wild ride from here, a little more eerie than horror, but I was ok with that honestly and overall I really enjoyed this one.

Tommy and Kate have moved to the town of Becchina in Italy where they buy a home that needs a little extra love for a Euro. The catch? Stay for 5 years. As they settle into their new home, reconnecting with Tommy's Italian family, something makes itself known.

This is my third book by Christopher Golden and I'm starting to learn his writing style. I like how each novel is unique and The House of Last Resort is no different. The plot is a slow build that introduces you to the MCs, the family, the friends and the town's history. The narrative is atmospheric and even though there aren't jump scares there are a few excellent creepy moments (hello gramps).

I did find this to be a very low key horror overall. The final few chapters are where the action really lies. It made me realize I would've loved more of a haunting type buildup to really seal the genre trope.

I don't want to give too much away because Golden knows how to drop an unexpected twist and the how and the why was one of my favorite parts. Overall, this wasn't my total fave of his bit it confirmed that I definitely will continue to keep going back for more.

1.5 / 5

First, I want to thank netgalley and st martin's press for this book. My review is 100% honest.

This book was written like a stephen king novel except Christopher Golden does not seem to hate women as much as king does. This would be all fine and dandy if I liked king, however, I don't at all. Maybe I'm not a horror girl, or maybe I just think making demons be the issue in the story is a cop out so that you don't have to write anything super thought provoking. I will say that small plot twist was okay. And although the rats were terrifying, it was a cool element. I wish I loved this book, but I just did not. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

Even though this was the latest release from Christopher Golden, an author I have really enjoyed in the past, I was a little hesitant going into this one. While I hadn't read any reviews, that overall rating of 3.3 was glaring me in the face. I was concerned. Did Golden have a flop?

I still haven't read a lot of the reviews, so I am not exactly sure what the issue is, but I have read this one and I really, really enjoyed it! This went into a surprising Religious Horror direction, which I love. It felt Literary in it's build-up and I loved the culturally-rich setting. I feel like this would make an incredible movie. It was so vibrant.

In this novel, we're following American couple, Tommy and Kate Puglisi, who move to the small hilltop town of Becchina, in Italy. Becchina is dwindling, with the population aging out and young people moving away. In an effort to revitalize the area, the mayor starts a program to sell abandoned homes to anyone for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years. Tommy and Kate jump at the chance. Tommy has family there and they're excited about the change in lifestyle and ability to get to spend more time with his family.

Upon arrival, the house isn't quite giving them the warm, romantic vibes they expected though. It's giving a more haunted, demonic feel than they would have signed up for. And why do all the locals whisper about this place?

We follow Tommy and Kate as they attempt to settle in, make their new house a home and become involved with the local community.
Strange things are happening at the house though that they can't explain. They've discovered rooms they didn't know were there and the more they dig into the history of the house, the more nervous they become.

They ultimately learn that their home was owned by the church for generations and there are dark, dangerous secrets hiding behind every corner, and perhaps even under their feet. With a history like that, will this place ever be able to become a comfortable family home?
As mentioned above, I really enjoyed this. I have always vibed with Golden's writing. It's engaging.

Granted, not every moment is smash-bang in your face, it has a lot of quiet, more subtle moments, but all the more for the build, I say. I love a slow burn, as long as the payoff is worth it and IMO, this one is. Once I started this book, I was definitely consumed by the story. I read 43% in my first sitting. I barely came up for air. I ended up finishing it in a day.

I loved the atmosphere and the feeling of the historic town and property. I was intrigued by the mystery of the house and as a lover of Religious Horror, I was happy to see it take a turn in that direction. The whole feeling of that place was beautifully depicted by Golden.
I would recommend this to Horror fans, or people who enjoy a slow burn set amongst a creepy, mysterious atmosphere. Also, haunted house fans, this is a unique take in the subgenre, so you should definitely check it out.

Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me a copy to read and review. I always look forward to picking up Golden's latest work. This one was definitely a win for me

Just, no.

I’ve never been so bored while reading a “horror” novel.

I actively disliked (hated?) the main characters.

Lots of nothing going on, with a sluggish pace that wouldn’t keep up with a sloth.

Who takes days to finally explore the house they bought? Furthermore, who even buys a house without actually seeing the whole thing?

What woman hears noises during the night, somewhere in her huge mansion, while the power is out, and decides to investigate while wearing only her thong and carrying only her cell phone for the flashlight app?

And don’t even get me started on the catacombs.

Ridiculous dialogue. Ridiculous characters. Ridiculous everything.

DNF at 34%

Tommy and Kate buy an abandoned home in Italy for only one euro - with the plan to fix it up. Shockingly, things don't go according to plan.

The first half of this book was a little slow to get through and felt somewhat repetitive, but not enough to deter me. There was a lot of time spent setting the atmospheric surrounding, which I really liked.

The second half of the book picked up and was tense and kept me engaged. I was able to guess the ending fairly easily, which was a little disappointing.

Overall, it was a solid reliable thriller, but not necessarily one of my favorites.

I had to sit with this one for a while after I finished it. I really enjoyed this book - I am new the horror genre and this was the first book I’ve read that creeped me out. The first half is very much a slow burn as the couple is getting settled in to their new house but as the story unfolds the twists start coming. I couldn’t put it down. I will definitely check out more of this author’s work.

If you’re looking for a new horror read I recommend checking this one out.

Tommy and Kate jump at the chance to purchase a home in Becchina for practically nothing. It’s something I’d absolutely consider – but without a haunted house. It’s a fresh start for them, less stress than living in Boston, and a chance for Tommy to reconnect with his grandparents and cousin. They soon discover their realtor didn’t share everything about the background of their new house.

I loved the small town Sicilian setting of Becchina and could easily imagine the winding streets, charming shops and restaurants, and flower-filled gardens outside the villas as Tommy and Kate explored their new town. Much of the first half of the book is filled with the couple settling in and meeting other “imports”, as a group of other recent immigrants refer to themselves. Odd occurrences begin almost immediately – doors slamming in the middle of the night, a locked door suddenly unlocked, and rats. Once they’re able to get into the annex of the house, they discover rooms that had questionable purposes. One even looks like a chapel. Then there are the small earthquakes. Over half of the book is definitely more of a slow burn.

Then things start to heat up, tension is high, and the story had my full attention. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say there’s a good reason why their house is haunted. The last 30% moves quickly, and you’ll want to set aside some uninterrupted time to finish the novel. But the ending? I wasn’t a fan. I’d recommend this novel to fans of haunted houses, exotic locations, and a creepy atmosphere.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first book by Christopher Golden, to being, this book was not what I was expecting. I love reading about haunted houses, the supernatural, demonic things and all the things that come with it. So a book about Italy and the catacombs - count me in! The book was a very slow burn. I felt the first half of the book was a lot of meeting people, relationships and a small amount of backstory. There were some eerie things going on, but it didn't really settle in until later in the book. I don't want to give too much away since really the twists are what will keep you reading.
I really think this book had potential, but it just had so many twists, ideas, tropes that the plot got lost. Maybe it would have been better as a short story instead of a novel. I hope I am an outlier and others enjoy this.