Couple takes advantage of buying a fixer upper for 1 Euro in Sicily. Too late they realize that the house has a ghostly past. The story had me turning the pages to get to the end to see what happens.

An interesting horror story. I like haunted house stories and this house was very haunted. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Tommy and Kate Puglisi make a life changing decision to move to Becchina, a small village in Sicily when they learn certain houses are being offered for one-euro in hope to repopulate the almost ghost towns and help them thrive again. Tommy's loving, paternal grandparents live over there and they are all he has left of his family and Kate and he want to make something special of their lives so they up and move without knowing much of the language or how superstition plays a huge part in many old Sicilian's history so the couple may not be accepted as easily as they originally thought.

The house needs work but is otherwise breathtaking and huge! Over fifteen glorious rooms to renovate. Kate is over the moon although Tommy feels a bit of trepidation yet doesn't understand why. Neither Kate or Tommy are religious although respectful to others but are shocked when they learn that a priest had lived in their house for over forty years. Soon they find out the horrible history of their new home and are devastated by the news which doesn't help their mental states when doors slam, whispers or shadows moving in the corners and rats appearing and disappearing as if they want Tommy's attention. Kate sleep walks and talks about a priest in her sleep. As the couple struggles to keep their new lives together, unknown to both of them a real nightmare has been waiting for them and people will die unless Tommy and Kate find the light to lead them out of the darkness that has wanted and waited for Tommy for many, many years.


This was an interesting, dark and entertaining story based around the power and. strength of love, faith, superstitions and certain beliefs and rituals of the Roman Catholic church. The book was a nice, slow-burn built around the strong and everlasting love of a naive young couple who have their whole lives ahead of them and are at the peak of their happiness which is tested when they encounter happenings that occur only in horror books and nightmares and they try to handle the events themselves.

The characters were very intriguing and entertaining especially with the language barrier and different customs. Christopher Golden really captured the atmosphere and essence of this small fictional town in Sicily. The writing describing the cultural architecture of the old homes and the very creepy catacombs was so darn good and I could visualize the village and it's culture so vividly that I felt as if I was an invisible observer keeping step to step with Tommy and Kate from page one until the very end of the book.


The last thirty percent of this book was worth waiting for when it becomes super dark, creepy and very frightening. The book was so sweet and calm for so long that I never expected the story to become so scary that I couldn't read it anymore in the middle of the night!

I enjoyed all of 'Christopher Golden's' books that I've read so far, some more than others so I definitely recommend this novel. Hopefully in the future, books similar in nature to the outstanding "Road Of Bones" will be written again or have a sequel? I just found that book to be an unforgettable horror novel in every way!


I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy ad any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 4 EERIE AND NIGHTMARISH 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!

Tommy and Kate move to Becchina, Italy when the mayor offers homes for one euro on the promise that the newcomers will stay there, remodel the home, and build tourism/community to the area. Tommy's family is from Becchina so they jumped at the opportunity. But once they move into their new home, weird things start happening. Things go bump in the night, locked doors open on their own, and the possibility of ghosts has them frightened. Then they learn that the Vatican used to own their home for exorcisms -- things only get weirder from here.

This book was a WILD ride. I am not typically a fan of demonic thrillers and this one wasn't for me either. I went into it blind so I didn't know about the demon element. I will say that the writing was fantastic and the suspense was top-tier. I was completely invested and had to know what happened. It just wasn't a favorite genre for me.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. I DNFed at about 20% I wasn’t being pulled in and I didn’t find myself want to pick it up!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for my gifted copy.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I was a huge fan of the author’s book The Road of Bones, although I must admit since this novel took place in Sicily (where I’m from) I was a bit hesitant as I didn’t enjoy the inaccuracies in Diavola (another horror book set in Italy). The premise of this novel is very intriguing, an American couple Tommy and Kate leave the United States for Sicily after they purchase one of those one euro homes with the promise of rebuilding the old home. But the couple doesn’t know that their home was owned by the Catholic church which would send their worse cases of demonic possession there.

Now, all that sounds very thrilling and scary. However, the execution wasn’t so. First of all, the couple Tommy and Kate are highly unlikable and entitled. They move to Sicily but instead of trying to befriend the local community, they’re only interested in becoming friends with other foreigners known as the imports and trying to convince their friends in the United States to leave Boston and follow them to a ghost town that doesn’t offer much in regards to economic growth or resources. Not to mention, that they suddenly decide the town has to pay to get their catacombs up to safety norms because they want to attract tourists to Becchina. This is highly improbable, as a dying town wouldn’t have the resources to do that. We never know what jobs these two people have that they can easily work from home, but for them to think that their friends could easily move across the globe just to keep them company is absurd.

Another con is that so much of this book is telling. Not much actually happens in the book until the very end. Not to mention that the author thinks Sicily is like California having earthquakes every three seconds (this isn’t true, yes Sicily gets earthquakes but they’re rare and when they do occur they’re bad). I do give the author props for having done some research in regards to how Sicilians are and the typical foods they have, but anytime the author has Italian characters use Italian, the grammar is incorrect in some cases. Note to authors, if you or your editorial team cannot ensure that something in a foreign language is correct, maybe don’t use it.

This book might appeal to those who want to read horror taking place in other places other than the U.S. But if you’re looking for a genuine possession or haunted house story, this straddles both but ultimately doesn’t explore either very well.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the copy of THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT. This one is out now.

I had a really hard time with this book. It's connection to religion and the boring middle of it made reading it a chore. I don't recommend this one.

3.5 stars rounded down for this one. This was definitely not what I expected! Maybe that’s a good thing? I’m not sure.

Kate and Tommy must have some kind of high-profile remote careers, because they decide to move to Sicily on whim. Sure the houses are marketed at 1 euro a piece to encourage growth and the restoring of prosperity to a town on the brink of disappearing from the map, but still. That’s wild. Once they move into this big 15 room house, they realize something creepy is going on when they discover a locked portion containing mysterious rooms. And Tommy’s grandmother really does not approve of this house in particular. She knows what’s up.

There was just so much going on. Things started hitting the fan at about half way, and it just kept getting crazier from there. I also found that the ending wasn’t very surprising after I found out what was going down.

I haven’t read Golden before (apparently I’m just reading a bunch of new-to-me authors right now), but I enjoyed his writing style. I thought the novel was pretty fast-paced and entertaining. However, the characters were honesty quite annoying at times and not very consistent. I know a story like this isn’t supposed to necessarily be believable (based on the nature of the content), but this book was layered with one utterly unbelievable thing after another making it almost ridiculous. So, I’m not sure how I feel about this.

I’m planning on reading All Hallows around Halloween, maybe that one will redeem this author a bit for me!

A great thank you goes out to Christopher Golden, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has all the elements to be a great read: amazing setting, ambiance and character development. The only think I didn't enjoy was the storytelling. The begining is slow, but it gets better around 20-40%, and then, it drags. It was so slow i felt like nothing was going to happen. The high points of tension were minimum, just like three in the whole story.

I enjoyed the character development, but I think there's a lot of build up that doesnt pay off at the end. The story has a great basis and folklore, but these aren't enough to keep you hooked. Maybe it will work better if it gets adapted into a mini series or a movie.

This haunted house horror follows Tommy and Kate as they move into their new home in Becchina, Italy. Becchina, like many towns, is experiencing a decline in population so they started a program where you can purchase a home there for a single Euro as long as they promise to live there for 5 years. It is an easy decision as both Tommy and Kate work remotely and Becchina is the hometown of Tommy's grandparents. However, as they move in and begin to renovate the home, they start to feel an odd presence in the home. And once they find out the true history of the house they bought, Tommy and Kate must delve deeper into the darkness than they ever expected.

This was the slowest of slow burns for me and I almost put it down when I got to the middle and there still wasn't a whole lot of spooky stuff going on. However, I'm so glad I continued reading because the last 30% of the book was absolutely fantastic and the slow burn paid off. There are so many seemingly mundane details we get in the first half of the read that I was frustrated with because it just felt like a general fiction read about these people and their house. But when those details came into play in the finale, I completely understood why Golden included them early on.

I was so excited when I saw the premise for this read because I've looked into similar programs in different countries where they are selling abandoned homes for very little. What a great jumping off point for a horror read because, with abandoned homes, you really don't know what happened there before. I also loved how we get to see other couples who took advantage of the program as well and see how their lives and homes differ from Tommy and Kate's. Also, the abandoned home program details come into play throughout the read, not just as a premise to get Tommy and Kate into this house.

The horror elements were fantastic, although I do wish there was more of a consistent and gradual pressure of them throughout the first 50%. We get a few creepy moments, but then we would go for stretches with no real horror scenes. It went on long enough that I was starting to think that maybe this would be more of a general fiction with a slight horror elements. However, I was pleasantly surprised that we really go from 0 to 100 quickly at about the 70% mark. I also loved that we do get a specific sub-genre of horror (that I can't specify because I think it would be a spoiler) that I always forget I love as much as I do until I stumble across it and now I want to just read this sub-genre for the next month or so.

The ending was absolutely 12/10 chef's kiss fantastic. It was one of those endings where I went to turn the page on my eReader, expecting there to be a new chapter, but it was just the end of the book. And normally, I don't prefer those sorts of hard stop endings. I do like my reads to have a bit of a calm down after the climax of the read. However, in this case, I think the ending perfectly matches the plot and overall vibe of the read. I loved that Golden leaves it a little open ended so the reader can imagine the long-term implications of what we're left with at the end.

Overall, this was a solid read. I would have liked the horror elements to be more consistently built throughout the read but the last 30% was absolutely a 5-star read and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC. Publication date was January 30, 2024.

I don't usually read this genre, but I loved this book so much. It was filled with supernatural/paranormal spookiness and a spot of horror. The setting adding to the tension with an old Italian village, a tight-knit superstitious community, a haunted house, and catacombs. There were a couple instances I didn't understand the actions of the main characters - the classic "why would you do that and not this" - but overall this was such a good book!

Having been disappointed by a previous work from Christopher Golden, I approached 'The House of Last Resort' with caution. However, I was pleasantly surprised; this book far exceeded my expectations. The premise, centered around an American couple, Tommy and Kate Puglisi, who move to the seemingly idyllic town of Becchina in Italy after buying a house for a single Euro, sets the stage for a gripping tale. However, their romantic adventure turns sinister as they discover unsettling secrets lurking within their new home, including hidden rooms, strange noises, and a dark history tied to the Church.

Golden skillfully crafts a chilling atmosphere, evoking palpable trepidation and fear within the characters. The setting, where cultural and linguistic barriers hinder comprehension, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, fostering a stronger connection with the characters and amplifying the impact of their decisions. As the story unfolds, Golden expertly revisits earlier moments, unveiling shocking revelations that shed new light on the character's motivations. While the ending felt somewhat rushed and unexpected, it provided a satisfactory conclusion, albeit not entirely aligned with the buildup. Some late-stage plot developments felt unnecessary, injected seemingly for added drama rather than integral to the story's progression.

Overall, 'The House of Last Resort' delivers an engaging and eerie tale, showcasing Golden's talent for weaving suspenseful narratives amidst haunting locales. Despite its minor flaws, this novel captivates with its atmospheric storytelling and compelling characters.

3.5⭐️

Tommaso “Tommy” Puglisi and his wife Kate respond to an advertisement for One-Euro real estate in the fictional town of Becchina in Sicily. Happy to leave the stressful life in the USA behind for what they hope would be a quiet and slower-paced lifestyle among Tommy’s family on his late father’s side, they invest in an old decrepit mansion they hope to restore. Unbeknownst to them their new home has a history and was known to the locals as “La casa dell’ultima risorsa” or “the house of the last resort.” Soon after moving in Kate and Tommy begin to sense something not quite right in the house and their friends and family would rather keep their knowledge of the house’s history to themselves. But after they discover a hidden chapel behind a corridor, the frequency of eerie occurrences in their home begins to increase. As the narrative progresses we follow the young couple as they begin to uncover the secrets buried underneath their new home and it is only a matter of time before they are fighting for their lives against evil forces that have been laying dormant, closer to home that they had ever imagined.

The House of the Last Resort by Christopher Golden is an intriguing, atmospheric read. To be honest, this is not a genre that I dabble in, but the premise sparked my interest. I loved the setting – the decrepit houses and the catacombs, the old village, the descriptions of the food, community and the locale complete with its frequent tremors. The backstory of the house was certainly interesting. However, I thought the pacing of the narrative was a tad too slow and found character development lacking in depth. The author briefly touches upon the mindset of fellow “Imports” like Kate and Tommy and though we get to meet several characters who have recently made Becchina their home, we do not get to explore their motivations beyond a point. Neither Tommy nor Kate are particularly interesting characters and though Tommy’s family history plays a key role in the story, even that aspect is not discussed in detail and I had expected more after the long-drawn but suspenseful buildup. The supernatural/horror elements were quite tame given the genre but I’m not complaining. Overall, though I really liked the premise I wasn’t completely satisfied with the execution. However, other readers have enjoyed this novel more than I did.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wonderfully spooky mesh of The Nun, Insidious, and Under the Tuscan Sun. A crumbling, ghost town. A desperate mayor that wants to rebuild. A family and a house with unspeakable secrets. Tommy and Kate Puglisi excitedly begin their adventure to help rebuild the town of Becchina, exploring their new home, the catacombs, making new friends, and spending time with Tommy's grandparents that live nearby. So excited that in the beginning they try desperately to ignore the signs that something insidious is happening.

what a great book and i loved reading this author. . loved the romance and how the couple came to be. Loved that they worked through their issues and found love. Loved this mystery

If you were offered an opportunity to move to a different country and buy a house for a dollar on the condition that you'd renovate & live in it for at least 5 years, would you do it? That's the question the main characters of this one have asked themselves right before the book opens, ultimately deciding to go for it. Their new house is a little run down, but bigger and more gorgeous than they expected - but from the first day in their new house, they realize the situation is a little too good to be true.

I loved that this book just jumps right into things from the start without too much build up. As the reader, we're given backstory information along the way instead of all at once from the start in a more info-dump-y fashion. I liked the pacing a lot, and like that things are immediately "off" from the very first day. I found myself a little frustrated throughout by the rest of the townsfolk not being very forthcoming about what they know, ESPECIALLY once we realize what the big twist/secret is. How could Tommy's Nonna keep this stuff from him, knowing he'd be moving back and living in that house? Instead, both she and several other people the MC's encounter are super vague, sometimes even blatantly refusing to give any pertinent information that I think really could've helped the MCs out earlier on. But then I guess, we wouldn't have much of a story right? Still, I didn't like that and it felt a little lazy, so I have to give this a 3.

I do love books with creepy stuff happening in the sunny brightness of daytime, and this had that a lot. The rats in this were very Stephen King coded, and there were some very unique parts of the creepier bits in this that stood out and felt very scary to read.


If you like possession stories, haunted houses, creepy Italian towns and houses, and family secrets, you'll like this!

This book was just okay for me. I was very intrigued by the premise, but the execution was a bit lackluster. I usually love a haunted house story and religious horror usually works for me too. However, it has a SLOW start. In fact not much really happens until the 70% mark. The characters were also boring. There's only so much that demons, catacombs, and rats can do to make up for that. I was intrigued enough to keep reading and learn what was going on and the action picks up towards the end, but unfortunately it wasn't quite enough for me.

This was more horror I think then is my cup of tea. I am more of a mystery, thriller girlie and not much of a fan when it comes to haunted houses/demonic possession elements. This was my first book by this author so I'm not sure if this is his typical style so forgive me if it is and I was just naive to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really tried to read this but found it super slow and it just wasn't doing it for me. It was really hard to stay interested in the plot and I DNFed around 25%.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

This is a paranormal creepy story set in Italy. I loved Italian settings and this particular plot would not have worked in any other country, the eerie vibes I got from just description alone were incredible.
I appreciated how the main characters thought about the reasoning behind their move and what they wanted to leave behind, I think many people can connect to their story on this level.
Obviously, this is a paranormal horror so suspend your disbelief; however, many of the things that were happening were actual real-life events, and that made it more scary. The pace lost me towards the end, the last 20% of my interest and investment in the book were completely gone (that is why I rated it 4 stars and not 5), but I loved the overall wrap-up. The ending would not work for everyone, it is left open for interpretation but makes sense with the overall story.
Bonus points for the title being explained in the book, love it when it happens.
Content warnings that are not obvious: rats! Lots of paragraphs about rats that I could not handle and had to skim through.
Overall, I will recommend this one if you are not a large fan of horror but want something paranormal. It felt similar to Simone St. James style as well.