3.5 rounded down.

This grabbed my attention from the start. A millionaire passes away, and has turned his will into a game. He chooses 6 candidates to attempt to make their way through a house of puzzles he has built to win the grand prize at the end. When they agree to give things a shot, they don't realize that it will become a deadly game.

I loved the introduction to the characters, and the set-up of the plot. About halfway in, I started to get bored. Partly because it was difficult to imagine some of the puzzles in my mind, so I was just waiting for the characters to figure things out and move on. Near the end, there was a twist I didn't see coming, which I appreciated....then there was another twist with an abrupt ending to the book.
I thought my kindle malfunctioned for a minute....then I realized that it had truly ended. The ending felt rushed and incomplete to me. You won't get many answers with this one.

The beginning of this starts really strong introducing the characters who will be entering puzzle house. At about the 50% mark, I kind of started not enjoying everything happening. This didn't feel all that original, and I was really hoping for more of a twist in the plot. The end got pretty weird out of nowhere, and I feel like it was too close to the end to introduce a whole new twist without much explanation.

I’m a big fan of this author and this book is a quick read that did not disappoint. The story centers on 6 strangers who are summoned to the house of a recently deceased rich guy who had promised his fortune to those that can solve a series of puzzles. Ralston is never afraid to kill people off so we quickly see that these puzzles are more deadly than anyone was expecting.

For a short read, I think we got to know the characters pretty well. I enjoyed the creativity of the puzzles, though I did get a little lost during some of the conversations around mythology. The ending was abrupt and left me with some unanswered questions.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick read and thought it was creative and enjoyable. Definitely more horror than mystery but I expected that. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5

Themes: Mystery, Suspense, Horror

Puzzle House is about a group of people who are asked to a will reading of a famous puzzle maker. In order for them to get their money they have to solve the deadly puzzle house. I really liked the mythology aspects to the story. It added another level than just a group of people trying to solve different puzzles. Sometimes the puzzles and clues seemed random and they were lucky someone in their group always knew about the obscure facts. The writing was well done and it was easy to follow the story. I wouldn’t mind if the author added more book to this world.

I received an arc and am leaving an honest review.

I love puzzles and thrillers, so when I saw the cover and read over this book's plot, I immediately added it to my TBR.

Six strangers are summoned to the will reading of an uber-rich, deceased man who was a puzzle master. They must solve problems in an escape room puzzle throughout the deceased’s mansion. If they win, they win the treasure. If they lose, they die.

The plot initially grabbed my attention. It seemed like a high-stakes thriller that would be a page-turner. The overall pacing of the novel is good; from the very beginning, you meet three characters in detail, so you care about the people playing the "game".. Each room is unique to the characters and their expertise. For example, one of the characters is an expert in Egyptian history, and one of the rooms follows this theme. Another room is a medical lab, nodding to the doctor in the group. Ralston gives you a lot of twists and turns. What starts as an innocent escape room game gets darker as the book continues.

I initially believed that this was a thriller/mystery. However, the novel suddenly shifts into the horror genre, and there’s no indication that this will happen. Also, there were so many unanswered questions at the end. I’m unsure if the author is setting up a sequel. This reminded me of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (one of my favorites). The plot also reminded me of a twist on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory because the participants play for a prize. However, Puzzle House did not provide a clear resolution or explanation of events. It also introduces gore, violence, and supernatural elements that might not appear to some readers who prefer a more realistic approach.

This is my first read by Duncan Ralston. He is a Canadian author who writes dark fiction, horror, and thrillers. His most-known novels are Woom and Ghostland. If you’re familiar with Duncan Ralston’s work, you may better understand the novel than I did. However, many readers may find the sudden change in tone off-putting, especially if they aren’t into the horror genre.

I gave this book 3/5 stars. It was an entertaining and suspenseful read. I wanted to know what happened at the end. However, it left me confused and unsatisfied by the end. I would recommend this to fans of horror/thriller and puzzles who don't mind ambiguity and gore. I want to read more books by Duncan Ralston in the future because I like his unique writing style.

Alexei Vasiliev was a great puzzle master. Upon his death, six people are invited to take part in his greatest puzzle yet, The Puzzle House. The six people, who include his soon to be ex-wife, are invited to the house for the reading of his will. When arriving, they discover each has a chance to win part of his fortune of $150 million dollar. All they have to do is solve and survive the Puzzle House. The rooms of the house are set up like escape rooms and the potential beneficiaries soon learn that not all will escape with their lives.

I really enjoyed the cleverness of this novel and the puzzles of each room. The author did a great job introducing each character in the beginning and slowly unveiling their flaws and their connect to each other. The ending was a complete surprise and I hope the author continues with the story. I need to know more!

Thanks NetGalley, Wicked House Publishing and Duncan Ralston for the copy of this book.

This was an extremely fun book. It felt like a horror take on the Westing Game with a twist at the end that I did NOT see coming! I'm really glad it veered into culty, Cabin in the Woods territory towards the end because I absolutely want more books in this series. The set design in each room was super well done and the characters were surprisingly complex.

I have tried to get into this "authors" stories and I just can't. I don't think he is a good writer.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it draws you in and is a page-turner. The premise is that an eccentric man, husband to an action movie star actress, has died and sends out unexpected invitations to the reading of his will that is stating that each will receive a significant sum of money if they attend the reading in person. They show up at the home of the deceased for the reading and are introduced the “The Puzzle House”. This gentleman is a master puzzle creator and has essentially turned his home into the ultimate escape room experience. Each section being a new set of puzzles to work out in order to receive the inheritance. This ramps up quickly and becomes much more that I even anticipated.
This is a story that is 100% perfect for someone craving a spooky read for autumn. Highly recommend!

#PuzzleHouseANovel #NetGalley #WickedHousePublishing

This had me at Duncan Ralston. I truly love his work, this one however started off great and ended just MEH. I almost wish there was more of the escape room aspect of this novel with less of the "cult" aspect mixed in. With that said I did enjoy it and it got me out of my reading funk I had been in. I enjoyed the story up until the end, but I wouldn't mind reading another one in a series if it comes down to it. It was a little 13 ghosts meets indiana jones meets constantine. I will be recommending this fast paced read to my friends.

Imagine if Robert Langdon from Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” or Nicolas Cage from the “National Treasure” movies tangled with the love child of Aleister Crowley and the Marquis de Sade. That’s pretty much what you get in Duncan Ralston’s “Puzzle House,” a novel resembling the recent “Escape Room” movie on steroids with an unhealthy dose of the supernatural added.

The novel’s titular Puzzle House was designed by a recently deceased, eccentric inventor who specialized in creating such structures for puzzle fans. In his will, the inventor left his $150 million estate to six potential beneficiaries, provided they show up at the house for the reading of the will. Not surprisingly, all agree. The beneficiaries are the various, seemingly unrelated types who often appear in books like this. They include a convicted murderer, an epidemiologist who is dying of cancer, and the inventor’s widow, who happens to be a famous action-movie actress. When they show up at the house, the dead inventor appears in a recording, telling them they must find a way out of the house once locked to receive the inheritance.

The bulk of “Puzzle House” follows the potential beneficiaries as they try to figure out the exit from the house. Like most escape rooms, this involves figuring out the exits as they go from room to room. They have to figure out clues, such as spotting the words “merchant” and “Venice” in one room and realizing this refers to the Shakespearean play. Unlike most amusement park escape rooms, this exit involves a literal pound of flesh. And, to make matters worse, the “contestants” are under a form of a countdown timer in each room. If time runs out, they don’t just lose the inheritance, but also their lives from perils like rising water and poison gas filling the various rooms.

The author shows considerable ingenuity in devising these various potential death traps. I don’t want to spoil any of them, but the clues frequently involve understanding somewhat obscure references to different ancient religions and mythologies. Fortunately for the group, each time they encounter references to these obscure deities, one member knows enough about the mythos involved to inform the others… and the readers, who would otherwise be baffled.

Part of the fun of the Dan Brown and “National Treasure” works is seeing how the heroes always know just enough about the arcane subject matter to solve each puzzle. The same principle is at work in “Puzzle House.” Author Ralston has clearly done his homework in researching a vast number of subjects, many of which I didn’t even know existed. I couldn’t follow many of the references, but it didn’t matter. The author didn’t dwell on any single subject or peril the group faced, instead keeping the action going rapidly.

As “Puzzle House” progresses, readers will realize that there seem to be some supernatural elements at play. I wondered whether the author would reveal the secret behind the house and whether it would be dramatically satisfying instead of seeming like a cheap copout. The answers are yes and yes. (The book concludes on an open-ended note, leading to a possible sequel.) Ralston reveals why each character was chosen for their potential inheritance. The plot is complex and interconnected, but the author handles it well.

Readers also learn enough about the three characters I described earlier to have a rooting interest in their success or, at the very least, their survival. My major gripe about “Puzzle House” was the author’s failure to develop the other characters to the same extent. Instead of describing how they arrived at the house, the author just sort of dumped them in there with little explanation of their earlier adventures. I had a feeling that these book sections had been edited down for some reason.

For those who don’t mind (or those who really enjoy) graphic violence, “Puzzle House” is ghoulish fun. The author learned the genre’s conventions and embellished them with blood and guts. He also adds some creepy supernatural references. I admit I would never have figured my way out of even the first room in this house. But genre fans will enjoy following these characters on their way out of the house… or not.

NOTE: The publisher graciously gave me a copy of this book. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of that review are entirely my own.

Eeeeep!!! This was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

I absolutely INHALED this book and read the entire thing in a day. I just couldn’t stop??? I had to know what was going to happen!

AND THE ENDING!! It’s definitely divisive but I, personally, really like it?? It had a real Cabin in the Woods vibe which I personally enjoyed.

Though I would not be mad at a sequel! This ended pretty abruptly and I would love to read more!! But even if there’s not, this was still such a fun ride!!

I also just can’t get enough of Ralston’s writing!! Alexei reminded me of Rex Garrote from Ghostland which was fun. We love a good, twisted rich overlord *air kiss*

So! Enjoyed this a ton. It was a fun concept with lots of characters you love to hate (and two that I loved), a WILD ending and lots of gooey, gory horror. Perfect if you’re looking for an addition to your spooky season tbr!

Thank you to NetGalley & Wicked House Publishing for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

The Puzzle House sounded so promising. It turned out to be so dull. The characters were lifeless even before they died. They were too easily written. One dimensional. The puzzles weren't really puzzles. They were not quite escape rooms. They were very specialized and the point could have been achieved in so much an easier way. There was just no need to do all of this in order to meet the final goal of the puzzle master. I'm with Spike on this one (a little Easter Egg from me to Buffy fans about the illogical plots).

I rarely say this, but this would have been a better short story. The characters and plot issues could have been overlooked with a faster pace) and this book was pretty short. It was so short but took me so long to get through!

I loved the characters in this book. I’m also a sucker for a good mystery, this book gave it that added boost giving it the horror aspect. If you’re a fan of a horror mystery that gets you thinking this book is for you!

I was so excited to get my hands on this book that once I got it, I started reading it immediately and also read the final book in the Ghostland trilogy right after. It was a very Duncan Ralston themed weekend and I am glad I read them in that order because it impressed me how much range the author has. While Ghostland: Infinite is a sprawling epic, Puzzle House is tight, mean, and fast paced. The gore is not over the top, about on par with his other works, but it is much more prevalent. The traps the six strangers face are lethal and if they don't kill you, the other competitors might. At first, I wasn't sure who to root for, but it quickly becomes apparent where our sympathies lie. Nobody is a perfectly good person, but a few stand out as maybe less likely to knife you in the back for a dollar. Or a million dollars. The traps were cool, and the house is nearly a character itself. There are hints throughout that things might not be quite what they seem and when the reveal comes, it changes everything. It reminded me of a famous Twilight Zone episode. Upon finishing the book, I immediately asked Duncan Ralston if there will be a sequel, and I would love it if there is. I wanted to know more. This one is lots of fun if you like Saw and escape rooms, which I do. This is MUCH better than the second Escape Room movie! More please!

So if I could give it more than 5 stars I definitely would.

To me, it gives the vibes from the Thirteen Ghost house (puzzle-like), along with maybe a bit of National Treasure/Tomb Raider with the myths/lore involved and most def Saw and Escape Room.
I loved it sooo much.
It was fast-paced and keeps you wanting more, can't well don't want to put this book down.

So we have 6 random people invited to the will reading of a Master Puzzle Maker's House. There is so much more involved in this than just a normal will reading and maybe the characters are not as random as we might think. This is one of the interesting fun parts.
I loved how the book had quite a few twists that you were def not expecting.
Each character is important and has a big role in the story.

I love the history/myth type info that was in this book and part of the puzzles, so intriguing.
And Ohmygosh the ending.......
Highly recommend reading this book!!!!

I am so happy that I got the chance to read this book ARC, thanks to the publisher (Wicked House) and NetGalley. The above review/opinion is my own, honest and voluntary.

Wow. This book gave off such 13 Ghosts and Saw vibes mixed with the Escape room feel. A real page turner. I loved being able to see how everyone was connected to each other and was not expecting the twist at the end.

A dead guy, a convict and a pissed off ex wife walk into a weird ass house....🤔 Tell me your best joke. Bonus points if it's a horrible dad joke. 😂

If only it was a joke, but 4 strangers walk into a house thinking they are going to a will reading about to come into lots and lots of money.

Until they are locked in and stumble across other strangers stuck in rooms, locked in and with the only option of escape is to solve the puzzles.

No one's happy, but most need the money. And then they start dying off and even weird things start happening. This is sorta like 13 ghosts and escape room...in that they are trying ro escape but then there are demons all of a sudden.

The demon part was a little different and there are plenty of twists to keep you guessing. It is a little different in that the puzzle is more of a way to unlock the apocalypse. I would have preferred straight locked room/escape room without the religious/demonology stuff. But I liked it.

I thought the premise of the book was interesting, an escape room idea. However I kept getting confused and unable to visualize the puzzles and rooms which kept me from enjoying the book. I did get into it, but was unable to follow the plot when it came to biblical characters, Greek heroes, etc.

Mixed genre books are always a different kind of reading experience. You go into the story expecting one thing and the next thing you know, you're in a puzzle house with six escape rooms that must be mastered....or else. What is the or else? You will have to read it for yourself. But don't worry, this is a short, intense read that you'll enjoy so much, you'll be surprised at the end of the book. Billed as a horror story, it definitely has that mixed in with some thriller and mystery and even a little over the top fantasy. Enjoy.