Diavola is spine-chilling and delivers on all fronts for horror fans. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time as I read this story that blends a classic haunted house tale with a sharp exploration of family dynamics.

From the eerie atmosphere to the palpable sense of dread, this will grip you from the start and have you thinking far after you’ve finished. This is a must-read for lovers of ghost stories and anyone who loves the deliciously unsettling feeling of someone lurking just behind them.

I started reading this book one night, alone in my apartment, and quickly decided I could not do that to myself!! I ended up reading little by little during the day, or out on a reading date with friends, because otherwise DIAVOLA was just a little too unsettling for me. Jennifer Thorne has a fantastic sense of horror, and captures the discomfort of family vacations and hauntings.
There's a turn in the end where the horror is a little less gothic and a little more traditional haunting/curse—I'll admit that even though it scared me less (meaning I could read more at a time), it didn't capture my imagination as much.
This was a stunning read, though, and I can already think of a few horror fans I'll be recommending it to.

A haunted Italian villa and a toxic family vacation? 🍋👻 count me in.

What a refreshing horror read. Elements of Diavola truly spooked me and left me deeply unsettled, while other times I was a fit of giggles. The family drama is served steaming on a hot plate, and my gosh, I am not sure how our FMC Anna held it together. As someone who also dreads family gatherings, I wanted to give Anna a big hug and tell her to run away. If you’re the black sheep of the family, this one is for you.

This is by far the best horror novel I’ve sank my teeth into in quite some time. Jennifer Thorne is an author to watch. There is such a novelty in her writing that you have to consume to understand.

Thank you Tor Nightfire & NetGalley for the ARC!

One word: Obsessed. This was nearly impossible for me to put down. Okay, the premise: We follow Anna Pace as she links up with her entiiire family for a two-week vacation in Italy. Firstly, Anna is amazing. I loved her as a character. She is constantly the scapegoat or the black sheep of the family, that becomes clear early on with the way her family members treat her and what comes to light throughout the novel. The family vacation attendees include Anna's immediate family (her parents, older sister, and twin brother) as well as her older sister's family (husband and two daughters) and her brother's current boyfriend, Christopher--not Chris. Yeah, ew. They are staying in this beautiful villa, Villa Taccola that has been built onto so it has an older part and newer extension with a modern look. The older part includes a tall tower that they are–of course–told not to go into and–of course–they do eventually break that rule. After which, hell ensues. I don't want to give much more away as I think Thorne brings a novelty to the haunted house trope in this story. The scares are slow and feel real. I think this is in part due to Anna, who is such a compelling and authentic character who you're really drawn to and empathize with a lot. My jaw literally dropped a couple of times throughout the story, so it definitely keeps you guessing.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley & Tor Nightfire for the advanced copy -- I absolutely devoured it!

The nitty-gritty: Diavola has it all: a creepy, haunted villa, an uncomfortable, dysfunctional family gathering, an ominous Italian setting, and even some jump scares. Come for the well executed folk horror ambiance, stay for the unforgettable characters.

Diavola is a stunning piece of folk horror fiction, and I’m blown away by how much I loved this book. I enjoyed Jennifer Thorne’s last book, Lute, but Diavola is much better in every possible way, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Thorne’s bizarre mix of toxic family dynamics, a haunted villa, black humor, and colorful characters results in a dark, scary, funny story with a perfect ending.

Welcome to the medieval village of Monteperso in Tuscany, where a six hundred year old house called the Villa Taccola sits on a hilltop. This is where the Pace family has decided to gather for an extravagant family vacation, funded in full by mom and dad Pace. Anna arrives from New York, grateful for the break from her advertising agency job, but reluctant to face her toxic family members. Her twin brother Benny has brought his new boyfriend Christopher along, who has been told that Anna is a “train wreck” and has already decided he doesn’t like her. Anna’s sister Nicole, her husband and two young daughters round out the group, and even though Nicole has a bitter resentment towards her sister (for all sorts of reasons), Waverly and Mia love their Aunt Anna and can’t wait to see her.

As the Pace family members settle into the villa and brace themselves for Nicole’s minute-by-minute itinerary, strange things begin to happen. Anna keeps hearing a voice behind her, but no one is there. Doors slam shut by themselves, and swarms of flies invade the house. At the top of the villa is a tower room, but the door to the tower is locked. Why, then, does Anna see a figure standing at the tower window? Even stranger, the next time she looks, the window is gone. Anna is also having weird dreams about a woman with bright yellow hair.

Is the villa haunted? If so, why is Anna the only one seeing and hearing things? Or is the rest of the family simply refusing to acknowledge the ghost, convinced that Anna’s being her usual dramatic self? As the incidents escalate, Anna finds herself caught between a vengeful spirit of the past and her horrible family in the present. And she’s not sure which is worse.

Diavola is one of those rare books where all the elements are perfectly balanced, with pitch perfect writing and pacing, great characters (who you’ll love to hate!) and a truly spooky, atmospheric setting that will have you jumping at shadows. Let’s start with the haunting, which was so scary and made me regret my decision to read at night. All the elements of folk horror are present: the secluded village full of odd, superstitious folk (none of whom speak English, by the way); the crumbling Villa Taccola with it’s secret doors, drafty rooms and insect-infested grounds; there’s even a goat tied up outside, perhaps as a sacrifice? Each sentence is dripping with quiet, unsettling horror, and Thorne masterfully infuses her story with seemingly insignificant details that make the reader uncomfortable. For example, insects are everywhere in this story. Mosquitos swarm the characters when they’re by the pool, leaving everyone with nasty bites. Anna wanders barefoot through an ant’s nest and is attacked. Later, when the ghost becomes particularly enraged, flies and maggots inexplicably invade the house. I’m not a big bug person, so these scenes were particularly upsetting for me.

The tower is the focal point of a lot of the horror, and I loved the old fashioned skeleton key that opens the door—although everyone is warned never to open it! The key is very important later in the story and becomes almost a character itself. I also loved the scenes by the villa’s pool, where, despite the blazing sun, some bad things happen. Anna’s shower scenes were pretty frightening as well, and I had a few days there where I was terrified to take a shower myself.

Just as uncomfortable is the way everyone treats Anna. I loved the way Thorne made the family dynamics such a big part of her story, and at times the interactions among them are even more entertaining than the haunted villa. I was shocked at how horrible everyone is to Anna, a successful but misunderstood woman who can’t seem to do anything right in their eyes. Sure, she’s a bit of a flirt and may have acted inappropriately with Nicole’s husband at one time, not that Nicole will ever let her forget it. And yes, during their last vacation she ditched the rest of the family when she met a cute bartender. Anna is convinced that they only invited her on the trip because she speaks Italian and can interpret for them, and that’s exactly what happens. I’ve read a lot of books with messed up families, but never one quite as messed up as the Paces.

Anna is an artist and spends a lot of time sketching the beautiful Italian landscape. She also knows a lot about Italian art history, and the author includes lots of scenes in museums and old churches where Anna is admiring the art. And Thorne doesn’t just include these scenes to add ambiance. A particular piece of art becomes central to the ghost story later on, and I thought those details made the story even better.

There is a weird shift about three quarters of the way in, where it seems like the story is going to end but then it doesn’t. And while this “surprise” type of shift doesn’t always work for me, this time it did. The ghostly antics increase at this point, and the story almost enters “bat shit crazy” territory. Luckily Jennifer Thorne is a talented writer and had complete control the entire time. The last chapter gives a nice sense of closure, and it’s one of my favorite endings of anything I’ve read in recent memory.

Bottom line, Diavola is a must read for horror fans, and it’s one of my favorite books of the year so far.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

“Tread lightly. Survive.”

The time has come again for another dreaded Pace family reunion. Anna can feel the weight of her family’s weariness and judgment as soon as she enters their private Italian villa. But Anna has vowed to keep the peace during this trip, to stay amicable and pleasant, no matter what happens. And it almost seems it could be easy, as Anna finds herself surrounded by beautiful architecture, rich culture and a historic Italian home to reside in. But this festive family vacation doesn’t turn out to be another test of her normalcy, as strange occurrences begin to litter their days. Pockets of cold, nightly moaning and dreams, doors closing, food rotting, and a strange tower that is blocked off from all guests. As her family’s intricate dynamics poke and prod at her sanity, visions of floating bodies and bloodied patrons of the past begin to sharpen her senses. There is evil in this house, but where does it come from?

“…there was something idiosyncratic about Villa Taccola. The whole house suggested pentimenti, original brushstrokes covered over by something else. The same object in a different style. Past mistakes hidden by fresh paint.

What mistakes had been made here?”

Our MC is Anna, an artist who works at a marketing firm who utilizes her drawings for advertisements. Anna thinks in lines, sketches, brush strokes and lighting. It is clear very early on that she has an eye for artistic expression and sees the finer details that others may quickly overlook. But when we meet Anna, there is a thick fog of mystery around her. She is clearly hesitant about being with her family again, and it immediately made me wonder if I had a Saltburn collection of rich weirdos on my hands.

Unfortunately, not.

As soon as Anna arrives at the villa, there is a sense of foreboding and mystery. But the million dollar question is: is it the house or just her passive-aggressive family?

OoOoOo the suspense!

It’s quickly clear that Anna’s family are a bunch of judgey, rude, self-centered and rigid assholes.

To put it nicely.

“…there were only so many times Anna could stand like a seawall and let the waves hit her again and again, unmoving.”

Everyone seems to have a grudge or hesitancy around Anna that she, quite impressively, lets slide off her. This is a constant theme with her family, the polarizing effect she seems to have on them, but our Anna behaves rather maturely and unbothered by their antics – which I found really admirable. Had it been me, I would be telling everyone to go f**k themselves.

“I’m not a lost lamb. I’m a black sheep.”

So as our story progresses during this family trip, there’s a sense that something isn’t quite right with Anna, according to her siblings and parents. There are stories from the past that are alluded to, indifference and indignation from her parents, and downright hostility from her siblings more times than not. But while we stumble into oblivion and let our imaginations run wild (me kindly hoping she splatters the walls with her kin) the real mystery here is Villa Taccola.

“The smell hit Anna first. Stale. Dust of ages, a pharaoh’s tomb. Then she felt the weight.

The air in here was active. It had intent.”

A beautiful old farmhouse, the villa is an Italian vacation dream. Though there is a tower that is locked and a black antique key the caretaker said NOT to use to open it (suspicious), odd sounds at night, dozens of stray cats, frightening and vivid dreams of the past, and hallucinations of dead bodies in the pool. But Anna seems to be the only person really experiencing the spooky effects of the house, or seeing apparitions and mangled bodies.

But as the vacation goes on, time begins to skip unnaturally and the tension between Anna and her family becomes taut. Until everything eventually explodes.

Now without giving anything away, I will continue in vague descriptions.

By the end of the book, I still hate Anna’s family and wish a lot worse had been done to them. Anna’s progression as a character starts out with her keeping a leash on herself, and by the end of the book our girl is letting it ALL. HANG. OUT. And I love her for every flawed, chaotic, crazed, and sassy moment of it. Because there were moments in this book where I was DYING laughing out loud. Because she does not care one iota.

“Could you back the fuck off for two seconds? I am monologuing!”

I found the story to be a little slow at first in terms of the plot, but the family dynamics were what propelled it forward until we really got into the thick of the mystery. I liked the switch back to Anna’s normal life and how her character unravels, especially with the hotdog scene that catapults everything into motion.

Truly, a work of art.

I think this book was great, a truly lovely paranormal horror that had humor, character progression, death, twists and turns, and an ending that rounded the story out well. I think Jennifer Marie Thorne will be an author I keep my eyes on in the future, especially if she continues writing in this genre.

Diavola is the first book I've read by Jennifer Thorne. Oh, boy, did I start with a doozy! I almost cancelled my request for the book after really looking at the disturbingly odd cover art, but I am so glad I reconsidered. I was blown away by the story and didn't want to put the thing down before finishing it. I curse having to go to work and delaying my reading enjoyment!

Each year Anna Pace dreads the family destination vacation. Her motto is "tread lightly and survive". As the black sheep of the family, she just doesn't fit in with the rest of them. Her twin brother Benny is usually easygoing; this year he brings his new guy Christopher as his companion. Older sister Nicole, who comes with her husband and two young girls, has set the family's itinerary and woe to Anna if she so much as questions any of it! Mom constantly questions Anna's life choices, and dear old Dad just covets peace and quiet. Villa Taccola, in the tiny little remote villa of Monteperso, Italy at least looks like a lovely place to spend forced family togetherness...but not for long, however! There are strange noises in the house at night. The local villagers give the family cryptic warnings, and why, exactly, are they salting the property surrounding the villa at night? Soon Anna begins to learn the dark, violent and blood soaked history of the villa.

Jennifer Thorne has an incredible skill of blending family drama, Gothic haunted house horror, dreadful family dynamics and doses of humor together brilliantly! Considering this book was chock full of unlikable characters, it was extremely riveting and entertaining. Anna was the most likable of the bunch, though there were some things about her of which I wasn't too fond. But the story was told with Anna as the focus, and her personality made the book. I'm not really sure why she was considered the black sheep of the family; she was an artist who worked at an ad agency and was quite talented. There were family stories told about her that weren't necessarily true, such as Nicole's retelling of prom night and the fate of Gus the guinea pig. I almost fell out of my chair from one of the passages between Anna and her youngest niece: "Mommy said you murder animals!" Mia squeaked. Anna blinked. "Like, as a hobby?" Ha! Anna had some questionable romances in the past, but who didn't? Her relationship with her twin Benny seemed the most normal, until suddenly at Villa Taccola it was NOT. The horror crept in quietly at first, with strange sounds and a heavy feeling in the house. The activity increased, with the entire family missing time; just where did one entire day go? Anna heard children talking in the hallway at night, and she assumed it was her nieces...until she realized the voices were speaking Italian, and Anna was the only one who spoke the language! Anna began to see a ghost in the house. When she visited an art museum, she learned the spirit was La Dama Bianca, who was definitely not someone you would ever want to be in the same house with! The horror came to a pinnacle and the family was forced to flee. Back in New York...well, let's just say Anna didn't return alone! And I will not give anything more away! It's saying a lot that La Dama Bianca didn't hold a candle to the horror of the Pace family! Poor Anna. I thank God I had wonderful vacations with my own family. (Well, except maybe for the Russian "cruise ship" that still gives me nightmares to this day!) You must read this book.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Wow! Just wow! I finished the last page of Diavola in the middle of the night because I lost my ability to stop reading. This story had me in its grip from first to the very last page. And left me with so many intense feelings, vivid images and deep philosophical questions. As well as the certainty that I just read one of my all time favorite books!

Diavola reminded me of everything I love about horror. A thoughtful exploration of complexities of family disfunction and numerous ways that both places and humans can become haunted. Pace family is on a what turns into a nightmarish vacation, staying at a secluded villa in a tiny town in Tuscany. Deeply ingrained family dynamics are amplified, long established roles contributing to resurfacing of old traumas and acquiring of new ones. And if that alone wasn’t enough, odd, creepy things and presences in the villa end up elevating tensions to an even higher level.

Anna’s family and their attitude towards her were the true horror for me. I was frustrated, angry and at times disgusted on her behalf. The backdrop of beautiful Italian countryside, art, history, language was such a wonderful juxtaposition to what was happening in the villa. Rot of various kinds taking root. And the elements of despair and hopelessness tied to the haunting made me feel just as trapped as Anna felt.

I could write an essay about this book but all I have to say is even if horror is not your usual genre, this is one book that is worth venturing outside of your comfort zone for. Throne’s sharp writing style combined with a progressively faster pace of the story made this one unputdownable.

A huge thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A HUGE thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC!

The wine is flowing, the family drama is thriving, and most importantly the ghosts are haunting in Jennifer Marie Thorne’s latest novel, Diavola. This is a survival story of a different breed altogether, one that feeds on familial drama and the tightest of tensions. When reading this synopsis, the idea of “vacation-Gothic” seemed a bit bemusing given vacations are a time to escape, unwind, and relax. This could not be further from the truth concerning the Pace family, a clan that is fraught with dysfunction, unforgotten traumas, and unrelenting grudges. Anna, the proverbial “black sheep” of the group, simply must make it through the next few days in the picturesque Villa Taccola in Monteperso. Surely, there are worse places to suffer. However, the events that unfold defy all expectations and take the meaning of familial strife to a whole other dimension.

The current state of horror fiction is one reflective of the various meanings of what it means to be haunted. Clay McLeod Chapman’s Ghost Eaters ventures into the realm of haunted drugs, haunted houses have a whole new meaning thanks to authors such as Grady Hendrix, Sarah Gailey, and Carissa Orlando, and now, we see the instance of the haunted family vacation. So, what does this look like? According to Thorne, you first need a family with lots of history and tons of baggage. Throw them in even the most gorgeous of settings, add in some wine, pop some popcorn, and watch the show. That’s one of the most impressive things about Diavola; the horrors begin before any paranormal presences even begin to make themselves known through the brutal relationship dynamics at play between all members of the Pace family. While the focus is Anna’s perspective, it’s clear to see the cracks in the “one big happy family” façade from the very beginning based upon their harshness toward one another. No sin is forgiven entirely, no trespass fully forgotten.

The continuously unfolding drama fuels the pace of this novel to an unputdownable speed, accelerating with the addition of strange happenings around the villa. Not only is Diavola wildly entertaining for these reasons but it is also severely haunting. The disturbing imagery Thorne injects into a rather idyllic setting creates the perfect juxtaposition of otherworldly wrongness. A setting described with such lush beauty is equally marred by violence and darkness as Anna discovers throughout the course of the novel. This feels symbolic of the Pace family as a whole, a unit that should be the epitome of love and connection rather than the terse, toxic unit we see.

Honestly, I could gush about this novel for days. Thorne’s writing is razor-sharp with wit and dramatic circumstances that are seamlessly interwoven with elements of terror. Never before had I considered drama of this caliber combined with horror in such a way. Needless to say, it was incredibly enjoyable and just so hard to put down. Nearly from page one, tensions do not let up for Anna and the rest of her family, at the hands of themselves and some malevolent presence housed within the walls of Villa Taccola. Thorne creates a unique sense of dread through the continual confrontations and spats that are eventually fueled by something of a different realm altogether. A culmination of animosity and violence, Diavola thrives on the drama of this day and those of the past to exemplify just how brutal the ones closest to us can truly be.

Wow. This book turned into something I never imagined. I'm a big baby when it comes to horror so I thought the beginning was pretty spooky and had me putting the book down because I was scared to read in the dark of my bedroom. It's like a slow burn horror. The things in the villa start pretty quickly but it's pretty mild until like 60% of the way through the book. After 70% it literally felt like a completely different book. The writing style changed a lot and it almost felt like satire. It was very confusing... but I still enjoyed it.

The author has a warning in the description:
(Warning: May invoke feelings of irritation, dread, and despair that come with large family gatherings.)
And she isn't kidding. This family was the ABSOLUTE worst. I hated them all including the FMC, the only breath of fresh air were the 2 nieces and they were children.

I was immediately interested in this book after reading the description and seeing the stunning yet super eerie cover. I love any haunted house story, and this one offered a unique twist. As a vacation gone wrong story, this one strongly delivered on the scares but also added another terrifying element - a family vacation.

The story follows Anna vacationing in Tuscany with her family in a beautiful villa. In a place so stunning, nothing can go wrong, right? Obviously weird things immediately start happening, and I was pretty amazed with the level the hauntings went to with the family just going along with things. There are some truly chilling moments in this one (one in particular that gave me the serious icks). But this book isn’t just about the hauntings. It is also about family dynamics, being the “black sheep” of the family, and trying to convince your family that something isn’t right when they will do anything possible not to believe you.

Jennifer Thorne really nailed the dynamics of a family vacation here. Between the dramatic fights over every little thing, people continuously bringing up things you did fifteen years ago, and the need to keep up the veneer of a happy family, this one really brought back some memories (nightmares?) of my own family vacations. This is just the perfect mix of horror and family drama with some dark comedy mixed in. The anxiety of being with your family for an extended period of time really amps up the ante of the horror story.

This book really has it all with beautiful descriptions of Italy, relatable family dynamics, crazy dream sequences, and a very chilling and sinister ghost. If you are looking for a summer horror read this year, this is a great one to add to your TBR!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

This was fabulous! Stressful as hell, especially since I have considered myself the black sheep in my own ways, but I really loved Anna and how she dealt with the entire story. I was so happy it didn't end in a cheesy redemption arc for her family, and ended in her standing against this on her own two feet. I really enjoyed this!

By the time I was 10% into this book I was seriously feeling sorry for Anna, the protagonist of this story, because if I had a family like hers I would never voluntarily go on a trip to Italy with them (even if they were paying for the whole thing). I love my family and we’re very close, but we would be tested to travel to Europe together and even pretend to try and stay civil. The family in this book? Let’s say they’ve got denial down to an art. Wow.

By 45% I remembered a secret only stays a secret if you never tell anyone…and I wished Anna had a family with a scintilla of tact. I also realized Anna and I had a lot of things in common: Being used to taking the blame for the bad things that happen to our family, apologizing constantly to our family members for things that aren’t our fault, keeping our mouths shut when we want to say something because we know it’s either going to upset someone or no one’s going to believe us, and making sure to dumb ourselves down around our loved ones lest they accuse us of “acting smarter” than everyone else (or “showing off”).

AKA: Both Anna and I are the black sheep of our families.

This book is an absolute blast to read: Engaging, compelling, intriguing, intelligent, fierce, creepy, insightful, sometimes funny, and sometimes sad. It has lovely (in that haunting, bloody way) nightmare sequences, creepy daytime scenes inside the house that might be hard for those with squeamish stomachs, truly scary calls involving Anna’s family, and lots of fascinating Italian art history information that not only worked well into the story of the book but was also just plain cool to read. This book shines its brightest when it focuses on Anna, especially in the last 20% of the book, but also anywhere else in the book. All in all, it’s just a fantastic read.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Ghost Story/Gothic Fiction/LGBTQ Fiction/Occult Fiction/Paranormal Fiction/Psychological Thriller/Thriller

Title: Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
Publication Date- 03/26/24
Publisher- Tor Publishing Group
Overall Rating- 3 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve read a review from me before then you know what to expect when I DNF a book. Sadly, that’s the case here. I DNF’d this at 30 percent. Whenever I DNF a book, unless there’s some outstanding reason, I give it 3 stars. Let’s talk about what led to this decision.

Diavola starts off by introducing us to a young woman who is going on vacation with complicated family in Italy. They are having a reunion of sorts. Once she arrives we come face to face, pretty quickly, with how crappy her family treats her. This aspect I found interesting and very relatable for me, in the sense that she feels like the “black sheep,” of her family.

We are introduced to a number of characters and immediately begin to see how cruddy the family treats our main character. While they are staying in this house, they start to notice odd things happening and sounds that don’t make sense. There is a tower room that’s locked that our MC wants to explore so there’s the sense of wonder about the unknown and if there is something supernatural going on at this place they are staying at on their family trip.

Unfortunately, despite the relatability I could find myself interested in our main character, her family, or the supernatural around this house. This is an odd feeling for me as haunted house stories are some of my favorites. In retrospect, I think there was something about the writing that made me feel very separated from the story. Once it got to the point where I continuously didn’t want to pick the book up and started feeling annoyed by the characters I knew it was time to DNF. I will own that this is probably a me problem and I don’t see any reason here why if you’re interested in this story, you shouldn’t pick it up. I think there will be a lot of people who enjoy it.

I do feel a bit disappointed, I was very excited for this story and wish I could really pinpoint what went wrong. I think it came down to the writing style and characterization that didn’t do it for me. At first I thought it was my annoyance with the complicated family dynamics but I know that can’t be true because I love that in stories.

In summary, I think you should give this a try and I’m excited to see what everyone thinks about it after it’s release.

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I'm so happy with the way Thorne wove this narrative, because while it could have quickly fallen into an annoying unreliable narrator trope, Anna always felt steadfast to me even during her unraveling. I was confident in her as a character and worried as the novel progressed pasted the point I had originally assumed would be the natural conclusion. The cast of characters all felt realistic and since they felt kinda like my own family I was right there with Anna in her frustrations, which only added to the experience. While I hope to not be going on a family vacation any time soon, I do hope another Jennifer Thorne novel is in my future reading plans.

Diavola scared the pants off me, in the middle of the day, in broad daylight.

Anna is dreading joining her family in Italy for a weeks-long vacation at a villa. She’s never fit in with her family and they hold her responsible for ruining past vacations.

When she arrives, it’s not just her family that’s unsettling — there’s a locked-up tower, strange noises at night, and flashlight beams outside the villa windows.

I love a slow burn haunting story, and Jennifer Thorne builds dread so beautifully that I found myself having to take breaks while reading. This one seriously creeped me out.

She also captures the black sheep family dynamic so well. Everyone in Anna’s family are complex, messed up people, and the way they picked away at each other was both heartbreaking and hilarious.

Reading Diavola was so stressful: I’m not sure if I was hoping more for the family to leave the clearly haunted villa or for Anna to finally stand up to them.

Diavola is the spookiest book I’ve read in 2024 so far, and a must read for anyone who loves a creepy ghost story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for my review copy of this book.

I liked our main character and did find the story to be interesting, but there were a few moments that I felt it lagged a bit for me. I think the second half was definitely better than the first half, but I can't discount how slow the first half was for me.

Super creepy story about a family on vacation in a haunted house. Simple concept, but, wow, is this book good! I know it will be one of my top horror books of the year. I can’t wait to recommend this and talk about it with my fellow horror readers. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

Wonderfully wicked. Truly a vacation from hell from the perspective of black sheep/ scapegoat character. I love this idea of digging into the depth of "unlikable women"

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

If you're looking for a creepy book that ties the dread of a family vacation with actual ghosts (and makes you think which is worse), you should pick Diavola! I especially loved the ending, it was very satisfactory