The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden will give you chills without relying on the normal clichés. The wonderful characterizations of the main characters add to the story giving us the ability to suspend our beliefs and dive in.
The House of Last Resort takes place in the Italian town of Becchina, where the mayor has taken drastic measures to rebuild the half-empty town by selling abandoned homes for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years. It’s a romantic adventure for American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi, who both work remotely and have familial ties to Becchina.
However, from the moment they move in, they both feel a shadow has fallen on them. Strange noises at night, locked doors that suddenly open, and rumors from their neighbors all contribute to a sense of dread. They soon learn that their home was owned for generations by the Church, and the priests were doing something sinister behind closed doors for years. The true horror is unlocked when they discover how many people died in the strange chapel inside the house.
Christopher Golden’s writing evokes chills without relying on clichés. The tension builds with each page, and the sense of menace is palpable. The book is dark and eerie and is not what we expected, making it super hard to put down.
Golden expertly weaves Italian folklore and superstitions into the story, giving it a unique and chilling flavor. His descriptions of the catacombs beneath Becchina will make your skin crawl. The book is a masterclass in horror writing. Something we are not really surprised about coming from Golden.
The House of Last Resort is a haunting and captivating read. Christopher Golden has crafted a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat, with each page brimming with suspense and foreboding. The characters are well-rounded, and the story is unique and engrossing. The novel was not what we were expecting in such an amazing way.
The House of Last Resort hits bookstores everywhere on January 30, 2024.
Christopher Golden joins the Capes and Tights Podcast to discuss The House of Last Resort as well as his comic series Mortal Terror on January 10.
