A Book A Week

Do you believe in giving authors a second chance? Not every book resonates with every reader, and there have been numerous occasions when a particular story failed to connect with me. Nevertheless, I am generally open to giving an author's writing another chance before deciding whether it aligns with my preferences. Take horror author Christopher Golden, for instance. I was familiar with his work for years but only delved into his novel Road of Bones last year. While I appreciated the clever setup and the chilling premise, the ending fell short of my expectations. Intrigued nonetheless, I decided to give Golden another opportunity with his latest book, The House of Last Resort.

Overflowing with abandoned villas left to decay, Becchina, Italy, remains largely forgotten, with only a handful of locals still residing there. It has become "...the corpse of a town that didn't even realize it was already dead." Eager to breathe life back into his town, the mayor proposes a final, desperate plan. The city acquires all the deserted homes, offering them to new families at the nominal price of one Euro. The only caveats are that the buyers must commit to a minimum investment to renovate and modernize their newfound residences and live there for at least five years. The concept gains traction, attracting people from various places who relocate to the quaint Italian town to embark on their fresh start.

Tommy and Kate Puglisi, a newly married couple from America, are among the newcomers enticed by the offer. With the flexibility of remote work and the added bonus of Tommy's grandparents living in Becchina, the move is a golden opportunity for the couple. It promises homeownership, quality time with family, and an adventure in romantic Italy. From the beginning, however, things take an unsettling turn. While initially appealing, their dream house on the hill raises reservations as a significant tremor shakes the earth upon their arrival. Even more foreboding is the reaction of Tommy's grandmother, who, instead of sharing in the family's joy, is filled with fear and anger. Nonna knows the house's history, and Tommy and Kate are about to discover they've signed up for more than they bargained for.

In The House of Last Resort, Christopher Golden masterfully constructs a narrative steeped in anticipation and foreboding. The notion of leaving one's home to pursue a better, more balanced life in a different country resonated with me, and I immediately connected with Tommy and Kate. Golden initiates the story with innocence, capturing the protagonist's joy and optimism for a fresh start. As moments of doubt begin to pepper this dream, both the characters and readers are left questioning everything. Even as the true horror became more apparent, I was irresistibly drawn into the story. It all culminates in an ending that poetically echoes the town's history that we learn about earlier in the book. Golden adeptly balances character development with a chilling plot, ensuring a narrative that engages the reader fully. The House of Last Resort delivers everything I seek in a horror read, and it has solidified my decision to explore more of this author's works in the near future.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 17)

"So you think you're possessed, it said. Don't we all, from time to time."

It can be easy to ignore the things that are right in front of our noses, more convenient to look the other way than face a challenge head-on. Perhaps that is just human nature. Let's be honest, we've all had a moment of procrastination where we couldn't be bothered to handle a task that needed to be done. Who among us hasn't waited an extra day to fold the laundry or take out the trash? Usually, these decisions don't radically alter the fabric of our lives. We either do it the next day or wait until that thing we were ignoring can't possibly be ignored anymore. Sara Gran's novel Come Closer sees her character facing the unassuming banality of daily life in a similar way. Unfortunately for her, by the time she realizes the enormity of the thing she is ignoring, it is far too late. 

Amanda is living her dream life. She has a loving husband, a comfortable home, and a job that supports the lifestyle she's always wanted. The tapping begins quietly, a soft, barely noticeable sound. Amanda can't quite place where within her apartment it is coming from. There are no signs of a leak anywhere to be found. As she searches her home, the noise seems to be moving around, evading any attempt to locate the source. Her husband hears the tapping too, so Amanda knows she isn't imagining things. Alas, the mysterious racket continues. Resigned to the fact that she may never discover the cause of the sound, Amanda halts her search and learns to live with it. The incessant tap, tap, tapping fades from her mind, vanishing into the background noise of her everyday life. 

The strange sound is just the beginning. Soon Amanda begins to have vivid dreams. In them she sees the figure of her childhood imaginary friend, a face she's long forgotten. Amanda recalls the mischief her friend would urge her to get into, the little devil on her shoulder egging her on. She's alarmed when she catches a glimpse one day of that same little face, the imaginary girl has now grown into a very real woman. But that can't be true. It has to just be her mind playing tricks on her. Then the blackouts begin. She has long stretches of time where she simply has no recollection of what happened to her. Amanda neglects her job, her home, and even her husband. By the time she seeks help for whatever is happening to her, the darkness inside has already taken hold.

If you are looking for a quick horror read to squeeze in before the spooky season retires for another year, Sara Gran's Come Closer perfectly fits the bill. In just under 200 pages, Gran writes of a woman slowly succumbing to either demonic possession or severe mental illness. The first-person narrative places the reader directly into the mind of this woman, helping us to feel the confusion, fear, and resignation of every moment. There is nothing spectacular or overtly supernatural about what is happening. Instead, Gran grounds every scene firmly in reality. I found this to only elevate the suspense as everything that happens in the book could truly happen in real life. What I read was one woman's slow descent to madness, a place that she has no real hope of ever coming back from. That, my friends, is truly terrifying. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2021, 42)

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear such a big secret. It might not fit in my head and then it would spill out everywhere."

A Head Full of Ghosts begins as many horror stories do. The Barrett family is a pretty normal group. Mom, Dad, and sisters Marjorie and Merry live a peaceful life in their suburban home. Things change when older sister Marjorie begins to exhibit odd behavior. The doctors and specialists can't seem to find a medical explanation for her condition. Dad turns to the church and becomes convinced that Marjorie is possessed by a demon.

Given their unusual circumstance, the Barrett family does what any American family would do. They cash in on their troubles by allowing a television crew to film their life and attempts at exorcism for a reality show. What ensues is the tragic erosion of a once happy family. The parents don't agree on how to approach treatment for Marjorie, Merry is ignored by the rest of her family, and Marjorie is pushed to physical and emotional limits. Is the girl truly possessed, or is the Barrett family merely enacting a hoax for financial gain?

A Head Full of Ghosts is a refreshing addition to the horror genre. Paul Tremblay writes with a self-awareness that gives an original perspective to an otherwise familiar story. Tremblay clearly has an extensive knowledge and appreciation for all things horror. There is nothing overtly shocking or gory about this book. Rather, the story unfolds with a slow build that gives just enough suspense to keep us hanging onto every word. I like my horror stories to make me think and fill with dread. By that mark, A Head Full of Ghosts is an excellent novel that will leave you with an anxious paranoia of every little bump in the night.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2017, 13)