Across Italy there are many half empty towns,nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to the cities. The beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is among them, but its Mayor has taken drastic measures to rebuild by selling abandoned homes for €1 as long as the buyer stays for five years. It is a no-brainer for American couple Tommy and Kate, especially as Becchina is the home of Tommy's grandparents. They chose their new house and then just before they head back to the airport the estate agent convinces them to see a even bigger and better house. However when Tommy's Nonna comes to visit she is not happy about the house they have bought.

If things feel too good to be true then they usually are and especially when it comes to horror fiction. The creepy vibes start as soon as Tommy and Kate arrive at their new Italian home looming at the deadly quiet end of the street all on its own. The married couple are oblivious and are in a lovely bubble but I as the reader could see the darkness seeping into the house long before they could. I would not be able to spend one minute in that house let alone a lifetime. I found the story to be absolutely mesmerizing as it slithers along as I had no idea where it was going to go. Something insidious was in the air but you are not sure exactly what that entails. When everything eventually comes out of the woodwork it was not what I expected and it sent shivers down my spine. I could have done with more in your face horror but still really enjoyed it but if horror scares you I think you should give one a try as the scares are more about the unknown that is lurking. The House of Last Resort is an atmospheric read that draws you in.

A good and intriguing horror novel. Well plotted and gripping
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It seems only like five minutes ago that I reviewed Christopher’s All Hallows for last year’s Halloween. But here we are again – another October and another Christopher Golden book to review.

Not that I’m minding though. I liked All Hallows last year and hoped that this one would be at least as good.

The premise of this one is very different to All Hallows. Although set at nearly the same time of year, gone are the cold, dark Halloween celebrations of Coventry, Massachusetts in 1984, and instead we have the slightly balmier climes of Mediterranean Italy in 2024.

The beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is one of many half-empty towns in Italy, nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to cities. American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi decide to move there, seeing it not only as a chance to live near Tommy’s grandparents but also as an opportunity the young couple would be crazy not to seize. But from the moment they move in, they both feel a shadow has fallen on them. Tommy’s grandmother who lives there is furious, even a little frightened, when she realizes which house they’ve bought, which one neighbour refers to as The House of Last Resort. Soon, they learn that the home was owned for generations by the Church, harbouring secrets… while down in the catacombs beneath Becchina… something stirs.

Anyone who knows the joy (and the stress!) of moving to a new home, never mind migrating to a new country and meeting new people, can relate to this one. It’s like one of those television makeover programmes, but with added chills! It perhaps should go without saying that if you think that fixing the guttering is a major residential issue, then this may not be the project for you – it is not one for musophobics!

Tommy and Kate seem like nice people and the environment they move to with other migrants and older long-term residents feels genuine and appropriately atmospheric, albeit with a few obstacles along the way. In fact, I really liked the unusual international setting, as it was something a little different to the usual places in such stories. Becchina feels like one of those out of the mainstream kind of places, with a smattering of history that you get in Europe and less so I guess in the USA. As a result, both the characters and the reader get the impression that it is isolated and that they are on their own, surrounded by relative strangers, with odd things going on in a strange land.

As readers of Christopher’s other books (such as All Hallows, reviewed here last year) The House of Last Resort builds steadily to an appropriate conclusion. It is a real page turner, but as you might expect with a few gruesome moments – you have been warned!

As good an Autumn read as All Hallows was last year, I was pleased to find that The House of Last Resort felt better. With its unusual European setting, contemporary characterisation and use of history, The House of Last Resort felt more engaging and refreshingly different. It just goes to show you that, despite what some people think, horror stories can work in modern times, and in places that are not always dark and cold. As a great, if occasionally gory novel, The House of Last Resort is a recommended Halloween read.

2.5 stars rounded up.

You may have heard of various schemes across the world, particularly in Italy as with this book, where you can buy a house for 1 euro on the proviso that you live there for X amount of time in order to repopulate abandoned towns. The House of Last Resort takes that enticing premise as the foundation of its plot, building upon it to deliver a supernatural mystery of a town with secrets and a house that is not what it seems.

Kate and Tommy jump at the opportunity to own a home in a small Italian town where Tommy's grandparents live, particularly when his Grandfather is unwell. Despite being initially enamoured with their house and the opportunity, something is immediately off when Tommy's grandmother is inexplicably angry at their chosen house and they're disturbed by sounds in the night and mysterious rooms they didn't know existed. They jump into town rejuvenation, and spearhead turning the catacombs into a tourist attraction. They make new friends and attempt to persuade old ones to take the plunge and join them. The town's whispers eventually reach their ears, and they discover why their house was dubbed 'The House of Last Resort', what the hell the Church was doing in it, and what that means for their family.

The House of Last Resort is such an interesting premise. It started off well, laying the foundation of the mystery and setting the scene. I enjoyed the supernatural elements, the creeping sensation of being watched or waking to things going bump in the night. Once the reason behind the name is explained, we quickly turn towards religion in a relatively predictable fashion. Questions surrounding Tommy's family joins the predictable plot, with a lot of convenience. The dual perspectives didn't add much, particularly when neither was really likeable, and I found instances where it would re-explain what's just happened for no real reason. The majority of the book felt like interpersonal conflict or their day-to-day, with very little horror, including the final 'showdown'. I found this to be lacking and I was left wanting more. I also found it hard to maintain concentration due to this, and I ended up rereading chapters again and again as my mind would drift off. The chapters were short and it would be good book for those starting out reading horror or those that don't like anything too extreme or violent, but it wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

I’ve always enjoyed Christopher Golden’s writing so was super excited for this, and it didn’t disappoint. Religious horror is a niche I never thought I’d enjoy but I’ve found some absolutely brilliant novels in this sub-genre recently! The book was fast-paced and action packed, keeping me tense throughout. The rat horror? YIKES. I loved this

One of the things that I immediately loved about The House of Last Resort was that so much of it felt incredibly familiar to me. Not the story, or the characters, but the setting. I have family in Italy, my grandparents come from a small mountain village filled with old houses and old residents. Life is slow, people work hard but live full, and there's a wonderful sense of family and community surrounded by beautiful, remote countryside. And this book had that in spades, to the point where I didn't really feel like I had to imagine much, but instead simply remembered.

The House of Last Resort tells the story of Tommy and Kate, who leave their lives in the US behind to move to the small mountain town of Becchina, where Tommy's family originally came from. The mayor of Becchina, seeing the exodus of younger people from the town and fearing that the town might die out, takes part in a scheme to sell houses in Becchina for a single Euro. Enraptured by the idea of buying a house and furnishings for such a low price, Tommy and Kate move across the world, happy to invest the required money in renovations and years living in the house that the amazing bargain requires. Tommy has family there after all, so it's bound to be good.

However, Tommy and Kate decided on another house at the last minute, a house grander than the others, that sits alone at the end of it's street, staring out over the valley below. Sure that they've gotten the best new start in life, they're surprised when Tommy's grandmother admonishes them for buying the house. As they learn more about the house they begin to uncover a sinister past, and when strange occurrences start happening Kate becomes convinced that there's something in the house with them.

As I said at the start, this book absolutely spoke to me thanks to the setting. I felt like I could see Becchina so clearly in my mind, the old houses, the tight, steep mountain streets, and the gorgeous countryside that surrounds it. Christopher Golden did a wonderful job at not only capturing that, but making it feel very real and alive too. The mass family get togethers that happen, the small local shops, the cafes on the piazza where the local men sip coffee and play cards. He brought the location to life wonderfully, to the point where I not only found myself thinking about returning to my family's village at some point, but being actively jealous of my parents being on holiday there whilst I was reading it.

But, this isn't a quite read about a young couple making a new life for themselves in Italy, unfortunately there's something much more sinister brewing. Golden takes it somewhat slow with the horror, sprinkling tiny elements here and there through the early chapters of the book. There's hints at something sinister going on, something that's just outside your field of vision, creeping away in the corners. It's done well enough that you find yourself wondering if what the characters are experiencing is actually real, and it happens so infrequently that you end up getting sucked back into the setting and the character interactions, forgetting the horror you've just witnessed. You can understand why the characters are slow to pick up on it, and them getting in too deep feels kind of reasonable.

Whilst the slow burn horror at the start of the book might put some people off it absolutely gives readers the chance to become fully invested in these characters and their story. Yes, Kate and Tommy do come across a bit annoying in some ways, having barely moved to this town that they hardly know and believing that they, and the others who've moved to Becchina, know the exact way to save the town and start coming up with plans to turn the quiet sleepy mountain village into a tourist trap; but this also works. They're not perfect, they kind of fall into the brash American's not assimilating well but having a good heart stereotype, and it's this attitude that does lead to some bad things happening. For a haunted house story the characters are complex, flawed, interesting, and ultimately very charming; and that's what you need for this kind of story.

The House of Last Resort isn't perfect, there are times where I was thinking that perhaps there should have been a bit more horror, and whilst I adored the setting I know that's going to be down to my own personal experiences and likes. But, I do believe that this is a thoroughly enjoyable horror read that will send chills down most people's spines.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Christopher Golden’s The House of Last Resort is a gripping haunted-house thriller set in a picturesque yet unsettling Italian town. The novel masterfully blends atmospheric tension with supernatural horror, making it a slow-burn that evolves into an intense, heart-pounding narrative. The story of Tommy and Kate Puglisi, who purchase a crumbling house with a dark past, draws readers in with its eerie charm and escalating dread. Golden excels at creating chills without falling into clichés, and the gradual unraveling of the house’s terrifying secrets keeps you hooked until the unexpected conclusion. A solid four-star read for fans of modern gothic and supernatural horror.

Taking the advantage of a one-euro house offer on the island of Sicily, Kate and Tommy set off on an adventure to start on a new life in the town of Becchina, where Tommy’s grandparents still live.

Upon seeing their new home in the sun, strange events start to happen. Firstly, there is an earthquake, and then there is the mysterious locked door in their new home. Not only that doors slam shut, and Tommy thinks he has seen someone in his home.

The House of Last Resort is the new horror story form Road of Bones author, Christopher Golden.
Expecting the normal haunted house story, this book takes a different direction and moves into territory that I did not really expect. It kind of goes into moves into religious horror/Dario Argento territory, which I did not see coming.

It sets up with the usual kinds of tropes but mixes the story with a literary styling of a couple moving to Sicily in the hope of starting their new life whilst reaffirming old roots. At times, it can get a bit ‘American Saviour’, but the two main characters are bright eyed, bushy tailed and oh so enthusiastic as they move to their new life, so you can kinda forgive the characters in their exuberance.

There are a few stereotypes in the book, but it does paint a picture of rural Sicily quite well and you can’t help liking the main characters.

On the whole, the book was a fun little jaunt. Nothing too creepy or horrific but fun all the same. There’s a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and it made the book that little bit more enjoyable.

I first discovered Christopher Golden through his tie-in fiction for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and have been a fan ever since. I have to say that I loved The House of Last Resort. It has a sort of religious Horror vibe as well as general horror and perhaps a pinch of the psychological. I will say that the characters, particularly Kate were hard to like, however I think on reflection this may have been part of the overarching theme of selfishness – I could be wrong and maybe I am just picky on who I like has a person/character.

This has elements of a haunted house story at the start but slowly this turns into a darker horror. It’s a really good, creepy build up to the horror and I adored reading it. I also sort of enjoyed Kate and Tommy suffering partly because I mean but also because I never really warmed to either of them. If anything though this made me enjoy the novel all the more.

In short this is the perfect read for spooky season and ticks all my boxes. I loved every second and even got a few chills down my spine while reading.

As always thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.

A new life in a new country for Tommy and Kate as they relocate to Sicily, though it starts happy it soon descends into a nightmare. Good characters and well paced. Creepy and the horror tropes rats and catacombs but well written. Christopher Golden is an author I'd forgotten about but not now will look into his back catalogue. Thanks to Titan books and Netgalley for this review eARC

The House of Last Resort is a classic haunted house horror. The story focuses on a couple who have emigrated from the United States to a small village on the Island of Sicily. Who wouldn't take up a bargain offer of moving across the world to an idyllic village? Unfortunately, in tried and tested form, things do not work out quite as they had hoped. You know what, after reading this I would second guess my choice.
This book is very well-written and gives plenty of description of the main character's surroundings and emotions. My biggest issue was that I felt the pacing was a little pedestrian at times and got bogged down in some of the details.
Would I recommend this book? Sure, it was entertaining and not too predictable for a book of its sub genre.

I was intrigued going into The House Of Last Resort after seeing some mixed reviews and thoughts on it. Overall, though, I found it an enjoyable experience, albeit one that doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to this style of horror.

Tommy's grandparents live in the idyllic but slowly dying Italian town of Becchina. After his father fell out with his grandfather, they stopped visiting, and Tommy began to lose his connection with the area. When his wife Kate sees an offer from the local government to buy abandoned houses for €1, they decide to purchase a beautiful property and begin building a new life for themselves. However, Tommy's Nonna is furious when she realises which house they purchased, and before long they start hearing strange sounds at night and disturbing rumours from locals—and start to wonder if there's more to their new home than meets the eye.

This is a fairly standard, albeit very good, take on the religious horror tropes. The possession elements are well done, drawing from small-town superstition and familial relationships and trauma, and I thought the story built to an interesting climax. The prose is very good, with Golden showing his skill in the genre while drawing from the likes of The Exorcist.

I can see why a lot of people didn't like the book as much as me. It's very much a slow burn, with things really escalating only in the third act—and even then may not get as crazy as some people would want. I'm a big fan of character-driven stories, and I love getting lost in a small town with colourful characters and a lingering sense of mystery and dread, which Becchina gave me in spades. I'd recommend this one more for people who feel similarly to me in that regard, as this certainly isn't all out action from the first pages. I do, however, think it's a rewarding experience, and one in which I found myself wanting to dive back into so I could spend more time with the protagonists.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
The House of Last Resort is my second book by Christopher Golden, following the intriguing and fast paced Road of Bones, which I really enjoyed.
This novel starts in quite a special setting: a ghost town in Italy that decides to sell houses for one euro to anyone willing to start a new life in there, something not that uncommon these last years, at least in Europe. Tommy and Kate decide this is the opportunity of a lifetime, not only because of the prize, but because Becchina, their destination, is also where Tommy’s family is from. And then, of course, once they try to settle in their new house, things start to go sideways.
There seems to be some kind of trend related to religious horror this year. Mostly in movie form, The First Omen, Immaculate, but also in literature, and this novel is the perfect example. It has something against it, however, and this is the main characters; or their way of behaving, to be more specific.
It is kind of difficult for me to root for people who find some historic place and their first reaction is to try to sell it as a tourist attraction. I mean, let’s be blunt: you’re definitely playing with fire. And when some characters tell you that something gruesome happened in your house, and you decide that maybe, just maybe, it could be part of the town’s marketing… Yeah, no, sorry, I just want to see how bad this will get. Some of the twists did not land either. Too convoluted, in my opinion.
Pity, because Golden’s writing is really good and atmospheric and the Italian town feels alive due to the descriptions and the usage of the language. I will definitely continue reading his books but, sadly, I cannot fully recommend this one.

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden is a chilling tale that expertly weaves together horror and human emotion, set against the haunting backdrop of a decaying Sicilian village. I am grateful to NetGalley for providing the opportunity to delve into this eerie and atmospheric novel.

The premise is one that taps into a very real curiosity: the allure of purchasing a house in Italy for just €1. It’s a concept many have pondered, often wondering—what’s the catch? Golden’s novel explores this question through the story of Tommy and Kate, a couple who move from America to revitalise Tommy’s ancestral village of Becchina. What begins as a hopeful endeavor quickly descends into a nightmarish discovery of catacombs beneath a chapel and a history steeped in darkness. The couple's experiences grow increasingly unsettling as they are drawn into a world of paranormal events, where heartbreak, horror, and evil intertwine.

Golden’s vivid descriptions of the Italian landscape are nothing short of enchanting, immersing the reader in the ancient and mysterious atmosphere of the village. The slow, deliberate pacing of the novel allows for a gradual build-up of tension, with each chapter dropping subtle hints of the horror to come. By the time the story reaches its crescendo, the payoff is both shocking and satisfying.

Tommy and Kate are well-drawn characters whose struggles to adjust to their new life are both relatable and compelling. Their journey from hopeful optimism to desperate survival makes them protagonists you can't help but root for.

However, while the novel excels in many areas, there is one aspect that felt lacking—the antagonist's tendency to spell out their intentions. This exposition detracted from the tension that had been so carefully constructed and left a sense of missed opportunity in what was otherwise a finely crafted horror.

Overall, The House of Last Resort is a thoroughly enjoyable read for fans of atmospheric horror. It’s a slow burn, but one that rewards patience with a gripping, immersive experience.

3.75 ⭐ rounded up

The end, he thought. Just those two words. This was supposed to be the beginning, but the end kept echoing in his head.

I liked this book. It was atmospheric, creepy at times and well written. I did find the pacing to be a bit off for such a short book but, I wasn't too put off by it.

I found the story intriguing and unique. The inclusion of deep family secrets made the book a lot more interesting to me. Possession stories can get a bit repetitive but I think the author did a good job making it his own and, giving it a different spin. That was refreshing.

The story as it progressed became a lot more creepy and the sense of trepidation became much more palpable. Especially the scenes in the catacombs. Those scenes gave the book a claustrophobic vibe that just amped up the sense of dread. Then when you throw in malevolent rats, you have a thing of nightmares.

I did struggle with Tommy and especially Kate at times. They frustrated me a little. How can you have trouble believing what you're actually seeing. No one is telling you, you're actually witnessing first hand yet you still doubt...that always frustrates me in horror books. Having said that I absolutely loved the final 20% of the book and the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley, Titan Publishing and Christopher Golden for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This started off well, reading about Kate and Tommy's exciting new life in Italy, buying them new home for almost nothing and creating a new life with family. I was invested and intrigued. However as Kate and Tommy start to question what's really going on with their new house, I just became frustrated and didn't really understand why his grandparents didn't want to tell him. To me there seemed no point in the keeping the secret as it was causing no good, only harm.

I found the build up to certain events got me excited and invested but then when it came to the crunch it kept falling flat for me. I really liked the storyline I thought it wad unique and a good idea, but I just felt this could have been written better to get the reader to me more sucked in. Writing this, towards the end where we are reading about rats really did make me feel uneasy.

As a horror lover it can be difficult to find a spooky with a summer sunshine vibe, The House Of Last Resort was a perfect discovery to read throughout an August heatwave. The small Italian village setting is beautifully done, I could picture every moment of the story without drowning in excessive description.
The plot is straight forward with a small cast of characters that are easy to care about.

Written in third and switching between married couple Kate and Tommy, we follow their journey as they relocate from US to Italy and attempt to renovate their new home as well as reinvigorate the forgotten village of Becchina.

It did become frustrating when both Tommy and Kate staunchly refused to accept what they were physically seeing. I don't believe in ghosts either but if I were repeatedly encountering them I'm pretty damn sure I'd change my mind!
There's also a bit of a weird character twist that was shoehorned in to further the plot which felt a little cheap.

Nevertheless I enjoyed the story, particularly the less common setting. The House Of Last Resort reads like goosebumps for a mature audience and I'm always here for that.

Kate and Tommy start a new life in Italy.
They arrive in Italy from the States and all look perfect.
Then the happenings start.
Concept/premise 3
Plot 3
Prose 3.5
Characterisation 3

Highly enjoyable novel with an interesting setting and a cool historical evil to contend with. Christopher Golden is one of my go-to authors and this book is another reliable favourite.