The House of Last Resort: A Novel

Christopher Golden

$29.00

Publication Date: January 30th, 2024

Publisher:

St. Martin's Press

ISBN:

9781250285898

Pages:

304

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Description

The next high concept horror novel from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden.

Across Italy there are many half-empty towns, nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to cities. The beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is among them, but its mayor has taken drastic measures to rebuild—selling abandoned homes to anyone in the world for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years.

It’s a no-brainer for American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi. Both work remotely, and Becchina is the home of Tommy’s grandparents, his closest living relatives. It feels like a romantic adventure, 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 is furious, even a little frightened, when she realizes which house they’ve bought.

There are rooms in an annex at the back of the house that they didn’t know were there. The place makes strange noises at night, locked doors are suddenly open, and when they go to a family gathering, they’re certain people are whispering about them, and about their house, which one neighbor refers to as The House of Last Resort. Soon, they learn that the home was owned for generations by the Church, but the real secret, and the true dread, is unlocked when they finally learn what the priests were doing in this house for all those long years…and how many people died in the strange chapel inside. While down in the catacombs beneath Becchina…something stirs.

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN (he/him) is the New York Times bestselling and Bram Stoker award-winning author of Ararat, Snowblind, Dead Ringers, and Of Saints and Shadows, among many other novels. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of two cult favorite comic book series, Baltimore and Joe Golem: Occult Detective. Golden is also the editor of such anthologies as Seize the Night, The New Dead, and Dark Cities, and the co-host of the popular podcast "Three Guys with Beards." He lives in Massachusetts.

Praise for The House of Last Resort: A Novel

Best Horror Books of 2024 — Esquire

"This novel shines. Golden’s frenzied tale of demons and exorcisms is fast-paced, his portrayal of the insidiousness of possession is unsettling and it all comes together in a thrilling closing act." —New York Times
"Golden evokes chills without relying on clichés and makes suspending disbelief easy through skillful characterizations of the leads. Horror fans should check this out." —Publishers Weekly

"This new take on the exorcism tale adds spirits, desiccated corpses, and disgusting rats to the mix, making every page drip with terrifying imagery. It’s a great choice for avid horror fans." —Booklist

"Golden draws on the very best of seventies and eighties pulp-horror influences, with hordes of rats, ambulatory corpses, and a grand diabolic finale. But he makes time for quiet moments of chilling intensity, including a kitchen-table conversation that ranks among the most disquieting scenes of the year. The House of Last Resort is horror that goes hard but never forgets to be fun. It’s the author’s finest novel to date." —Esquire, Best Horror Books of 2024

"Golden is already a library favorite, and his latest will be eagerly devoured." —Library Journal

"A gripping, relentlessly entertaining ’80s paperback, full of big ideas and bigger payoffs that’ll keep you up all night turning page after page." —Paste Magazine

“Christopher Golden is one of those rare writers with range and consistency. I’ll follow him anywhere. From its eerie, exotic setting to its claustrophobic creepiness, The House of Last Resort delivers!” —Michael Koryta, NYT bestselling author

"The king of horror thrillers does it again. With this thoroughly modern exorcism story, Golden will make you believe in the existence of true evil." —Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor

“In The House of Last Resort, Golden builds an idyllic dream world, gently lulling you into an illusion of well-being before springing the trap—ensnaring the reader and dragging you down into the hellish depths hiding beneath the facade; a burning abyss jam-packed with enough ghosts and demons and rat-infested corpses that you’ll fidget and squirm even as you feverishly turn the pages in wide-eyed, glorious terror. It’s a helluva ride!” —Philip Fracassi, author of Boys in the Valley

“An absolute ripper of a fire-and-brimstone, capital-H Horror novel. I tore through it so fast my fingertips bled. Which probably summoned the book’s demons.” —Daniel Kraus, author of Whalefall

"Golden has never been better. The hot streak that started with Road of Bones blazes out of control through this stellar, terrifying, and richly layered haunted house story." —Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt and Cuckoo

"Dark, eerie, full of dread, each page exudes menace-I couldn't put it down. Part of me remains in The House of Last Resort long after I closed the book." —Catriona Ward, author of Looking Glass Sound

“When it comes to high concept terror, few can craft it as expertly as Christopher Golden. With The House of Last Resort, Golden sweeps you up in the wonder and joy of a couple's romantic move across the globe, only to pull back the curtain to reveal a new-gothic, suspenseful dark side that will have you turning pages in a fever. You’ll lose sleep from this book, in the best way possible.” —Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity