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DIAVOLA by Jennifer Thorne

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time! But I also have LUTE on my “to read�� pile

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Release Date: March 26th, 2024

General Genre: Horror, Thrillers, Supernatural

Sub-Genre/Themes: Vacation horror, family dynamics, domestic drama, black sheep, Italy, AirB&B rental, Paranormal activity, visions & nightmares, sibling rivalry, haunted house

Writing Style: Fast pace, witty & sharp, gruesomely detailed, modern, cinematic

What You Need to Know: I read the NetGalley eBook from Tor Nightfire.


My Reading Experience: One of the best things about this reading experience is how it felt like I was visiting Italy. The author, Jennifer Thorne, skillfully immerses the reader in the setting. So refreshing! I didn’t realize how so many of the books I read are set here in the States so it was quite enjoyable to be a tourist in Italy.
Another very personal aspect of this story is the family dynamic. I have rented vacation homes with extended family before and sometimes, the drama experienced in the pages of this book is exactly how family vacations really are.

In a nutshell, the main character, Anna is the black sheep of the family. Her parents have rented an AirB&B in Italy and the whole family is staying there together. Anna’s sister, Nicole, and her husband and their two daughters plus her brother Benny and his partner. The drama begins immediately and it’s incredibly frustrating. Like, enough to actually raise your blood pressure. The unfair accusations, gaslighting, back-handed compliments, nit-picking, and insults, are just a lot. Especially when Anna realizes the villa they’re staying in is haunted.
The scares are real. Thorne doesn’t add anything particularly new to the level of paranormal activity or the variety of hauntings but she is adept at crafting atmosphere and dread. Anna is able to tolerate so much horror! It was terrifying. I would have been out of that house so fast.
But the family does endure and it’s creepy.
As far as haunted house stories go, I think this book adds something unique to the sub-genre in terms of how in-depth it goes with the family issues. The complicated relationships add a layer of frustration and anxiety that manages to up the risk and double down on those spooky vibes.
There were never any lulls in the story–just a perfectly paced tale of one woman’s struggle to convince her distrustful family they should flee from this beautiful house they spent so much money on…you can imagine how that goes.


Final Recommendation:
Comps: Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia