Fantasy Book Critic: Book review: Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Thorne is an American author of books for adults and young readers who writes from a nineteenth-century Cotswold cottage in the medieval market town of Minchinhampton alongside her husband, two sons, and various other animals.

Publisher: Tor Nightfire (March 26, 2024) Page count: 296 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardcover, paperback Genre: horror

I loved this one. It’s creepy and atmospheric, but also entertaining. It’s darkly funny when and where necessary and unsettling most of the time. Plus, it provides a fresh spin on the classic haunted house story.

Anna and her dysfunctional family spend a holiday in a tiny Italian village, staying in a villa with a tower that no one should open. But they do, of course, and mayhem ensues.

"Diavola" makes the process of unsettling readers entertaining. Anna’s narration has a tongue-in-cheek tone, and her spiky dynamics with her siblings and parents are hilarious. But it gets even better: the author nails the upper-middle-class vices and idiosyncrasies, particularly their urge to prove they’re important, have well-paid jobs, and are en route to professional and personal success.

Anna is the black sheep of the family. Extremely intelligent but rebellious by nature, she can’t find a common language with her relatives. She’s also a rebel at work (she's an art director working for huge corporations). There’s an epic scene in which she draws her take on a new hot dog visual identity. It’ll make you laugh out loud.

One more thing: the story doesn’t end in Italy. The family's stay in Italy is just the beginning of a horror that follows Anna back to the States. She’s haunted by the ghost, yes, but also by her family’s expectations and the less-than-inspiring work necessary to pay her bills and live in a big city.

I loved "Diavola" - the author takes the best elements of “haunted house” stories and makes them unique, fresh, and full of personality. Anna’s snarky voice won’t appeal to everyone, and that’s fine. Just sample the book, and if you like the tone, prepare for a tense but hilarious ride.