Title: Puzzle HouseAuthor: Duncan Ralston
First Published: September 15, 2023
Publisher: Wicked House Publishing
Pages: 225
Genre: Horror
Format: Ebook
Source: NetGalley
Rating:
Synopsis:
Six strangers arrive at the home of preeminent puzzle master Alexei Vasiliev for the reading of his will. Among them are the deceased's widow, who'd already begun divorce proceedings, a virologist troubled by actions in his past, and a convicted murderer on day release. The potential beneficiaries will split Vasiliev's $150M fortune if they participate in his last great work.
The choice is simple: leave the house with nothing or continue in the hope of solving the six interconnecting escape rooms within this house.
Once there, the participants soon discover Puzzle House is far deadlier than it appears, and that making their way through the rooms may be a matter of life and death. Someone is watching their every move, toying with them, turning them against each other. With their lives on the line, they are forced to wonder, is it all just a deadly game created by a gleeful sadist, or something far more sinister?
Buy the Book: AmazonReview
I’m a big fan of puzzle games, escape rooms most of all, but I had never read an escape room book. When I laid my eyes on Puzzle House I knew I had to read it, I’m glad I did because the book delivered on the locked room mystery premise beyond my wildest dreams.
An engrossing mystery, interesting characters I cared about, snappy dialogue, and a handful of shocking twists and turns that made me gasp: Puzzle House had it all. I felt lukewarm about the ending, but the ending didn’t matter to me with how much fun I had with the story and characters.
I’m also not a squeamish person by any means and I’ve read books with far more disgusting content, yet I found myself feeling nauseated with one particular scene, which was a first for me. For that I respect Ralston’s ability to immerse me so much in the story to illicit a physical reaction out of me.
This was my first Duncan Ralston book and I understand why he has garnered such a devoted fanbase. Half a year after I read this book and I still think about it. I’m glad this book was my first by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.
Quote
“This puzzle was made for me, he thought.”
Content Warnings
View Spoiler »About the Author
About Duncan Ralston
Duncan Ralston was born in Toronto and spent his teens in small-town Ontario. As a “grownup,” Duncan lives with his wife in Toronto, where he writes dark fiction about the things that frighten, sicken, and delight him. His work has been reviewed in Scream: the Horror Magazine, Cultured Vultures and Daily Dead. In addition to his twisted short stories found in GRISTLE & BONE and VIDEO NASTIES, he is the author of the novels SALVAGE, THE METHOD and GHOSTLAND, and the novellas WILDFIRE, WOOM and EBENEZER.
Duncan’s influences include (but are not limited to): Stephen King, Clive Barker, Richard Matheson, Harlan Ellison, Jack Ketchum, Roald Dahl, Irvine Welsh, Chuck Palahnuik and Bret Easton Ellis.
He runs the small press Shadow Work Publishing, which has published the writing of Jack Ketchum, Wrath James White, Jeff Strand, William Malmborg, The Sisters of Slaughter, Glenn Rolfe and many others.
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