Anna has only two rules for the annual Pace family destination vacations: Tread lightly, and survive.
It isn’t easy, when she’s the only one in the family who doesn’t quite seem to fit. Her twin brother Benny goes with the flow so much he’s practically dissolved, and her older sister Nicole is so used to everyone—including her blandly docile husband and two kids—falling in line that Anna often ends up in trouble for simply asking a question. Mom seizes every opportunity to question her life choices, and Dad, when not reminding everyone who has paid for this vacation, just wants some peace and quiet.
The gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness–including Benny’s demanding new boyfriend (it’s Christopher, not Chris). That is, until things start going off the rails–the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and, oh, the dark, violent past of the villa itself.
Jennifer Thorne skewers all-too-familiar family dynamics in this sly, wickedly funny vacation-Gothic. Beautifully unhinged and deeply satisfying, Diavola is a sharp twist on the classic haunted house story, exploring loneliness, belonging, and the seemingly inescapable bonds of family mythology.
(Warning: May invoke feelings of irritation, dread, and despair that come with large family gatherings.)
Praise for Diavola
“Full of emotions, humorous moments, spine-tingling scenes, and lots of tension, Thorne’s newest is a modern horror story that will grab readers and not let go.” –Library Journal, starred review
“Thorne’s terrifying, perfectly paced latest (after Lute, 2022) is a must-read for anyone who likes haunted-house stories.” –Booklist, starred review
“Jennifer Thorne’s Diavola is an exercise in delicious twists and masterful suspense, told in the smart, snarky voice of Anna Pace, a jaded Manhattanite on a vacation quite literally from hell…Diavola is a ferocious, maximalist horror ride, an impressive display of Jennifer Thorne’s skill at crafting unsettling and disorienting scenes of terror.” –Bookpage
“Diavola is a stunning, darkly funny and genuinely eerie vacation gothic with teeth. Thorne invokes rural Italy, toxic family dynamics and a visceral haunting with finesse. Readers are going to love this!” –Dawn Kurtagich, award-winning author of The Madness
“A wholly unique, wicked twist on the classic haunted house story, Thorne’s Diavola will take you on a vacation like no other. I feverishly flipped the pages of this inventive horror novel, as enthralled by the family politics as I was by the ghosts.” –Lee Kelley, author of With Regrets
“Imagine The Exorcist meets The Haunting of Hill House in a creepy Tuscan villa with lots of atmosphere and a vein of dark humour running throughout. Brilliant!” –Gabriel Dylan, author of Whiteout
“Jennifer Thorne scorches the petals right off The White Lotus with this supernatural downward spiral of gut-wrenching, teeth-baring terror. If you thought vacationing with your family was a living hell, look no further than Diavola as a primo esempio that there are deeper, darker levels to descent that would make even Dante blush. This isn’t your mama’s Italian gothic, this is a literary garrote strapped right at your throat, and my God, does it ever squeeze.” –Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters
“You think your last family vacation was horrifying? DIAVOLA is about to give you a run for your money. Tuscany has never been creepier.” –Liz Kerin, author of Night’s Edge
