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The Walls of the Castle
From four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award and finalist for the 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award Tom Piccirilli comes an intense and visceral psychological thriller novella, the first title in the Black Labyrinth imprint illustrated by Gothic artist Santiago Caruso.
In the labyrinthian maze of endless corridors, annexes, and wings of the enormous medical complex known as the Castle prowls a grief-stricken man determined to redeem himself and bring justice for those victims incapable of doing it for themselves.
During the four months that his son lay dying, ex-con Kasteel lost his job, his wife, and nearly his mind. He became a fixture at the Castle, a phantom prowling the halls in the deep night, a shadow of his former self until he faded from sight and was forgotten altogether.
Now, without any life to return to, he takes it upon himself to become the Castle's guardian. He lives off the grid hiding among the hundreds of miles of twisting passages, rooms, offices, and underground parking structures. Despair, confusion, and terror are the natural state and trade of any hospital: Not only must the patients endure disease and infirmity, but others are victims of physical and sexual abuse from the outside world or from cruel security guards.
The Castle was originally a colonial Dutch settlement: a village that grew into a town which grew into a city and at last became a hospital. Kasteel has lost his very identity to this place, taking for himself the original Dutch name for "Castle." Kasteel sleeps in empty operating theaters, sneaks food from the cafeteria, hacks into computers, and is privy to both staff and patient files. Using his skills as a burglar he tracks down the attackers, the deceivers, and the killers.
In the psychiatric wing's day rooms and gardens long-suffering patient Hedgewick is Kasteel's only friend. Hedgewick sees his father's ghost and claims to fight in a gladiatorial arena while the hospital guards bet on the winners. Kasteel and Hedge often meet in the Fool's Tower, a ten-story high steeple once used to quarantine yellow fever victims a century ago, overlooking acres of gardens. A place where family members go to pray for their loved ones, and the distraught often commit suicide.
But a new name is now whispered in the Castle: Abaddon, the ancient name for the angel of death. A brain-damaged woman has visions and speaks only to Kasteel. Abaddon is a killer, a man lost to the Castle like Kasteel himself, wandering the corridors searching out victims. Even as Abaddon hunts the innocent, Kasteel hunts Abaddon, eager for a final showdown that may at last set him free.
An atmospheric yet action-packed, mature psychological thriller that is part examination into the bonds of family and part treatise on the nature of identity, THE WALLS OF THE CASTLE explores the deepest areas of what makes us who we are. With a noir sensibility and complexity of character, the novella is a hybrid psychological thriller that's part suspense tale, part family saga, and part literate mystery.
"Tom Piccirilli straddles genres with the boldness of the best writers today, blending suspense and crime fiction into tight, brutal masterpieces."
–JAMES ROLLINS, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain
"(A Choir of Ill Children is) A wonderfully wacked, disorienting, fully creepy book…The poetic nature of the prose and seriousness of intent carried the day in every scene." —Dean Koontz
"A beautiful and perversely funny sort of crime novel: a hard-boiled hallucination....Headstone City gives you the distinctive shiver…all good writing—provides: the certainty that the writer's own ghosts are in it."—New York Times Book Review (Summer Reading issue)
In the labyrinthian maze of endless corridors, annexes, and wings of the enormous medical complex known as the Castle prowls a grief-stricken man determined to redeem himself and bring justice for those victims incapable of doing it for themselves.
During the four months that his son lay dying, ex-con Kasteel lost his job, his wife, and nearly his mind. He became a fixture at the Castle, a phantom prowling the halls in the deep night, a shadow of his former self until he faded from sight and was forgotten altogether.
Now, without any life to return to, he takes it upon himself to become the Castle's guardian. He lives off the grid hiding among the hundreds of miles of twisting passages, rooms, offices, and underground parking structures. Despair, confusion, and terror are the natural state and trade of any hospital: Not only must the patients endure disease and infirmity, but others are victims of physical and sexual abuse from the outside world or from cruel security guards.
The Castle was originally a colonial Dutch settlement: a village that grew into a town which grew into a city and at last became a hospital. Kasteel has lost his very identity to this place, taking for himself the original Dutch name for "Castle." Kasteel sleeps in empty operating theaters, sneaks food from the cafeteria, hacks into computers, and is privy to both staff and patient files. Using his skills as a burglar he tracks down the attackers, the deceivers, and the killers.
In the psychiatric wing's day rooms and gardens long-suffering patient Hedgewick is Kasteel's only friend. Hedgewick sees his father's ghost and claims to fight in a gladiatorial arena while the hospital guards bet on the winners. Kasteel and Hedge often meet in the Fool's Tower, a ten-story high steeple once used to quarantine yellow fever victims a century ago, overlooking acres of gardens. A place where family members go to pray for their loved ones, and the distraught often commit suicide.
But a new name is now whispered in the Castle: Abaddon, the ancient name for the angel of death. A brain-damaged woman has visions and speaks only to Kasteel. Abaddon is a killer, a man lost to the Castle like Kasteel himself, wandering the corridors searching out victims. Even as Abaddon hunts the innocent, Kasteel hunts Abaddon, eager for a final showdown that may at last set him free.
An atmospheric yet action-packed, mature psychological thriller that is part examination into the bonds of family and part treatise on the nature of identity, THE WALLS OF THE CASTLE explores the deepest areas of what makes us who we are. With a noir sensibility and complexity of character, the novella is a hybrid psychological thriller that's part suspense tale, part family saga, and part literate mystery.
"Tom Piccirilli straddles genres with the boldness of the best writers today, blending suspense and crime fiction into tight, brutal masterpieces."
–JAMES ROLLINS, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain
"(A Choir of Ill Children is) A wonderfully wacked, disorienting, fully creepy book…The poetic nature of the prose and seriousness of intent carried the day in every scene." —Dean Koontz
"A beautiful and perversely funny sort of crime novel: a hard-boiled hallucination....Headstone City gives you the distinctive shiver…all good writing—provides: the certainty that the writer's own ghosts are in it."—New York Times Book Review (Summer Reading issue)
90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
1141 people want to read
About the author
Tom Piccirilli
186 books387 followersThomas Piccirilli (May 27, 1965 – July 11, 2015) was an American novelist and short story writer.
Piccirilli sold over 150 stories in the mystery, thriller, horror, erotica, and science fiction fields. He was a two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for "Best Paperback Original" (2008, 2010). He was a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. He was also a finalist for the 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award given by the Mystery Writers of America, a final nominee for the Fantasy Award, and the winner of the first Bram Stoker Award given in the category of "Best Poetry Collection".
Piccirilli sold over 150 stories in the mystery, thriller, horror, erotica, and science fiction fields. He was a two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for "Best Paperback Original" (2008, 2010). He was a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. He was also a finalist for the 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award given by the Mystery Writers of America, a final nominee for the Fantasy Award, and the winner of the first Bram Stoker Award given in the category of "Best Poetry Collection".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 30, 2014
A man named Kasteel lives in the Castle, the hospital where his son died, so wracked with grief that he cannot leave...
So I got this as a reward for contributing to a Black Labyrinth Kickstarter to finance a new Joe Lansdale book. I'd heard of Tom Piccirilli before but never read him.
This was a pretty good little novella. Kasteel is a criminal who secretly lives in the hospital where his son died, acting as a guardian angel to the patients rather than letting go of his grief and going home to his wife.
The Walls of the Castle is a psychological atmospheric novel that is mainly about dealing with grief and loss. In Kasteel's case, he deals with it with violence, intimidation, and hiding from the world. Once he's convinced Abbadon, the Angel of Death, is also lurking in the hospital, the story gets even more intense.
The story read like a dark, violent Twilight Zone episode. I think it would look great filmed in black and white.
I had to dock a star because the ending felt really abrupt. I hope Kasteel remembers his name and leaves the hospital one day. Four out of five stars.
So I got this as a reward for contributing to a Black Labyrinth Kickstarter to finance a new Joe Lansdale book. I'd heard of Tom Piccirilli before but never read him.
This was a pretty good little novella. Kasteel is a criminal who secretly lives in the hospital where his son died, acting as a guardian angel to the patients rather than letting go of his grief and going home to his wife.
The Walls of the Castle is a psychological atmospheric novel that is mainly about dealing with grief and loss. In Kasteel's case, he deals with it with violence, intimidation, and hiding from the world. Once he's convinced Abbadon, the Angel of Death, is also lurking in the hospital, the story gets even more intense.
The story read like a dark, violent Twilight Zone episode. I think it would look great filmed in black and white.
I had to dock a star because the ending felt really abrupt. I hope Kasteel remembers his name and leaves the hospital one day. Four out of five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2013
This was a dark story of grief, guilt, loss and redemption.
The feelings of sadness, pain and grief so strongly permeated this novella that I couldn't help but feel all of it right along with our protagonist, Kasteel.
Kasteel is grieving for the loss of his son. He is grieving so much he cannot bring himself to leave the Castle,a huge sprawling hospital complex where his son was being treated. The Castle has been there for centuries and has seen its share of death and loss.
Ultimately, this story became something more than the sum of its parts. Will Kasteel ever be able to fully leave the castle? Can he ever cast off the pall of grief that hangs over him every single minute of every day? Can he or will he ever be redeemed?
You will need to read this to find out. Make sure you leave enough time to finish it because it's very hard to tear yourself away from this compelling story. Highest recommendation!
The feelings of sadness, pain and grief so strongly permeated this novella that I couldn't help but feel all of it right along with our protagonist, Kasteel.
Kasteel is grieving for the loss of his son. He is grieving so much he cannot bring himself to leave the Castle,a huge sprawling hospital complex where his son was being treated. The Castle has been there for centuries and has seen its share of death and loss.
Ultimately, this story became something more than the sum of its parts. Will Kasteel ever be able to fully leave the castle? Can he ever cast off the pall of grief that hangs over him every single minute of every day? Can he or will he ever be redeemed?
You will need to read this to find out. Make sure you leave enough time to finish it because it's very hard to tear yourself away from this compelling story. Highest recommendation!
August 26, 2013
The Castle always got people twisted around. The Castle didn’t let you go unless it wanted you to go.
Kasteel is a living man who haunts the hospital where his son died.
A former criminal, he has now found a new reason for living. He's become a guardian angel for the sick and weak.
There are some great scenes of shock and awe, but on the whole, little suspense, and the ending seemed rushed in an "Oh-crap!-I-really-need-to-finish-this!" way.
On the plus side, the illustrations by Santiago Caruso are deliciously creepy!
Kasteel is a living man who haunts the hospital where his son died.
A former criminal, he has now found a new reason for living. He's become a guardian angel for the sick and weak.
There are some great scenes of shock and awe, but on the whole, little suspense, and the ending seemed rushed in an "Oh-crap!-I-really-need-to-finish-this!" way.
On the plus side, the illustrations by Santiago Caruso are deliciously creepy!
September 28, 2013
Absolute amazing, emotional story of how the grief over the loss of a man's son transforms his life. This story simply isn't comparable to anything I've come across before. Tom Piccirilli has come up with a completely original tale of redemption and the reassessment of values. His characterization is flawless, and the setting for the drama.....you just have to read it yourself to truly "get" it. This is NOT a lightly-read story--it is one that will have you thinking over everything you've read long after. Simply put, I could not recommend this one highly enough!
May 9, 2025
“The Walls of The Castle” is a fantastic novella about a man named Kasteel who, after losing his son to a long and painful battle with cancer, has lost everything (his job, his wife, and nearly his sanity), and is living in the hospital. He lives seemingly undetected as the hospital’s guardian, hiding among the hundreds of empty offices, theaters, rooms, etc on the premises. Kasteel has almost become a facet of the building, losing all sense of his past live, even forgetting what his son looked like, all he can remember is the unbearable grief.
This novella is well-worth reading for anyone looking for a chilling, emotional, and very atmospheric read that is guaranteed to keep you turning pages.
This novella is well-worth reading for anyone looking for a chilling, emotional, and very atmospheric read that is guaranteed to keep you turning pages.
July 25, 2020
This book didn't have much of a beginning and only a somewhat satisfying ending, yet it was such a grisly enjoyable psychological read that I kept wishing to see these characters in a longer work.
August 24, 2013
A short read at around 90 pages but the quality of the story and the writing are immediately evident. Kasteel was grief stricken, for four months he watched as his only sons condition worsened until he eventually died.
Completely devastated he left everything behind, his wife, his job and his life as he became a living part of the massive hospital complex called the Castle. An ex-con with theft and violence a regular part of his past life, he is badly beaten by the hospital security guards and this becomes a turning point as his life takes on new meaning. Suddenly he has a purpose, he becomes a protector, a vigilante with a sense for the wrong and when bad things are about to happen.
An almost haunting atmosphere is present all through the book, as dark supernatural forces are suggested at in the haunting hospital complex. You are not forced to read this mans journey, you live it with him, through devastation, through desperation as he copes in his own way with the cruelty that life throws at him.
Completely devastated he left everything behind, his wife, his job and his life as he became a living part of the massive hospital complex called the Castle. An ex-con with theft and violence a regular part of his past life, he is badly beaten by the hospital security guards and this becomes a turning point as his life takes on new meaning. Suddenly he has a purpose, he becomes a protector, a vigilante with a sense for the wrong and when bad things are about to happen.
An almost haunting atmosphere is present all through the book, as dark supernatural forces are suggested at in the haunting hospital complex. You are not forced to read this mans journey, you live it with him, through devastation, through desperation as he copes in his own way with the cruelty that life throws at him.
May 19, 2013
It is a novella with the paramount importance of three Ls: love, life, and loss. The setting is unbelievably believable and the atmosphere is nearly tangible. The author manages to modernize the Gothic concept of a castle turning it into an outpost of death, life, desperation, help and hope.
The narration is powerfully gruesome and very dark, but the seemingly brusque character is, in fact, vulnerable and full of compassion. His callous shell harbors a passionate and kind heart. He is in a semi-exile, grieving the loss of his child. His self-imposed madness when the character forgets his true name, alienates from his wife, and lives on the massive premises of a hospital, called the Castle, is quite belieavable despite the seeming incongruity. In his voluntary incarceration in this casle, he saves the family from an abusive husband, helps other patients, and gives us an excellent lesson of compassion and kindness.
The novella also conveys a very powerful social message. It is not the leading one, but it is clearly visible and read between the lines.
If you like Robin Hood-like characters that fight for justice for others and eventually find peace for themselves, if you enjoy the passages with virtually haunting atmosphere, this novella is for you. It is a well-written oxymoron of a compassionate character and hard-boiled dark fiction
The narration is powerfully gruesome and very dark, but the seemingly brusque character is, in fact, vulnerable and full of compassion. His callous shell harbors a passionate and kind heart. He is in a semi-exile, grieving the loss of his child. His self-imposed madness when the character forgets his true name, alienates from his wife, and lives on the massive premises of a hospital, called the Castle, is quite belieavable despite the seeming incongruity. In his voluntary incarceration in this casle, he saves the family from an abusive husband, helps other patients, and gives us an excellent lesson of compassion and kindness.
The novella also conveys a very powerful social message. It is not the leading one, but it is clearly visible and read between the lines.
If you like Robin Hood-like characters that fight for justice for others and eventually find peace for themselves, if you enjoy the passages with virtually haunting atmosphere, this novella is for you. It is a well-written oxymoron of a compassionate character and hard-boiled dark fiction
June 26, 2018
An incredible, intense book. Read it in one sitting, if you can.
A man known to himself only as Kasteel wanders the labyrinthine innards of a sprawling hospital called the Castle, mourning his dead son. He turns his talent for violence to protecting the Innocents and punishing the lowlifes, perverts and predators around him. Finally, he faces off against a boogeyman called Abaddon, only to discover the limits of punishment as justice, and find what lies beyond.
Stark and contained, an unforgettable modern Gothic.
A man known to himself only as Kasteel wanders the labyrinthine innards of a sprawling hospital called the Castle, mourning his dead son. He turns his talent for violence to protecting the Innocents and punishing the lowlifes, perverts and predators around him. Finally, he faces off against a boogeyman called Abaddon, only to discover the limits of punishment as justice, and find what lies beyond.
Stark and contained, an unforgettable modern Gothic.
July 26, 2013
I remember a couple years ago at Mo*Con, hearing Gary Braunbeck relate a bit of Piccirilli lore. Apparently, the man had mentioned a story that started with a man whose son had died a week before, but who couldn’t bear to leave the hospital. He related this in asking if it was a good start. I believe Braunbeck’s response was something along the lines of a rousing chorus of “Fuck You”s. The Walls of the Castle appears to be that story and the fuck yous seem perfectly warranted.
So, you’ve got a guy whose name is definitely not Kasteel but who has no idea what his name actually is. His son’s dead, but he can’t remember or figure out why. And he’s wandering the grounds of a centuries old hospital that spans two mileswhile fighting brutal orderlies, torture-crazy candystripers, murderous morticians, and other colorful characters like Don Quijote del Castillo. Then the ghosts, clowns and Angel of destruction come in.
Ever since he decided to start focusing on crime and noir, Tom’s writing has been relatively straight forward. He’s been doing it so long, I forgot what it was like when he decides to go weird on you. And this is certainly bizarre, though not in the bare-feet-licking-your-eyelids-while-floating-and-expounding-upon-dadaism of bizarro. Slipstream would be a bit closer, but it still doesn’t quite hit the effect.
But, regardless of the oddity, of the confusion, the humanity is there. You live for 77 pages in the head of a man broken by the strain between what he was and what he was almost able to be. A man whose little slice of hope was torn from him without reason. A man whose world has become meaningless and senseless because of it. Like any purging, the experience is neither kind, nor pleasant.
But that oddity, in this case, fits the tale. We aren’t just told about this collapse, but forced to experience it. To be as disoriented and confused as he is. Made to feel his desperation to make up for the one right thing, in a history of horrid wrongs, that he could not save from the mindless cruelty of the world.
What can I say, it’s Piccirilli.
As the first entry of a planned ten in Dark Region’s Black Labrynth imprint, it is worth noting the difference you get in these books. Namely, the cover and interior artwork by Santiago Caruso, which is to be the calling card of all of the Black Labrynth books. I’m a nut for interior artwork anyways (just look at my ravings in the Hiram Grange reviews). It adds so much to the impact of the story when done right. But Santiago does something special here. His work is as concrete and as ethereal and the words on the page. Images that initially seem only slightly off but become more bizarre the more you consider them. Images that add to the story instead of simply replicating it. Hopefully the other books in the series are done this well.
Yep, fans of Pic’s newer work may well be turned off by this one and it isn’t quite the return to the gothic that old fans may have been waiting for. Also, it is extremely short, which may put other people off. Of course, if you are any of those people, I may be inclined to aim Braunbeck’s statement at you. I had a hell of a time here.
So, you’ve got a guy whose name is definitely not Kasteel but who has no idea what his name actually is. His son’s dead, but he can’t remember or figure out why. And he’s wandering the grounds of a centuries old hospital that spans two mileswhile fighting brutal orderlies, torture-crazy candystripers, murderous morticians, and other colorful characters like Don Quijote del Castillo. Then the ghosts, clowns and Angel of destruction come in.
Ever since he decided to start focusing on crime and noir, Tom’s writing has been relatively straight forward. He’s been doing it so long, I forgot what it was like when he decides to go weird on you. And this is certainly bizarre, though not in the bare-feet-licking-your-eyelids-while-floating-and-expounding-upon-dadaism of bizarro. Slipstream would be a bit closer, but it still doesn’t quite hit the effect.
But, regardless of the oddity, of the confusion, the humanity is there. You live for 77 pages in the head of a man broken by the strain between what he was and what he was almost able to be. A man whose little slice of hope was torn from him without reason. A man whose world has become meaningless and senseless because of it. Like any purging, the experience is neither kind, nor pleasant.
But that oddity, in this case, fits the tale. We aren’t just told about this collapse, but forced to experience it. To be as disoriented and confused as he is. Made to feel his desperation to make up for the one right thing, in a history of horrid wrongs, that he could not save from the mindless cruelty of the world.
What can I say, it’s Piccirilli.
As the first entry of a planned ten in Dark Region’s Black Labrynth imprint, it is worth noting the difference you get in these books. Namely, the cover and interior artwork by Santiago Caruso, which is to be the calling card of all of the Black Labrynth books. I’m a nut for interior artwork anyways (just look at my ravings in the Hiram Grange reviews). It adds so much to the impact of the story when done right. But Santiago does something special here. His work is as concrete and as ethereal and the words on the page. Images that initially seem only slightly off but become more bizarre the more you consider them. Images that add to the story instead of simply replicating it. Hopefully the other books in the series are done this well.
Yep, fans of Pic’s newer work may well be turned off by this one and it isn’t quite the return to the gothic that old fans may have been waiting for. Also, it is extremely short, which may put other people off. Of course, if you are any of those people, I may be inclined to aim Braunbeck’s statement at you. I had a hell of a time here.
August 25, 2013
A perfect blend of genres; suspense, thriller, fantasy and horror. The Walls of the Castle by Tom Piccirilli is all of this, and more.
If you've read any of my reviews, you probably know how I feel about opening lines and how they can really grab you and pull you into a story from the very beginning. Case in point..."His son had been dead for two weeks, in the ground for ten days, he was told, and Kasteel was still sitting in the ICU waiting area, spooking the nurses." I'm in, and what a great read this turned out to be.
What follows is a series of vignettes about Kasteel's strange new life behind The Walls of the Castle. The Castle hasn't always been a hospital, it has a rich history dating back to before the American Revolution when it was constructed by Dutch settlers as a stronghold to fight off Indian attacks. Today the hospital employs over nine thousand people so you can imagine how easy it might be to become invisible if you wanted to.
At times cringe-worthy and occasionally gruesome, The Walls of the Castle is more than just a story to make you squirm. It's about a father's love, about redemption, about good versus evil. In short, it's a damn fine story.
Originally available as a signed limited edition hardcover from Dark Regions press, you can now get the book from Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle formats. If you happen to subscribe to Amazon Prime you can borrow it for free as one of your monthly selections from the Kindle lending library.
Also worth noting is the excellent cover and interior art, from artist Santiago Caruso, included in the Kindle edition.
I can highly recommend The Walls of the Castle from Tom Piccirilli.
If you've read any of my reviews, you probably know how I feel about opening lines and how they can really grab you and pull you into a story from the very beginning. Case in point..."His son had been dead for two weeks, in the ground for ten days, he was told, and Kasteel was still sitting in the ICU waiting area, spooking the nurses." I'm in, and what a great read this turned out to be.
What follows is a series of vignettes about Kasteel's strange new life behind The Walls of the Castle. The Castle hasn't always been a hospital, it has a rich history dating back to before the American Revolution when it was constructed by Dutch settlers as a stronghold to fight off Indian attacks. Today the hospital employs over nine thousand people so you can imagine how easy it might be to become invisible if you wanted to.
At times cringe-worthy and occasionally gruesome, The Walls of the Castle is more than just a story to make you squirm. It's about a father's love, about redemption, about good versus evil. In short, it's a damn fine story.
Originally available as a signed limited edition hardcover from Dark Regions press, you can now get the book from Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle formats. If you happen to subscribe to Amazon Prime you can borrow it for free as one of your monthly selections from the Kindle lending library.
Also worth noting is the excellent cover and interior art, from artist Santiago Caruso, included in the Kindle edition.
I can highly recommend The Walls of the Castle from Tom Piccirilli.
April 28, 2013
The is the first in the Black Labyrinth imprint over at Dark Regions Press. I was super excited about these books to come out when I saw Piccirilli was the first author and Joe R. Lansdale would be the second. How could they be anything less than stellar?
This first one was less than stellar. Walls read like an excerpt from a much longer story. I felt like I missed the first 50 pages and the last 75 pages of the book. What was there was a very entertaining 95 pages of dark, physiological terror. I have many questions about the main character, Kasteel's back story and very little information was given as to why Kasteel felt the need to do many of the things he did. It really is too bad because I'm sure Piccirilli could put some real tasty stuff about his time in prison, maybe a flashback or a good shower shanking story.
Reading Walls gave me the same feelings I had when I was reading Gaiman's American Gods. I'm sure most people would love to have their work compared to American Gods, but I thought it sucked big old donkey dick. I can only dream about American Gods being 95 pages.
After all that I still recommend picking up a copy of The Walls of the Castle. All proceeds from eBook sales go directly to Tom Piccirilli and will help the strain of his mounting medical bills. Again, BETTER than American Gods. Woop Woop!!
This first one was less than stellar. Walls read like an excerpt from a much longer story. I felt like I missed the first 50 pages and the last 75 pages of the book. What was there was a very entertaining 95 pages of dark, physiological terror. I have many questions about the main character, Kasteel's back story and very little information was given as to why Kasteel felt the need to do many of the things he did. It really is too bad because I'm sure Piccirilli could put some real tasty stuff about his time in prison, maybe a flashback or a good shower shanking story.
Reading Walls gave me the same feelings I had when I was reading Gaiman's American Gods. I'm sure most people would love to have their work compared to American Gods, but I thought it sucked big old donkey dick. I can only dream about American Gods being 95 pages.
After all that I still recommend picking up a copy of The Walls of the Castle. All proceeds from eBook sales go directly to Tom Piccirilli and will help the strain of his mounting medical bills. Again, BETTER than American Gods. Woop Woop!!
July 25, 2013
I enjoyed this book but was overall a bit disappointed. I enjoyed the stuff kasteel did to help people and I really enjoyed how it was written in a way you can draw your own conclusions, for example a lot of the book is like that, but when it comes to the main story about who kasteel is and what is going on in the castle I feel like I missed whatever conclusion that Tom was pointing me towards. It just didn't make sense to me and it was kind of weird. I was also a bit disappointed that there where no illustrations, the publisher made a big deal about the illustrations In this new series and that was a big part of the reason I bought this one but apparently the kindle edition don't get to see them.
November 6, 2012
This novella is intense, dark and often twisted. For those who haven't read Piccirilli, his writing style is one that grips you, makes you flinch and close one eye, but completely prevents you from putting down the book.
The Walls of the Castle is no exception to this writing style. This novella is intense, sometimes brutal and is a revealing exposition of the human mind and spirit.
It's also the first book in the new Black Labyrinth imprint, and if you order the book from us you can help Tom in his fight against brain cancer: http://www.darkregions.com/books/the-...
This one is a must-read.
The Walls of the Castle is no exception to this writing style. This novella is intense, sometimes brutal and is a revealing exposition of the human mind and spirit.
It's also the first book in the new Black Labyrinth imprint, and if you order the book from us you can help Tom in his fight against brain cancer: http://www.darkregions.com/books/the-...
This one is a must-read.
October 6, 2014
Reading Tom Piccirilli is always a priviledge, and THE WALLS OF THE CASTLE is no different. The themes of this novella are rather classic, but the setting is shining through its originality and the execution is fierce and emotional the way only Piccirilli knows how to write it. THE WALLS OF THE CASTLE is beautiful, eerie, visceral and highly symbolic. I gotta say the ending was a tad disappointing, but it's not really a mystery so I enjoyed the ride more then the arrival.
Another mandatory stop for Piccirilli fans.
Another mandatory stop for Piccirilli fans.
July 4, 2013
This was amazing. Tom Piccirilli has filled this book to the brim with heart and horror and insanity. It's a story of despair and redemption so beautiful I had to read it in a single sitting. Just wonderful!
May 23, 2016
An interesting story line that completely falls apart near the end. Piccirilli has a habit of letting the quirkiness of his storytelling overpower readers' ability to suspend disbelief.
September 1, 2013
Reading The Walls of the Castle, it's easy to see why Piccirilli has won so many awards. His vivid writing style bridges the gap between poetry and prose. The characters are all dark and wonderfully flawed, creating added tension to the piece. I read this in one sitting and having begun in bed in the morning, I couldn't tear myself away. The pages turn faster and faster, until a well-rounded end.
There only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because there are a couple of very minor typos hidden in there (the pesky little suckers!) and that it was too short! I'd love to see this developed even further into a fully-blown novel, or see the return of Kasteel, a hero-in-the-rough who has a lot of depth I would love to see bleed out on the page.
There only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because there are a couple of very minor typos hidden in there (the pesky little suckers!) and that it was too short! I'd love to see this developed even further into a fully-blown novel, or see the return of Kasteel, a hero-in-the-rough who has a lot of depth I would love to see bleed out on the page.
November 17, 2012
Pic absolutely knocked this one out of the park! I loved everything about this novella. It was alive and dark and gritty and haunting and brilliant! Kasteel is one of the most interesting (and brutal) protagonists I have ran across in a while and I could not help but root for him during his quest.
A man, grieving, stuck in a place in-between reality that may be a hospital, may be a Castle, may be heaven or might just be hell. May just be… all of the above. Kasteel is trapped. Searching for Redemption? Love? Peace? Will he ever be able to leave The Castle?
Highest Recommendation. 5 Stars!
A man, grieving, stuck in a place in-between reality that may be a hospital, may be a Castle, may be heaven or might just be hell. May just be… all of the above. Kasteel is trapped. Searching for Redemption? Love? Peace? Will he ever be able to leave The Castle?
Highest Recommendation. 5 Stars!
November 18, 2013
Enjoyable novella about grief, loss and how to cope. Piccirilli created a couple of excellent characters in Kasteel and the actual Castle itself; a massive, towering hospital. The author's voice, style and skill with words is very apparent. The overall tone of the story is downbeat and almost depressive, but some redemption is to be found. Kasteel is an interesting protagonist the reader will not forget too quickly.
October 3, 2014
As a first time reader of Tom Piccirilli I was really impressed with the descriptions of the castle and the way he was able to express the feelings of the characters. I've never read anything this dark before and really enjoyed it. I will definitely be checking out more of his work very soon.
August 13, 2013
Enjoyed this story of grief and redemption. I love Piccirilli's voice, and he tells this story with his usual guttural, noir-ish tones.
Kasteel was a great character, and I felt strongly for him.
Kasteel was a great character, and I felt strongly for him.
November 6, 2014
Very different to the normal Piccirilli fare, but not too bad.
January 12, 2016
This is a great book with great characters and a nice touch of the supernatural!
November 11, 2017
This was my first read by Piccirilli, and I was blown away. A dark, surreal series of vignettes featuring a grieving anti-hero, this took me on an emotional journey I won't soon forget. I'll definitely be seeking out more this late author's work.
May 23, 2019
Finally got around to reading this one and not too bad. Actually pretty unique. Modern Gothic Noir? Crime Noir x Haunted Castle genre? It might sound weird but it works.
March 15, 2016
I received this book (novella?) in a "grab bag" package from Dark Regions Press.
I have to say, despite the blurb saying Tom Piccirilli has sold over 150 stories and has won numerous awards, I have never heard of the man. So, after reading the summery, I was intrigued.
Even halfway through the story, I had no idea how to feel about it. It reads like a version of The Twilight Zone, or Outer Limits. In fact, I could even see it as an episode on The X-Files. Allow me to explain.
Kasteel (the main character) wanders the Castle - an immense hospital that is more of a city, than a hospital. It's been added to, changed, and even seems to have a mind of its own. Kasteel is upset at the death of his son. That's at least the normal part.
As he wanders the hospital, it seems as if only some people pay attention to him. At times, you get the feeling that maybe he died as well, only to then have him beaten by security.
Coming in at 90 pages (with illustrations), there isn't much to say without giving anything away. I enjoyed Piccirilli's style and descriptive writing. I would have given this 4 stars, but, as many others commented, the ending was extremely abrupt and unfinished.
I can see this as the beginning of a series, or even just a specific character - like the Odd Thomas of Koontz - but if it doesn't grow to that, then the ending was unsatisfying. A shame, considering the story was so riveting from the beginning.
I have to say, despite the blurb saying Tom Piccirilli has sold over 150 stories and has won numerous awards, I have never heard of the man. So, after reading the summery, I was intrigued.
Even halfway through the story, I had no idea how to feel about it. It reads like a version of The Twilight Zone, or Outer Limits. In fact, I could even see it as an episode on The X-Files. Allow me to explain.
Kasteel (the main character) wanders the Castle - an immense hospital that is more of a city, than a hospital. It's been added to, changed, and even seems to have a mind of its own. Kasteel is upset at the death of his son. That's at least the normal part.
As he wanders the hospital, it seems as if only some people pay attention to him. At times, you get the feeling that maybe he died as well, only to then have him beaten by security.
Coming in at 90 pages (with illustrations), there isn't much to say without giving anything away. I enjoyed Piccirilli's style and descriptive writing. I would have given this 4 stars, but, as many others commented, the ending was extremely abrupt and unfinished.
I can see this as the beginning of a series, or even just a specific character - like the Odd Thomas of Koontz - but if it doesn't grow to that, then the ending was unsatisfying. A shame, considering the story was so riveting from the beginning.
July 25, 2014
Kasteel (the main character) is grieving over the loss of his son, and he spends all his time at the hospital where he died (the castle). The castle is a weird old hospital that has served a number of functions over the years, and there are many dark corners that take on a life of their own. The relationship between Kasteel and the Castle is complicated, and I honestly didn't fully comprehend it because the story was so short.
This is where I had a problem with the book: I wanted it to be longer. At 88 pages, it's hard to put all that detail into the characters and still fully explain the story without a data dump (which would have ruined it completely). I ended the book with a lot of questions that have no answers. The good news is this: it was so well written and compelling, I wanted to read more. The bad news is that I can't. If there is ever a sequel to this book, I'll pick it up in a heartbeat. I've read Piccirilli before and have never been disappointed. Even with my unanswered questions, I'm not disappointed this time either.
This is where I had a problem with the book: I wanted it to be longer. At 88 pages, it's hard to put all that detail into the characters and still fully explain the story without a data dump (which would have ruined it completely). I ended the book with a lot of questions that have no answers. The good news is this: it was so well written and compelling, I wanted to read more. The bad news is that I can't. If there is ever a sequel to this book, I'll pick it up in a heartbeat. I've read Piccirilli before and have never been disappointed. Even with my unanswered questions, I'm not disappointed this time either.
March 30, 2013
Really well done paranormal novel where the setting plays a central character. Typically that kind of thing doesn't work, but Piccirilli pulls it off to great effect here.
Kasteel is a recently bereaved father who can't leave the hospital where his son died. He literally can't leave. The Castle, a sprawling, ancient complex, needs a champion and its chosen Kasteel to do its bidding. So he sleeps in the OR rooms and steal food from the cafeteria and gets called to duty to help battered families and accident victims.
The ending doesn't tie things up as neatly as most readers would like, but this is the first in a series, so allowances must be made.
Highly recommended if you're in the mood for something dark and mysterious.
Kasteel is a recently bereaved father who can't leave the hospital where his son died. He literally can't leave. The Castle, a sprawling, ancient complex, needs a champion and its chosen Kasteel to do its bidding. So he sleeps in the OR rooms and steal food from the cafeteria and gets called to duty to help battered families and accident victims.
The ending doesn't tie things up as neatly as most readers would like, but this is the first in a series, so allowances must be made.
Highly recommended if you're in the mood for something dark and mysterious.
January 2, 2014
The Walls of the Castle is a haunting story of a soul trapped in guilt and loss. The castle is an old structure now serving a hospital, and it becomes the literal trap for a man struggling to deal with his son's death. The protagonist Kasteel is a man driven by dark impulses and his belief in life, the system, and happiness has been shattered. In desperation, he attempts to save others as a form of redemption, but there is more to the castle than doctors and medicine. As Kasteel seeks answers, he only finds more questions. Madness, fear of the unknown, and pain fill the pages. There were a few threads left dangling in the end, but this is a fine tale.
If You Like: Henry James, Sheridan Le Fanu, H.P. Lovecraft
http://gothicreadersbookclub.blogspot...
If You Like: Henry James, Sheridan Le Fanu, H.P. Lovecraft
http://gothicreadersbookclub.blogspot...
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