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Puzzle House #1
Puzzle House
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 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?
The choice is 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?
210 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2023
522 people are currently reading
4052 people want to read
About the author
Duncan Ralston
82 books2,052 followers**CVLT: Lonely Motel Book 3 out now!!!**
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 814 reviews
August 20, 2023
Full review at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
Okay, so I will admit it – I get along great with this author. However, I get along great with a lot of authors, and I will not say the following about all of them:
I have not read anything bad or what I felt to be sub-par from this author.
Which is why I got the inside scoop and I am about to reveal the inspiration for this story.
Duncan had a weekend to himself, so he decided on a movie marathon. Of course, it started with ESCAPE ROOM, which planted the seed. Then he watched SAW. And SAW II. And SAW III. Finally he reached the point where he felt he’d seen enough SAW.
After a quick bathroom break and a TV dinner – because that’s how he rolls when he is alone – he decided to spice things up. SPICE WORLD played for about 10 minutes when he decided nope, it doesn’t get better over time.
Time for Cage! NATIONAL TREASURE and CON AIR.
That left him feeling kind of frisky, so he watched ON GOLDEN POND, because he mistook it for ON GOLDEN BLONDE, but don’t worry, he still got off because that Henry Fonda aged really well.
Feeling tired, he fell asleep watching CONSTANTINE and had a nightmare about the end of the world.
What does this have to do with the story, Mort?
Well, here’s the puzzling thing, how much of the information I have given you are clues and how much is misdirection?
5 STARS
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
Okay, so I will admit it – I get along great with this author. However, I get along great with a lot of authors, and I will not say the following about all of them:
I have not read anything bad or what I felt to be sub-par from this author.
Which is why I got the inside scoop and I am about to reveal the inspiration for this story.
Duncan had a weekend to himself, so he decided on a movie marathon. Of course, it started with ESCAPE ROOM, which planted the seed. Then he watched SAW. And SAW II. And SAW III. Finally he reached the point where he felt he’d seen enough SAW.
After a quick bathroom break and a TV dinner – because that’s how he rolls when he is alone – he decided to spice things up. SPICE WORLD played for about 10 minutes when he decided nope, it doesn’t get better over time.
Time for Cage! NATIONAL TREASURE and CON AIR.
That left him feeling kind of frisky, so he watched ON GOLDEN POND, because he mistook it for ON GOLDEN BLONDE, but don’t worry, he still got off because that Henry Fonda aged really well.
Feeling tired, he fell asleep watching CONSTANTINE and had a nightmare about the end of the world.
What does this have to do with the story, Mort?
Well, here’s the puzzling thing, how much of the information I have given you are clues and how much is misdirection?
5 STARS
October 6, 2024
Cannot believe I waited so long to enjoy my first Duncan Ralston book. Puzzle House hooked me immediately, and is reminiscent of the Saw movies starring Tobin Bell - which I loved and watched repeatedly. There is plenty of clever dialogue from the well developed characters, balanced out with a "healthy" dose of extreme gruesomeness.
Highly recommend Ralston's Puzzle House for a quick and satisfying horror fix.
Highly recommend Ralston's Puzzle House for a quick and satisfying horror fix.
July 18, 2023
NOW LISTEN TO ME. I’m going to need a second book. I enjoyed this so much, I read it in one sitting! The world building that was started during the last chapter was phenomenal and totally scary! I NEED to know what happens next. This was seriously the best 5 star read I’ve had in a while. So many unexpected things happened throughout the book, it really kept me on edge. There was no lull throughout the whole book, and the character introductions were so good. If I’m being honest, I was just expecting something along the lines of the Escape Room movies, but I was given SO MUCH MORE. The story took a much darker and cataclysmic trajectory. I highly recommend this read. I could easily see this one going viral on booktok and bookstagram for sure. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2023
Six strangers, a chance to win $150M, a puzzle house. Sounded like an interesting horror/mystery book, but it picked me up and dropped me off in outlier alley.
This sounded intriguing and piqued my "trapped/escape house" interest. This book started on a high note. Six individuals receive notice that they are beneficiaries of Alexei Vasiliev, a puzzle master. They need to come to his house for the reading of his will. For his estranged wife, it makes sense to be there, but the others do not know Alexei Vasiliev or why they are in the will but with a lot of money on the line they agree to attend.
When they arrive, they learn that they must complete six puzzles/escape rooms and that they can leave at any time. But as they begin to play, things prove to be deadly. Already I was annoyed, they are told they are inheriting money and then there is the whole well......you need to do this first, take your chances, and see what happens....
This started strong for me as the author introduced the six strangers and had them arrive for the reading of the will. But as they begin to play alone and 'escape' the puzzles/escape rooms, things began to go downhill for me. Toward the last fourth of the book, things get even more deadly and bizarre. The book takes a few big turns, and they just didn't work for me. I went from enjoying the book to feeling quite meh about it.
Others are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. It has shock value, I will give it that but at the same time, when it took a turn, I was ready to tap out.
Thank you to Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
This sounded intriguing and piqued my "trapped/escape house" interest. This book started on a high note. Six individuals receive notice that they are beneficiaries of Alexei Vasiliev, a puzzle master. They need to come to his house for the reading of his will. For his estranged wife, it makes sense to be there, but the others do not know Alexei Vasiliev or why they are in the will but with a lot of money on the line they agree to attend.
When they arrive, they learn that they must complete six puzzles/escape rooms and that they can leave at any time. But as they begin to play, things prove to be deadly. Already I was annoyed, they are told they are inheriting money and then there is the whole well......you need to do this first, take your chances, and see what happens....
This started strong for me as the author introduced the six strangers and had them arrive for the reading of the will. But as they begin to play alone and 'escape' the puzzles/escape rooms, things began to go downhill for me. Toward the last fourth of the book, things get even more deadly and bizarre. The book takes a few big turns, and they just didn't work for me. I went from enjoying the book to feeling quite meh about it.
Others are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. It has shock value, I will give it that but at the same time, when it took a turn, I was ready to tap out.
Thank you to Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 22, 2023
Got this for review on Netgally.
Didn't realise this was by the same author as Woom. Puzzel House was short but very entertaining read, was intruiged by the set up and did not disappoint. Might try an pick up Woom again this year as I dnfed it previously.
Didn't realise this was by the same author as Woom. Puzzel House was short but very entertaining read, was intruiged by the set up and did not disappoint. Might try an pick up Woom again this year as I dnfed it previously.
August 20, 2023
Puzzle House is a fun horror novel with a unique premise. Six strangers are invited to the reading of an eccentric billionaire's will. Only one of them actually knew the man–Joy Reese, his ex-wife. It quickly becomes obvious that this billionaire doesn’t intend to just hand over his fortune. He intends to make them earn it, through proving their wits through a series of puzzles.
This book is entertaining and fast-paced. There are lots of twists in the plot, not just in the types of puzzles they're forced to solve, but also in the reveals of each of the characters’ dark secrets. The puzzles were clever, and the consequences of failing to solve them in time were quite severe. There’s quite a bit of intelligent research put into the puzzles, but I can’t elaborate more without including spoilers. That said, some of the turns in the plot were a little over the top, but it was just so fun that I didn’t care.
This book is just over 200 pages, and Ralston doesn’t waste any of them. I grew to love a few of the characters, but I do wish that the book could have been just a smidge longer, so I could learn more about the backstories of some of the other characters.
I read and loved Ralston’s horror novella, Woom, but this book is quite different. While still a horror, it’s far less gory and disturbing. This novel also doesn’t come together under a unifying theme at the end, which Woom did, resulting in it being (in my opinion) a horror masterpiece. This book is more of a mainstream horror thriller action film. However while I’m saying this book isn’t as disturbing, it still might be disturbing for many (most? I’m not sure), so I would check my triggers before reading.
This is an entertaining, intelligent, and short horror thriller with lots of twists and complex characters.
*Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
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My Reading Challenge
This book is entertaining and fast-paced. There are lots of twists in the plot, not just in the types of puzzles they're forced to solve, but also in the reveals of each of the characters’ dark secrets. The puzzles were clever, and the consequences of failing to solve them in time were quite severe. There’s quite a bit of intelligent research put into the puzzles, but I can’t elaborate more without including spoilers. That said, some of the turns in the plot were a little over the top, but it was just so fun that I didn’t care.
This book is just over 200 pages, and Ralston doesn’t waste any of them. I grew to love a few of the characters, but I do wish that the book could have been just a smidge longer, so I could learn more about the backstories of some of the other characters.
I read and loved Ralston’s horror novella, Woom, but this book is quite different. While still a horror, it’s far less gory and disturbing. This novel also doesn’t come together under a unifying theme at the end, which Woom did, resulting in it being (in my opinion) a horror masterpiece. This book is more of a mainstream horror thriller action film. However while I’m saying this book isn’t as disturbing, it still might be disturbing for many (most? I’m not sure), so I would check my triggers before reading.
This is an entertaining, intelligent, and short horror thriller with lots of twists and complex characters.
*Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website | Twitter
My Reading Challenge
October 1, 2023
Have you read the viral extreme horror novella, Woom?
Did you enjoy it?
While some readers are offended by the graphic nature of the book, I found the author’s skillful writing and insightful knowledge into the human psyche gripping. Duncan Ralston is an author on my radar.
Puzzle House is the latest novella from Ralston, the plot revolving around an escape room gone wrong. Six strangers arrive at a deceased puzzle master’s house for the reading of his will. The beneficiaries are promised to split $150M if they participate in the last puzzle he created. They can leave with nothing or choose to solve six interconnected escape rooms within the house. However, all is not what it seems when the puzzles turn deadly. Who will make it out alive?
Duncan Ralston has done it again! This riveting novella had me gripped from the first page! I can easily see it being made into a movie fit for a big screen adventure. The clever plot does venture into the horror genre, but definitely not as graphic as Woom. My only issue is that it ends too abruptly, but hopefully Ralston is writing a sequel! 🙏
It is available as a Read Now on NetGalley, so grab it soon!
Out now!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House publishing for the ARC of Puzzle House: A Novel in exchange for an honest review.
Did you enjoy it?
While some readers are offended by the graphic nature of the book, I found the author’s skillful writing and insightful knowledge into the human psyche gripping. Duncan Ralston is an author on my radar.
Puzzle House is the latest novella from Ralston, the plot revolving around an escape room gone wrong. Six strangers arrive at a deceased puzzle master’s house for the reading of his will. The beneficiaries are promised to split $150M if they participate in the last puzzle he created. They can leave with nothing or choose to solve six interconnected escape rooms within the house. However, all is not what it seems when the puzzles turn deadly. Who will make it out alive?
Duncan Ralston has done it again! This riveting novella had me gripped from the first page! I can easily see it being made into a movie fit for a big screen adventure. The clever plot does venture into the horror genre, but definitely not as graphic as Woom. My only issue is that it ends too abruptly, but hopefully Ralston is writing a sequel! 🙏
It is available as a Read Now on NetGalley, so grab it soon!
Out now!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House publishing for the ARC of Puzzle House: A Novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
I need to stop thinking this author can write 🤦🏻♀️
Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 19, 2024
it was so good until it wasn't lol.
loved the first half & thought the myth stuff was cool & then it felt like the story relied on that instead of actually good horror scenes
loved the first half & thought the myth stuff was cool & then it felt like the story relied on that instead of actually good horror scenes
August 2, 2023
"puzzle house" is a saw/cabin in the woods type horror novel. when alexei, a puzzle master, dies, he creates an elaborate and dangerous final last escape room and invites his ex wife and some other literally random people to compete for his multimillion dollar estate. when they all arrive in the house, they clearly realize that they all will die, save for one winner.
this book is not scary or gory. it really has no stakes because you don't care about any of the characters at all. there is no context behind anything, especially why the random people were invited. the ending is so bizarre and a major let down. the most interesting part of this novel was the research into ancient religions and demonology, though most of it seems completely incorrect and exoticism at its finest. all of these characters are white. the slavic names are spelled incorrectly. it's not very entertaining and many deaths are not on the page. the ending is not at all what you expect, and there is no closure.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
this book is not scary or gory. it really has no stakes because you don't care about any of the characters at all. there is no context behind anything, especially why the random people were invited. the ending is so bizarre and a major let down. the most interesting part of this novel was the research into ancient religions and demonology, though most of it seems completely incorrect and exoticism at its finest. all of these characters are white. the slavic names are spelled incorrectly. it's not very entertaining and many deaths are not on the page. the ending is not at all what you expect, and there is no closure.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2023
Dang!
This could continue. There could be a volume 2. I hope so. I love the research too that went on. Some of it I already know and some of it; I’ll be following up on.
Kinda not sure on the rating.
Tbh I loved everything but the amount of F bombs. Sometimes in a good story they fly out but I feel like they seriously should not define a writer, musician, or their skill nor playwright, etc.
There have been these certain times like ::: spoiler ahead :::: in The Princess Bride when Inigo says, “ Offer me all that I ask for..” then Count Rugen does, and after that he guts him and says his line, “I want my father back you son of a bitch!”
Nothing. I mean NOTHING can replace that and say it as well. So there are some moments where someone can say, “ F-you”! There is no outdoing that. No coming back and no perfect reply. But if you see it constantly you’re like aww, come on. Yawn. Ya know?
A Michael Jackson song I like called Scream. It says repeatedly, “Stop messing with me, just stop pressuring me… (then just once in unedited versions)… Stop f-ing with me-it makes me wanna scream!”
I liked this book a whole lot just rating a 4 -4.5 for language. And I would love a sequel. These are my favorite types of books he writes. I read one page a couple days ago and the rest today after his hostage email. So funny.
Oh, to add— there is a very important quote to me I was not able to separate from the rest of the highlight that I need to say.
“Grief is a prison.” And only we have the key.
Hall
All Dressed chips ! Not seasoned !
This could continue. There could be a volume 2. I hope so. I love the research too that went on. Some of it I already know and some of it; I’ll be following up on.
Kinda not sure on the rating.
Tbh I loved everything but the amount of F bombs. Sometimes in a good story they fly out but I feel like they seriously should not define a writer, musician, or their skill nor playwright, etc.
There have been these certain times like ::: spoiler ahead :::: in The Princess Bride when Inigo says, “ Offer me all that I ask for..” then Count Rugen does, and after that he guts him and says his line, “I want my father back you son of a bitch!”
Nothing. I mean NOTHING can replace that and say it as well. So there are some moments where someone can say, “ F-you”! There is no outdoing that. No coming back and no perfect reply. But if you see it constantly you’re like aww, come on. Yawn. Ya know?
A Michael Jackson song I like called Scream. It says repeatedly, “Stop messing with me, just stop pressuring me… (then just once in unedited versions)… Stop f-ing with me-it makes me wanna scream!”
I liked this book a whole lot just rating a 4 -4.5 for language. And I would love a sequel. These are my favorite types of books he writes. I read one page a couple days ago and the rest today after his hostage email. So funny.
Oh, to add— there is a very important quote to me I was not able to separate from the rest of the highlight that I need to say.
“Grief is a prison.” And only we have the key.
Hall
All Dressed chips ! Not seasoned !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
this was a fun, fast-paced escape room type horror that definitely went in directions i did not expect. this is a bit different from Ralston’s usual extreme horror stuff like Woom - gruesome elements are still there but it was definitely toned down a lot. still trigger warnings galore for violence and gore related things but i’d say this will be a lot less polarizing than Woom
September 19, 2023
Puzzle House: A novel is just another example of how well-rounded Ralston is as an author. I mean, for christ sake, this is the same man who brought us Woom! Don't get me wrong, Puzzle House has some fairly unique death scenes, but this isn't going to be a book that turns your stomach.
Absolutely phenomenal world building and character development. I loved the creepy "Saw" meets Escape room from hell setting. I was on edge reading about the various puzzles, I would have died... no joke.
To be honest, at the beginning of the book, I saw it going in one direction, and then, by the middle, it was apparent things were headed in a completely opposite direction! This book will definitely keep you engaged and on your toes.
Puzzle House is fast-paced, decently gruesome, and overall, it's just a bloody good time. The only reason I am giving it 4 and not 5 stars is that the ending irked me. It left me with so many questions...Ralston, I can not be alone in thinking that we want a sequel, sir!!!
There is more than I could say, but I don't want to give too much away just yet. Perhaps I'll be back closer to release day!
As always, thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely phenomenal world building and character development. I loved the creepy "Saw" meets Escape room from hell setting. I was on edge reading about the various puzzles, I would have died... no joke.
To be honest, at the beginning of the book, I saw it going in one direction, and then, by the middle, it was apparent things were headed in a completely opposite direction! This book will definitely keep you engaged and on your toes.
Puzzle House is fast-paced, decently gruesome, and overall, it's just a bloody good time. The only reason I am giving it 4 and not 5 stars is that the ending irked me. It left me with so many questions...Ralston, I can not be alone in thinking that we want a sequel, sir!!!
There is more than I could say, but I don't want to give too much away just yet. Perhaps I'll be back closer to release day!
As always, thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2023
This was an entertaining book. I liked the mixture of Saw and Escape Room and some of the deaths were very imaginative. All in all a very interesting read.
August 22, 2023
PHEW this was a crazy ride of a book! I didn't know what to expect this being my first read from Duncan Ralston and I can unhesitatingly say that it will not be my last. Puzzle House is an exceedingly clever and layered horror book, the Mesopotamian influences were a pleasant surprise and I ended up doing a lot of my own research into things mentioned in this book. Speaking of research, the amount of time put into it here had to be tremendous! The escape room scenes were dizzyingly claustrophobic, I found my heart racing and had a sense of dread continue to build throughout every single intense scene. It's a rare find, in my opinion, when writing evokes such a reaction and yet you cannot stop reading. I HIGHLY recommend this to horror fans who don't mind graphic descriptions and that confining feeling of dread when experiencing a book, because that's exactly what this book was for me, an experience.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wicked House Publishing for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wicked House Publishing for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
July 20, 2023
I'm completed wowed by Puzzle House! I love puzzles and the high stakes mystery involved with the whole story was just fantastic. I definitely didn't see the ending coming the way it did.
September 6, 2023
The meme that says 'They had us in the first half, I'm not gonna lie,' made from the viral video where the football player gave an interview and said that line, sums up this book perfectly for me.
A large part of it was my neglect at exploring more, going further, as well as simply ‘believing’ what Duncan had shared. Duncan and I message fairly regularly, and at one point he’d shared the synopsis and cover for this book. By all indications, I was under the assumption this was a singular release and it was a straightforward novel about a group of strangers in a ‘Saw’-type house, where they had to solve their way to survival.
For the most part, that is true, until about the half way point, when we learn way more about the ‘truth’ to who is behind the mystery within and we get a lot of occult/ancient deity involvement. And that, honestly, is where my reading brain started to hold back from the book.
What I liked: I should state first, though – thanks to Wicked House Publishing, Netgalley and the author for sending me a digital ARC of this one.
The novel begins just as I mentioned – we get some back story on an inmate and the world’s biggest female movie star, Joy, who are summoned to Joy’s ex-husbands home. Alexei has died and he’s decided to leave his staggering fortune to those who come. A group of six strangers, but with only Joy who knew Alexei before. Alexei made his fortune through creating complex puzzles and in order to receive their share of his fortune, they must solve the puzzles. Of course, this being a horror novel, we learn that they’ll need to not only solve the puzzles but that they’ll have to actually survive the puzzles as well.
Duncan does a solid job of setting up this premise, but also having us root for the two main characters, Joy and our prisoner. They play well off each other and as the book moves along, it was great to see them have a solid, platonic relationship without any hint of romance or potentially hooking up.
I really enjoyed each new puzzle room – up to a point, which I’ll discuss in a moment – and how they worked collaboratively together to solve it, even as each one becomes more extreme and more squirm inducing.
The first half of this novel had me hooked, but then it went in a very different direction, one I wished was a completely different book.
What I didn’t like: Briefly, before I get into the bread and butter of some stuff, I did find the extra characters, just that – extra characters. No connection, one dimensional and there simply to die in each room. But, the truth is, in a book like that, you need those characters. So, I didn’t mind that they weren’t as well defined or fleshed out.
I think for me, and minor spoilers here – so enter at your own risk – is I went in completely invested in a singular novel about people struggling to solve life-or-death escape rooms, and this was so much more. That so much more is a solid thing, a good thing in most cases (looking at you Ghostland trilogy), but I wasn’t invested in that when I started. I found the Book of Magic to feel out of place and the Infiniti Enterprises aspect should’ve been featured in a completely different book.
I went along for the ride, wanting to see who would survive and what would be left of them, but I was a bit frustrated when it went very ‘raising the dead’ and ‘the world you left isn’t the world you’ll return to.’ I was also expecting a solid, THE END, not a jarring finish with the dawning understanding that there would be another book.
Why you should buy this: Now, it may sound like I didn’t like this book, but honestly, I did. I liked each avenue separately, and I am invested now, wanting to see what tricks Alexei and Trent have in store for our survivor and what this strange new world has become. Saying that, I still do lament the fact that I didn’t get a straightforward Puzzle House story.
So, I’m splitting the difference. The first half, for me was a solid 5/5. The latter half a good 3/5.
Overall, this one was a 4/5 and a reminder that I shouldn’t always go in blind to books, as this reading brain will sometimes get far too stuck in its ways to loosen up and go with the flow!
A large part of it was my neglect at exploring more, going further, as well as simply ‘believing’ what Duncan had shared. Duncan and I message fairly regularly, and at one point he’d shared the synopsis and cover for this book. By all indications, I was under the assumption this was a singular release and it was a straightforward novel about a group of strangers in a ‘Saw’-type house, where they had to solve their way to survival.
For the most part, that is true, until about the half way point, when we learn way more about the ‘truth’ to who is behind the mystery within and we get a lot of occult/ancient deity involvement. And that, honestly, is where my reading brain started to hold back from the book.
What I liked: I should state first, though – thanks to Wicked House Publishing, Netgalley and the author for sending me a digital ARC of this one.
The novel begins just as I mentioned – we get some back story on an inmate and the world’s biggest female movie star, Joy, who are summoned to Joy’s ex-husbands home. Alexei has died and he’s decided to leave his staggering fortune to those who come. A group of six strangers, but with only Joy who knew Alexei before. Alexei made his fortune through creating complex puzzles and in order to receive their share of his fortune, they must solve the puzzles. Of course, this being a horror novel, we learn that they’ll need to not only solve the puzzles but that they’ll have to actually survive the puzzles as well.
Duncan does a solid job of setting up this premise, but also having us root for the two main characters, Joy and our prisoner. They play well off each other and as the book moves along, it was great to see them have a solid, platonic relationship without any hint of romance or potentially hooking up.
I really enjoyed each new puzzle room – up to a point, which I’ll discuss in a moment – and how they worked collaboratively together to solve it, even as each one becomes more extreme and more squirm inducing.
The first half of this novel had me hooked, but then it went in a very different direction, one I wished was a completely different book.
What I didn’t like: Briefly, before I get into the bread and butter of some stuff, I did find the extra characters, just that – extra characters. No connection, one dimensional and there simply to die in each room. But, the truth is, in a book like that, you need those characters. So, I didn’t mind that they weren’t as well defined or fleshed out.
I think for me, and minor spoilers here – so enter at your own risk – is I went in completely invested in a singular novel about people struggling to solve life-or-death escape rooms, and this was so much more. That so much more is a solid thing, a good thing in most cases (looking at you Ghostland trilogy), but I wasn’t invested in that when I started. I found the Book of Magic to feel out of place and the Infiniti Enterprises aspect should’ve been featured in a completely different book.
I went along for the ride, wanting to see who would survive and what would be left of them, but I was a bit frustrated when it went very ‘raising the dead’ and ‘the world you left isn’t the world you’ll return to.’ I was also expecting a solid, THE END, not a jarring finish with the dawning understanding that there would be another book.
Why you should buy this: Now, it may sound like I didn’t like this book, but honestly, I did. I liked each avenue separately, and I am invested now, wanting to see what tricks Alexei and Trent have in store for our survivor and what this strange new world has become. Saying that, I still do lament the fact that I didn’t get a straightforward Puzzle House story.
So, I’m splitting the difference. The first half, for me was a solid 5/5. The latter half a good 3/5.
Overall, this one was a 4/5 and a reminder that I shouldn’t always go in blind to books, as this reading brain will sometimes get far too stuck in its ways to loosen up and go with the flow!
September 13, 2023
Six complete strangers are called to the home of the "puzzle master" Alexei Vasiliev for his will reading. Considering only one of these people has ever even met Vasiliev is pretty intriguing considering the amount of money each person is being promised. The catch is that they must make their way through six interconnected escape rooms within Vasiliev's house.
Once inside the participants soon find that the Puzzle House is much deadlier than they first expected and they are obviously being watched. But by who? What is the ultimate goal?
I don't know why I keep being surprised by Ralston's abilities. This is the third book by him that I have read and each feels so wholly unique and yet has his obvious voice. I had such a fun time reading this. Its a quick read but still is filled with Ralston's unique form of comedy along with the gruesome horror you yearn for when picking up one of his books. I kept finding myself coming up with conflicting predictions about how the book would turn out and still didn't see the end coming. I absolutely demand a sequel though leaving it exactly as written is just as powerful and fulfilling. Definitely recommend to horror fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Once inside the participants soon find that the Puzzle House is much deadlier than they first expected and they are obviously being watched. But by who? What is the ultimate goal?
I don't know why I keep being surprised by Ralston's abilities. This is the third book by him that I have read and each feels so wholly unique and yet has his obvious voice. I had such a fun time reading this. Its a quick read but still is filled with Ralston's unique form of comedy along with the gruesome horror you yearn for when picking up one of his books. I kept finding myself coming up with conflicting predictions about how the book would turn out and still didn't see the end coming. I absolutely demand a sequel though leaving it exactly as written is just as powerful and fulfilling. Definitely recommend to horror fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 13, 2025
I would love to thank Duncan Ralston, Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Alexei Vasiliev just died, leaving a high amount of money to 6 people, most of them strangers. But they all have one thing in common.
We have a former detective who is in jail for 2 years, an actress who is Vasiliev's ex-wife, a virologist that has a deadly problem and three other characters we meet later on.
They all arrive at Vasiliev's mansion for the reading of the testament, when Alexei appears on a screen, apparently recorded before, with instructions of a game.
He was the best puzzle-maker and he set one last game for these people to win and leave with the money.
However, as they progress through this maze of a home, they get to meet each other better, finding secrets of one another and soon they discover that someone is watching them while they die one by one in each room they encounter.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one.
I really liked the overall vibe, the creepiness I was feeling, especially when reading at night and being afraid of things in the dark.
I liked Henry, the murderer, Joy the widow, Oscar the virologist and Rudy, an old guy who knew a lot about ancient history.
Other characters were annoying. But that's not the thing I didn't like.
The story is progressing fast and it doesn't bore you out. But I think this made me connect less with the story itself.
It was gory and I enjoyed this.
But what was off for me was the ending. It went far off from what it was at first, and not necessarily in a direction I enjoy.
It has an open ending. Maybe the author will write a continuation of it. I will be curious of reading it. But there are a few things left unanswered, and those upset me a bit.
The twists weren't that shocking overall.
But the story is nice and I recommend it for fans of locked-room mysteries, cults and the feeling that you're watching a movie ("Saw" vibes).
My rating is 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Alexei Vasiliev just died, leaving a high amount of money to 6 people, most of them strangers. But they all have one thing in common.
We have a former detective who is in jail for 2 years, an actress who is Vasiliev's ex-wife, a virologist that has a deadly problem and three other characters we meet later on.
They all arrive at Vasiliev's mansion for the reading of the testament, when Alexei appears on a screen, apparently recorded before, with instructions of a game.
He was the best puzzle-maker and he set one last game for these people to win and leave with the money.
However, as they progress through this maze of a home, they get to meet each other better, finding secrets of one another and soon they discover that someone is watching them while they die one by one in each room they encounter.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one.
I really liked the overall vibe, the creepiness I was feeling, especially when reading at night and being afraid of things in the dark.
I liked Henry, the murderer, Joy the widow, Oscar the virologist and Rudy, an old guy who knew a lot about ancient history.
Other characters were annoying. But that's not the thing I didn't like.
The story is progressing fast and it doesn't bore you out. But I think this made me connect less with the story itself.
It was gory and I enjoyed this.
But what was off for me was the ending. It went far off from what it was at first, and not necessarily in a direction I enjoy.
It has an open ending. Maybe the author will write a continuation of it. I will be curious of reading it. But there are a few things left unanswered, and those upset me a bit.
The twists weren't that shocking overall.
But the story is nice and I recommend it for fans of locked-room mysteries, cults and the feeling that you're watching a movie ("Saw" vibes).
My rating is 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
July 17, 2023
Twisted and Chilling!!
Puzzle House reeled me in after 4 chapters of introducing the characters with a little bit of their backstory. I devoured this book for 2 days only as it is such an easy read and a page-turner!
I think it would be great to turn this one into a movie!
Thank you to Netgalley for an Advance Review Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Puzzle House reeled me in after 4 chapters of introducing the characters with a little bit of their backstory. I devoured this book for 2 days only as it is such an easy read and a page-turner!
I think it would be great to turn this one into a movie!
Thank you to Netgalley for an Advance Review Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2023
This was definitely disappointing. I was completely sold by the blurb and the premise of an escape room horror is always intriguing but for me it fell flat. I didn’t really like any of the characters and the story line kept getting more and more surreal as it went on, nice idea but maybe escape room books written this way should be left for the screen!
September 15, 2023
Duncan Ralston's newest horror thriller is a harrowing mystery full of gore and unexpected violence!
Puzzle House is a story that follows six characters that are summoned to Alexei Vasiliev's mansion of a home. They are lured there for various reasons in addition to the promise of a portion of a $150 million dollar payout. What follows beyond that small introduction is a journey into the darkness of the human spirit, evil mythology, and more.
Puzzle House starts in a classically fun format. We get introduced to our characters that are going to be diving into the mysterious Puzzle House. We get introduced to them via some interesting traits that made me want to learn more immediately. I wanted to know how the Doctor, the Ex-Wife, the Convict interacted with each other. That was the immediate hook.
What kept me entertained and enthralled is the great writing that Ralston generates. His horror is unlike anybody else that is currently out there right now. It's dark, humorous, and it's untrustworthy (or maybe that's just his characters). Ralston makes characters that I root for despite dubious morals, backstories, or flaws.
I absolutely loved this story. I feel somewhat embarrassed to say that Woom was my first Duncan Ralston novel (followed closely by Gross Out - seriously go read it!), but he has since become an author who I love. I own most of his work now. Puzzle House is just another great book and I look forward to reading more and more of his work.
PS - for fans of GHOSTLAND - this edition also includes The Moving House the prequel and I loved that story!
Perfect for fans of Escape Room, Escape Room 2: Tournament of Champions, the Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and even Indiana Jones!!
Puzzle House is a story that follows six characters that are summoned to Alexei Vasiliev's mansion of a home. They are lured there for various reasons in addition to the promise of a portion of a $150 million dollar payout. What follows beyond that small introduction is a journey into the darkness of the human spirit, evil mythology, and more.
Puzzle House starts in a classically fun format. We get introduced to our characters that are going to be diving into the mysterious Puzzle House. We get introduced to them via some interesting traits that made me want to learn more immediately. I wanted to know how the Doctor, the Ex-Wife, the Convict interacted with each other. That was the immediate hook.
What kept me entertained and enthralled is the great writing that Ralston generates. His horror is unlike anybody else that is currently out there right now. It's dark, humorous, and it's untrustworthy (or maybe that's just his characters). Ralston makes characters that I root for despite dubious morals, backstories, or flaws.
I absolutely loved this story. I feel somewhat embarrassed to say that Woom was my first Duncan Ralston novel (followed closely by Gross Out - seriously go read it!), but he has since become an author who I love. I own most of his work now. Puzzle House is just another great book and I look forward to reading more and more of his work.
PS - for fans of GHOSTLAND - this edition also includes The Moving House the prequel and I loved that story!
Perfect for fans of Escape Room, Escape Room 2: Tournament of Champions, the Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and even Indiana Jones!!
September 27, 2023
I wanted to like this book so bad. A puzzle master creates escape room type puzzles in his house and traps people in them? Saw vibes? Excuse me yes give it to me! However the execution…..not there. I didn’t enjoy the characters as they fell flat, the puzzles were underwhelming and the characters figured them out in unbelievable ways, and the motive fell flat. I really enjoyed the beginning of this and it just felt more and more like a chore the longer I read. I feel like if this was extreme horror it might have saved it for me but since it wasn’t I was bored. Still looking forward to reading more from this author as I read and enjoyed Woom.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2023
This one was a lot of fun.
Know that it gets very gruesome, and some of our characters are kind of ick, but it’s horrifying in all the best ways.
Now, the reason behind everything was unusual – I’m not sure I 100% love the why of everything, but I did love how it all played out.
The ending isn’t quite as concrete as I prefer, but it leave thins open for more and I’m really hoping the author continues to expand this world.
Definitely enjoyed this!
• ARC via Publisher
Know that it gets very gruesome, and some of our characters are kind of ick, but it’s horrifying in all the best ways.
Now, the reason behind everything was unusual – I’m not sure I 100% love the why of everything, but I did love how it all played out.
The ending isn’t quite as concrete as I prefer, but it leave thins open for more and I’m really hoping the author continues to expand this world.
Definitely enjoyed this!
• ARC via Publisher
August 28, 2024
This book had me at its Puzzle House title. This was a quick and fast read. I thought this book was pretty good. I thought the first half was slow but it was telling the story. This book totally will send you into a roller coaster of emotions and thrills that you won’t see coming. There were so many secrets that the characters had to uncover and they were intertwined with the house and their past. This book made me feel like I was one of the characters in the house waiting for what happens next. I really enjoyed the end of the book. It put a whole new spin to what was going on in the novel. I really enjoyed the mythology that went into this entire book. It made me want to know more about it. I did just find out that Duncan is coming out with Puzzle House 2!!!
August 26, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the advanced copy.
This wasn't terrible, but unfortunately for Ralston I 1) love escape rooms, 2) love escape room horror, and 3) just read this same story earlier this year, but done better, unfortunately. Is Puzzle House a bad novel? It really isn't, but then it's not very good either. For a quick afternoon easy breezy horror read though, it works well.
Let's start with the story itself: six strangers are invited to a will reading, all told that if they solve all the puzzles in the dead man's house, they'll win his inheritance of many millions of dollars along with the crazy puzzle house. Ralston introduces the "main" characters in their own chapters, which are three of the six players, immediately giving away the other three as for sure dying because they're given brief introductions and minimal backstory. But then - Ralston is NOT subtle. At all. Every hint to each "puzzle" is spelled out. Every character's action, every thought, every. single. thing. is told to the reader. Everything! It was so frustrating. Even when it made no sense.
For example: One of the main characters picks up an item and keeps it. The 3rd-person narration of the story makes note of this. The character thinks on it. Then Ralston has another character mention noticing the other person has this item... and then does nothing with it. The item does make a brief reappearance later on... is Ralston afraid of readers claiming MacGuffins? If so, he either doesn't know what a McGuffin is, or he genuinely thinks he is a genius and all of his readers are morons and so is dumbing down absolutely everything in Puzzle House to an inane, repetitive, nonsensical degree.
That's my other issue - the creator of the puzzle house our protagonists find themselves trapped in is noted, often and frequently, as being a 'Puzzle MASTER'. Not puzzle maker, puzzle MASTER. At no point in this novel did that come across as believable, because the puzzles weren't that exciting or confusing or intricate. Now, I love escape rooms and escape room horror and I'm not expecting some insanely clever trap but the incessant focus on 'Puzzle MASTER' is, of course, going to have the reader reflect on the puzzles... which were not impressive.
Then there was the twist, which again mostly reminded me of Jon Cohn's Slashtag. That's the similar novel that I read a few months ago that did almost this exact same topic but was a lot more fun, with more exciting action and a much more interesting cast of characters. Which is how Ralston's own Puzzle House could have been saved, because at the end of it I just cared not one iota about any of his characters, all of which felt little more than cardboard cut-outs.
I don't feel like I wasted my time, and anyone who has a passing interest in this type of horror will likely feel the same but will I remember this book or want to revisit it ever again? Meh.
This wasn't terrible, but unfortunately for Ralston I 1) love escape rooms, 2) love escape room horror, and 3) just read this same story earlier this year, but done better, unfortunately. Is Puzzle House a bad novel? It really isn't, but then it's not very good either. For a quick afternoon easy breezy horror read though, it works well.
Let's start with the story itself: six strangers are invited to a will reading, all told that if they solve all the puzzles in the dead man's house, they'll win his inheritance of many millions of dollars along with the crazy puzzle house. Ralston introduces the "main" characters in their own chapters, which are three of the six players, immediately giving away the other three as for sure dying because they're given brief introductions and minimal backstory. But then - Ralston is NOT subtle. At all. Every hint to each "puzzle" is spelled out. Every character's action, every thought, every. single. thing. is told to the reader. Everything! It was so frustrating. Even when it made no sense.
For example: One of the main characters picks up an item and keeps it. The 3rd-person narration of the story makes note of this. The character thinks on it. Then Ralston has another character mention noticing the other person has this item... and then does nothing with it. The item does make a brief reappearance later on... is Ralston afraid of readers claiming MacGuffins? If so, he either doesn't know what a McGuffin is, or he genuinely thinks he is a genius and all of his readers are morons and so is dumbing down absolutely everything in Puzzle House to an inane, repetitive, nonsensical degree.
That's my other issue - the creator of the puzzle house our protagonists find themselves trapped in is noted, often and frequently, as being a 'Puzzle MASTER'. Not puzzle maker, puzzle MASTER. At no point in this novel did that come across as believable, because the puzzles weren't that exciting or confusing or intricate. Now, I love escape rooms and escape room horror and I'm not expecting some insanely clever trap but the incessant focus on 'Puzzle MASTER' is, of course, going to have the reader reflect on the puzzles... which were not impressive.
Then there was the twist, which again mostly reminded me of Jon Cohn's Slashtag. That's the similar novel that I read a few months ago that did almost this exact same topic but was a lot more fun, with more exciting action and a much more interesting cast of characters. Which is how Ralston's own Puzzle House could have been saved, because at the end of it I just cared not one iota about any of his characters, all of which felt little more than cardboard cut-outs.
I don't feel like I wasted my time, and anyone who has a passing interest in this type of horror will likely feel the same but will I remember this book or want to revisit it ever again? Meh.
August 16, 2023
OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow did I enjoy this. ARC received from Netgalley.
It took me a minute to get into it but once I was in I was IN. I loved everything about this. The puzzles were done in such a creative way, using a topic that's always really interested me too. And the references to Evil Dead were truly *chef's kiss*. I wish other escape room media had such unexpected endings.
It took me a minute to get into it but once I was in I was IN. I loved everything about this. The puzzles were done in such a creative way, using a topic that's always really interested me too. And the references to Evil Dead were truly *chef's kiss*. I wish other escape room media had such unexpected endings.
July 16, 2023
Puzzle House: A Novel is a standalone horror masterpiece by author Duncan Ralston. A huge fan of movies like Saw and Escape Room, I’m always on the lookout for similar media and when I saw this advertised on the publisher’s page, I clicked pre-order so fast. I was delighted to receive an ARC and eagerly dove in without hesitation. I’m happy to report that one exceeds expectations and is one of my favorite horror novels I’ve read this year. The story revolves around a group of strangers who are benefactors in the will of a puzzle master and tasked to solve a series of escape rooms in order to receive the monetary prize. The author expertly combines suspense and horror and keeps you turning pages. I read way too late into the night; I couldn’t put it down. The author’s style is very strong and well written, it felt like you were right there alongside the characters and some of the scenes had me recoiling in horror and dread. For Escape Room or horror fans this one is not to be missed. Highly recommended, I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could.
November 20, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. I loved this book. A total page turner that I couldn't put down. It is very different than anything I have ever read. Very well written with lots of action and very engaging. A group of 6 characters from all walks of life have been called to a will reading. Unknown to them the sadistic deceased has made them have to go through different puzzles throughout his puzzle house before they can receive any inheritance. Whomever survives til the end gets the huge inheritance. Lots of trials and tribulations ensue. For a bonus this book ends in a very different way. One I never saw coming and would have never guessed it in a million years. This book does not disappoint and I highly recommend it.
October 4, 2023
Puzzle House follows six strangers who arrive at the home of a renounced Puzzle Master for the reading of his will, only to discover that they are now apart of a puzzle themselves. The prize? Their life.
I went into this book with the hopes that it’ll be like the horror movies that surround escape rooms. The book wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for but I still got all the great horror elements that make it a fantastic read.
This was a fast-paced and entertaining read. There were so many twists and turns that left me hanging onto the next page. The puzzles in the house were not the only ones that the characters needed to solve as their pasts and secrets were entwined with the house too. I loved that the atmosphere of the book made me feel as if I were one of the people in the house.
This is a great book to pick up if you want to get out of a slump or if you want to try to get more into the genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I went into this book with the hopes that it’ll be like the horror movies that surround escape rooms. The book wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for but I still got all the great horror elements that make it a fantastic read.
This was a fast-paced and entertaining read. There were so many twists and turns that left me hanging onto the next page. The puzzles in the house were not the only ones that the characters needed to solve as their pasts and secrets were entwined with the house too. I loved that the atmosphere of the book made me feel as if I were one of the people in the house.
This is a great book to pick up if you want to get out of a slump or if you want to try to get more into the genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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