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A review by ameliareadsstuff
The Last Haunt by Max Booth III
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Last Haunt is an enjoyable horror novella that tells the story of an 'extreme' haunted house through a series of interview transcripts. I enjoyed the epistolic format and the unfolding mystery, and I appreciate Booth's attempts to really set the novel in the present moment just through the character's attitudes and language.
The book never quite reaches the level of horrific end the dark subject matter teases, but I did enjoy the nature of the ending regardless, given the level of repugnantness of some of the characters. That said, I'm not sure the novel was reaching for that level of horror; there's an interesting mix of morbidness and dark humour that was mostly successful, though I can see it not working for every reader.
The book never quite reaches the level of horrific end the dark subject matter teases, but I did enjoy the nature of the ending regardless, given the level of repugnantness of some of the characters. That said, I'm not sure the novel was reaching for that level of horror; there's an interesting mix of morbidness and dark humour that was mostly successful, though I can see it not working for every reader.