""Strange and Twisted Things" is a chilling gothic ghost story set in an Italian village, featuring Greta, an elderly woman seeking refuge in a haunted house. It explores themes of starting anew and alternate lives. In a serene Italian village nestled in the heart of the country, an elderly woman named Greta grapples with profound loneliness after being abandoned by her family. Seeking refuge in a decaying house, she clings to memories of her estranged husband, haunted by his absence. As Greta steps into her new abode, an ominous energy awakens within its walls, subjecting her to strange occurrences and chilling whispers that echo through its dilapidated hallways. Amidst the eerie atmosphere, Greta discovers that she is not alone, setting the stage for a harrowing choice between companionship and confronting the sinister forces lurking within. "Strange and Twisted Things" by Holly Payne unfolds as a chilling gothic ghost story set against the enchanting backdrop of Italy. The narrative brilliantly captures the essence of Italian culture, immersing readers in a haunting tale where Greta's unwavering love contends with the malevolent forces that surround her. The authors' meticulous attention to detail and vivid imagery contribute to a sense of immediate transport, allowing readers to vividly experience the dark and gritty nature of the home juxtaposed with rich character dynamics. The novel skillfully explores themes of starting anew and the allure of an alternate life, adding depth to the chilling ambience of the story. Holly Payne-Strange's writing creates a haunting atmosphere, bringing to life both the horrors within the house and the profound character development of the protagonist. In the end, "Strange and Twisted Things" is a compelling and mysterious gothic tale that seamlessly blends horror and paranormal thriller elements, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. The engaging plot twists, well-crafted character arcs, and heart-pounding thrills make this novel a captivating and haunting literary experience. "

I liked this book. It's engaging and fast paced and a very interesting concept that I haven't encountered before. I just wish it was fleshed out better. Chapters were out of order, plot lines dropped, ideas forgotten, completely wrong facts about the time period, but somehow I still had a good time reading it. It feels more like a first draft that has too many ideas and not a way to make them all fit together.

This is not your typical horror novels that you could see in mainstream horror fiction. The story revolves around an old lady named Greta who recently departed from her husband. She seeks solace in an old medieval-like house located in a quiet Italian village which was a parting gift from him. Accompanied with her memories of her husband, her lone journey renovating this house take a sudden turn as she experiences strange and eerie things within.

I appreciate how the book was craftily written. The prose is indeed beautiful and engrossing. It was skillfully devised, creating an eerie atmosphere that elevates the creepiness of the story. Essential elements of a horror story are obviously present. As I’ve said earlier, this book is quite unique compared to other horror novels out there, which I think a good thing attracting curiosity. Instead of focusing on the protagonist, let’s say the “good spirit”, this book was more inclined with the ghost, devils, which we can collectively termed as the “bad spirits” being the one who stood winning in the end of the story. Additionally, I like how it explores human psyche and isolation which gives us readers better understanding of solitude and emotions.

On a critical note, what I see as flaw of this book is how the story was unevenly paced. The haunted scene was introduced too early in the book, followed by the passages from the diary found by Greta which for me makes the story takes a sudden turn from intense paced to a slower, boring narrative. Also, some of the scenes are going beyond the obvious irrationally making it more unrealistic.

Overall, I would rate this 3 out of 5 stars. However, I really like how unique is the approach of telling a horror story which I would like to venture more in the future.

Very good, I didn't anticipate the ending and was engaged the entire time ( )

Very entertaining read. Old school horror that is spine-tingling because of great descriptions and storyline rather than gore and shock value. ( )