Puzzle House

De: Duncan Ralston

Narrado por: Joe Hempel

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 simple: 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?

©2023 Duncan Ralston (P)2023 Podium Audio

great story/ narrator

this book will keep you guessing and bitting your nails to the very last sentence! I was engaged in every part. if you love a book you have to work to figure out the next move this is the one for you! narrator is excellent!

horror without a point

I think the puzzles in this puzzle house were clever, but I'm not into unending horror an unrealistic plot and a dismal ending. it was very well performed and I'm sure there are many who like this genre and enjoyed this.

Lots of surprises

I loved this book! I couldn’t stop listening! So many great twists and turns….all the way through to the end! I highlight recommended.

It was just meh

It was a decent premise but felt quite like a rip off of saw. The end felt rushed and lame to me.

Not a fun read

Did not like this book. I would not recommend reading this book. Not a good premise.

Best narrator out there!

I love survival game horror so I was extremely excited for this one! Wound up being some interesting twists I wouldn’t have seen coming. Although I didnt *love* the direction the story went, I enjoyed reading this one. Also, can Joe Hemphill just narrate every book I want to read, please?!

A light listen but interesting

An interesting story that was well narrated. A bit of action and a few surprises kept things moving. I enjoyed it but probably wouldn’t pick up a sequel.

The narrator

This is how to enjoy this book. Pretend it’s an early 90’s pc game and lean in to the camp of the whole thing. I listened at 1.7 and while the book is not good it was quick enough that I didn’t notice. Good for a late night drive in the summer in Pennsylvania.

Complex and atmospheric.

How about I start with a quote from the biggest 🍑 of the story:
"The old rules don't apply anymore. Murder is back in fashion."

This story follows multiple people from all different walks of life who have been chosen by a man who has recently passed away to be beneficiaries of his riches. These people do not know each other or how they are connected, which to them seems completely random. Obviously, if you're anything like me and have watched 100s of horror movies, you probably guessed that it is anything but random.

While reading along, I had many thoughts of 2 of my favorite movies, Cabin in the Woods and the Saw franchise. The acts that take place in Cabin in the Woods are for way more than just a thrilling kill, but for a sacrifice to something or someone(s) much bigger than ourselves. The Saw franchise generally shows people having to work together to survive, but almost without a second of consideration for the others, these flawed humans do the opposite, in turn leading to their own demise.

So, I struggled through this book. Not because it is a bad story at all. Ralston's Puzzle House is a wonderful, very well thought out, and satisfying story...to someone who really loves puzzles and learning about specific types of history. I am not that person, but regardless of my personal likes/dislikes, no story is right for everyone. If you love this type of subject matter, multiple people being stuck in a room together and having to SACRIFICE all that they have to come out alive at the end of it, then this is the book for you.

Great read. One I would definitely give another read to in the future. Props to the author for doing such a great job with a complex concept. I'll most definitely be checking out more of his work.

I get it now...

yeah, I get why this book was so highly recommended to me. Fun. Fast. Didn't go ANYWHERE I thought it was gonna go. I really was expecting something more "escape room" like and ended up delighted to have something with more bite and plot.

the Narrator was a perfect choice. Easy to tell the difference between characters and made the book easy to follow. Great work.