The House of Whispers by Anna Mazzola is set in 1938, during the rise of Fascism in Italy.
The story centres on Eva Valenti, a gifted pianist who must conceal her Slavic roots. She marries Dante Cavallera, a widower, and moves into his home, but soon begins to feel that something is wrong—not only with her new husband and his daughter but with the house itself.
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My Opinion
I absolutely loved Anna Mazzola’s previous book, The Clockwork Girl so I was excited to read this one. However I found myself having mixed feelings as I read The House of Whispers.
One thing I did really enjoy is how the story delves into Italy during this time. It was horrifying to see the fear experienced by those who didn’t “fit the mould” of Fascist ideals. Through Eva’s perspective as an outsider (with her Slavic background), and her friends Mirella, a Jewish woman, and Ettore, a homosexual, you really feel the growing danger for marginalised groups. The historical setting is full of tension, capturing just how frightening it was for anyone who didn’t conform.
However, I felt the author couldn’t decide whether she wanted to write historical fiction or a gothic thriller, so the result is a bit of a mix that didn’t quite work. The supernatural elements of the house were intriguing but I didn’t feel it flowed as well as it could.
I couldn’t help feeling that the novel might have worked better as two separate books. One could have focused solely on the creepy, potentially haunted house while the other explored the historical context of pre-war Italy. By trying to do both, the book felt like it fell a little short on both fronts.
Eva herself was a frustrating character at time espeically when she initially tries to hide who she is to avoid conflict. While this made her relatable, her reluctance to act did make her harder to root for in the beginning. However, as the story progressed and Eva found her strength, I found myself cheering her on, appreciating her more gradual journey toward resistance.
I really loved the gothic atmosphere and menacing tone throughout the book. The house had a life of its own, and the slow build of eerie occurrences kept me on edge. However, there was so much build-up and then the ending felt a bit underwhelming. The ambiguity around the supernatural elements left me wanting more answers. It almost seemed like the author couldn’t decide what was behind the creepy events, leaving it to the reader to piece together. That, for me, left the ending feeling incomplete.
Despite some frustrations, The House of Whispers is beautifully written and engaging. It kept me interested until the final pages, even if it didn’t fully deliver on its promises. I’ll definitely be picking up more of Anna Mazzola’s work, but this one didn’t quite hit the heights I was hoping for.