religion, patriarchy, and capitalism working hand-in-hand in creating the perfect serial killer much like its namesake, american psycho which was a critique of the performance of masculinity in wall-street era America. this sharply written black comedy satirizes the events and consequences of the governness winnifred notty's birth, which would've been the norm of any lower class (female) individual in that era. this book almost makes me wonder if there are more victorian female serial killers than we know, given how horrific women and life in general was treated in this era.

this was a fun slasher with a simple, predictable premise and twisted sense of humor. not too heavy and not too gory, i would consider this a light read especially if you hate rich people and particularly enjoy reading about their demise.

My favorite aspect of every haunted house story is the isolated main character. In a space that should've been a source of comfort and pride, the main character's home becomes a festering sore of shame, discomfort, and isolation. Diavola spends at least 50% of the book establishing the strenuous dynamic of the Pace family with their favorite punching bag and the book's main character, Anna.

Possible mild spoilers: Anna has darkness within her, her ex and family agrees. Anna is disposable and ungrateful, her job concurs. She is the source of all problems, a lying storyteller so chaos loves to follow her around dragging everyone else with her. There were times I was hoping Anna was just an unreliable narrator, just so the family has an excuse for being as unsufferable as they are but it becomes clear this is just the family's modus operandi as wisely critiqued by Anna's niece in a later chapter, "You can’t look right at it so they pretend it’s all pretty and normal but it’s not, Anna, it’s not!" (Finale chapter, 60% in) Anna exists as a dark mirror to the family's flaws, a haunting reminder of their shame and insecurities. Anna is the perfect victim to a haunted house. Or is she? /End of mild spoilers

This book was unexpectedly funny, depressing, frustrating, anxiety-inducing, horrifying, and uplifting all at the same time. A satisfying ride of feminine rage, Diavola is such a fun take on the haunted house genre. If you can stomach and survive the toxic dynamics explored. (I hope you do!)