Their Monstrous Hearts: A Gothic Horror Novel with a Dual Timeline and a Suspenseful Mystery

By Yiğit Turhan

Book Overview

"A gothic, darkly alluring tale that will leave readers spellbound"--Dua Lipa, Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter

A compelling take on folk horror and macabre rituals, this debut novel uncovers dark secrets about how far people will go to keep their dreams alive. A Goodreads Most Anticipated Horror pick for Spring 2025

A mysterious stranger shows up at Riccardo's apartment with some news: his grandmother Perihan has died, and Riccardo has inherited her villa in Milan along with her famed butterfly collection.

The struggling writer is out of options. He's hoping the change of scenery in Milan will inspire him, and maybe there will be some money to keep him afloat. But Perihan's house isn't as opulent as he remembers. The butterflies pinned in their glass cases seem more ominous than artful. Perihan's group of mysterious old friends is constantly lurking. And there's something wrong in the greenhouse.

As Riccardo explores the decrepit estate, he stumbles upon Perihan's diary, which might hold the key to her mysterious death. Or at least give him the inspiration he needs to finish his manuscript.

But he might not survive long enough to write it.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0778368270
• ISBN13: 9780778368274
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Mira Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Not happy

Kinda messed up I paid for a brand new hardcover for $22 and I got a soft back uncorrected proof

Insidiously good!

It is funny how usually the worst monsters in a book end up being human, especially when they are trying to stave off death or looking for immortality. I would call this a slow burn horror with the insidious of it slowly creeping up behind and you can feel the wrongness but don't know when it will hit you. Riccardo was abandoned by his family at a young age, struggling to make ends meet and he is a good character so you feel for him when he arrives back at his grandmothers house in Milan and something is not right. I told him to run so many times as I listened to this audiobook but I was also fascinated by the journal he found that Perihan left for him. So, it goes between the past (via the journal) and the present, weaving together I tale of magic and horror. This was a fun book to listen to and the ending was not what I expected and left it with just the right touch. The narrators did a great job in making the characters of Riccardo and Perihan come alive and twist the story to darkness. Nicely creepy! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to this audiobook!