I really enjoy the small town setting in horror novels. This is spooky and suspenseful. The ending is completely messed up!

Whew - this is a very well-written feel bad book. Our narrator, Andrew, gets a call to return to the hometown he abandoned as soon as he could, reuniting him and his four friends to confront their darkest secret.

"My father was right about small towns: the cost is sometimes higher than the return, and secrets, much like the things that lurk far below the surface of the bay, can stay buried for a very, very long time. But in the end, everyone pays."

When they were 16, the five of them did something unforgivable, and now 20 years later they are being haunted by the ghost they created and a curse they placed on the whole town. It's easy to kind of hate everyone, even while you also feel bad for the ones in which they are being punished. It's a good reminder that terribleness is a spectrum and some of these human monsters are worse than others.

There are lots of twists at the end that I did not see coming, not even a little bit, and lots of times I said "oh no!" out loud because it was shocking. I was swept up in these characters, but especially in the mystery of how things were going to resolve in the present when the past decided it was time to come clean.

The last note I wrote was "how hopeless." There really isn't a good ending for anyone, so prepare yourself.

We have five friends from a small town that have a dark past. What did they do? How is this affecting their adult lives? How did this one event in the past possibly curse them? In Malfi's new release Andrew comes back to his hometown to help out a friend, which in turn, will change his life forever. Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and Meach all share the same secret. Will that secret now come out and what will happen while trying to keep that secret buried?

This is the second book I have read by Ronadl Malfi, the first being Night Parade. I really wanted to love this book and went in with high expectations. Unfortunately, the read kind of dragged and was a bit slow for my taste. The last 30 percent of the book was my favorite. There were two plot twists that surprised me and made the ending more interesting and climatic. I'm sure Malfi fans will still want to add Small Town Horror to their collections. Small Town Horror because available on June 4th. Happy Reading!

When Andrew Larimer returns to his childhood hometown of Kingsport following an ominous phone call from an old friend, one can't help but make a few comparisons to Stephen King's 'IT'. 'Small Town Horror', however, is less concerned with the supernatural (though don't worry, there's still plenty to be found here) than it is with what Andrew and his friends did when they were younger that continues to haunt them well into adulthood.

It's not a particularly original storyline, granted, but it's well told and Malfi does an exceptional job at building dread and suspense with each page-turn. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, though naturally, none of them can seemingly bring themselves to directly reference their past for the sake of, you know, keeping the reader in the dark. It's 'convenient' to the point of being slightly unrealistic, but I can forgive it.

There were a few revelations that didn't quite sit well with me, but I absolutely loved the climax to the story and it made the slow build-up during the first half of the book well worth it. One thing to note, however, is that the book shifts from first-person to third depending on which character you're following. Malfi even calls this out at the start, which I enjoyed, but if you're not into this kind of thing, then just keep it in mind.

Otherwise, jumping between the past and present-day was painless and I never found myself confused or wondering what the heck was going on. All in all, it's well worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Well I can honestly say I didn’t imagine the story would end the way it did. Delightfully twisted I must say. As always, Ronald Malfi entertains. He sure knows how to weave a story and draw the reader in. There is just something about stories that center around kids bonding over an event and later being drawn back together to confront the consequences. I just can’t resist them. Sometimes the coming back together is to lend each other strength to attempt to combat an evil not quite vanquished the first time around. (Such as King’s classic IT). This is not that type of tale. No, in Small Town Horror, Malfi has his characters reuniting to finally confront the dirty secret that has haunted them for the last two decades. Think “I Know What You Did Last Summer” only it’s more like I know what you did twenty summers ago. Malfi does a wonderful job with the characters, they’re fully realized and completely believable. The story is totally engrossing and while I saw a few of the plot twists coming, there were a few that took me completely by surprise, and not just that ending. This is another worthy addition to Malfi already impressive collection of novels. I’d like to thank Titan Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Small Town Horror.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-town-horror-ronald-malfi/1144125785?ean=9781803365657&bvnotificationId=86a7f17f-22db-11ef-99a5-12ae1a06bf8b&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/311105704

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a very entertaining read. This is my first Malfi book and it will not be the last! The story started a bit slow but picked up midway. The storyline was creepy and kept me wanting more after each chapter. The characters were well done and relatable.

First, let me thank NetGalley, and Titan Books, for allowing me the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of Small Town Horror in exchange for an honest review; and thanks to Ronald Malfi for writing what, so far, has been my favorite read this year.

I’ve looked at some of the other reviews, and I honestly don’t know why this book isn’t resonating with some people. Yes, there isn’t a character in the story that you care for, except Rebecca (in my opinion). That was intentional. Malfi doesn’t want you to like the characters - because they don’t deserve to be liked. Plain and simple.

Without rehashing the story - like so many other reviews do - I’m just going to say this. The group of friends made a mistake; a mistake that ended in the death of an outcast. Of course, they didn’t say anything to anyone, and karma (or maybe something else) kicked them in the ass, with devastating consequences. So no, they don’t deserve to be liked, but they did deserve everything they had coming to them.

Now, was it scary? Not necessarily - I’d say it was more a psychological thriller. It was most certainly a slow burn, and while you may think you know where it’s going, i can say with certainty that you do not. I was not expecting the ending we got, and I’m still not 100% sure if… never mind, I don’t want to spoil anything.

I will say this - if you haven’t read anything by Ronald Malfi, this would be a great book to start with. You get a feel for his phenomenal storytelling ability, and maybe a little chill down your spine once or twice (but nothing to make you want to leave the lights on all night - that honor went to a different book this year).

I would love to see Hollywood stop with the BS remakes that nobody wants, and talk to Malfi about an option for this one (or December Park) - and follow through with a movie. Better yet, a Netflix series, where justice can be done to this fantastic tale of friendship, murder, pacts, revenge, and karma.

3.5 stars rounded up

Told in dual timelines, Small Town Horror tells the tale of 5 adults reconnecting years after a dark misdeed. The book centres on Andrew, a lawyer by day but plagued with fear by night. An old friend calls upon him for legal aid as he's the number one suspect in his wife's disappearance. Drawn back into his hometown, he'd plunged into mystery as friendships, memories, and secrets resurface. But it's not only the past that haunts the 5 friends, as they begin to doubt their mind and their experiences - is it a ghost, a hallucination, or are they influenced by suggestion? Things continue to worsen for the group as they search for answers, with deadly consequences.

The book focuses primarily on the mystery of missing persons, whilst retelling the dark events from many years ago, alongside background on the groups dynamic and history together. Andrew does not believe it's a haunting at first, but begins to experience more and more bewildering events. The book meanders through the mystery, weaving in creepy supernatural doubt, before escalating at the end with plot twists and deaths aplenty. I found the story interesting, if not predictable, but found it hard to understand the characters motivations at times - for example, why does Andrew lie to his wife? Andrew is often the catalyst to uncovering the truth, but the main plot would largely remain the same without him. It's overall a story we've heard before - a group of friends reunite as adults following a dark event in their childhood. Whilst reminiscent of IT at times (especially with the token girl that several of the boys like), my interest waxed and waned due to the slow pace. I personally felt there was not enough horror, and I would have enjoyed exploring more of the haunting, possible witch curse, and wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff (it was a really cool concept that was only briefly touched on). Additionally the characters could have been fleshed out a little more, as they could easily blur together, and it was hard to care for anymore (though I did like Tig a little more than the rest). I particularly liked the scene in the motel, which was especially evocative and atmospheric, I just wish the rest of the book kept this up or the endings quicker pace. Overall it was enjoyable, but the pace really let it down and it would've benefitted from more horror than interpersonal conflict. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Another excellent book by Ronald Malfi. Although not an original premise five friends back in their childhood town it's very well told. Andrew Latimer is the main protagonist and told in two timelines. Very atmospheric and it shows an author at the top of his game. Thanks to Titan books and Netgalley for this review ARC

Small Town Horror" by Ronald Malfi is a gripping novel that explores how our past can haunt us even when we try to move on. The story follows Andrew Larimer, who is forced to confront memories of his past when he receives a phone call from a childhood friend. As the story unfolds, we see how Andrew's past affects his present, and how a secret shared by him and his childhood friends has far-reaching consequences.

Malfi has created an atmospheric novel, using familiar tropes like the small-town setting, secrets and lies to create a sense of unease and tension. The story is told through two timelines, Andrew's past and present, which are woven together seamlessly.
While the story may not be the most original, Malfi's expert handling of familiar plots and tropes keeps you engaged and guessing until the very end. With well-written twists and turns, "Small Town Horror" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers or fans of horror. For those unfamiliar with Malfi's work, this novel is a great place to start.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brief Summary:
We follow our main character Andrew who is living with his wife and they’re expecting a baby. Moving away from his small town upbringing, he is a successful laywer and living the dream. One night he gets a phone call from an old friend and is forced to return back home and face a dark secret he has put aside for many years..

My Thoughts:
I’m absolutely captivated by Malfi’s writing style. This is only my second book by him, but he’s quickly become one of my favourites. His writing is spine-chilling and filled with a creeping dread that’s hard to shake. Malfi takes simple concepts and executes them brilliantly, although there were definitely moments in this book that left me shocked. I highly recommend picking it up—you won’t be disappointed!

I chose to read a free eARC of Small Town Horror but that has in no way influenced my review.

I’m a huge fan of Ronald Malfi’s books. It all started when I read Come With Me back in 2021. Boy, did that book make me sit up and take notice. Since then I’ve made it my mission to read everything Malfi has written. You can find my reviews of some of his other books HERE. There is something about the set-up of the author’s stories, something about the characters, and something about how utterly devastating the denouement tends to be that has, in the short space of a few years, made Ronald Malfi one of my favourite authors. So, of course, I was thrilled to get hold of an early copy of Small Town Horror. The last couple of offerings published here in the UK have been rather excellent short story collections, so I was very much looking forward to getting stuck into a full length novel. And it did not disappoint one jot!

Andrew Larimer is a successful lawyer in New York. His wife, Rebecca, is expecting their first child and things really seem on the up for the couple. So when late at night, an old friend from his hometown of Kingsport calls and tells Andrew he must return to the small fishing town, he reluctantly does exactly that. Leaving heavily pregnant Rebecca alone, telling her he’s going on a business trip rather than the truth. Andrew swore he would never return to Kingsport. The town doesn’t fit in with his life anymore. He managed to escape, the others didn’t. Now all grown up, Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and Meach need to confront what happened that night twenty years ago. They need to own up to what they did. Otherwise, it could be the end of everything as they know it…

Superbly written, as I have come to expect from this author. Small Town Horror has a creeping, building sense of foreboding and I gobbled it up with glee. Andrew is a fairly normal guy on first meeting. He’s successful, adores his wife and, understandably, is fairly anxious about becoming a father for the first time. But Andrew’s ‘fairly anxious’ is a little more heightened perhaps than other first time parents. When he receives a call from an old childhood friend that implies he must return to Kingsport, he drops everything and heads home. Enter everything ominous you can possibly think of. On arrival at his late father’s house he’s greeted by turkey vultures sitting on the roof, a smell of death permeating the premises, evidence of a squatter and a pressing sense that there is something seriously wrong with the house. Surrounded by his father’s possessions, having to face his grief head on, Andrew decides the house will do for the short time he plans to stay. But then things get really weird.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Small Town Horror is another stunning read from a skilled storyteller. Malfi’s characters are very believable. You may not particularly like them, but you will become invested in their story. And what a story they have to share! Utterly haunting, creepy, full of atmosphere and with a strong sense of place. I was drawn into the world of Kingsport and the dark history held between these five people. There’s an absolute shocker of a twist in the second half of the book which changed everything for me. Perfectly placed and expertly delivered for maximum effect. I cannot get enough of the author’s writing and I urge all horror readers out there to make sure you have at least one Ronald Malfi book on your shelf. Once you’ve read one and experienced the author’s clever, vivid, emotional, haunting prose I can guarantee you’ll be on the hunt for more! As for THAT ending…*chef’s kiss*. Absolute perfection. I am devastated and I flipping loved it. Highly recommended

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Small Town Horror. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi is an atmospheric, menacing story that kept me in suspense until the end.
Well-written, with excellent character development. This is a creepy, atmospheric tale, full of suspense.
This book will keep you intrigued to the very end! Written with great care to detail and characterization. Kept me entertained through the whole story. It was so interesting I couldn't put it down. I read the book in one day.

Thank You NetGalley and Titan Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

An atmospheric, deliciously creepy, and haunting story of revenge. This dark tale is told mostly from the perspective of Andrew Larimer, although the story surrounds him as well as his four friends in a dual timeline. He's forced to return to his small hometown of Kingsport to deal with the ramifications of a tragic incident in the past that threatens to upend his happy life. With the pacing of a thriller and the darkness of a horror tale, this was a dream read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have to admit Malfi is becoming a favourite author of mine but I was a tad worried when the trope of returning back to the small town was mentioned. I shouldn’t have been when I knew Malfi was writing it. Some aspects of course did follow the tried and true trope but others created enough interest to keep me engaged through out.

I obviously won’t go too far into details on the plot in fear of spoilers but I will say that I really enjoyed this one. Once again Malfi is great at creating atmosphere and keeping you hooked. You don’t always know what is going on but that isn’t a bad thing at all. I do have to admit some of the characters I didn’t like but that was on me and also a testament to Malfi’s ability at creating believable characters so it is not something I would consider a negative.

Despite the length I quickly got through tis one since I needed to know what happened next. If you enjoy horror you need to read this one.

As always thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the copy to review. My review is honest and truthful.

I just finished reading Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi and wanted to write my review. Its. April 16th here, but by the time you read this, it will be June. I was asked to hold this review until the month the book came out. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read this one

Small Town Horror is five friends who did something when they were kids. Something bad. And now, as adults, they're paying the price. The main character goes back to the small town where his friends are to help one of them and gets much more than he bargained for. And thats all I'll tell you about the book's plot.

This is a really scary book. It does take some time to get going but once it gets going, oh my god. This book is so scary and so intense. There are a lot of surprises in this book. If you think you know where its headed, you're likely very wrong.

Small Town Horror is not a comfort read. It will give you the shivers. And the book is very well written. I did feel like, at the start, there was almost too much description but once you get into the horror of the book, the description adds to it and makes things even scarier than it could've been. The plot is Stephen King like, the writing is totally different

I liked this book a bunch. I'm pretty sure it'll stay with me awhile. Small Town Horror is one of the scariest books I've ever read. Yes, I'd put it up there with Ghost Eaters by Clay McCleaod Chapman. Thats major praise from me. Ghost Eaters was a terrifying read. Both books are well worth checking out.

If you are looking for something scary to read, I highly recommend Small Town Horror. Just keep all the lights on and after you're done with the book, hug your loved ones.

Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi comes out on June 4th, 2024. Thank you to Net Galley and Titan Books for letting me review this book

Thank you Netgalley & Titan Books Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

I just finished reading Ronald Malfi's latest novel, and I'm still trying to process the experience. I mean, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into - a small-town horror story about a group of friends haunted by a dark secret from their past. But Malfi had other plans.

At first, the book seems like a classic horror tale. You've got your group of friends, your creepy setting, your ominous warnings... it's all there. But then, Malfi starts to expertly weave in these subtle twists and turns that make you question everything. You think you know what's going on, but trust me, you don't.

And then, BAM! The revelation hits you like a ton of bricks. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but let's just say that it's a game changer. Suddenly, the whole story takes on a new light, and you're left scrambling to piece together the clues.

From there, the book becomes a wild and terrifying ride. Malfi's writing is so vivid and immersive that you feel like you're right there with the characters, experiencing their fear and panic. It's like you're trapped in a never-ending nightmare, and you can't wake up.

What I love about Malfi's writing is that he's not afraid to push boundaries. He takes risks and challenges his readers to confront their deepest fears. This book is not for the faint of heart, folks. It's a true horror story that will leave you sleeping with the lights on.

So if you're a fan of horror, or just looking for a book that will keep you up all night, then this is the one for you. Trust me, you won't regret it🔥

Ronald Malfi is one of my favorite writers. So when I saw this book on Netgalley, I immediately requested it without reading the synopsis. Unfortunately, I feel like this particular horror trope has been overdone and I was disappointed in it. The first half was very slow going and I found the characters unsympathetic. And I found the finale of the story to fall a little flat.
I will read Malfi again but this particular book just wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.

Andrew Larimer is in his mid thirties when he gets summoned to the small town he grew up in, to face his childhood sins. Sins that were meant to stay buried..

Small Town Horror is my first Ronald Malfi novel and I’m instantly a big fan and want to read all of his novels. I only wish I had the right words to do this book justice in my review, because it’s top-notch in my opinion and I truly hope it’s going to be made into a movie. 🙏🏻🤩

This novel is a well written atmospheric slow burn which crawls right under your skin. The events that happen are really disturbing and eerie and all characters are very realistic and intense, I enjoyed everyone of them! The setting of Kingsport is brimming with dark secrets, lies and a haunted past and perfectly shaped by the author, it felt as if I was a citizen too. Small Town Horror is a big mystery with multiple jaw-dropping twists and will leave you with an unsettling feeling and a book hangover for a long while.

Thanks so much @netgalley and @titanbooks for this wonderful e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏼

Normally when reviewing books I tend to give immediate thoughts within a day of reading but at the request of the publisher I have waited until the month of release. Luckily, Small Town Horror was both enjoyable and memorable enough to stay in my thoughts even after a few months since reading.

In this book Malfi employs a well used trope of having a group of young friends who are reunited years later as adults following returning consequences of dark events that occurred in the previous time line. This may now be something that has been overdone, especially in the horror genre but if this is a trope that you enjoy or are looking for, it was executed fairly well and the characters, friendships and their development over time was well written.

Having read and previously enjoyed Come With Me, I was hoping to read something next from Ronald Malfi that had more horror and supernatural elements and Small Town Horror certainly delivered this without going too over the top - we get a slow burn of increasing creep that can initially written off or rationally explained away (think early episodes of the X-Files). In fact, the first half of the book is very much a slow burn mystery and the reader is slowly piecing together why our main character has been called urgently back to his childhood town, questioning why he is lying to his wife about his whereabouts and figuring out what is really going on and who to trust.

Things do ultimately ramp up towards the end and Malfi does a great job of flipping what you thought you knew upside down and back again regarding the motivations and reliability of each of the group of friends and there is one particular jaw dropping WTF twist that I totally did not see coming that made this book so memorable.

I am now "two for two" with Malfi books and feel like this is the author that I've been looking for in terms of a modern day alternative to Stephen King, I like how his books are paced and plotted and his character work is solid. I'll certainly be checking out any future releases and will be picking up his back catalogue of work on the strength of Come With Me and Small Town Horror.

Many thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing an eArc in exchange for an honest review. Small Town Horror will be published 4th June 2024.