With Senseless, Ronald Malfi has crafted a creepy, captivating, supernatural, horrific and shocking tale. I had no idea where this book was going with the various subplots, but Malfi wove this book together expertly and brilliantly. This book touches on secrets, family, loss, relationships, the underbelly of Los Angeles, mental health, marriage, and horrific crimes.

Whew! The body of a young woman has been found horribly mutilated outside of L.A. and Detective Bill Renney, who recently lost his wife, can't help but see the similarities between the murder and horrific mutilation of a woman the year prior.

Maureen Park has recently become engaged to Hollywood producer, Greg Dawson and finds herself increasingly uncomfortable and feeling uneasy around his son, Landon. He seems to enjoy making people uncomfortable.

Toby Kampen, is a young man who refers to himself as a Human Fly. He lives a solitary existence but when he meets a unique woman a bar who piques his interest and has him wondering if she human or something else altogether.

As I mentioned, I had no clue where this book was going or how everything was going to come together. but Malfi pulled it off brilliantly. The characters are an interesting bunch with many of the characters being more unlikeable than the next. One or two were likeable, but ALL had secrets!

This book was oozing with unease, tension, dread, and chilling moments! Plus, the atmosphere was top notch and added to the eerie vibe of this book. Hats off to Malfi for such a horrific, wonderfully written, and well thought out book!

Fans of Malfi will not be disappointed. If you have not read a book by Malfi, you will want to sink your teeth into this one!

I’ve loved most of Malfis books that I’ve read with the possible exception of his short story collection.
When I had a chance to get a copy of this to read I grabbed it without reading the blurb and honestly I’d advise you to do the same. The less you know about this book the more enjoyment you will get.

The basis of the tale revolves around two women found murdered and buried in the desert, a year apart, both mutilated in the same way.
That is the backdrop for a trilogy of three different stories within one that all come together at the end.

This reminded me of early Stephen King in its character development. The three completely set of characters all get plenty of time here and are beautifully developed. Yes they are all here for a purpose but unlike many authors, Malfi takes the time to develop these characters and their world. Each story stands on its own and gets plenty of time. There’s no real jarring changes as time spent in each setting is tells a little story within itself.

There are some bonkers characters here, no more so than “the fly”. What an unsettling experience it is spending time in his head as you feeel a sense of both pity and horror.

This is a really clever book. Three books for one that is intimately one book. I had no idea how the stories would come together but they did so seamlessly.

The ending I can see having a bit of a mixed reception but personally I loved it.

And easy 5 stars for me. When Malfi is on form there’s few to match him. Senseless might be his best work to date.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

I never know how to review Malfi without spoilers so I will keep this short and sweet. Plus, I don’t know what y’all expect me to say about his writing that I haven’t already said before. With his usual precision, intensity, and unique storytelling, Malfi delivers not just any novel but a vampire novel. It’s disturbing, horrifying in all the right places, and I never knew where the story was taking me.

In Senseless, Malfi plays with the supernatural in an interesting way, keeping readers at an arm’s length for much of the book. For me, it didn’t feel like his usual style; less dreadful horror, more detective/crime thriller. Still, it is undoubtedly a masterful piece of work. Dark, gritty, unsettling—really, really damn good.

If you haven’t read Ronald Malfi yet, I really don’t know what the hell you are waiting for.

Thank you Titan Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available Apr. 15 2025

Senseless by Ronald Malfi is a masterclass in psychological horror, blending gripping suspense with profound emotional depth. Malfi’s evocative prose pulls readers into a dark, unsettling world where every twist feels both shocking and inevitable. The characters are richly drawn, their struggles and fears palpable, making the story as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying. The pacing is flawless, building tension and dread with every chapter, culminating in a breathtaking conclusion. A haunting and unforgettable novel that cements Malfi’s place as a powerhouse in the genre. Perfect for fans of intelligent, character-driven horror.

Believe it or not I scarcely read thrillers. One without fantasy, sci-fi, whatever else you could possibly throw into the mix to make it more interesting.

Reading Ronald Malfi's "Senseless" is my attempt to dip back into the pool of a really popular genre at my branch! I understand why people like reading them so much now.

Three vastly different POVs converge into one utterly baffling mystery.

I was blindsided by how bizarre the third POV readers encounter is. If you read the blurb you'll know which one I'm talking about. The presentation is so unlike the others that it snapped my attention back but I still felt like there was an unbalance between the three perspectives.

The other nitpick is that even though the book is fiction, it loses a sense of realism when specific ideas and turns of phrase are repeated in the different POVs sacrificing believability for a consistent motif.

I really enjoyed the read, I think the construction of the narrative is pretty addicting and it's clear why thrillers are often paired with the phrase "can't be put down".

This book was everything I wanted and more. While it technically can’t be crowned a 2024 favorite because of its release date, Senseless is already shaping up to be a 2025 standout for me. Malfi’s latest masterpiece is a seamless blend of supernatural horror and procedural thriller that will leave readers haunted long after the final page.

To be honest, I was a little hesitant going into this one. Procedurals don’t usually make my list of favorites because I often find the detectives unrelatable—characters with savior complexes and a chip on their shoulder. But this is Malfi, and when Malfi writes, you read. Needless to say, I’m glad I did because Senseless blew away every expectation I had.

Malfi’s writing style pulls you in like nothing else I’ve read. It’s vivid and immersive without bogging you down in unnecessary detail. Every word feels intentional, designed to draw you further into the dark, tangled world he’s created. And the three main characters? Flawless. Each was so well fleshed out, so unique, they could have carried their own standalone novel.

I absolutely loved—and hated—all three. Malfi’s ability to evoke such complex emotions is astounding. It takes real skill to make you feel something for characters whose actions you utterly despise. Each character’s story is heartbreaking, and Malfi reveals their backstories with such precise timing that you’re constantly reevaluating your feelings about them. Just when you think you’ve figured someone out, he gives you another piece of the puzzle. Another layer. Another reason to question everything.

The supernatural elements are masterfully woven into the procedural thriller. As you’re reading, you’re constantly asking yourself: Is this real? Is it all in the characters’ heads? Are they unraveling, or is something far more sinister at play? By the time the storylines converge, nearly everything falls into place—but not without some open-ended threads that will leave readers’ jaws hanging. Trust me, you’ll be saying WTF! (I definitely was). And yet, the ending feels perfect for the wild ride this story takes you on.

Malfi doesn’t wrap things up with a neat little bow. There’s no “and they lived happily ever after” here. Instead, he leaves you with questions that will have you thinking about Senseless days later. And honestly, isn’t that the mark of a great horror novel?

Ronald Malfi continues to prove why he’s a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre. I truly believe he’s destined to become a household name, as synonymous with horror as Stephen King. If you haven’t read his work yet, you need to dip your toes into the Malfi waters. Start with Senseless. You won’t regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own—and thank you, Ronald Malfi, for yet another phenomenal read. Honestly, how do you keep outdoing yourself?

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an ARC of Senseless.

I am not a fan of police procedurals so I almost skipped this one but so glad I didn't! I was absolutely captivated by each story individually and couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. For most of the book I had no idea how the different story lines were going to come together but the wait was worth it because the characters and events were masterfully woven in the end. My only wish would be for a more definite answer on the identity of the murderer. I finished reading late at night and actually dreamed about who I thought the murder was because it was such an open-ended conclusion.

This was my third Ronald Malfi book and he officially has a place on my "auto-read" list!

4.5 stars

Ronald Malfi writes such beautiful horror novels, my only regret is not getting to read this one until after spooky season was over!

This story centers on the brutal murders of two women found in the same desert, with strikingly similar injuries, one year apart. The crimes seem completely senseless… (literally). It's up to Detective Bill Renney to figure out who did it and why.

Senseless… or *speechless*, in my case.

This is the best book I’ve read in a while. Detective stories can be hit or miss for me, but I wouldn’t change a thing about this one.

The three main storylines were all equally interesting. I knew they’d eventually connect, but it felt impossible to guess how. When they did come together, it wasn’t as seamless or intuitive as I expected, but honestly, that just made the plot more thought-provoking.

There were a few elements I wished had a bit more context or explanation (THE MONKEY—we need to talk about that 😩). But, in a way I can’t describe, the lack of clarity only made the story better.

As for the ending, it's a bit ambiguous. Without giving anything away, let’s just say it's up to the reader to decide the truth. While that usually frustrates me, here it’s the kind of ending that will have me obsessing over this book for months.

I also loved the semi-supernatural elements throughout. They added a symbolic layer to some of the characters and their stories.

If you’re a fan of The Whisper Man (book) or The Sinner (TV show), this one is definitely for you. Now, excuse me while I go order all of Ronald Malfi’s other books.

I have been devouring Ronald Malfi's work lately, and this one is spectacular! Three seemingly different story lines converge around a murder in the desert outside of LA. A detective, a recently engaged woman to a movie producer whose soon to be stepson is strange, and a 20 something year old man who refers to himself as the human fly and whose mother is spider encapsulates the cast of characters in this book. Honestly, it would be "senseless" not to make this into a movie! I loved the characters in this book, the pacing, and the way only Malfi weaves his tales of horror!

This was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed every second I spent reading it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

One of my favorite authors is back and better than ever!!!

A mutilated body of a woman is discovered in the desert outside of Los Angeles. Detective Bill Renney can't help but to feel a comparison to a murder a year earlier of another woman. Both eerily suffered the same fate in the most heinous of murders. (Beware of gory depictions!)

Maureen is recently engaged to movie producer, Greg Dawson. She feels so lucky until his estranged son, Landon, arrives from Europe. Landon's sneer and sinister intentions leave Maureen terrified and questioning whether or not this is a marriage she wants to follow through with. It seems the Dawson's have a lot of secrets. Including "the monkey". Yikes! 😨🐵

Toby Campen is a young 20-something that has never really fit in with society. Raised by a mentally unstable mother he refers to as "the spider". Toby has come to believe that he is a human fly and is in a battle with the spider in a mother-suit. When out at nightclub one evening he meets a woman with rattlesnake teeth that starts an obsession with devastating consequences.

Three separate threads that all come together in outstanding fashion. I am so impressed. Malfi's last book was my one and only disappointment I have read by him and I hoped it was a one-off. I can absolutely say with confidence that it was because he truly outdid himself with this riveting story. This is a creepy, hair raising tale that I devoured with glee. Horror lovers rejoice! 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for my complimentary copy.

4.5 stars

Malfi in my humble opinion is a top tier author. I know him more for his horror books, so I was very curious how he was going to tackle thriller.
He did it in perfect Malfi style, with excellent writing and story telling skills. This was near impossible for me to put down, only because the body requires sleep…ugh
I like this side of Ronald Malfi’s writing, it has his impeccable writing, with a great and well thought out multi-pov mystery, and still it is sprinkled with those dark horror elements that he does so well.

This was an interesting take on a mysterious crime that has taken place in LA. It’s told by three narrators. For about the first half of the book I wondered how these people were going to tie together, but Malfi tied it up quite nicely. I will say this wasn’t what I quite expected but I was definitely flying through this book. A nice read and it’ll be a contender in 2025 for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Titan for the copy of this ARC!

This was an interesting book to read over the course of its pages. For the first two-thirds of the book, I was thinking that, while good, it was a pretty standard thriller and didn't have the usual Malfi gravitas that I've grown accustomed to love and which has made Malfi one of my favorite authors. Somewhat surprising considering his past efforts. Then, in the final third, it all came roaring back and finished as I would expect a Malfi book to do. Just took longer than expected, but well worth it in the end. Malfi ties all three storylines together nicely as the connections become clearer and the mystery of the subject murders is mostly revealed (with a little bit left to ponder over). In the end, another solid effort from Malfi, albeit a different path than one would expect. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward, I will be writing about matters that contain reflections on graphic violence, gore, rape, sexual violence, physical assault, sexism, & others.

What draws the eye to gore? The troll’s duty, charged for admission to the social world of human complexities, is required for the yellow-nubbed toenail to slice the bridge's stone. Yonder, the river moves slowly, tinged with the orange of blue-dyed blood, red in the crisp air of spring.

In this scene, the famished reader anticipates their turn—the moment when they will soon be able to bend their backs to the wind & teeter over the edge of a landmark like many others, where surely, more dead lay than are raised.

When deciding upon a story that will match the sensation of the bridge & its invisible feather of possibilities, a reader may hope to find the tormented soul they house inside. Within their hopes may lay in repose the desire to meet a character whose traits & demeanour encourage trust & lead one to wander back through the bush into the clearing where the morbid scene of coiling blood grooves itself into the soil, between the blades of greenery.

As an introduction, I hope the setting I have crafted lingers. My experience with Malfi’s books has been, overall, positive. That is to say, the scenes he has crafted have remained in my mind like a looming shadow in the night, unescapable unless blinded.

Much of what the author writes seems to pay homage in slight & interwoven ways to renowned works, often categorized as Classics. In this approach, the reader may join him in appreciating the bulb’s brightness in the darkened shelves of the literary world.

When I learned that Malfi would be publishing a new book, I was ecstatic. Since first being introduced to his talents via “Black Mouth” (2022) I have devoured, with patience, further works by the author.

When deciding upon an appropriate adjective to use here in this review, in an attempt to make clear the prowess of his horror, I find myself nibbling the ink of a slew of possible words that may reveal to readers what they will find in his stories. Yet, I wish not to reveal too much. The joy in reading Malfi’s books arises when a reader comes face to face with the ghost of their past, the ghost of a story once forgotten, coming around again to swallow them hole.

In essence, this is a story about the murder of two women. The main character (Bill) Renney is a Detective in a Los Angeles County where, only a year apart, two women are found brutally murdered in the desert. The cruel abandonment of the women, with their eyes carved out, their ears cut off, tongues eviscerated, & noses sliced clean, acted as a brutal reminder for Renney of the terrible fate that awaits women who dare exist in the world alongside such freakishly evil men as their killers.

The story at hand is graphic. Both women suffer immeasurably & through no fault of their own, are chosen as targets for the brutal tortures that two men decided to inflict on them. Due to the similarities that exist in the non-fictional world, readers may find the content of this story overwhelming. Renney never solves the case of M.J.’s murder. Although he acts as an accessory with M.J.’s husband murdering the man who was likely the perpetrator of her death, the reality of this void of relief seeps through every aspect of this book.

What renders the plot all the more tormented is the near apathy of the world around the women. Although their deaths were noted & viewed as shocking events, the actions of those around them do not demonstrate a fulsome understanding of what has taken place.

One may note that it would be impossible for a person to truly understand what it means to be faced with death at the hands of another person. One might also note that, as life goes on, it feels regressive to remain where the dead stay rotting. Therefore, one must ask who will care about the women who are victimized by cruelty.

I suppose here we have come to the point in the story that disturbed me the most. Important to note is that I am not someone for whom the written word necessarily overwhelms me. I have no issue reading ghost stories at night or delving into details of true crime out in the city where it blooms.

While reading, I found myself reflecting on the brazen cruelty that exists in the world. Readers who are more sensitive to descriptions of terror, gore, gender-based violence, & other such faculties may have an altogether different experience with this story.

Renney is not a character who is one a reader might root for. Regardless of a person’s interpretation or experience with the material, the main character is nearly incompetent in his role, one that is meant to bring justice to those from whom it has been stripped. It is difficult to be brought to the forefront here; Renney is not an intellectual man, which is not to say that he is stupid, but he has little education & rather minimal experience with complex individuals.

This is an odd trait for him to have. He boasts of cues & trip-ups in speech that might highlight to him when a person is lying or diverting attention yet, in reality, his worldview is very limited. This annoyed me in some way. Whereas Renney was having intimate moments with the phantasm of his dead wife, the families of two young women were in gruesome grief waiting for answers. Why would someone do this to these women?

Renney never answers their question. Perhaps a reader may link the title of the book to the actions taken towards the women. Their brutal experiences were senseless, yet they were not, in fact, without meaning nor did they arise out of thin air.

Both men involved in the deaths of these women came to the precipice of their decisions because they felt it was their right to choose. These men had the agency to slice a woman’s body to shreds, to brutalize them until they died, to force them into demeaning binds with rope & fly traps, all because they wanted to kill them.

It is senseless in that one may choose to believe that these men had no wits about them, but this would be hoping for the world to be a place of romance & utopian clarity. Will this leave a reader with feelings of remorse? Will the reader feel grief as they remember that M.J. died as a result of her injuries? Will readers wish the death of those who employ it like the Cryptkeeper himself?

I find myself ruminating on the logistics of the crimes. Although this book seems to draw inspiration, as an ode or a prod in the ribs to the Irish author’s vampirette legends of old, namely Bram Stocker’s “Dracula” (1897), Malfi has also taken the lead by including a more brutalized truth. Although the villain in these tales of lore creeps around in the darkness of night, what makes him all the more terrifying is his ability to seamlessly immerse himself in daylight activities.

For readers who may wander the periphery of this story & find themselves at odds with the material, the plot contains other notable mentions that might draw their attention. Of note is the paranormal midnight mass between Renney, his wife, & Roy Orbison. The mentally clocked-out Psychiatrist who kept crime scene photographs at arm’s reach of his patients who were in the throws of mental maladies may perplex a person who has a desire for forethought.

When it comes down to pacing, the story soars like a sparrow; at times, questionable in & of itself. There are other such times wherein the characters seem to act independently of the story. Each of these individuals existed in their own world, one that hardly seemed to tie into the imagery of Los Angeles that is beloved in media & influence. Questions arise such as, why would the Psychiatrist trust the Detective with his crime? Was he so good at his profession that he was confident in his assumption that Renney was a broken & crooked cop?

Yet, perhaps, because of this fact, the scenes in the desert—that reminded me an awful lot of the series “Midnight Mass” (2021)—may serve to introduce readers to the complexity of their surroundings.

I would be remorseful if I neglected to make clear my feelings of revulsion. There is so much potential for a person to do good that makes me ballistic in the crevices of my mind at the truth. That they did nothing instead. Reactivity hardly suffices to make right the catastrophic wrong that one knew was possible.

As I finish this review, several days have passed since I put down the book. For the most part, I worked through the material at night, in an apartment nestled deep in a city center. The landscape that is presented in this plot is not one that mirrors my own but, there are enough similarities for readers to puzzle pieces into their comforts, which may leave them with the dread that the author seems to have wanted to share with his audience.

I wonder what will come next. Which Classic piece of literature will inspire the modern renaissance of the Ripper who slithers through the city in a formidable & well-tailored coat? Where within the bounds of the literary world will the next circus sink its malevolence to the tune of Pink Elephants on Parade?

Ultimately, Malfi has a fine-toothed comb ready to peel through the tendrils of his readers’ heads. His story is well-thought-out & written in a way that will leave readers feeling like they ran a race towards the edge of a cliff, forgetting that below the rocks would not softly welcome them to victory.

Perhaps readers may venture into feelings of disturbance or annoyance upon opening the pages of this story. Orbison’s discography may soothe a tune of sorrow or offer a melody as a backdrop of phosphorus yellow brilliance, that of a sandman who rumbles through the house; the reader may intone a new dawn for their feelings.

Why was this story filled with characters, each more annoying than the next? Why was Maureen so inept at her grown age? Why was there a monkey mask? What became of the abandoned book on the bar?

There is a cruel familiarity that is highlighted in the dusk of simplicity. Although the unique features of this story remind me, fraternally, of art I have consumed, they remain independent of each other, enough to act as a tapestry of all the terrible alleyways that open up to women as they attempt to walk the world they were born into.

As the conclusion is set like the stone on which hope is dashed, the bones buried under sand & summer sun, expand the circle of life; feeding tethers to those without a human voice to speak, share, or plead for a reprieve, much like the body that sustains them as they feed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Titan Books, & Ronald Malfi for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A huge thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Truly the master of horror noir, Ronald Malfi’s Senseless is another stellar contribution to the world of horror, specifically the subgenre of crime horror. Perhaps his most deranged venture yet, Senseless focuses on three separate individuals, seemingly unconnected and operating in various social spheres of Los Angeles. One woman’s mutilated corpse found in the remote deserts of California changes all of that with Malfi’s prose slowly unraveling the twisting, winding knots of confusion. The result is catastrophic, a conclusion that is impossible to predict and loaded with dark malevolence regarding the human condition. Impossible to put down, Senseless undoubtedly revels in the darkest corners of deviant human behavior, reading as some of the best horror crime fiction imaginable.

Malfi’s elevated sense of an unrelenting, haunting atmosphere takes what is a normal thriller into something else entirely. This novel starts the same as any crime thriller with a hard-boiled, emotionally-damaged detective, Bill Renney, walking up to a crime scene to examine a harrowing scene. A woman has been killed but most startling of all is the absence of her eyes, her nose, her ears, and her tongue. While this is obviously startling in and of itself, this scene means something else entirely to Renney who thinks of a familiar scene from a year before. Rumors of a serial killer begin to run amok, but there is something much more to all of this, an added layer of unease that Malfi institutes with ease.

Cut to our other perspectives, the fiancé of a Hollywood producer and a man who believes he is a “human fly.” It may sound absurd or insane that any connection would exist between these three individuals, yet through remarkable storytelling and unique characterization, this is a reality that is made possible resulting in unfathomable outcomes. Each of these characters is haunted by something, a malignant presence breathing over their shoulders that influences their life’s course through violent means. The direction in which Malfi steers this ship is truly unpredictable as we are held captive, along for the insane ride.

Bleak, unflinching, and wicked, Senseless by Ronald Malfi is a novel made of grit, built upon human thoughts and actions best left in the dark. The ramifications of these wretched actions say more about the human condition and the things we cannot leave behind, the things that linger longingly, hauntingly. This is a story that leaves little room for humanity, solidifying Malfi as one of the best writers of dark fiction of our time.

Ronald Malfi is an exceptionally good writer, and I was thrilled to get this ARC. SENSELESS starts out like a police procedural, with the detective investigating two gory murders, a year apart. Then we move to a female POV. A young woman is attending her own engagement party and reveals an intriguing storyline for a book she's writing, right before meeting her troublesome future stepson. The last viewpoint is from the self named "human fly" who becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman he met at a bar. No common theme, right? Wrong. Malfi weaves quite a spell as he draws us into his web of horror.

This is a fantastic story from a wonderful writer. Don't miss it!

Wow, thankyou titan books for the arc of this book, it didn’t. This book gripped me from the start with the start of finding the body, I don’t want to go into too much detail or say much about the characters in the book but each character had their own depth n hidden secret and i absolutely love the ride I was taken on during this dark deception. This book definitely was something I needed each chapter opened up a new discovery. Even with the dark entities I felt myself smile at the little hidden quirks in the book between characters. I definitely would recommend this book to be added to your tbr

I’ve come to understand that I will always be blown away by this man’s writing. The way he writes, the pacing, the character development, the plot twists, they’re all done so well.

The amount of times I said “WTF” while reading this one is unmatched. I was so captivated by the plot, by the characters and the absolutely chaos.

Each character was well thought out and so different than anything I’ve ever read before. I can’t get some of these chapters out of my head. This is one of those books that you have to sit and wonder how Malfi came up with this story. It was so out there but so perfect.

This is definitely a top contender for one of my favorites I’ve read of his so far!

If you haven’t read anything by Malfi and enjoy horror books, do yourself the best favor and read them. I have yet to read another authors work who captivates me as much as he does. It’s like he has me in a chokehold from beginning to end. It was complete chaos and I loved every second of it!

The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because I was expecting this crazy ending and it was a bit underwhelming, and I still have questions. I look forward to seeing others read this one!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the e-book arc! Mark your calendars for April 15th!