This author has an incredible talent for twisting and reshaping ideas in the most unexpected ways. I was completely off balance throughout the entire book, and it was absolutely mesmerizing. Treat yourself and dive into this horror thriller.

Usually I rave about Malfi. This one just didn't do it for me. The characters made ridiculous choices and the explanation of how the various storylines all linked together and the truth of what really happened was tenuous and mundane respectively.
3 stars because the man can write and I enjoyed it until the reveals came.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I thought some of the chapters were just long and boring. I didn't like the way the author repeated a lot. This book was definitely not a horror book but also didn't have the excitement of a thriller. The entire book reads a bit lackluster and has you waiting for some momentous occasion that never occurs. After everything wraps up in the end I'm still not sure what the point of it all was.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Detective Bill Renney has a secret that may intefer with his new case. There is a killer on the loose. Three people's life's intersect. Can the killer be stopped? Thrilling suspense filled read.

Renny fonds himself at the center of quote a few stories bigger than himself. The multiple POV also makes for partially intertwined side stories. It is at times confusing and patience is needed to unfurl the madness. The ending for me, left something to be desired and I wish there was MORE of an explanation. Or, maybe that's the point, to draw your own. Either way, this story was entertaining with a unique perspective.

A woman is found dead in the desert, her body mutilated in very specific ways. For detective Renney, this is a possible serial murder.
A perfect Hollywood engagement turns sour.
Tired of his life, Toby doesn’t want to be a fly anymore. When he meets a woman with sharp teeth, she might be able to turn him into something else.

Senseless takes 3 separate plot lines and draws them together seamlessly. Renny’s grief while investigating the murders, Toby’s psychedelic journey and Maureen’s descent into paranoia are all expertly brought to life on the page, and three very different plot lines come together in ways you don’t see coming. I loved the way that Malfi ties everything together, even when they are connected the stories are so unique.

Part police procedural/serial killer, part psychological thriller, part creature horror, Senseless really has elements of everything. It’s quite slow burn, but I think worth it when the stories start to ramp up.
Malfi continues to impress me, and Senseless is no exception. If you are looking for weird and wonderful, you’ve found it.

This is my 3rd or 4th Malfi book and each time I read him I am again surprised at how much I like his work. When I started this one, I did have some doubts: it starts much like a hard-boiled, noir tale of a murder in LA. I wasn't sure that this would invoke the same emotional depth and downright unsettling atmosphere that other Malfi novels create. But . . . as I got more engaged with the narrative, I saw that those things were firmly rooted in this text and I couldn't stop reading.

This novel has multiple narrative POVs--and one is particularly strange for most of the novel--but by the end, Malfi masterfully combines the storyline trajectories and makes us question everything we've been told. It's a hard but important lesson to remember that when hearing someone's POV, it doesn't mean that's the ONLY POV. And small shifts might re-frame an entire narrative.

I enjoyed this a great deal. It will leave you thinking after you turn the final page. Another great book by Malfi.

This is my forst book by this author and I am so happy I have 3 of his other books on my shelf to read. This was dark and twisty. The characters were so real. There is a nuance in writing a character that is hard to articulate but it makes the difference between vague, unbelievable characters and characters that truly feel like they're real. The 3 different story lines were each very well done and the way they connected at the end was perfect. My only complaint was that I needed just a bit more closure in the ending that I felt like I didn't get.

My official rating is 4.75 stars. I would definitely recommend this book.

A Supernatural Puzzle Box of Tension and Dread

Ronald Malfi is so good at messing with your head in the best way possible. This book is part of a mystery, horror, and psychological trip.

The story weaves together themes of grief, secrets, and chilling murders against the atmospheric backdrop of Los Angeles’ dark underbelly.

Twisty, Bizarre & Hair Rising

Okay, so there’s a murder—a really disturbing one that sets the stage for a detective battling his own grief to uncover the truth. As he delves deeper into the case, two bizarre threads emerge—a young man with unsettling tendencies and a surreal world that includes vampires and a human fly. The plot oozes unease, tension, and dread, with every twist tightening the web around the characters.

Malfi blurs the line between reality and unreal, weaving a narrative that leaves you questioning everything. As eerie, hair-raising events unfold, I found myself constantly wondering: What’s real, and what’s a product of trauma or mental unraveling? This deliberate ambiguity is utterly captivating and kept me flipping pages.

The Characters: Flawed, Creepy, and Scary Real

Let’s talk about Landon. I swear, he’s one of the most unsettling characters I’ve ever read. We don’t really know much about him. He just lingers—in the story, in your mind, and Maureen’s life—and you can feel the tension every time he’s around. And Maureen? You want to shake her and say, “Run!”

The Atmosphere: Gritty, Uneasy, Chilling

This book oozes dread. Seriously, every single page has this undercurrent that something bad is going to happen. The high desert setting and the seedy parts of L.A. add this gritty vibe that makes the whole thing feel even more sinister..

The Supernatural: Ambiguous, Subtle, Clever

Here’s where Malfi really shines. You’re constantly wondering—are these things really happening, or is it all in their heads? Like, wait, is that vampire real? Is he for real or messing with your head? You’ll be questioning reality right along with the characters.

Oh, the ending. It’s powerful, but it had me lying there, staring at the ceiling, running everything back in my head like, “Wait, did I miss something?” I had to sit with it—do a big think about what just went down and ask Debra—and even then, I wasn’t totally sure I got it all. And maybe that’s the point? But also, ugh, I wanted just one clear answer! Instead, it left me hanging, not completely knowing, which is both brilliant and frustrating. Honestly, I’m still not over it.

I know it’s on January 4th but I feel secure in saying this is one of my favorite books of the year! Once I started reading I did not want to put it down.
“Senseless” by Ronald Malfi is a psychological thriller/kinda police procedural that is told from three separate perspectives. All three character POVs were equally engaging to me and everything came together in a very satisfying way.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. I have read and enjoyed a couple of Malfi’s books before but if it says anything, after finishing this I immediately went and put library holds on all of his books I haven’t read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

A crime thriller with great suspense, some brolliantly disturbing characters, and intense squelchiness. Many scenes ride psychosexual undertows. This was my first book by Malfi.

After the powerful crime-scene opening, the changing points of view frustrated me at first. I ended up liking the odd, kaleidoscopic nature of the storytelling. It was a fascinating read and parts of it were mesmerizing.

I'm a bit unsettled with the ending.

Favorite Things:
The unusual premise, crime scene depictions, and a horpillilating chapter
Stories within stories
Male grief
Palpable sense of menace
Edges of supernatural horror and dread
A realistic woman in a difficult situation–she’s not a common thriller stock female
Malfi’s use of language is appetizingly crunchy
At times hallucinogenic

Thank you, Titan Books, for the e-ARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.
I'll post public reviews and link them closer to the publication date.

Told from several POVs, I did find it a bit confusing at first. This book seemed to stray from Malfi's normal writing style. But once I got the rhythm of it, I enjoyed the different storylines and how they inevitably merged by the end.

This novel mixed vampires and the paranormal, possible mental illness and monsters, murder and grief, running away from problems and family dysfunction. There's something for everyone in this, and Malfi always knows how to draw in his readers.

I gave this 4⭐️

As always, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars--I really liked it.

"Have you met the monkey?" Good lord, that sentence was unsettling! If you've read this book, you'll know what I mean!

Senseless straddles the line between horror and noir. Malfi is a good writer, and he knows how to create an unsettling atmosphere. Very dark and intricately plotted. Each character and plot element falls into place, creating a disturbing whole.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

Thank you so much Titan books for the advanced copy. Ronald Malfi is a master of horror and dealing with grief. A cop grieving for his dead wife,a psychiatrist with a murdered wife looking for revenge. A soon to be wife with a stepson who might be a murderer and a troubled young man who believes he’s in love with a vampire and will do anything to get her to turn him. All these people weave together after another murder in the unforgiving desert. This was an amazing noir feeling novel that kept you engaged to the very end unraveling the mystery. 4.5 ⭐️

OK, I am not going to lie, so ‘no cap’ as my middle schooler would say. I LOVE this author with all my being. I think I have read 3-4 of his novels and I just love the way he ties the characters together. Although, while reading “Senseless” you might be curious and think “how is this going to wrap up in a neat bow?” BUT Malfi NAILS IT all while delivering a fantastic plot!! Now I am not going to go into what this is about anyone can read the blurb….what I am going to say is that if you are looking for some creepy horror, a crazy mystery woven in, and an amazing story then Ronald Malfi is for you! There is some gore and graphic scenes, and you should probably check your trigger warnings but damn what an amazing ride. Big thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the eARC (my views are my own!), and a massive shoutout to Ronald Malfi for another amazing read!

Three people living separate lives but end up linked in this latest book by Ronald Malfi. Bill Renney is a detective who's been called to a body in the desert a year on from an almost identical murder was found in the same location. Maureen Parks is a newly engaged writer getting to grips with life in her fiance's Hollywood circles and feeling unsettled after an unexpected introduction to her future stepson Landon. Toby Kampen is a young man whose grip on reality is unravelling; he believes he is a human fly and has become obsessed with a young woman he met in a nightclub who he believes is a vampire.

Having read A Smalltown Horror by the same author earlier in the year I was looking forward to reading this one, and it did not disappoint. A great last read of 2024. Ronald Malfi is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.

Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Ronald Malfi for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Ronald Malfi's is a bit of a mess.

The book sees Malfi step outside of his usual horror fare for a more traditional Hollywood murder-mystery billed as being in the vein of the Zodiac. Yet despite a strong opening in which a mutilated body is found in the desert it's a mostly ho-hum affair which runs out of air before the mystery is solved.

Others have it enjoyed it far more so maybe I missed something but for me there were far too many threads that fizzed out well before the final reveal.

Senseless is an intriguing story on multiple levels, driven to an unexpected and disturbing conclusion through the eyes of various characters whom you want to trust but just can’t because of their darkest secrets.

Malfi is such a great writer. I’ve read several of his books and was super happy to be able to get a copy of this before the release.

Senseless was filled with twists and turns. It’s suspenseful, scary, and filled with so many memorable characters. What really stuck out on this one was the use of multiple story lines that eventually mended into one.

Anything Malfi writes is guaranteed to be solid!