I love reading books with a creepy vibe so I knew this one was right down my alley when I started reading it and I definitely did not want to put it down.

Another great read from Ronald Malfi. He really is the Stephen King of the Mid-Atlantic. Similar to his previous work, familiar tropes of adults called home to confront childhood trauma abound. However, Malfi skillfully plays with ambiguity and unreliable narration to keep the reader guessing, despite the initially familiar premise. Deeply unsettling and compulsively readable, the author solidifies his reputation of one of the best horror/suspense writers working today.

Ronald Malfi is a superb writer and this is one truly brilliant spooky horror novel. Small town America, events that happened in the past coming back to haunt you, have always been a lucrative ground for creating atmosphere and don’t turn the lights off tension! Andrew Larimer, a successful New York lawyer, has left his past behind him, and the small town of Kingsport where he grew up, long forgotten. However when he receives a somewhat distressing phone call from a childhood friend, he decides to return one last time to Kingsport, leaving a pregnant wife confused and alone in the big apple…….Five friends; Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and the sad somewhat pathetic figure of Meach are being called to account over an incident and a secret that they have managed to hide for 20 years. Robert Graves now holds the key, or not, to their future wellbeing, and it would seem that revenge and retribution know no boundaries….This is a first class horror novel, with some wonderful twists that kept coming until the final page, an ending whilst not expected, was perfect to the conclusion of my favourite horror read this year. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for the early access to Small Town Horror, in exchange for a truthful review.

Small Town Horror's beautifully constructed, with logical reveals and satisfying misdirections aplenty. Add in moments so chilling you won't just sleep with the lights on, you'll fire up the back-up generator, and you've got a book that'll haunt all the end of year horror lists. I know I'll still be thinking about it when the nights get darker.

Without going into the spoiler zone, fans should absolutely file this next to Come With Me in terms of Malfi's epic finale mastery -- Small Town Horror builds to a truly unforgettable crescendo, with the whole book revealed as one big jagged jigsaw. And pay close attention for a reference to another Malfi masterpiece -- creating something of a King-esque shared universe here.

A plot so packed it could be a graveyard, full of characters that feel so real they could be standing in front of you (with moments so horrific you really hope they're not) -- this one gets my highest recommendation.

This was the fifth book I've read by Ronald Malfi, and I think this might be my favorite so far. Malfi does a great job of making you question if the events of the book are supernatural or not for most of the book. Great pacing and great ending! Highly recommended. This book has one of the most shocking twists that I did not see coming at all and I loved it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC to review.

I feel like I need to go sit in a church after reading this. What a haunting novel! While I wasn’t immediately hooked, after around chapter 10 I couldn’t put this book down. I thought the mystery surrounding Robert’s death would be the biggest plot twist, but the twists just kept on coming. There were so many clever clues hidden throughout the book, ones that had me audibly gasping. The gruesome scenes combined with the terrifying undertones left me feeling sick. Such a masterfully executed story.

I love Ronald Malfi's way of drawing in the reader. I get such Stephen King vibes Everytime I read a Malfi book. Small Town Horror was so good. I love the trope of a group coming back to face something from the past. You will get lost in this story.

A classic horror trope of five childhood friends who are now adults and are all called to return to their home town. At first, I really wasn't sure about this one despite being a big fan of the author. It veers off so much from the main story line and gets so confusing. But things straighten out and the foreboding settles in.

Eerie and haunting. The ending was delicious. I loved all the dark secrets in this small town in Maryland.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi.

Small Town Horror was absolutely phenomenal. It is my top read of 2024 so far and also top over everything I read in 2023. There are certain books you read in your life that you always come back to, always think about and will always stay with you. This is one of those books. This is my first time reading a novel by this author and his writing is excellent. The voice of this book and the descriptions allowed me to watch a full movie in my mind. This book is so spooky, atmospheric, haunting and is truly what my worse nightmares are made of. The last few pages... Wow. I am so thankful I had a chance to read this ARC and I look forward to reading more from Ronald Malfi. I don't see how any other book I read this year will top this one for me. It was just that good.

The main character Andrew got a call from an old friend that asked him to come back to his home town. It was a cryptic call and he knew he had to go home. Andrew left his home town many years ago and never wanted to look back. Andrew and his four friends have a secret.. one that can destroy everything and one he will soon have to confront.

5 stars!! Wish I could give it more. This book will be published June 4th.

Here is my confession…

I’m a huge horror fan, King, being my all time favorite. I have of course, through the years, read Koontz, Saul, Rice, Cutter, Wendig, and others. However, I’ve never read Ronald Malfi. My bad, yes? So, when I was offered the opportunity to review “Small Town Horror” I was pleased, but a bit dubious, as it has been compared to “It”. In my opinion, nothing can touch the depth, scope, and horror of “It.”

As the title suggests, this novel takes place in a small town once home to a group of 5 friends with a secret, whom are now adults living their own lives, until they are called back. Told in dual timelines, we discover the secrets and horrors of the small town and the friends.

The novel is atmospheric and eerie. It’s filled with a sense of foreboding and tension that skips along through the entire story. In my opinion, you have to stick with it, because in the beginning it veers off course onto a meandering path of nothing. But, once you hit the meat, in the middle, the story will provide you with a solid horror story and a story of guilt and regret.

Though, I still think “It” is a much deeper novel, I found my first Malfi, novel to be solid and entertaining.

I will definitely pick up his other works.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First of all, wow.
This was the first Ronal Malfi book that I've read and I've instantly become a fan.

Small Town Horror is the kind of book that will slowly but surely wrap its hands around your throat as you turn each page.
The story of 5 friends meeting up in the town they grew up in nearly 20 years after a horrible accident changed the path of their lives forever. And let's just say things for them all have started to get a little weird.

The way the feeling of unease creeps up on you as you race your way to the end is incredible. I had moments where I was genuinely scared and as someone who reads a lot of horror, that's not something I experience a lot.

For a more in depth review please check out my spoiler free youtube review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVZKdJ9bDQ4&t=227s

This book was a really enjoyable read! I love any kind of small town horror so this was really great for me, I definitely want to read it again in the fall because I think that will contribute to the spooky feeling even more. This was very well done and I am excited to read more from this author in the future.

I loved this book. Small town world building, witchcraft, coming-of-age, friendship and generational trauma.

My favorite book of 2024 so far! I loved all the characters, even those that were terrible. An unreliable but very likable narrator. My favorite character was Tig. Strong single mom with her conscious pulling at her.

The twist made me gasp and I thought “that’s a twist”. I didn’t even remotely guess it. So good!

For fans of coming-of-age horror and deep world building.

Great chilling and thrilling read! The tittle gave the ambiance and the story didn't disappointed. Awesome read!

Remember all of 2023, when I raved about “Come With Me” by @ronaldmalfi? Well, let me introduce you to the 2024 Malfi that I will be talking about from here on out. I am OBSESSED. This book gave me whiplash and I don’t think I’ll ever be same. The characters, the location, the dread, THE ENDING! I mean, COME ON! 🤌🏻

Read this.

💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀/5

Thank you @netgalley and @titanbooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review. Pub date: 6/4

5 friends who have held a secret for 20 years and a twist that will take your breath away and put the reader into a tailspin.

Malfi's writing is so in depth and colorful that you can easily immerse yourself into what each of the 5 major players are going through. If you are in the mood for a horror book that will crawl under your skin, give you all the creepy vibes and immerse you so well that all of your sense come to life - then this is the one for you.

Picture popping a VHS into the video player and grabbing some popcorn and blanket ready to snuggle into your favourite vintage horror movie! This is exactly what this book felt like to me.
Like watching my favourite Nostalgic horror movie that you never want to end.

The story centres around Andrew Larimer who is called back to his Childhood home 20 years after vowing never to return. Leaving behind his heavily pregnant wife he reconnects with his childhood friends. Together they confront past horrors and dark secrets which seep into their present life to haunt them again.

Told in duel timelines which was seamlessly written, the story unfolds in a slow burn which keeps you captivated and wanting to know more. If you love Stephen King as much as me you will love this story. That nostalgic feeling of small town, going back to your old gang mixed with horror and supernatural elements never gets old for me. The story Has all the horror, tension, scares, unease, thrills and twists you would expect and some you won’t! This is not the story you think it is!

Malfi has definitely done it again and I can’t wait to add this to my library! Put this book at the top of your tbr list because it’s a must have!

Thankyou to NetGalley and Titan books for the chance to read this early

Ronald Malfi is one of my favorite authors and when I saw that I had the opportunity to read this upcoming release I was so excited! Turn off the lights, grab a cozy drink and get ready for an eerie read that will have you gripping the sides of your chair. I love the twists that we gets in this book and the deep covered secrets we get to uncover. The writing is perfection, the characters are fleshed out flawlessly and this storyline was IT all the way to the very last page.

Our book is is focused around childhood fiends, secrets and learning that sometimes your actions require consequences and not always do those consequences happen right away. Our main character Andrew is a very successful lawyer, married and about to add another to the family and quickly is torn from his current life and finds himself back to his hometown—this is when he reconnects with childhood friends and their deeply buried dark secrets start to surface and they’re about to face it head on before their past starts to effect those around them.

This book is told in dual timelines which I appreciated and it was very easy to read along without confusion. I love dual timelines. The eerie feel you get while reading this is just the best and I will 100% recommend this to ALL of my book friends. I cannot wait for this release so I can add a physical copy of this book to my ‘MALFI SHELFI’

Thank you @netgalley, @titanbooks and author for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Pub Date: June 04 2024

2 stars

I am sorry, but this book was too dark for me. The animals, the mutilation…I was expecting more traditional “light” scary stuff. Something I could chuckle along with…

Not so much.

I want to thank NetGalley and Titan Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

You'd think this would be so generic based on the title. That it would be like al the other small town horror books. But its actually really good. I personally enjoyed this book a lot. Thank you netgalley/