Fantastic book it was so exciting trying to guess how the three story lines would connect, I was left with questions though Narration was excellent!

Senseless is hard for me to rate because one one hand the first oh 3/4 of this book either way is incredibly compelling.

It’s an interlocking who dunnit that feels timeless in a way that harkens back to red dragon. Perfect for fans of all sinners bleed.

The problem is there are two interpretations and one of them (the more likely one imo) leans very heavy into “AND HE WAS CRAZY” and like sure. I get that a lot of crimes are like perpetrated by mentally ill people but the other and infinitely more interesting option is supernatural.

If you live in delusion and like ooky spooky I think it’s a lot more fun and 4 star read

If you like a more grounded crime thriller then there is a lot to like but maybe a little lower on the rating scale. The reveal makes sense but it’s not particularly cathartic imo

Either way the horror imagery that malfi weaves through the narrative is deliciously gory and hot all the right spot for a horror hound.

Jenn Lee is crisp and clear but nothing particularly noticeable about her narration style.
Joe Hempel is a good narrator but he’s also a pretty slow one. I had to bump the speed personally
Ray Greenly was superb however and a real delight.

This is only the second novel I have read by Ronald Mali and I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader audio copy of this book from Net Galley and Tantor Audio. Getting back into my roots, reviewing books, I was very excited to have been approved for this and started it right away.

The first book I read by Malfi was his previous one, Small Town Horror, which also happens to be the last post I did. Feel free to check out that review here, it was an amazing book. Needless to say I was very excited to know there was a new book on the horizon.

Senseless will be released in the US and UK on April 15, 2025 and follows three seemingly unrelated characters: Detective Bill Renney, Maureen Park, and Toby Kamden. The book opens with a murder scene of a woman mutilated that mirrors a cold case from the year before in the same general location. Renney is the detective that catches the case that sets the tone for the overall story.

Our next character, Maureen Park, who is an aspiring author with one book published to mediocre success. She is marrying into a Hollywood lifestyle and her soon to be husband Greg, is a high paid attorney for Hollywood. Ms. Park’s story has it’s own set of terrifying issues that involve her soon to be Step son Landon.

Our final friend we are following is Toby Kamden. He is an unusual type. Referred to as a “Renfield” by a woman he is obsessing over, and refers to himself as a Human Fly. Toby’s story is unsettling and slightly confusing at times, or maybe strange is a better word.

One of the things I love about Malfi’s writing is his character development. This book feels like it could be 3 stand alone stories and they would all totally work. Malfi finds a way to bring each story together in one of the most surprising ways possible. I read a lot of Crime novels and I usually have the ending pegged a fourth of the way in, but this book surprised me and I loved it.

The cover of this book has a quote from author Gabino Igleseas, “Malfi is Horror’s Faulkner”. Having read the same books by both Malfi and Faulkner, I’m not qualified to agree or disagree, but I will say Small Town Horror was fantastic and creepy and everything i wanted in a horror novel. Senseless does have a vampire element in Toby’s story line, with references to Stoker’s Dracula, but I feel this book is more of a crime story similar to Dashiell Hammett or Michael Connelly.

That being said, I still highly recommend this book. I read this in 3 days which is fast for me. Yes it was an audio book but I couldn’t stop listening and each narrator made their characters their own. If I wasn’t already hooked with Small Town Horror I’d say Senseless only strengthened my fandom for Malfi. I give it 🥃🥃🥃🥃1/2. For GoodReads it will be listed at 4 glasses since they don’t do half. The only thing that kept this from a full 5 glasses review is the fact I had expected horror and felt this didn’t really fall in the genre for me. Stellar read though and I can’t wait to read more of Malfi’s catalogue.

Senseless is told in three different points of view. I liked the way this book started off and I was very invested, however, when we kept switching point of views, unfortunately, it lost me a bit because I really enjoyed some POVs more than others. I will be a little vague because I don't want to spoil anything, but the POV that ended up being the main POV was the one I didn't enjoy reading. While I really enjoyed Senseless, it fell just short of a 5-star rating because at times it was a bit long winded, and I also didn't care for how things wrapped up or didn't wrap up at the end.

My favorite voice actor was in this audiobook was Jenn Lee. She really stood out and did a wonderful job!

I look forward to reading Ronald Malfi's backlist and any future work he comes out because I think his writing is really great.

Thank you Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and Ronald Malfi for the advanced audiobook copy.

Senseless comes out on Apr 15, 2025.

I’m a longtime fan of Ronald Malfi’s work, so I went into Senseless with high expectations. While the atmospheric tension and eerie tone are classic Malfi, the story itself felt disjointed and, at times, incomplete. The narrative was difficult to follow, possibly due to an overabundance of characters or a lack of clear definition between them. As a result, it was challenging to stay fully engaged with the plot.

The ambiguity, which can often work to Malfi’s advantage, felt overextended here. Key elements were left underdeveloped, and the story seemed to be missing the connective tissue that typically gives his work such emotional and narrative weight. It felt like it needed one more round of editing and refinement to bring everything together.

That said, the audiobook production was excellent. The three narrators brought distinct voices and moods to the characters, adding depth where the written narrative occasionally fell short. Despite my disappointment with this particular title, I remain a fan of Malfi's storytelling and look forward to his future work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ronald Malfi, and Tantor Media for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Pacing was good, I was worried it was going to be a little slow building up. The ending didn't feel rushed and wrapped up nicely. Loved the multiple POV and different character personalities. Appreciated the unique take on a murder mystery with the supernatural element. Would absolutely read more from this author.

Ronald Malfi is one of my favorite authors. I've read eight of his books, so I feel like at this point I have a pretty good idea of his voice as a writer. "Senseless," feels like a very different book for him.

This book is a mystery/thriller told from multiple perspectives and therein lies my overall issue with it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this story and it kept me engaged throughout, however, one of the perspectives felt a lot flimsier than the others.

In this story, we're following characters Maureen, Toby and Detective Bill Renney, and my complaint is with Maureen. While her character, and the characters surrounding her, definitely kept me intrigued, I felt like her connection to the overall narrative was just very weak. I feel like she came across as one note and really only served as a vehicle for further tension and discomfort.

The heart of most of Malfi's novels for me is the emotion. He always makes you care so much about his characters. "Come With Me," "Black Mouth," and "The Night Parade," all made my heart hurt for the characters. I felt deeply connected to them. This novel was missing that. The emotion just wasn't there for me.

Having said ALL that. This was still a good novel and I did find it entertaining. I think when measured against his larger body of work, it just falls short in the areas where Malfi usually shines.

I've listened to a few of Malfi's stories, but this was a great reminder that I need to continue to work my way through the rest of his catalog. Although I already knew that, because Come With Me remains one of my favorite books.

Anyways, this book! I swear halfway through Malfi was like, "Oh, you think that's weird? Hold my beer." and went full tilt. And I'm kind of impressed that these interweaving storylines and unreliable narrators didn't make this too convoluted to follow. I was invested in each character's arc. Usually when I listen to an audiobook, I'm simultaneously doing chores, running errands, exercising, etc. But for this book, I kept on finding myself sitting there, staring off into space, listening intently to what was going on.

As for narrators, Joe Hempel was awesome. I like his collaborations with Malfi and that's mostly where I've heard his work before. Jenn Lee and Ray Greenley were new to me from what I can recall and both were good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!!

Thank you NetGalley and Ronald Malfi for sharing an ARC of Senseless with me in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gritty, character-driven crime thriller that masquerades as horror but delivers a much more grounded, psychological punch. The story unfolds through three interconnected stories that slowly and cleverly weave together, revealing the depth of the characters and their haunting pasts. Malfi's character development is a standout, pulling you deep into the lives of flawed, complex individuals. While the build-up is immersive and well-paced, the ending feels a bit abrupt, leaving a few threads looser than expected. Still, the writing and atmosphere are strong enough to make me want to explore more of Malfi’s work.

Senseless is my third novel by this author, and its by far my favorite of his so far.

3.5 rounded up. I’m always quick to pick up a Ronald Malfi book. They hook you in and drag you through a well thought out story, complete with realized characters, palpable atmosphere, and an un-put-downable plot. Senseless is no exception!

This story is set in Los Angeles and centers on separate stories that become increasingly entwined as the story moves on. When a murder victim is discovered in the desert with identical injuries as a previous murder, Detective Bill Renney is quick to take the case. Maureen Park, freshly engaged to horror film producer Greg Dawson learns why Greg and his son Landon don’t get along. Toby Kampen, a troubled young man meets and befriends a real life vampire who makes him her own personal Renfield. How are these stories, and the murders connected?

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book drops April 15, 2025!

This was my first venture into the works of Ronald Malfi, and I cannot wait to read more. The blend of horror, thriller, and mystery had me hooked from the start and made for such a creepy tale. I don't usually gravitate to audiobooks for horrors or thrillers, but the narrators chosen for this and the way in which they boosted the atmosphere of the story has me reconsidering listening to more! All three narrators brought something super unique to each of these complex characters in just the right way to make them stand out on their own but also brought the right levels of unease and mystery.

Toby's POVs were generally my favourite; There are so many great twists and turns and I loved the intersecting of these very unique storylines - absolutely cannot wait to add a copy to my shelves when it is published.

Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Senseless was the first book that I have read by this author, and this book was an odd one. There are three POV's one of which is a man who is struggling with his mental health and felt like a strange fever dream. It was interesting to see how all of their stores crossed at the end, however it left me with more questions. Some of the parts of the book crawled along slowly. A lot of detail is described in the book, in my opinion too much and I found myself thinking lets just get to the point and move on.
I listened to the audiobook, there were different narrators for each POV they did a great job.

"Senseless" is a masterful blend of police procedural, mystery, and thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. While I initially expected a heavier dose of horror, I was pleasantly surprised by the way the supernatural elements unfolded, particularly in the gripping conclusion.

The narrative is told through three distinct perspectives, which at first felt a bit disjointed, especially with the early focus on Bill Renney. However, as the story progressed, the chapters from Maureen and Toby became increasingly relevant and intertwined, adding depth and complexity to the plot. Toby's chapters, in particular, were captivating and creepy, drawing me deeper into the chilling atmosphere that Malfi is so adept at creating.

What I love most about RM's writing is how effortlessly he pulls readers into his stories. "Senseless" is no exception; it’s incredibly easy to read, making it hard to put down. As someone who is easily hooked on serial killer narratives, I found this book to be a thrilling ride that kept me guessing until the very end.

"Senseless" is a compelling read that showcases Ronald Malfi's talent for storytelling. With its engaging characters, intricate plot, and a perfect balance of suspense and supernatural intrigue, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was fantastic. Highly recommended!

This one hits shelves on April 15, 2025. Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing an ALC. All opinions are my own.

This one was a weird one for me and im still not entirely sure how I feel about it. At first, it seems like three completely unconnected storylines that don’t have anything to do with each other. I knew that the three POVs would have some sort of six-degrees-of-separation thing going on. Renney and Maureen’s storylines were the most interesting. Toby was the one I liked the least, and even though I knew his POV was a crucial part of the storyline, I still feel like it would have been better had it been absorbed. Adding more to the other two POVs would have made up for the odd slowing of the story in Toby’s sections. The story was great, but there were times (mostly Toby’s POV) where I felt my attention wandering and kept having to rewind to see what I missed. Ronald Malfi is an incredible writer though, and that last 25% or so took off like a shot!

Huge thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

It was interesting to see the different stories and figure out how they connected to one another. It definitely had moments of being creepy, but I feel like it reads more closely to thriller than horror. And even still, there are so many moments that feel lackluster, slow, and actually just not thrilling at all. It was an interesting combination of scenes, with some such as meeting the monkey being nearly unable to put it down and others where I desperately wanted to put it down. The narrator is wonderful, though.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

I don't read much horror anymore, but when I see a Ronald Malfi book, I have to grab it! I've been a fan since the Floating Staircase and they have always delivered a great read! Senseless is a creepy, horrific, shocking tale that I could not pause until the end! The story pulled me in, grossed me out, kept me wondering and needing to find out how it ended. We have several subplots in this one and seem unconnected until Malfi weaves them together and I got the "OH! NOW I see!" moment. I can see myself getting a printed copy of this to enjoy all over again.

Topics of secrets, family, loss, relationships, mental health, marriage, and crime in the dark, secret places of LA are all touched on and explored in this novel. Listening to this audio, I felt tension, dread, chilling moments in this atmospheric book. What a well crafted, horrific and well written book! IF you're a fan of Malfi - you'll like this. If you've never read him before - you'll like this!

5 stars & I highly recommend.

Thank you Ronald Malfi, Titan Books and NetGalley for this ARC.


Have you met the monkey?... Well, I have and I was shocked! Senseless follows detective Bill Renney, author (and bride-to-be) Maureen Park and human fly Toby Kempen and, at some point, their lives intertwine.
I had a bit of trouble getting into the narrative in the beginning, but when things started to get really weird, I got hooked. I kept trying to guess the connections those characters could have and how the book might end (spoiler alert, I didn’t get a single thing right).
There was one thing left unanswered that, although I would have loved definitive answer, I was content in being left guessing.

Senseless by Ronald Malfi was a thrilling psychological crime book with an excellently done “who done it” story line. In this, you follow three points of view that is brought together excellently in a mind bending manner. Fans of Non supernatural horror by Stephen King will find this unputdownable!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my first Ronald Malfi Book and it was an amazing experience.

The story telling and writing really set the story to feel so real! It was creepy and left me with questions, but that's just what thrillers do!

I listened to this Audiobook and the narrators did an amazing job! Jenn Lee, Ray Greenley, and Joe Hempel really made this an immersive experience and bring the characters and story to life!

First I would like to thank Netgalley, Titan Books and Tantor Audio for the ARC of this novel.

I love Ronald Malfi’s books and I was so excited to get an advanced copy of his newest one.

First, this book was weird. In a horror, strange but not necessarily bad way. The audiobook of this was so well done and it kept me so engaged the whole time. There are three characters this book followed and I have to say the detective’s story and Maureen’s story really had me hooked from the beginning. Every time we went back to Toby I started to lose a little interest but I think that’s mostly because his was definitely the most out there part of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I love how the stories all connected in the end but I will say that I feel like the ending seemed to come out of nowhere.

I also liked how everything wasn’t wrapped up in a nice little bow and how we didn’t get resolutions for each character. That felt very in tune with the rest of the book.

If you are a fan of horror and love a book that is a little strange and creepy I recommend.

3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4 for this review.