Ronald Malfi returns to mess with your head with Senseless. And wow, what a ride.
Three stories intertwine : Maureen, a writer, is engaged to a movie producer with a menacing and unpredictable son. Landon's sudden arrival strains Maureen and Greg's relationship, but Maureen begins to suspect Landon is up to no good in a way that Greg doesn't know.

Toby is a young outsider, who trails a young woman who believes is a vampire and can help him become something more than what he is.

Detective Bill Renney is grieving his wife's death and while trying to solve a horrific murder, comes too close to the edge between right and wrong as he gets a little too close to the husband of one of the victims.

And one chilling sentence stands out : Have you met the monkey? LORT.

This is a gory, psychologically challenging book, as a seasoned Malfi reader comes to expect. Definitely check it out!

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

*A big thank-you to Roland Malfi, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
When you pick up Mr Malfi's book, you want to find yourself in the world blending reality and horror, and Senseless is a thriller with elements of horror which blend perfectly. One of the best by the Author I have ever read, his latest offering kept me engaged, and yes, a little confused but the confusion is subtle and right on the spot. You think you know what lies ahead of you and behind, but then a twist, and you are left not senseless but unexpectedly wanting for more. Having three main protagonists whose lives somehow interconnect does not stop the flow of the storyline. Incredibly intriguing stories behind each of them.

This was an absolute fever dream from beginning to end! I never really knew what was happening and when I thought I did, I didn't. I've definitely never read anything like this, however I would read it again in a heartbeat.

5/5

Senseless follows three POVs in the wake of a gruesome murder, one that is eerily similar to the discovery of a mutilated body one year earlier.

This was my first Malfi work but I will definitely be picking up more. The writing was great in this work and while the pace wasn’t crazy fast, I was kept entertained throughout.

The audiobook was great and all three narrators brought their characters to life. Highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for access to this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted this to be for me, but I think that I am not the biggest fan of this author. The narrator was bland and I did not really enjoy being in the book with him.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc copy.

I think this ultimately would have been a better book if it had focused solely on being a horror novel instead of trying to be a genre hybrid. The first 75% set up interesting and creepy scenarios with Maureen and her unsettling son, and with Toby trying to become a vampire. The detective’s point of view was well done, though some parts felt like a retread of Malfi's Come with Me.

The last 25% was a real letdown. It felt like every resolution was the least interesting option Malfi could have chosen.
<spoiler> We missed out on getting any cool vampires. The representation of mental health was also pretty poor. Maureen’s OCD didn’t feel well-researched at all, and the only other mentally ill character turned out to be the killer. Not great. </spoiler>

Ronald Malfi really did it again on this one. His writing is truly remarkable, and I was in the mood for a dark thriller.

Senseless intertwines horror and noir through the perspectives of three uniquely flawed characters, drawing their stories closer and closer together as the murders of two women connect them.

The feeling of dread and unknown and “what the fuck” in this one was so real—like “have you met the monkey?” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? (IYKYK)

The Hollywood setting was an intriguing and added to the mystery of what was real and who you could trust.

The lack of answers is what’s keeping me from making this a whole 5-star read. I feel like there were purposeful loose ends, which I normally like, but this read really takes you to the edge of the answers and just leaves you there. Some relationships between the characters could have gone deeper, and I wanted to know more about the female characters.

In a way, not having all the answers make Senseless even more haunting. So maybe that’s the point.

Overall, Ronald Malfi continues to be a must read for me. The audiobook of Senseless was really engaging and I would highly recommend a listen if that’s your thing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and RBmedia for the audio ARC of this!

I was lucky to get an ALC for this one, and I dove right in. It's an interesting tale that tells three different stories/perspectives that seem completely unrelated at first, but in the end, they all weave together.

The book opens with the body of a horrific murder victim. We meet the detectives working the case and learn that it's eerily similar to one that happened one year ago, with a few differences.

The next part introduces us to a Hollywood producer, his new fiance, and his entitled grown son. This one has many issues throughout.

Thirdly we meet "The Human Spider" and follow him around. He has his own set of issues as well.

I really enjoyed the writing and the way the story was told.

4.25 overall stars.

It all comes together in the end, although I still think some questions were left unanswered.

I’ll read anything by Ronald malfi! This wasn’t my favorite of his books so far, but I did really enjoy the audiobook narrators and how the puzzle pieces came together. I recommend this book especially the audiobook! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

Thanks you Netgalley/Publishers for an advanced audiobook.

Senseless is a very interesting read. Basically, there are three stories and the whole time they're trying to figure out how they even connect. And because the story is set up this way, it keeps you reading. All three stories we're very interesting on their own but make more sense when they came together. However, you just don't really get the full picture until the very end.

The narrators were all wonderful. The tone in pacing of this audiobook was perfect.

In "Senseless," Ronald Malfi delivers a chilling and gripping supernatural thriller that kept me guessing throughout. The story dives into secrets, family dynamics, loss, and the darker side of L.A., all while exploring themes like mental health and relationships.

The plot kicks off with the discovery of a gruesomely mutilated body, which hits Detective Bill Renney hard, especially after losing his wife. Meanwhile, Maureen Park, newly engaged to Hollywood producer Greg Dawson, feels uneasy around his creepy son, Landon. On another front, Toby Kampen, who calls himself a Human Fly, navigates solitude until a mysterious woman at a bar stirs his interest.

Malfi expertly ties together these various threads and creates a cast of mostly unlikeable characters, each harboring their own secrets. The book is packed with a sense of dread and tension, all complemented by a haunting atmosphere. A big thumbs up to Malfi for crafting such a well-written and thought-provoking novel! The narration brought this story to life and was done perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

Haunting. Honestly, no other word could describe this book so completely. With each chapter I read, I was left wanting more. The unfolding of grief sat with me well after I was finished reading the story. Malfi does a wonderful job of building the development of a character and bringing your mind along for the descent into madness. I was never able to guess what would happen next, and I need this story made into a movie. The monkey scene would be chilling to watch.

I LOVED this. What a wild ride this story was! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There are so many twists and turns - at a certain point, you might believe you know where the plot is going but you certainly don’t! The writing was excellent at building suspense and creating an eerie atmosphere. I was impressed with this and will definitely be purchasing this book for another read when it comes out.

A mutilated woman’s body is discovered in the desert outside Los Angeles, drawing Detective Bill Renney back to a hauntingly similar murder from a year ago. Both victims suffered the same gruesome fate, leaving Renney to unravel the chilling connection between these heinous crimes. (Warning: graphic details ahead!)
Meanwhile, Maureen, newly engaged to movie producer Greg Dawson, begins to question her future when Greg’s estranged son, Landon, arrives from Europe. Landon’s sinister demeanor and unsettling intentions leave Maureen terrified, as she uncovers the dark secrets lurking within the Dawson family.
Toby Campen, a socially isolated young man in his twenties, struggles with the trauma of being raised by his mentally unstable mother, whom he calls “the spider.” Toby believes he is a human fly locked in a battle with the spider in a mother-suit. One night at a nightclub, he meets a woman with rattlesnake teeth, sparking an obsession that spirals into devastating consequences.
These seemingly separate narratives converge in a masterfully crafted tale that is both eerie and enthralling. Malfi’s latest work redeems any past missteps, delivering a spine-chilling story that grips readers from start to finish. This is my new favorite book of Ronald Malfi! Also, the narrators were amazing!

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for this ARC!

Following three storylines which all intersect in a horrible way.
The story of the detective who's given a brutal murder case that is either a repeat killing by a possible serial killer or a copycat. This storyline plays out as a more clinical police procedural.
The story of the bride-to-be who's relationship with her fiancé and his son becomes darker and terrifying. As the father and son reveal their own tumultuous relationship, they drag her into it with mindgames and potentially worse.
Then story of the fly, the spider and the vampire follows a man's journey of self-discivery and the destruction of everything around him. His transformation into something else, to possibly help him escape something he's done or has been done to him.

I loved this book. I've only read more speculative works from Ronald Malfi. Senseless was more character-centric but definitely had a plot. It felt like we got to live with our three main characters, in their lives and their skins, showing what ultimately leads up to their intersecting point. Ronald Malfi is great at writing emotional scenes or loss and regret and in this book he elevates that. These are haunted characters, but not necessarily in the ghostly sense.
I would recommend to people who enjoyed Se7en, the Bill Hodges series (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch), Silence of the Lambs, Primal Fear...
Also the three narrators sold their own stories so well and did a great job of making it really feel like three different protagonists conveying their own lives.

Malfi did it once again! I LOVE how all of the pieces came together at the end. I was so confused at the "house fly" POV of this book for such a long time. However, once the story concluded, I now understand the importance of this perspective in the overall story line. Who can you trust? And really....who can trust themselves?

Ronald Malfi never disappoints! He has become one of my automatic buy authors who I also recommend to others frequently.

Senseless is an edge of your seat thriller mixed with some truly great horror moments. I loved the crime story in this one and how the vampires played unexpectedly into the overall story.

I had no clue what to expect while I was reading, which I loved. The narrator did a great job as well with all of the complex characters.

This is one of my favorite reads by this author, and it's one of my favorite reads this year.

ARC REVIEW (4/15/25): senseless by ronald malfi 👻 a supernaturally-tinged LA puzzle-box thriller where three storylines converge to create a tapestry of deceit, distrust, and unapologetic horror.

🩸 detective renney: investigating a gruesome murder that links back to an unsolved crime a year ago.

🩸 maureen: a novelist engaged to a famous producer, currently dealing with “family” issues.

🩸 toby- aka “human fly”: a man who believes he his a fly until he meets an illusive vampire at a bar, who prompts him to run home to his mother, aka “the spider.”

this was my first by this author, and I truly enjoyed listening to this crime thriller/horror! while it still features descriptive scenes involving mutilated bodies, malfi made space to explore deeper topics such as mental illness, secrets & grief. I wish the characters had a bit more personality, rather than the heavy focus on their trauma, and I would’ve liked to see some loose ends tied up at the end! the writing reminded me of a mix between paul tremblay and stephen king.

I hope I never have to meet the monkey… thank you tantor audio for an early copy 🎧 3 stars!

Ronald Malfi is not only a must read author for me but one of the most consistently reliable authors working in horror and/or dark fiction today. I have never read anything less than entertaining from him. Senseless fills the bill nicely with it's pacing and multiple story lines and pov's. My only peeve is that is was not a bit longer to go a little deeper into some secondary characters backstory. Overall very well done as usual.

Thank you Tanor Audio, Ronald Malfi and Netgalley for the audio arc of Senseless.
Narrated by Jenn Lee; Ray Greenley; Joe Hempel.

I've read a few of Ronald Malfi's books and I really enjoy his writing style that builds dread and intrigue with these horror elements. This one is no different. A slow burn, creepy and full of dread, Senseless brings together 3 people. 3 deeply unsettling perspectives which fall into a jaw dropping finale. This kept me both captivated and engaged throughout. It brings all your senses together and you're continually asking yourself. What do you see? What do you feel? What do you hear..

As always, Joe Hempel who part narrates this book pops out your earbuds, I just love the books he narrates. Jenn lee and Ray Greenley also do a brilliant job in keeping the characters separate and intriguing

4 stars