I’ve only read one other Ronald Malfi book, and I wasn’t a fan of it because I didn’t feel much happened to keep me engaged. This book started out that way, a slow start but the ending where everything came together totally shocked me!! I loved it! The myriad of themes present in this book just made the story that much easier to get lost in and I really appreciated how easy it was to get connected to these characters only to find out they were hiding something BIG! I got caught off guard every time! No one is safe.

As for the audiobook, I absolutely loved the narrator’s. Joe Hempel also narrated an audiobook I listened to recently and I’m a big fan of his, so I loved how he narrated his part of the story. All of the narrator’s had a friendly communicative tone to their narration which I loved because I felt like I was another character in the story.

I listened to this & wish I had it to read instead. The accent for the narrators are just really off putting for me so I can’t concentrate on the actual storyline.

I feel like it would be a good book if I read it but unfortunately I can’t carry on listening with these narrators it’s just so robotic 😔

📓🕵‍♂️🪰Senseless 🪰🕵‍♂️📓

Two crimes.

A mystery.

A vampire (?)

And way too many secrets.

A masterfully written horror thriller/mystery of three individuals going through three seemingly separate events that slowly merge like three separate rivers all flowing to the same ocean without knowing the presence of one another.

🩸Detective Renney- actively investigating a gruesome murder with a side of dejavu.

🩸Maureen - A novelist engaged to a famous producer, currently dealing with "family" issues.

🩸Toby, aka The human fly, has met a "vampire" and currently believes he's a fly.

This is an awesome thriller mystery with horror elements! Has a psychological side and deals with mental illness, secrets, and grief.

I really enjoyed this book. It made me stay up way past my bedtime to solve mysterious murders.

I read and listened to this ARC for an immersive and atmospheric read, and it felt like I was walking next to the detective, trying to piece this huge puzzle together.

The cast for this audibook did an outstanding job conveying the emotions of each character, I was so absorbed I had a full Netflix series playing in my head while listening and reading this one.

If you enjoy a good thriller mystery with horror elements, I fully recommend this one! I already made sure to preorder my physical copy!

I would love to thank Ronald Malfi, Titan Book, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and listen to this outstanding thrill of a book!

Now, to make my way through Malfi's entire bibliography!

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟.5
S E N S E L E S S! The name of the book is *How I Honestly Feel About This Book: Senseless*. I should have stopped when the vampire and the talking fly were introduced, but I was too intrigued to see how it would play out. This book has depth, and the author's portrayal of mental illness was genius. I was confused; I didn't think I would have to use my brain when reading this book, but I did. This is my first book by this author, and it will not be my last.

The audiobook was good, and I liked how it had multiple narrators. They brought the story to life and were easy to understand. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and RB Media for the audiobook inexchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Unfortunately I did end up DNFing this book. As a someone who gets most of their reading time in by listening to audiobooks, I feel like having great narrators can either make or break the book. (in my opinion) For me it was hard to get into the story because of this.
My rating is strictly for the narrators. I don't feel it would be fair for me to rate the actual story told since I did not finish it.

I have been wanting to read something from Ronald Malfi, and I am glad that this was the first one I read!

I have always enjoyed multiple viewpoints when it comes to thrillers because I feel like it gives more depth to the story and has plenty of places to add twists! While I feel like this one did a great job with the depth of the characters and the placement of the twists, I found myself struggling at times to remember who everyone was until about 20% through. I believe that is more due to me listening to the audiobook, though. I think if I had the physical book, it would have been easier to differentiate between everyone. Outside of that, this was a great thriller!

I have to thank Net Galley and Tantor audio for my advanced audiobook copy. I really enjoyed the story!

This was my first Ronald Malfi and to say I am impressed is an understatement. The book was perfectly paced with the right amount of thriller and eeriness. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing this story to life

It’s always tough to review a Ronald Malfi novel because, much like Stephen King, he’s truly mastered his own style—so the things I might typically critique in another book are just part of his signature approach. That said, I wasn’t immediately sold on the three different viewpoints at the start. It felt a bit jarring, and I worried it might pull me out of the story. But once I adjusted to the rhythm of the shifting perspectives, it clicked and actually added depth to the narrative.

This book gave me major Scream 3 vibes—not in the traditional slasher sense, but through those subtle, eerie parallels and storyline echoes. (A shady studio producer and a deranged son? Come on!) It made the experience even more enjoyable, especially as a longtime fan of that franchise.

And yes, I would’ve loved a few more concrete answers by the end—but really, that’s kind of the fun of a Malfi novel. The ambiguity lingers, haunting you after the final page.

Overall, this was another solid, atmospheric read from Malfi. The man just doesn’t miss.

A cop grieving his wife
A psychiatrist with a murdered wife looking for revenge
A soon to be wife with a stepson who could be a murderer (Greg is husband) (Doreen)
A troubled young (Landon) man who believes he is in love with a vampire hoping she will turn him
A missing mechanic by the hand of the grieving doctor
If that isn’t enough to say how crazy this book is, it was an ADVENTURE for sure!!
Also that sinister lady with the upside down cross was suuuuper creepy! This book had my attention the whole time! I was soo upset each time I had to stop listening to it cuz of work but I devoured it! Gripping! Creepy! Unput-down-able! Messy ending! It had everything! Thank you Meet Galley for the ARC!

I’ve quickly become a Ronald Malfi fan, this being the fifth of his books I’ve read in three months.

A mutilated body is found in the the desert, the similarities to a previous m*rder point to either a serial k*ller, or a copycat. So begins this dark and involving k*ller thriller.

There are plenty of characters and original angles, and the three narrators do a great job with voices and the drama. There are moments that will make you wince.

As always Ronald Malfi brings it all together very nicely. It sits more towards the Crime end of his spectrum rather than Paranormal. Fans will love the dark and cold tone and there’s plenty to appeal to general thrillers readers.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tantor Audio

This was quite the whirlwind, it is told from three different POVs. At times you get the WTF am I reading feeling. This integrates trauma, delusions, grief with the supernatural. I was lucky to get the ALC and the narrators do a good job, but I think I need to give this a physical reread to see what I missed. I will sure be looking at this authors back list.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC
4.5 star

Mr Malfi! What the actual F*ck! I have never walked away from a book with so many questions and loved it at the same time.

Like seriously wth!! This book follows 3 different stories with 1 extremely unreliable narrator that will have you saying WTF a lot!! This was my least fave story line of the book, but still loved the craziness of it.

I also sat wondering about the title... and if it had to do with the way the serial killer killed the women or the fact that some of these men were senseless and just didn't have it all together.

Please don't even get me started on the monkey! But also, sir, sooooo many questions!! I hope you do a Q&A for this!! Seriously!!

Thank you RB Media and Netgalley for the ALC of this! I loved the narrators and audio! Highly recommend!

⭐️3.75⭐️

In Malfi’s new book, we follow three distinct main characters across three intertwining storylines that all revolve around the mutilated body of a young woman discovered in the desert on the outskirts of LA.

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but it was clear this story was more character-focused than plot-driven. Malfi’s ability to weave together such an intricate story of three vividly unique characters was outstanding. Each character’s perspective felt like a completely different, yet fleshed out, story. I struggled the entire book to piece together how these characters connected, and when the reveal happened, I was blown away with how Malfi kept the mystery alive throughout the entire read.

This story does a great job of focusing on the flaws of our three main characters. Each one seemed to represent a different struggle or flaw in humanity. There’s a lot of talk of mental illness in this book and it also highlights grief trauma, OCD behaviors, and unnatural obsession. Due to the unreliability of the characters, this book had me questioning what was real the entire time. What I loved about this book is that the horror and supernatural elements are based on the characters’ mental states, and I’m still left confused about what was real or not.

My struggle with this book comes from the fact I had no idea what was happening until about 350 pages in. Also, while I typically enjoy an ambiguous ending, this one left me with so many unanswered questions.

I was lucky enough to turn my physical ARC into an immersive read with special thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an approval of the audio version of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. The three narrators, Jenn Lee, Ray Greenley, and Joe Hempel did an amazing job of bringing each character to life!

Audiobook
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've read more than a few of Ronald Malfi's books along the way but this is byfar one of my favorite.

When a dead woman is found in the middle of the desert in LA County, California, Detective Renney is expecting it to be another random case. Once he arrives at the scene he comes to find it's anything but that.

Maureen has found love with Greg Dawson an older Movie Producer/Lawyer and things are going well. Until the night of their engagement party when Greg's twenty something son Landon and friend crash it leaving her feeling unsettled. Those feelings only get worse over the days following with Landon living with them. The more Maureen digs into Landon and Greg's past the more she questions sticking around.

Toby, a twenty something obviously mentally challenged young man believes he's a human fly. When out at a bar one night he meets a girl that he believes to be something other like himself.

These three storylines are intermingled throughout the chapters but are very simple to follow. Each is vital overall but are satisfactorily brought to a conclusion individually as well. What is revealed at the end I never saw coming and wouldn't have ever imagined.

Ronald Malfi has gone above and beyond in this novel, hands down! This is one I would love to see as a movie as well.

I approached this book with high hopes, eager to dive into its world, but I found myself unable to connect. Despite my best efforts, my attention drifted, and I couldn’t push past the early chapters. The premise had potential, and I genuinely wanted to love it, but something didn’t click. The audiobook narrators, unfortunately, made matters worse—stiff and robotic, they drained the characters of any vitality, leaving me indifferent. In the end, I set it aside, disappointed but unmoved. This one just

5/5⭐️🎧

» 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭- Bill Renney- a detective, Alan- a psychiatrist whose wife was murdered, Maureen- a writer married to a movie producer, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘺- 𝘧𝘵. 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴… and Toby.

» This was phenomenal. Three different MC stories perfectly layered into this story that all comes together to form this emotional nail biting story, that kept me on the edge of my damn seat.

» This was my first Malfi book, and I have a few sitting on my shelf but I can say confidently that this is one of my favorites now!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
What catches your eye...? When the disfigured remains of a young woman are found in the desert near Los Angeles, the detective on the case can't shake the eerie parallels to a murder from the previous year. While the media jumps to conclusions, labeling it as the work of a potential serial killer, Detective Bill Renney is grappling with a different kind of secret that ties him to the husband of the first victim.
What do you hear...? Maureen Park, who has just gotten engaged to Hollywood producer Greg Dawson, finds her engagement celebration disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Landon, Greg’s son. This unsettling young man begins to intrude on Maureen’s new life, and as he lingers, she grows increasingly suspicious that he might be connected to the recent murder in the high desert.
What do you feel...? Toby Kampen, who calls himself the Human Fly, becomes fixated on a woman who is unlike anyone he has ever encountered. She has a fierce allure, with rattlesnake-like teeth and a habit of biting. Captivated by her charm, he finds himself ensnared in her enchantment, unsure if she is truly human or something else entirely.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This book is truly one-of-a-kind, filled with layers and a sense of the bizarre. I really enjoyed how all the intertwined narratives wrapped up at the end. However, I felt the conclusion was a bit rushed and tidy, especially given the wild ride the rest of the book offered. I honestly had no idea where the story was headed or how everything would connect, but Malfi managed to pull it off in a fantastic way. The characters are quite a mixed bag, with many being more unlikable than the last. While a couple were somewhat relatable, they all had their own secrets! 2. The book is dripping with a sense of unease, tension, and chilling moments that keep you on edge! The atmosphere is exceptional, enhancing the eerie feel throughout the story. All the narrators did a great job in bringing the characters together.

Thank You @Netgalley and @Tantor Audio for allowing me to review this ALC.

In what I had suspected after reading Come With Me and Black Mouth, Ronald Malfi seems to be the author I have been looking for in the horror/supernatural thriller genre. After so many swings and misses with modern authors of this type, finding Malfi has been a huge boon. Senseless takes the not unusual "is it a serial killer or a copycat killer" formula and gives it a fun spin by adding supernatural elements to it (I'll leave it to you to discover what those are). Another page-turner from Mr. Malfi that feels like he is going to become an automatic read for me. Great audio performance from both narrators!

Having read a few of Malfi's books so far, I had a feeling I would enjoy but not necessarily love this book, and I think that about sums up my experience. The overall plot was intriguing and entertaining but it feels like it fell short in a few key areas for me. I enjoyed the mystery that this book started out with and the multiple character perspectives that were all converging on each other. The second murders story was good and felt like it wrapped up very well. But there were a few characters and plot lines that felt forced and didn't really amount to much and the initial murders resolution felt incomplete. Moraine's perspective being part of the book brought together different points of evidence that ended up bringing Bill's investigation to a head but the movie and Landon side stories just felt kind of hollow and a bit over the top to just end up being a small piece of what brought Bill and Toby to a head. MJs resolution felt like it should have had more of a complete ending than it did.

This was such a dreadful journey until the very end. It KIND OF gave 'The Little Things' vibes....I loved the narration for this book and how much the tone of each character was conveyed. I'm still processing this one, because it was nothing but a heavy weight of dread until the second shoe dropped at the very end. But overall, this was such a great crime/mystery read! Thank you for my ALC!