The Scary Reviews

Genre: Horror
Length: 400 Pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release date: June 4, 2024
Synopsis: Andrew Larimer has left his past behind. Rising up the ranks in a New York law firm, and with a heavily pregnant wife, he is settling into a new life far from Kingsport, the town in which he grew up. But when he receives a late-night phone call from an old friend, he has no choice but to return home.

Coming home means returning to his late father’s house, which has seen better days. It means lying to his wife. But it also means reuniting with his friends: Eric, now the town’s deputy sheriff; Dale, a real-estate mogul living in the shadow of a failed career; his childhood sweetheart Tig who never could escape town; and poor Meach, whose ravings about a curse upon the group have driven him to drugs and alcohol.

Together, the five friends will have to confront the memories—and the horror—of a night, years ago, that changed everything for them.

Because Andrew and his friends have a secret. A thing they have kept to themselves for twenty years. Something no one else should know. But the past is not dead, and Kingsport is a town with secrets of its own.

One dark secret…

One small-town horror…

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review

As a fan of Ronald Malfi, I’m always looking forward to his next novel. He has been supplying readers with great horror and suspense filled novels year after year. From the cover to the synopsis I knew I was in for a good time. Small Town Horror was another fantastic read from Ronald Malfi. A suspenseful horror packed read that moved at a great pace. There were several great twists and turns, each seeming to come out of nowhere.

From the beginning, I could sense something was very off with the protagonist, Andrew. I wasn’t wrong, and to my shock and surprise, it was one of many twists. Andrew and his four childhood friends were all well constructed. Ronald Malfi does a great job with character building. And, his ability to world build has always left me feeling like he dropped me off in a real location. Small Town Horror was no different, it felt like a place that could be visited.

I only had one issue with Small Town Horror. It is the caretaker for Andrew’s childhood home. He felt like an afterthought, and not necessary. That, and the fact Andrew didn’t contact him when it felt like anyone would have. I won’t be more specific to avoid spoilers. All in all, Small Town Horror was a damn good read and hard to put down. I devoured it over a long weekend. Now I’m on that look out for his next book.

Link to purchase Small Town Horror

Ronald Malfi, Biography-

Ronald Malfi is the award-winning author of several horror novels, mysteries, and thrillers, including the bestselling horror novel Come with Me. He is the recipient of two Independent Publisher Book Awards, the Beverly Hills Book Award, the Vincent Preis Horror Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and his novel Floating Staircase was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Maryland and tweets at @RonaldMalfi.