The Scary Reviews

Genre: Horror
Length: 432 Pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release date: April 15, 2025
Synopsis: What do you see…?

When the mutilated body of a young woman is discovered in the desert on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the detective assigned to the case can’t deny the similarities between this murder and one that occurred a year prior. Media outlets are quick to surmise this is the work of a budding serial killer, but Detective Bill Renney is struggling with an altogether different a secret that keeps him tethered to the husband of the first victim.

What do you hear…?

Maureen Park, newly engaged to Hollywood producer Greg Dawson, finds her engagement party crashed by the arrival of Landon, Greg’s son. A darkly unsettling young man, Landon invades Maureen’s new existence, and the longer he stays, the more convinced she becomes that he may have something to do with the recent murder in the high desert.

What do you feel…?

Toby Kampen, the self-proclaimed Human Fly, begins an obsession over a woman who is unlike anyone he has ever met. A woman with rattlesnake teeth and a penchant for biting. A woman who has trapped him in her spell. A woman who may or may not be completely human.

In Ronald Malfi’s brand-new thriller, these three storylines converge to create a tapestry of deceit, distrust, and unapologetic horror. A brand-new novel of dark suspense set in the City of Angels, as only “horror’s Faulkner” can tell it.

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review

Senseless was a different experience for me. I typically love Malfi’s work, but one of the three storylines in this book left me less than engaged. Toby and his thoughts of being a ‘fly’, and his mother being a ‘spider’ nearly had me skipping the chapters, and wanting to get back to either of the two remaining threads. I also couldn’t follow his fascination with the woman he considered a ‘vampire’. I couldn’t figure out if the fly and spider talk was to further his poor mental state or what the author had in mind.

The thread involving Greg, his son Landon, and his fiancée Maureen was filled with a healthy dose of tension. Landon was a dark and unsettling character. Between him and Greg, I didn’t trust either of them, leaving it very easy to feel sympathy for Maureen. I was rooting for her to survive and have a happy ending.

Detective Bill Renney and his back and forth with Alan had me guessing who killed his wife, MJ. I was really wrapped up in this thread and getting down to who was the killer in her murder and who killed the woman found in the desert. As the three threads converged in the climax a lot of details were revealed. I did love the way Malfi tied it all together. Then there was the ending which I found odd. I didn’t get the typical satisfaction of having a wrapped up story. I felt Detective Renney kind of faded out and there was more that should have been said. All in all, it was a good read, but Senseless was not my favorite book from one of my favorite authors.

Link to purchase Senseless 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.