Synopsis:
Five childhood friends are forced to confront their own dark past as well as the curse placed upon them in this horror masterpiece from the bestselling author of Come with Me
Maybe this is a ghost story…
Andrew Larimer thought he left the past behind. But when he receives a late-night phone call from an old friend, he finds he has no choice but to return home, and to confront the memories―and the horror―of a night, years ago, that changed everything.
For Andrew and his friends, the past is not dead, and the curse that has befallen them now threatens to destroy all that they’ve become.
One dark secret…
One small-town horror…
Review:
Nestled snugly between Todd Keisling’s “Devil’s Creek,” and Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot,” Ronald Malfi’s “Small Town Horror,” emerges as an eerie masterpiece that stays true to its title from beginning to end. It grabs you by the collar, and drags you, kicking and screaming into the murky waters of Kingsport, overlooked by the Gracie’s Point Lighthouse. The nostalgia is overwhelming, the twists and betrayals are gasp-worthy and the atmosphere Malfi conjures is so thick with tension, you could reach out and touch it with trembling fingers. I haven’t yet made my way through Malfi’s extensive back catalogue, but I can say with unwavering certainty that this one will forever be a favourite.
We follow Andrew Larimer, who, unlike his friends, has clawed his way out of his quiet childhood home, leaving behind the memories and secrets that once bound him to its dusty streets. Now a big shot lawyer in New York, he has a comfortable apartment, a beautiful wife and a baby on the way. One night, whilst tossing and turning over this pregnancy, he receives a drunken phone call from an old friend, Dale. Feeling concerned and threatened by what he hears, Andrew packs his bags, gets on a train, and returns to his late father’s house. With his abusive wife, Cynthia Walls, missing, and Dale looking like the number one suspect, Eric Kelly (another childhood friend and the chief of police) had suggested he contact a lawyer… and who fits the shoe better than Andy. Now, five old friends: Dale Walls, Eric Kelly, Matthew Meecham, Antigone Mayronne, and of course Andrew Larimer are reunited, tethered together by a sinister secret, one that just refuses to stay buried…
Malfi deftly weaves together themes of friendship, betrayal, secrets and guilt in this rich and compelling narrative. Half Stephen King, half Edgar Allen Poe, and wholly sinister, Malfi has captured the very essence of “small town horror,” with this one. An undercurrent of dread and unease builds beneath the surface- ready to implode, and when it inevitably does, at around the 70% mark, a torrent of violence, betrayal and guilty admissions bubble to the surface. It ultimately warns that our pasts will forever haunt us, and the consequences to our actions can not be escaped.
It’s obvious via Malfi’s previous work, and his impressive reputation that his writing is exemplary, but this truly blew me away. What sets him apart is his ability to evoke fear. I’m honestly surprised but happy to tell you that I was genuinely scared! The chill of the autumn wind, the creaks of ancient floorboards and the caws of turkey vultures are skillfully built into a palpable presence that may well leave you sleeping with the light on. His prose is powerful and immersive, and it’s easy to find yourself lost in Kingsport and its secrets.
In the darkened alleys of “Kingsport,” everyone is grappling with their own demons, every closet has a resident skeleton, and the past has a way of holding on to the present. Its vice-like grip is near impossible to escape. With spine-tingling suspense, nostalgic tugs on the heartstrings, and revelations that hit harder than a freight train, “Small Town Horror,” is a full-body experience. If you think you’re brave enough, then peak over the cliff edge at Gracie’s Point, stare into the abyss, and confront the horrors lurking there.
Thank you Titan for providing me with an ARC copy in return for an honest review. Small Town Horror is available on June 4th 2024.
Leave a Reply