Ronald Malfi

I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book initially. It meandered a bit, and not a lot happened. And the main protagonist was not who I expected it to be.

So, it was safe to say it defied my expectations.

This is quiet horror. It's more reminiscent of Charles L. Grant than anything, and that's a definite compliment. Don't expect garbage scows full of blood and gore here, because you won't get it. You will see what needs to be seen, but Malfi shows you, then quickly looks away, instead of show more the unfortunate lingering that seems to be the rule rather than the exception in most horror these days. It's finely crafted horror.

This is horror that's a slow build. It actually didn't change into a higher gear until a hundred pages in, then it took another hundred pages before it did so again. Malfi takes his time to build the world, build the characters, and build the mystery. And it pays off.

In the end, the heroes of this piece, instead of dusting their hands off and giving each other a high five, instead become more weary, more wary, and more paranoid. They are truly changed and a little broken. And are all the more noble for it.

This is a subtle book, and it won't be for everyone, but I really did enjoy it. I'll definitely seek out more from Malfi. show less

I don't read a lot of single-author short story collections because I invariably find them uneven. They would always be much stronger if the editor would cut the number of stories by half, leaving only the strongest stories. Malfi's best stories come mostly at the beginning of this collection, and the opener, "The Dinner Party," is a finely crafted shocker that sets up strong expectations for what follows. Malfi is at his best when he leads you down one path and then takes a sudden show more unexpected turn, like a knife twist in the gut, such as in "The Jumping Sharks of Dyer Island" and "The Glad Street Angel." Many of his stories are unsettling and throw the reader off-kilter but in a good way; see "Knocking" and "The Housewarming." But with the exception of the squirm-inducing "Discussions Concerning the Ingestion of Living Insects" toward the end of the collection, the stories in the latter half of the book fall flat. If this collection had been half as long, I would have easily given it five stars. show less

This is one twisted, emotional, fast paced, terrifying ride.... but would we expect anything less from Ronald Malfi? I sincerely hope not. Aaron Decker's life is shattered when his wife is murdered. He needs to investigate her murder like he needs air to breathe, so he dives head-first, no holds barred into his wife’s past and encounters twist after twist...some he could have done without knowing. This is not as simple as it would appear. What the author has done is what he absolutely show more excels at...he's written a complex and moving story centered around a husband’s grief, in a small town with numerous secrets, and then throws in a deep, dark mystery to be solved. There's been a mass shooting that provides us with some pretty horrific deaths...all young women. In the "Author’s Note" Ronald Malfi shares with us a true story from his past...the story of his friend who was shot and killed in a mass shooting, this story came from that horrific event...writing this story was how he dealt with it. He handled this very sensitive subject with the utmost respect and care. Be aware that this is not just a horror story but also an emotional read. Just hang on...there is horror aplenty in this story. You can feel the chill as you ride along with Aaron into the foggy, chilly, darkness. There is one particular abandoned refinery guaranteed to give you nightmares. Every time you think you know who the villain is, if you are like me...you'll be wrong. This author has the talent to spin a book so well that will absolutely keep you guessing. The ending is sad, but it was the only way for it to happen. show less

At the heart of this excellent story is a dilemma. The great spiritual one bequeathed and entrusted to us the world as we know it, and invited us to treat with respect and not to destroy this wonderful gift. The greed and distructful nature of man is forever present and proceeds to demolish that which was given in trust.

Alan Hammerstun and his wife Heather have moved from downtown Manhattan to a quiet suburb in the state of Carolina. Heather has recently suffered two horrific miscarriages, show more is clinically depressed, and has attempted to end her own life on two occasions. Alan, deeply in love with his wife, is hopeful that this new start will rejuvenate their relationship. What follows is a deeply moving, thought provoking story that invokes elements of horror, spiritualism, and human greed creating a tight and compulsive read challenging the readers intelligence from the opening scenes.

There is a wonderful list of characters; Hank Gerski, Don Probst and Gary Jones neighbours with a secret to keep aided and abetted by the somewhat unlikeable Sheriff Hearn Landry. In addition there is the murderous intentions of Owen Moreland and the spiritualistic presence of "George Young Calf Ribs" At the centre of this unfolding drama is Cradle Lake...cold and inviting, invigorating yet destructive in the extreme...."You have no concept of what the lake is capable of. There's a power here, a certain strength. And it's not just in the lake but in the land itself. All around us"

Hank Gerski warns Alan of the dangers of Cradle Lake explaining that the healing process of the water contains evil intentions and is best left alone. An incident happens when young Cory Morris is in a serious collision with a car and rather than request the assistance of an ambulance Cory is lifted and carried to Cradle Lake. where he is miraculously healed. All the residents wish to keep the rest of the world ignorant of the Lake's healing powers but Alan realizes there is a way that he can use the power of Cradle Lake to strengthen his resolve and more importantly bring back life to his beautiful Heather....but a price will have to be paid.

Owen Moreland butchered his wife Sophie "put the barrel of a pump-action Winchester to the center of Sophie's forehead and spread her brains along the front hallway of their home" before inserting a toe in his shotgun and very efficiently ending his own life. On visiting the scene of this atrocity Alan sees the words "Devil's Stone" painted on the walls and his curiosity into the origin of these words leads him on a journey where he meets the spiritual "George Young Calf Ribs" and begins to discover and understand the true meaning and horror of Cradle Lake and now appreciates the impact this will have on his life unless he adheres to and obeys the advice and warnings from "George Young Calf Ribs"...."It has become a bad place. His tone was simple, matter-of-fact. It no longer hides and offers rejuvenation to those worthy enough to find it. Now it calls to whoever is careless enough to seek it out. That is its revenge on the ones who have soured its waters and poisoned its land"...."Leave that house immediately" he told him. "Burn it to the ground so no one else can live there after you. Do it before it's too late."

This is not a happy book but a thoughtful, sad and intelligent read of one mans journey to find some closure and redemption and to put an end to the sadness that permeates his life. It is amazingly poetic in it's language and visionary in the story that it tells. It is a book that should be read by all, an astounding achievement by Ronald Malfi it comes from me to you with the highest recommendation. show less