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ericaashley's review
4.5
Skullbelly 2⭐️
The Separation 2⭐️
The Stranger 5⭐️
After the Fade 5⭐️
Fierce 5⭐️
babychreez's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars rounded down… The last story saved this book. This is the first Ronald Malfi piece I didn’t particularly enjoy.
whatyoutolkienabout's review
5.0
Introduction
I was given a copy to review by Titan Books and Netgalley. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #ARCReview #Netgalley #TheyLurk #RonaldMalfi #TitanBooks #Horror
Review
They Lurk is the third work by Ronald Malfi and I really need to get into his back catalogue. My first introduction was Black Mouth a full novel that was perfection, my second was Ghostwritten and now They Lurk. I can say I think Malfi is becoming one of those authors that are an instant buy because you know you are going to get something good, scary, creepy or gory or perhaps all those things in one! This collection has five horror novellas reissued in one place. All five were brilliant. I particularly liked Skullbelly, where three children disappear in a forest which leads to private investigator uncovering a terrible local secret and Fierce that considers and tests the bonds of mother and daughter in a terrifying way.
That said The Separation which sees a friend visit Germany to help his old friend and up-and-coming prizefighter Charlie snap out of a deep depression. But soon Charlie’s behaviour grows increasing ly worrying and bizarre. Is the man suffering a nervous breakdown or is an other worldly force at work is brilliant, but was probably rated the lowest for me (because of my pet peeve of animal cruelty although fitting in with the story). The Strange being set in a Florida parking lot was a real ride, pun intended when David returns to find a stranger sat behind the wheel. The doors are locked and there’s a gun on the dashboard and slowly the insanity begins to start. Finally After the Fade which is almost biblical in parts sees a girl walk into a Annapolis tavern collapse and die but something latched itself to the base of her skull and it didn’t arrive alone. Now the patrons are all trapped, held imprisoned by the walls as monstrous things trying to find their way in.
Each story was unique but had Malfi’s flare and style of storytelling but of different aspects of horror as well. We have creeping horror, a take on folk horror, the horror of the human condition and so much more. On top of this the characters in these novellas are all too human with saving graces and flailing in equal parts. I honestly loved this collection. It is a must for any horror or thriller fan out there. If you know Malfi’s work you’ll not be disappointed and if this is your first you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t read his works sooner!
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#ARCReview #Netgalley #TheyLurk #RonaldMalfi #TitanBooks #Horror #BookReviewer#BookBlogger #BookHoader #FantasticRead #BookDragon #BookShark #BookReader #Bookstagram #BookNerd #BookReader #BookLover #BooksBooksBooks #BookAddict #Book
I was given a copy to review by Titan Books and Netgalley. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #ARCReview #Netgalley #TheyLurk #RonaldMalfi #TitanBooks #Horror
Review
They Lurk is the third work by Ronald Malfi and I really need to get into his back catalogue. My first introduction was Black Mouth a full novel that was perfection, my second was Ghostwritten and now They Lurk. I can say I think Malfi is becoming one of those authors that are an instant buy because you know you are going to get something good, scary, creepy or gory or perhaps all those things in one! This collection has five horror novellas reissued in one place. All five were brilliant. I particularly liked Skullbelly, where three children disappear in a forest which leads to private investigator uncovering a terrible local secret and Fierce that considers and tests the bonds of mother and daughter in a terrifying way.
That said The Separation which sees a friend visit Germany to help his old friend and up-and-coming prizefighter Charlie snap out of a deep depression. But soon Charlie’s behaviour grows increasing ly worrying and bizarre. Is the man suffering a nervous breakdown or is an other worldly force at work is brilliant, but was probably rated the lowest for me (because of my pet peeve of animal cruelty although fitting in with the story). The Strange being set in a Florida parking lot was a real ride, pun intended when David returns to find a stranger sat behind the wheel. The doors are locked and there’s a gun on the dashboard and slowly the insanity begins to start. Finally After the Fade which is almost biblical in parts sees a girl walk into a Annapolis tavern collapse and die but something latched itself to the base of her skull and it didn’t arrive alone. Now the patrons are all trapped, held imprisoned by the walls as monstrous things trying to find their way in.
Each story was unique but had Malfi’s flare and style of storytelling but of different aspects of horror as well. We have creeping horror, a take on folk horror, the horror of the human condition and so much more. On top of this the characters in these novellas are all too human with saving graces and flailing in equal parts. I honestly loved this collection. It is a must for any horror or thriller fan out there. If you know Malfi’s work you’ll not be disappointed and if this is your first you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t read his works sooner!
Hashtags
#ARCReview #Netgalley #TheyLurk #RonaldMalfi #TitanBooks #Horror #BookReviewer#BookBlogger #BookHoader #FantasticRead #BookDragon #BookShark #BookReader #Bookstagram #BookNerd #BookReader #BookLover #BooksBooksBooks #BookAddict #Book
robertod2004's review against another edition
3.0
With thanks to the author, publishers Titan Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
A fun collection of novellas from a consistently-readable author.
I first discovered Ronald Malfi a number of years ago through reading his novella "Borealis", and ever since have always looked out for his new releases. The five novellas in this collection are in a similar vein, and while not all hit the mark for me, they were all interesting in their own way. My favourites were "Skullbelly" and "After the Fade", particularly the latter which had the feel of a full-length novel in its own right.
A fun collection of novellas from a consistently-readable author.
I first discovered Ronald Malfi a number of years ago through reading his novella "Borealis", and ever since have always looked out for his new releases. The five novellas in this collection are in a similar vein, and while not all hit the mark for me, they were all interesting in their own way. My favourites were "Skullbelly" and "After the Fade", particularly the latter which had the feel of a full-length novel in its own right.
mollruss's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
ashleyalexander's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sophiemadgwick's review
2.0
The only story I liked even a little bit was the last one. Overall the writing was good so I might read a full length novel by the author, but the short stories did not have exciting plots, and most just ended with no resolution or even unambiguous things to think about which was very disappointing.
themarkword's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe the creepiest thing I have read all year. Well-portioned bites of terror.