They Lurk

By: Ronald Malfi

Narrated by: Joe Hempel, Amy McFadden

COME CLOSER . . .

Five terrifying collected horror novellas newly reissued from the "modern-day Algernon Blackwood."

Skullbelly: After three teenagers disappear in a forest, a private detective is hired and uncovers a terrible local secret.

The Separation: Marcus arrives in Germany to find his friend up-and-coming prizefighter Charlie in a deep depression. But soon Charlie's behavior grows increasingly bizarre. Is he suffering from a nervous breakdown, or are otherworldly forces at work?

The Stranger: Set a rural Florida parking lot, David returns to his car to find a stranger sat behind the wheel. The doors are locked and there's a gun on the dashboard. And that was when then the insanity started . . .

After the Fade: A girl walked into a small Annapolis tavern, collapsed and died. Something had latched itself to the base of her skull. And it didn't arrive alone. Now, the patrons of The Fulcrum are trapped, held prisoner within the tavern's walls by monstrous things, trying to find their way in.

And one more novella to be revealed!

©2023 Ronald Malfi (P)2023 Tantor

Delicious

I liked the length of each of these as it left enough space to get invested as things turned sour.

Some stories were weaker than others for sure (the separation and the stranger, I’m looking at you!)

The narration was superb throughout

Story 1 was the best…

Story 1 LOVED IT. This story deserves a whole book devoted to it.

Story 2 unfortunately was so odd and contained the beating of a horse! Hate animal abuse. I’d skip this one!

Story 3 was just plain weird and truly gross. I have no idea what the point of that story even was or how you were supposed in interpret the ending. Another one to skip.

Story 4 LOVED IT. Having an entomologist daughter, I hung on every word of this story. The ending was great and deserves a whole book/movie dedicated to it!!

Story 5 would have been better if it were shorter without all the extra fluff and just stuck to a main storyline. There was too much back and forth (then and now). In addition when Connie was traipsing thru that house, I kept waiting for the story to move on. Too much minute here. But when you finally get to the good part (which I almost gave up on), it’s good. The ending leaves room for more!

Narration: female great; male not so much. He seems to have limitations on how many voices he can do and you never really know who’s talking.

If you want a better book on his short stories, get Ghostwritten!

Read It For the Final Story

I generally enjoy Malfi's work, but the first few stories just seem to drag and are too bizarre to be enjoyable. However, the final story, "Fierce" is one of the best novellas I've ever read...especially if you're a parent.

While their short stories, they’re also non-ending stories

The narrating was good, the storylines were good, but they never ended any story. The writing was really really good. It gripped me. It pulled me in on the story right away but then all of a sudden it started a new story and I’m waiting for the end of the last one. I will keep an eye on this author, because maybe the short stories were meant to leave you hanging because there was a lot of good stuff in this, so we shall see.

Some real gems in this collection!

Some grotesque, some shrouded in mystery, and others just all around creepy and horrifying, each of the 5 novellas in this collection are great. The Stranger includes one of the gnarliest gore filled and shocking scenes I’ve heard in some time! The fifth novella, Fierce, was a terrific nail biter full of frightening suspense. After The Fade has a group trapped inside a bar hiding from flying creatures outside, and gives off vibes similar to The Silence but with a twist. Great stories, and just what you’d expect from the author of Bone White and Come With Me.

Interesting

I like Ronald Malfi, these short stories were well written. My only disappointment was the endings were all very predictable except for the last story.

Not his best but OK

If I had paid full-price I would return it but since it was on sale cheap, well, I will keep it.
The stories were good BUT I had a hard time trying to understand the ending on the first few. The last one was much longer and had a decent, understandable finish, Overall, I'd say it was OK.but FAR from RM's best.

Horror Fuled Fun!

Another solid collection of absolute creepy crawlie unholiness from Malfi!! He never fails to deliver and this one has a few new favorites for me.

Why so Gross??

These are very good stories. However, each of them are almost ruined by the use of graphic descriptions of over the top, unnecessary gore.
The prose should have been tempered with a balanced narrative of the situations that the characters find themselves in.

I have read almost all of Mr. Malfi's work and I have enjoyed it. I could have enjoyed it more had he eased up on the blood and guts...just not necessary.

Good

Great bunch of stories. I particularly liked that they are fairly long annd have actual endings. Many short stories sort of just leave you hanging wondering what just happened. These dont. The last story even had an epilogue. They’re suitably creepy and varied also. Recommend.