Cover Image: Ghostwritten

Ghostwritten

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Member Reviews

"Ghostwritten" by Ronald Malfi is a collection of four horror novellas, each exploring the sinister and deadly aspects of books, stories, manuscripts, and the power of the written word. These standalone novellas are set in a shared universe, creating a cohesive and chilling reading experience.

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An excellent collection of four novellas all centred around a book.

Each of these stories was compelling and brilliantly crafted. I was immediately transported into the world of each one, in which the characters were brought to life so well by Malfi.

I’d really recommend this if you’re looking for something short and spooky. I myself will be checking out more of Malfi’s work.

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True rating is a 3.5, rounded down to 3.

As much as I enjoy Malfi's writing, nothing about this collection of short stories really struck me, aside from the last one. Each story was enjoyable enough, but I didn't find any of them truly un-put-down-able. I definitely enjoyed the last story the most, but even that one is weaker than a lot of Malfi's other offerings.

All of that being said, it's not a bad read overall, and you could pick up a lot worse than this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Ghostwritten is a collection of 4-novellas by one of the most compelling voices in Horror Fiction.

All four stories are equally compelling. They were so dark, fast-moving and creative. The fact that this particular horror quartet is all about books only elevates it.

I don't want to write more about the individual stories but suffice it to say that all of them are compulsively readable, horrifying and so so good. Creepily fantastic!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A fantastic horror book from a modern legend of the horror story game! Always creepy and always nightmare inducing!

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A very strange, creepy grouping of stories. I couldn't put it down. Not the best i have ever read, but enjoyable

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Ghostwritten was such a great collection of four horror novellas. I loved how all of the stories were centered around a book. It was so interesting to see how many stories the author could come up with. They were all so unique and different.

Overall I had a really great time with this story collection. I would definitely recommend Ghostwritten to anyone who loves horror novellas.
3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sensing me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Malfi does it again! I love his writing and this one I loved as well. It was dark and atmospheric. It made me want more!

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Malfi’s writing currently has me in a chokehold, there’s a lot of emotion in each story. The way he builds his characters makes me feel as if I’ve known them my entire life. Can’t wait to grab his next work.

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Reading a Ronald Malfi always feels like you are in good hands. I have enjoyed previous novels of his because of their diligent crafting and balancing of plot, creeps, and writing skill. Ghostwritten is no different. Each story is an interesting exercise and each of them make reference to the other in some way.

The first story about a book that appears to be cursed and refuses to be adapted in any way speaks to the way that many works are being consumed by media and often only used loosely. It was more an interesting idea than a great story that stuck with me. The second story is what really stood out to me in the book. A super creepy execution where two brothers are asked to carry a book along a strange path. They are followed by strange people wanting to see the book and then keep finding strange ghost towns that give off heavy Twilight Zone vibes. Many of these towns are facades and nothing in them is real, which appears to be another commentary on the film industry. The story ends up in a sort of Mad Max community.

The third story felt a bit of a switch in comparison to the first two, but still commented on facades and reality vs. perceived reality, but after the strength of the third story, it didn't feel as strong. The tone changed pretty rapidly from the second to the third story and I lost steam while reading it. I can say I didn't even get to the fourth story, but will hopefully pick it up again when the weather turns colder.

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From the review in the link -

The stories get progressively more impressive and end with my favorite of the four.

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This collection of 4 novellas is my first taste of this author’s work. Now I can’t wait to read more. Smart, original, atmospheric, and very creepy!

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Ronald Malfi has been one of my favorite horror authors for a few years now. He really brings a special voice to the horror novel community, and Ghostwritten was no different. I loved this one, and look forward to more of his in the future.

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Featuring a collection of 4 novellas, Ghostwritten has a little something for every book lover. The thread tying these all together? BOOKS! And if you are reading this review, or this book, there is a good chance you are a book lover. Not a bad place to start, Mr. Malfi!


The Skin of Her Teeth is about a screenwriter attempting to turn a well-received book into a screenplay. You know how book lovers generally loathe movie adaptations?

Of COURSE the book is always better. Well, did you ever take into account what the BOOK wants? No, you only think about yourself! Well, this book does not want to be ruined by being butchered into a screenplay. And it WILL get its way.

I believe this should be require reading in screenwriting courses at colleges everywhere.


The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride sends us for a drive with a couple of reprobates – Danny and Tommy Drake or “Dark” - who must deliver a special package for their client. And what is in the package? Drugs? Money? Guns? None of the above. It's just a book in a locked briefcase. But there are a list of strict rules that must be followed: you must turn off your GPS, follow a convoluted route drawn out on a map, ignore anyone asking about the book, and do NOT touch the book.

Danny has no trouble following the rules but his obnoxious brother just can't help himself. Too bad he never learned to follow instructions...


This Book Belongs to Olo is the story of Bartholomew, or Olo, is about to turn 10 and wants to invite the neighborhood kids to his birthday party. Problem is, Olo doesn’t go to school like the other kids. He lives in the Helix House, a big house with corkscrew-shapes throughout the home. He is a lonely kid with no friends, that is until he makes his own pop-up book of Helix House, complete with rotating staircase and locked rooms...


The Story begins with the suicide of Taryn Donaldson: friend and former co-worker of Grady Russo. Grady has lost touch with her over the previous months, but is blown away. After looking at her loft, it appears that she has lost her mind over the last few months. Notes are written everywhere, including on the walls. But how could she have changed so quickly? In several places is the ominous message:

Then Grady finds out about The Story. It is an electronic, interactive book that exists solely online. No one knows who created it, maintains it, or how long it’s been out there. It’s not for sale at any bookstore. It's not even on the dark web, but rather BEHIND the dark web. It's like a choose your adventure book for real life. When Grady receives an alert on his laptop with: “You have been approved to read the Story” and a BEGIN button, he can't help himself. Too bad he didn't listen to Taryn.


These were all really good. My faves were The Skin of Her Teeth as well as This Book Belongs to Olo, but they were all fun reads. Looks like another Malfi win!

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Another genuinely superb title by Ronald Malfi. Four brilliant novellas, packed together with the same deft touch one can expect of the absolute master.

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Here we have four captivating novellas from the strong talent of Ronald Malfi. My favorite in this collection is "This Book Belongs to Olo" which is like a dark fairy tale. The whole book was a fascinating read which I really enjoyed. I've never read a bad Malfi book!

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Ghostwritten is a wonderful collection of novellas all touching on the topic of books. As a reader, I very much enjoyed these creepy tales about scary books -- especially the choose your own adventure aspect of the last story!

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4.5
4 novellas from Malfi all with the common theme of haunted or cursed stories/books. There wasn’t a single one I didn’t enjoy although 2 of them I enjoyed more then the others. Malfi is slowly starting to become one of my go to authors for horror and thrillers.

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Review originally published at:
https://runningreader87.wordpress.com/2023/01/05/book-review-ghostwritten-by-ronald-malfi/

I'll begin by saying that this is my second ever Ronald Malfi book- the first being Bone White. And while it's too early to say what I think of him as an overall author, I can honestly say I will be actively seeking out more of his books!

Ghostwritten is a collection of 4 novellas. In each story I was sucked in early. The writing style and the detail Malfi uses are captivating. There are elements of beauty, sadness, grief, action, horror, and comedy.

The overarching theme of this collection is stories/ books and their power.. As an avid reader this intrigued me. One of the best things about this book is that while each story covers a similar topic it is also completely unique to the others. This being the case, I think the best way for me to give this book a full review is to give each novella a mini-review. I'll also say this before I dive in: all of these stories are well developed for novellas. You tend to forget you are not reading a full novel.

Let's begin:

The Skin of Her Teeth:

Quick Summary: Gloria is an agent and has a major problem. Her writer, Davis McElroy, has disappeared. He went to a secluded cabin to adapt a novel into a screenplay. Now all communication has ceased. She must track down the writer. But what she finds when she finds Davis is a man who has surely gone mad, talking about a possessed book. Gloria must clean up the mess before it's too late and the deal is dead. But as she works to fulfill the contract, she realizes Davis just might be right.

Quick Review: The description and vocabulary are excellent. The story starts out with intrigue. You want to know what happened to the writer.

Then in the middle of the story, you shift gears entirely. The writer is found, and the story becomes more about what drove him mad, namely the book. I was not necessarily expecting this shift, and it took us places I wasn't anticipating, but were a whole lot of fun.

Story Comparison: Ghost Story, by Peter Straub

The Dark Brother's Last Ride:

Summary: The Dark Brothers, Danny and Tommy, are couriers. And not the UPS kind. No, their clientele more closely resembles the Corleone's. They're used to delivering some pretty heavy stuff, so when their boss asks them to deliver a book the brothers are confused. And what they're to be paid is surely it's too much.. This is clearly no ordinary book. What follows is a journey that will bring the brothers to the brink.

Review: The Dark Brother's tale was perhaps my least favorite in the collection. And honestly there isn't a great reason for this other than when I look back at the book I don't remember it as fondly as I do the rest. That doesn't mean it isn't good. It is! The characters are all delightfully gritty. The tone was one of total bewilderment, mystery, and adventure. I enjoyed this tale and think there could be more written about Tommy and Danny, which I would happily read.

Story Comparison: An episode of Supernatural.

This Book Belongs to Olo

Summary: Olo is an oddball and an outcast. He has strange tendencies- such as wearing a clown mask in the middle of summer- he has a strange family, and a strange house. So, one day when he shows up to the park and invites all the kids on the playground to his birthday it does not go well. But Olo doesn't mind. He knows his invitation will attract guests. And when he gets them to his house Olo plans on using his own specially created book to ensure he will never be friendless again.

Review: This was an oddly captivating tale. It has the aura of a fairy tale gone askew. You can't help but feel for Olo, but at the same time you can't help but feel for everyone else in the story. It's distinct because at different times each character seems to be the protagonist and antagonist. This one is not for those who don't like a touch of whimsy in their stories. When I look back on this novella, I remember the tale vividly!

Story Comparison: A Neil Gaiman story.

The Story

Summary: Grady Russo is a journalist who gets a call one night that an old colleague, friend and former lover, Taryn Donaldson, has committed suicide. But the circumstances of the death and the events leading up to it are odd. Devastated, Grady does what he does best: investigate. He learns that Taryn got involved, not with drugs, but in something known as The Story. The Story is an online choose-your-own-adventure tale that drove her mad. Now Grady wants to know more about The Story. But he has to be careful or he may just walk a similar path down the road of obsession and madness himself.

Review: This was my favorite story of the group. I loved the overall tone and feel from the beginning. Grady is a run-of-the-mill sort of guy, one the reader can empathize with. This is good because the accompanying characters are off-the-wall to the point of near absurdity. However, their eccentricities make them somehow believable, and certainly memorable. The tale itself unfolds like a mystery, with one clue leading to another, becoming darker along the way.

And the ending is haunting! I’ll just say, you're certainly rewarded for reading all the way through the rest of the book!

Story Comparison: The Twilight Zone or Black Phone.

Conclusion:

If you're an avid reader this book is for you! One of the nicest things about it is the fact that you can read one story without investing too much into it and still get a wonderful tale. I found that each story flowed well and would absolutely recommend this book especially if you've just finished an long book and need to break things up a bit.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ love Ronald Malfi and he does it again with this group of stories. Definitely worth checking out. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

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