Thank you to Titan Books for the ARC!

“That was how a fly survived: by being constantly aware of its surroundings”…

This book had me gripped to its pages from the beginning! With several storylines going on, I couldn’t figure out at first how they were going to come together; all I know is that I kept reading to get to the next part in each to find out what was going to happen. Part police procedural, part horror, part thriller, it’s hard to really summarize this one without giving any of it away - LOL! I just know I had to keep reading. This was my first Malfi read and clearly I’ve been missing out! He is a master storyteller with a writing style that truly draws you in.

”Senseless” releases April 15, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog, (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Malfi starts this as a throwback noir that morphs into a Lynchian nightmare and delves into shadowy horrors. Malfi is a great writer, immensely skilled, and can write anything he wants. All his skills are on display here: sharp characterization, strong mystery, creepy events. Everything you want in a Malfi book, you get in abundance here.

A dead body is found and detective Renney is on a mission to find out who did it. Was a good supernatural police procedural read.

Maureen and Greg are newly engaged and Maureen is struggling a bit with Greg’s son Landon. She more and more begins to wonder if Landon didn’t have something to do with the murder.

Toby keeps to himself typically, but finds himself with curiosity and starts to become friends with a vampire. I mean, it’s not really all that weird since he is a human fly anyways.

Follow the detective, Maureen and Toby as all of their stories collide in this book!

Dope! Malfi just keeps getting better and better. I have yet to read a Malfi book I haven’t loved but Small Town Horror and Senseless have propelled him into an entirely different class of authors.

It’s kind of hard to summarize Senseless. We have three competing subplots. In the first we follow detective Bill Renney as he works a murder case very similar to one from a year prior. We also have Maureen Park caught up in a whirlwind engagement with a Hollywood movie producer. When she finally meets his son things take a hard left into dangerous territory. And finally, Toby Kampen. He considers himself a Human Fly and is completely and totally insane. After meeting a woman at a club he believes to be a vampire their lives are forever altered. As the book continues we start to notice connections and repetitions between the storylines and Malfi does a fantastic job at making a book that is compulsive and so well done. Malfi’s ability to knit these characters together is next level.

The portrayals of crazy in this book are top tier. Toby is WILD and Landon was terrifying. Malfi nails the atmosphere within the book and no one is truly innocent in this one. There are a few things left open ended for the reader and this only elevated the ending for me. Senseless is a fantastic book and very well written. Such a tangled web we weave! Highly recommend this one to people who appreciate weird horror mixed with some typical tropes for a killer read.

I really enjoyed this one! It starts out with a lot of crime procedural / detective elements, but by the end, it’s a wild whirlwind of supernatural craziness…or is it?? I’m still not 100% sure my pea brain understood everything that did or did not happen, but I was definitely enthralled. I had no idea which turns the story was going to take or which characters I should trust.

I wouldn’t say that any of the characters were particularly “likable”, but they were all incredibly interesting. The narrative was split between three main characters, all of which carried some heavy baggage. Malfi did an excellent job of bringing these characters to life. They all felt fully fleshed out with complicated inner workings.

The story itself is a bit of a slow burn in the beginning, but it never lost my interest at any point. The last third of the book steered toward fever dream territory but made a U-turn back to reality (or did it?!). I was definitely left questioning a few things, but ultimately, I was satisfied with the ending.

If you like shows like True Detective or thrillers sprinkled with a moderate amount of WTF, definitely check this book out. Senseless hits stores April 15th!

🩸🩸🩸🩸.5 /5
✔️ Highly recommend

Senseless is like a story within a story - an unputdownable gripping read. I now want to read every book Ronald Malfi has written. Have you met the monkey? 4 stars

Another amazing book by Ronald Malfi. I had no idea where this book was going but boy by the end it packed a punch.

The horror is subtle but causes a brain worm that will not let you forget. How the three stories intertwine is crazy and at the end of it how our grief and choices carry with us and have a habit of repeating.

I loved this book as much if not more than the others I have read by this author.

An excellent thriller/horror. Told in multiple viewpoints with good characters and a plot that will keep you up but with the lights on. Ronald Mafli is fast becoming a go to author, highly recommend. Thanks to Titan books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Malfi's work is so essential to the Horror genera. He writes about the elements that I spend endless time seeking out, the elements of humanity that are truly horrific. Senseless is an entanglement of death, anxiety, anger and resentment and they slowly bleed together as the story progresses. In addition, I must praise Malfi for his unwavering success of writing grief horror. He really gets down into your marrow to feel that loss and anguish.

The characters in this book walk with their own stories and exist in their own worlds with their chosen masks. Each get presented with a challenge that forces them to question their worlds and how to perceive the reality around them. I am so impressed the lengths Malfi went to achieve these meticulously detailed moments that have so much hidden within them. The detective, the Hollywood star and his son, the newly engaged, the young boy, the young lady. Everyone has such an essential role and how everything comes to be at the end was, as usual, such a pleasant surprise. To achieve these kinds of endings, for them to be this successful, a lot of careful mapping must take place. Everything has to make sense and have a purpose. I am so intrigued by Malfi's thought process. I so badly want to know his method for writing these stories and having such a rewarding ending!

Malfi has quickly become a name I search for when I go to any place selling books. He is an incredible author. His use of language is stimulating and inviting. The choices he makes for his stories are deeply thought out and daring always making every read satisfying. He does not skip on gore. I know I praise him for his grief writing, and the spooky aspect (Please read Small Town Horror), but he will make you cringe with well written descriptive moments of sheer gore. It's not the primary focus, I understand, but the quality is top notch.

"....An understanding that your two souls, intertwined, were now separating." 31%

Everyone wears a mask to hide their true form. The Spider, the Human Fly...the Vampire... 48%

She was as bright and sparkling as a disco ball wrapped in people skin. 53%

"Have you met the Monkey?" 67%

He was thinking about the cosmic echo of things-how the universe repeats itself after a time, bringing things back together, content in such harmony. 100%

Tense and thrilling and a twist you never see coming. This was one of malfi’s best! Absolutely loved the interwoven stories and writing style! The surprise at the end was amazing!

Senseless was one thrill ride that I couldn’t put down. I have to say that my first introduction to Malfi I was unsure if I liked their writing but now, several books in, they are easily one of my go to authors. If I want something that I know will not only be written brilliantly but have a touch or lot of horror. Senseless is no different.

I could not put this book down and I loved the mixture of horror, thriller and crime fiction all in one. With a tightly woven plot and fantastic pacing you cannot help but get invested and keep reading till the end. It’s got all the elements I love. It is equally psychological, emotional and with a touch of the supernatural to make it stand out even more.

If you enjoy horror then you will adore this but if you aren’t always a fan of the genre I think this is a perfect stepping stone into it. A definite must read.

As always thank you to Titan Books for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Titan Books for the ARC of this novel.

I love Ronald Malfi’s books and I was so excited to get an advanced copy of his newest one.

First, this book was weird. In a horror, strange but not necessarily bad way. There are three characters this book followed and I have to say the detective’s story and Maureen’s story really had me hooked from the beginning. Every time we went back to Toby I started to lose a little interest but I think that’s mostly because his was definitely the most out there part of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I love how the stories all connected in the end but I will say that I feel like the ending seemed to come out of nowhere.

I also liked how everything wasn’t wrapped up in a nice little bow and how we didn’t get resolutions for each character. That felt very in tune with the rest of the book.

If you are a fan of horror and love a book that is a little strange and creepy I recommend.

3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4 for this review.

I think that I am understanding that this author is not for me. I have such a hard time getting into the writing style, for me it feels flat and it takes so much of my enjoyment out of the book. Overall, this was not for me.

This is my second Malfi book and after reading this I can most certainly say that I am a fan!
There are three threads to this book. Detective Renney is investigating the brutal murder of a woman discovered in the desert. This murder is very similar to one that took place the year before but Renney thought they had the right guy.
Maureen is running from her past and is now about to marry a man that she has only known for a few months. Then his son turns up out of the blue, delighting in making her feel uncomfortable and puts the relationship into question. Finally, Tony Kampen who refers to himself as a human fly. He lives a solitary life but one night in a bar he meets a woman who he thinks is not quite human and he becomes obsessed.
This book was a slow burner for me but the seemingly separate threads to the story kept me interested as I wondered how they all connected. Malfi wove them all together beautifully because even though I had my suspicions for Toby, I also had my doubts. Although a slow burner, I found the last 20% was non stop page turning as twist after twist kept flying at me. A few jaw dropping points in the book but the most memorable was definitely the monkey (IYKYK) 🙊
The characters are memorable, most unlikeable but some you can empathise with.
There was some gore and a hint to the supernatural but it also had the underlying theme of mental illness. All leading to a disturbing, yet wonderfully written book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book and prompting me to go read more of his books.

A mutilated woman’s body is discovered in the desert outside Los Angeles, drawing Detective Bill Renney back to a hauntingly similar murder from a year ago. Both victims suffered the same gruesome fate, leaving Renney to unravel the chilling connection between these heinous crimes. (Warning: graphic details ahead!)
Meanwhile, Maureen, newly engaged to movie producer Greg Dawson, begins to question her future when Greg’s estranged son, Landon, arrives from Europe. Landon’s sinister demeanor and unsettling intentions leave Maureen terrified, as she uncovers the dark secrets lurking within the Dawson family.
Toby Campen, a socially isolated young man in his twenties, struggles with the trauma of being raised by his mentally unstable mother, whom he calls “the spider.” Toby believes he is a human fly locked in a battle with the spider in a mother-suit. One night at a nightclub, he meets a woman with rattlesnake teeth, sparking an obsession that spirals into devastating consequences.
These seemingly separate narratives converge in a masterfully crafted tale that is both eerie and enthralling. Malfi’s latest work redeems any past missteps, delivering a spine-chilling story that grips readers from start to finish. This is my new favorite book of Ronald Malfi!

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

Ronald Malfi's Senseless is a chilling, atmospheric descent into the hidden rot beneath Los Angeles' glossy exterior—a city of masks, where beauty hides brutality and nothing is ever quite what it seems. In this intricately woven thriller, Malfi blends psychological horror, noir detective fiction, and the uncanny to deliver a narrative that is as disturbing as it is compulsively readable.

Told through three interconnected storylines, Senseless moves like a creeping fog across the desert and into the city’s darkest corners. There’s Detective Bill Renney, haunted not just by a string of eerily similar murders but by a personal connection that threatens to compromise everything. Maureen Park, a woman on the edge of a new life, finds her perfect engagement unraveling when her fiancé’s son, Landon, inserts himself into her world—dripping menace and mystery. And then there’s Toby Kampen, a grotesque and lonely figure known as the “Human Fly,” whose obsessive infatuation with a woman who might not even be human takes the story to its most surreal, terrifying heights.

Malfi masterfully builds tension in layers—psychological, emotional, and supernatural—making every chapter feel like a slow turn of a screw. As the characters’ paths converge, the novel reveals itself to be a meditation on perception: what we see, hear, and feel can’t always be trusted. And in true Malfi fashion, horror lurks not just in monsters or murderers, but in obsession, guilt, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive.

Dark, elegant, and unrelenting, Senseless is a standout addition to Malfi’s already impressive catalog. It’s a novel that doesn't just creep under your skin—it gets into your head and lingers there long after the final page.

Rating: 5/5 – A haunting, hallucinatory thriller that only Ronald Malfi could deliver. Fans of Silence of the Lambs, David Lynch, and The Fisherman will be absolutely enthralled.

“There are places in the desert where things can be hidden and never found…”

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Ronald Malfi’s writing in this book. It was hard to put down and some images will stay with me. We are following three different people here: a cop named Renney, Toby (The Fly), and Maureen the writer. I loved how all three stories intertwined. The story begins with a dead woman found in the desert with her eyes, nose, tongue removed. Yes this is a horror book folks..Renney the copy is investigating this case. We meet Maureen next who is a writer who got engaged quickly to a Hollywood producer. Then we meet Toby aka The Fly and he is all kinds of crazy. He’s convinced this woman he meets is a vampire and he wants to be turned. I think his story was my favorite to follow because it was so out there and interesting.

I recommend this book for the horror lovers. If you like multiple perspectives you will like this too. I think all three stories were woven together nicely and this had a satisfying ending. Although it left me a little bit confused. I’d love to talk to others about it.

This is my second book I’ve read by Ronald Malfi and I will continue reading his books. If you like Stephen Graham Jones or Paul Trembley I think you will like the writing in this book.

Thank you Titan Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know Ronald Malfi had it like that!

This is my first by the author and I wasn't to sure about a crime thriler/horror, but I ate this up. The desert setting, watching the different POVs on their way to convergence, and being able to trust absolutely no one ratcheted up the tension for me. Surprisingly, I was emotionally invested in the characters as well and their tragic backstories definitely tugged at my heart strings.

If you love shows like criminal minds I'd 100% recommend this one.

3.5 stars

I found this unsatisfying. There are three POVs and three stories in this novel. They weave and intersect with each other: Detective Renney, recently bereaved, investigating the death of a woman whose body was dumped in the desert, horribly mutilated; Maureen Park, a writer from small town Wyoming, wrapped up in a whirlwind romance to a budding Hollywood producer; Toby Kampen, a Human Fly, unmoored from time and reality, desperately seeking acceptance and willing to suffer any transformation to gain it. Although each story reached A conclusion, I was left wanting more. I kept waiting for it all to come together in a more bombastic way but it never did.

Don't get me wrong, there were scenes that held my attention like nobody's business but they were interspersed with long sections where if I wasn't a time crunch to write a review, I could easily have put the book down and never have the urge to pick it up again. This isn't a story where I was desperate to know what happens next.

I think if you loved Paul Tremblay's The Pallbearer's Club, you'll enjoy this a lot. Sadly, neither were really for me.

Senseless by Ronald Malfi
If you’re already a Malfi fan (and let’s be real, who isn’t), Senseless delivers in all the deliciously eerie ways he does best. His storytelling feels like you're following a thread in the dark — you think you know where it’s going, until it yanks in a whole new direction.
The multiple POVs? Perfection. Every single time a new character popped up or the perspective shifted, I found myself side-eyeing everyone. “Is it you?? What are you hiding?? Who can I trust??” I was in full-blown detective mode with no evidence.
The pacing builds that creeping dread so well, with layers of mystery slowly unfolding, never giving you the full picture until you’re in way too deep. Malfi doesn’t just tell a story, he traps you inside it — and Senseless does exactly that.

If you like…
• Psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators
• Gritty crime meets supernatural dread
• Books that make you question every single character's intentions
…you’ll be obsessed with this one.

Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely. This is peak Malfi. If you love books that make you feel like you're being watched while you read, Senseless is calling your name. I’d recommend it to fans of Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, and anyone who wants their thriller with a side of existential dread.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this banger.