Book Review: The Narrows by Ronald Malfi

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Narrows by Ronald Malfi

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Titan Books (October 8, 2024)

Length: 416 pages

Author Information: Website

As a huge fan of Ronald Malfi, he’s a must-read author for me whenever he puts out a new book. So, although The Narrows is an older novel, its re-release as an “author’s preferred edition” by Titan (something similar to a director’s cut, I assume) made me curious. With Malfi, I’ve found his horror stories reliably creepy and atmospheric and wanted to dive into this one to see how it stacks up.

Set in the rural town of Stillwater, Maryland, The Narrows opens on the aftermath of a devastating flood. Nestled in an area surrounded by elevated wilderness, floods are not uncommon here, but this last one appears to have brought an unwanted visitor.

Troubles began when the body of a small boy was pulled from the overflowing banks of the river, setting the residents of Stillwater on edge. Halloween is also around the corner, and while the children are looking forward to donning costumes and trick or treating, one of the few activities remaining for them in this dying town, the adults are feeling scared and anxious. Matthew’s mother has always warned her young son against crossing the highway or playing near the river, and to return home before dark. But then one day, he disappears without a trace, and soon, his schoolmate Billy is reported missing as well.

Meanwhile, police has received calls to investigate a couple cases involving brutal livestock mutilation. Ben, who works for the sheriff’s office, notes the unnatural way the cows and goats appear to have been killed with their skulls broken open and the brains eaten, or in some cases, with the entire head gone. Then there are the bats. The town suddenly feels infested with them, leading to whispers about supernatural curses and creatures. As Ben delves deeper into the mystery of the dead farm animals and the missing boys, he uncovers the source of the rot that has been feeding off the remains of his deteriorating town.

While a chilling experience is almost always guaranteed, you never know what you will get when you pick up a Malfi novel. For instance, I can’t say I expected The Narrows to be a vampire story—albeit with a twist. The author takes a more unique approach by stripping away the usual tropes, presenting ideas with a more primal and terrifying edge. The creature in this book feels more like an ancient predator—a horrifying entity that is both grotesque and nightmarish in its design—and I liked how its lore was woven into the idea of small, rural towns that are decaying and disappearing across the country.

Speaking of which, the thick and oppressive atmosphere of Stillwater was used to great effect, emphasizing the town’s overall feeling of isolation and inevitability. Once a thriving hub, most families moved away when the main plastics factory shut down, taking away jobs and leaving behind environmental degradation. Those residents that remained either stayed out of obligation or had nowhere else to go. They ended up working dead end jobs, living stagnant lives, trapped in a monotonous cycle. One gets the sense that no one would miss Stillwater if everyone and everything in it was wiped off the map. Which I suppose is the point.

However, while the setting made for an engaging story, it was never far from my mind that The Narrows is one of Malfi’s earlier works. It shows in the uneven pacing, especially in the middle, where things tend to drag. Long stretches occur with not much happening, with too many words dedicated to minor details or superfluous conversations that don’t push the plot forward. It also shows in the number and frequency of perspective changes, some of which feel disorienting or unnecessary. It seems that overall, the novel could have benefited from some polishing and trimming to keep the momentum going.

Still, I very much enjoyed reading The Narrows, which has an almost classic, retro horror vibe to it reminiscent of Stephen King. Malfi doesn’t pull any punches in making the reader squirm with both dread and unease, and as a word of caution, readers who are sensitive to graphic violence and gore might want to steer clear. Certain scenes, especially those involving the livestock mutilation and missing kids were pretty tough to read.

At the end of the day, The Narrows might have its flaws, but I still found it to be an intriguing and compelling read. Pacing issues and a somewhat bloated narrative made the novel feel a little raw around the edges, certainly less polished than his later works. Nevertheless, I would recommend it for any dedicated fan of Ronald Malfi. For newcomers though, it would be best to start with his more recent works, where his writing has reached its full potential.