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Mr. Cables
For bestselling horror novelist Wilson Paventeau, the scariest novel of his career is one he didn’t write. It bears his name on the dust jacket and contains his bio near the end, but this enigmatic tome is not part of his oeuvre. And the most frightening thing about it may not be the tale between the covers, but the reason for its mysterious appearance in Paventeau’s life.
99 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2017
24 people are currently reading
4896 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Malfi
74 books3,805 followersRonald Malfi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of many novels and novellas in the horror, mystery, and thriller genres. In 2011, his novel, Floating Staircase, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for best novel by the Horror Writers Association, and also won a gold IPPY award. In 2024, he was presented with the prestigious William G. Wilson Award for Adult Fiction by the Maryland Library Association. Perhaps his most well-received novel, Come with Me (2021), about a man who learns a dark secret about his wife after she's killed, has received stellar reviews, including a starred review from BookPage, and Publishers Weekly has said, "Malfi impresses in this taut, supernaturally tinged mystery... and sticks the landing with a powerful denouement. There’s plenty here to enjoy."
His most recent novels include Senseless (2025) and Small Town Horror (2024), both of which received favorable reviews and saw Malfi stretch his authorial voice.
Come with Me (2021) and Black Mouth (2022), tackle themes of grief and loss, and of the effects of childhood trauma and alcoholism, respectively. Both books have been critically praised, with Publishers Weekly calling Black Mouth a "standout" book of the year. These novels were followed by Ghostwritten (2022), a collection of four subtly-linked novellas about haunted books and the power of the written word. Ghostwritten received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called the book a "wonderfully meta collection...vibrantly imagined," and that "Malfi makes reading about the perils of reading a terrifying delight."
Among his most popular works is December Park, a coming-of-age thriller set in the '90s, wherein five teenage boys take up the hunt for a child murderer in their hometown of Harting Farms, Maryland. In interviews, Malfi has expressed that this is his most autobiographical book to date. In 2015, this novel was awarded the Beverly Hills International Book Award for best suspense novel. It has been optioned several times for film.
Bone White (2017), about a man searching for his lost twin brother in a haunted Alaskan mining town, was touted as "an elegant, twisted, gripping slow-burn of a novel that burrows under the skin and nestles deep," by RT Book Reviews, and has also been optioned for television by Fox21/Disney and Amazon Studios.
His novels Little Girls (2015) and The Night Parade (2016) explore broken families forced to endure horrific and extraordinary circumstances, which has become the hallmark for Malfi's brand of intimate, lyrical horror fiction.
His earlier works, such as Via Dolorosa (2007) and Passenger (2008) explored characters with lost or confused identities, wherein Malfi experimented with the ultimate unreliable narrators. He maintained this trend in his award-winning novel, Floating Staircase (2011), which the author has suggested contains "multiple endings for the astute reader."
His more "monstery" novels, such as Snow (2010) and The Narrows (2012) still resonate with his inimitable brand of literary cadence and focus on character and story over plot. Both books were highly regarded by fans and reviewers in the genre.
A bit of a departure, Malfi published the crime drama Shamrock Alley in 2009, based on the true exploits of his own father, a former Secret Service agent. The book was optioned several times for film.
Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he currently resides along the Chesapeake Bay.
When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock band VEER, who can be found at veerband.net and wherever you stream your music.
Visit
His most recent novels include Senseless (2025) and Small Town Horror (2024), both of which received favorable reviews and saw Malfi stretch his authorial voice.
Come with Me (2021) and Black Mouth (2022), tackle themes of grief and loss, and of the effects of childhood trauma and alcoholism, respectively. Both books have been critically praised, with Publishers Weekly calling Black Mouth a "standout" book of the year. These novels were followed by Ghostwritten (2022), a collection of four subtly-linked novellas about haunted books and the power of the written word. Ghostwritten received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called the book a "wonderfully meta collection...vibrantly imagined," and that "Malfi makes reading about the perils of reading a terrifying delight."
Among his most popular works is December Park, a coming-of-age thriller set in the '90s, wherein five teenage boys take up the hunt for a child murderer in their hometown of Harting Farms, Maryland. In interviews, Malfi has expressed that this is his most autobiographical book to date. In 2015, this novel was awarded the Beverly Hills International Book Award for best suspense novel. It has been optioned several times for film.
Bone White (2017), about a man searching for his lost twin brother in a haunted Alaskan mining town, was touted as "an elegant, twisted, gripping slow-burn of a novel that burrows under the skin and nestles deep," by RT Book Reviews, and has also been optioned for television by Fox21/Disney and Amazon Studios.
His novels Little Girls (2015) and The Night Parade (2016) explore broken families forced to endure horrific and extraordinary circumstances, which has become the hallmark for Malfi's brand of intimate, lyrical horror fiction.
His earlier works, such as Via Dolorosa (2007) and Passenger (2008) explored characters with lost or confused identities, wherein Malfi experimented with the ultimate unreliable narrators. He maintained this trend in his award-winning novel, Floating Staircase (2011), which the author has suggested contains "multiple endings for the astute reader."
His more "monstery" novels, such as Snow (2010) and The Narrows (2012) still resonate with his inimitable brand of literary cadence and focus on character and story over plot. Both books were highly regarded by fans and reviewers in the genre.
A bit of a departure, Malfi published the crime drama Shamrock Alley in 2009, based on the true exploits of his own father, a former Secret Service agent. The book was optioned several times for film.
Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he currently resides along the Chesapeake Bay.
When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock band VEER, who can be found at veerband.net and wherever you stream your music.
Visit
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
September 6, 2025
The first two-thirds of this book is supremely unsettling. That last third, though? I dunno. It's kind of like one of those Oscar Wilde stories where you're reading along enjoying everything at face value and then — BAM! — you reach the end and suddenly realize it's all a set up so that Wilde can moralize at you for a bit? That's almost what this novella feels like, except without the religious overtones (I love Wilde, but he was a preachy bastard). But things are all creepy and suspenseful and horror-y, and then it's “Hey guys, look! The main character is such a good guy!” Bleh. I don't read horror for everyone to hug each other and sing “Kumbaya” at the climax of the story (I mean, that didn't literally happen, but it was close for a minute there).
But, still, this is a decent read. I saw the big twist coming from a mile away, but the premise is excellent and the sense of foreboding in that first two-thirds is tremendous. The last third kind of kills the suspenseful build-up and isn't at all scary (minus maybe the short bit on the bus), but it's entertaining enough, I suppose. It's not a book I'd ever write home about, but it's certainly worth the short amount of time that it takes to read it.
3.5 stars, rounded up. (Please give us half-stars, Goodreads!)
But, still, this is a decent read. I saw the big twist coming from a mile away, but the premise is excellent and the sense of foreboding in that first two-thirds is tremendous. The last third kind of kills the suspenseful build-up and isn't at all scary (minus maybe the short bit on the bus), but it's entertaining enough, I suppose. It's not a book I'd ever write home about, but it's certainly worth the short amount of time that it takes to read it.
3.5 stars, rounded up. (Please give us half-stars, Goodreads!)
August 22, 2025
This kind of book
is dangerous...
MR. CABLES
by Ronald Malfi
4 1/2 stars. I like a good book about books and book collectors, so I really got into this creepy novella...
Wilson was signing some of his novels for his fans inside a bookstore when the next in line was a woman with an old book listing him as the author...
Trouble was...
He didn't write the book. Wilson looked the book over; the woman said it was the scariest book she'd ever read...
Wilson offered to trade her old book for his latest novel. She quickly agreed, and Wilson took the mysterious book home with him...
The book was a story about a man reading a book about a man reading a book...
The man in the story, Quimby, rode city busses all day reading and writing in his note pad about the bus passengers...
Wilson took the book to Finter's Used Books to ask for help identifying the strange novel, and Finter told Wilson...
This type of book can be dangerous...
All honest books are dangerous and this book has baited you...
This novella was very detailed and excellent. My only criticism was one loose end. Hence, the 1/2 star removed... but it was not a deal-breaker for me.
is dangerous...
MR. CABLES
by Ronald Malfi
4 1/2 stars. I like a good book about books and book collectors, so I really got into this creepy novella...
Wilson was signing some of his novels for his fans inside a bookstore when the next in line was a woman with an old book listing him as the author...
Trouble was...
He didn't write the book. Wilson looked the book over; the woman said it was the scariest book she'd ever read...
Wilson offered to trade her old book for his latest novel. She quickly agreed, and Wilson took the mysterious book home with him...
The book was a story about a man reading a book about a man reading a book...
The man in the story, Quimby, rode city busses all day reading and writing in his note pad about the bus passengers...
Wilson took the book to Finter's Used Books to ask for help identifying the strange novel, and Finter told Wilson...
This type of book can be dangerous...
All honest books are dangerous and this book has baited you...
This novella was very detailed and excellent. My only criticism was one loose end. Hence, the 1/2 star removed... but it was not a deal-breaker for me.
December 5, 2020
A truly captivating and suspenseful horror novella with a dark mystery at its heart. The story took me prisoner until the very last page. It is the first book I have read by Ronald Malfi, but far from my last. This engrossing gem is highly recommended for a long winter night.
December 9, 2024
“Honest writers are dangerous writers.”
One of bestselling author Wilson Paventeau’s fans asks him to sign his book at a signing event. The book has his name, picture, and bio on it but he did not write it. She says it is the scariest book she has ever read, but when Wilson reads it, he finds it incredibly boring. Who wrote the book? Why has it mysteriously appeared? Why isn’t it scary for him? Paventeau must follow the clues to discover its true author.
This short novella is a quick read at less than 100 pages long. It includes an intriguing premise that reminds me of the cult classic ‘90s movie In the Mouth of Madness. Like most novellas, I was left wanting more answers at the end, but really enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
Note: Mr. Cables has spooky vibes, but is not a scary horror book.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
One of bestselling author Wilson Paventeau’s fans asks him to sign his book at a signing event. The book has his name, picture, and bio on it but he did not write it. She says it is the scariest book she has ever read, but when Wilson reads it, he finds it incredibly boring. Who wrote the book? Why has it mysteriously appeared? Why isn’t it scary for him? Paventeau must follow the clues to discover its true author.
This short novella is a quick read at less than 100 pages long. It includes an intriguing premise that reminds me of the cult classic ‘90s movie In the Mouth of Madness. Like most novellas, I was left wanting more answers at the end, but really enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
Note: Mr. Cables has spooky vibes, but is not a scary horror book.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
April 10, 2025
It's just another book signing for best-selling author Wilson Paventeau, until he is approached by a fan with a book that she claims is the scariest thing he's ever written. The problem here is that the book in question bears Wilson's name, photo and bio, but he didn't write it. When he brings the mysterious tome home to investigate its true origins, he soon finds his life spiraling into nightmare.
I adore a good cursed book or film story, and the first two-thirds of Mr. Cables was an easy five dread-filled stars. But then the story took a sharp left turn that saw all the built-up tension disappear and left me deflated. It's still a good story, but my creepy little heart was let down that it didn't maintain that insidious momentum that was so effective in the earlier parts of the book. On a positive note, though, I'm left with a desire to dive back into my Malfi journey, because if nothing else, Mr. Cables proves that he can conjure some real scares.
I adore a good cursed book or film story, and the first two-thirds of Mr. Cables was an easy five dread-filled stars. But then the story took a sharp left turn that saw all the built-up tension disappear and left me deflated. It's still a good story, but my creepy little heart was let down that it didn't maintain that insidious momentum that was so effective in the earlier parts of the book. On a positive note, though, I'm left with a desire to dive back into my Malfi journey, because if nothing else, Mr. Cables proves that he can conjure some real scares.
December 27, 2020
An Honest Book is a Dangerous Book
I’m fairly sure that, at one point during Ronald Malfi’s horror novella ‘Mr Cables’, I was reading a book, about a man reading a book, that was about a man reading (you guessed it) a book. It is a jarring approach in a story that is meticulously laid out to unsettle and mislead.
Wilson Paventeau is a best-selling horror novelist, who is enjoying a level of success he could only have dreamed of in his previous life as a creative writing professor.
When Wilson is given a copy of one of his books at a signing, he does not recognise the title. The book bears his name, his bio and his picture, but it is not a book he recalls writing. What he first believes to be an elaborate prank soon becomes a terrifying ordeal, and one he believes is linked to past events Wilson thought long behind him.
I always seek out stories where a piece of art is given a supernatural or malevolent twist. A book that is cursed, a painting that drives you to madness; I find the concept of the power of art a fascinating subject well suited to horror and ‘Mr Cables’ is an excellent example of how effective such stories can be.
I was reminded of Stephen King’s ‘The Road Virus Heads North’ when reading ‘Mr Cables’. It is similarly psychological and unsettling, particularly in the first half, and both share similar themes (not to mention similar protagonists). It is during the second half of the book where Malfi takes the story in an unexpected direction and becomes a more reflective and haunting meditation on ethics and accountability.
What I found most striking about the story is how it manages to be so suffused with a palpable dread and a disquieting intrigue while at the same time being strangely and simultaneously uplifting and melancholy. It really does run a gamut of different tones, shifting subtlety and effortlessly to suit the direction of the story. It is an absolute masterclass in hooking the reader early on and pulling them through a story where the possibilities are endless and there is plenty to keep you engaged, but nothing to give things away too early in proceedings.
A strong story is nothing without equally strong characters as a basis, and ‘Mr Cables’ is a success in that regard as well. Wilson is an interesting lead, mostly likeable and relatable early on, and undeniably sympathetic once the story gets going, but there is more to him than first meets the eye and it was fascinating to see the journey he goes on in this book.
Perfectly paced, with a compelling protagonist and a fantastic hook, this is a masterful story from one of horrors top writers at the height of his powers. Unlike the stories main character, you certainly won’t regret picking up a copy of Mr Cables.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I’m fairly sure that, at one point during Ronald Malfi’s horror novella ‘Mr Cables’, I was reading a book, about a man reading a book, that was about a man reading (you guessed it) a book. It is a jarring approach in a story that is meticulously laid out to unsettle and mislead.
Wilson Paventeau is a best-selling horror novelist, who is enjoying a level of success he could only have dreamed of in his previous life as a creative writing professor.
When Wilson is given a copy of one of his books at a signing, he does not recognise the title. The book bears his name, his bio and his picture, but it is not a book he recalls writing. What he first believes to be an elaborate prank soon becomes a terrifying ordeal, and one he believes is linked to past events Wilson thought long behind him.
I always seek out stories where a piece of art is given a supernatural or malevolent twist. A book that is cursed, a painting that drives you to madness; I find the concept of the power of art a fascinating subject well suited to horror and ‘Mr Cables’ is an excellent example of how effective such stories can be.
I was reminded of Stephen King’s ‘The Road Virus Heads North’ when reading ‘Mr Cables’. It is similarly psychological and unsettling, particularly in the first half, and both share similar themes (not to mention similar protagonists). It is during the second half of the book where Malfi takes the story in an unexpected direction and becomes a more reflective and haunting meditation on ethics and accountability.
What I found most striking about the story is how it manages to be so suffused with a palpable dread and a disquieting intrigue while at the same time being strangely and simultaneously uplifting and melancholy. It really does run a gamut of different tones, shifting subtlety and effortlessly to suit the direction of the story. It is an absolute masterclass in hooking the reader early on and pulling them through a story where the possibilities are endless and there is plenty to keep you engaged, but nothing to give things away too early in proceedings.
A strong story is nothing without equally strong characters as a basis, and ‘Mr Cables’ is a success in that regard as well. Wilson is an interesting lead, mostly likeable and relatable early on, and undeniably sympathetic once the story gets going, but there is more to him than first meets the eye and it was fascinating to see the journey he goes on in this book.
Perfectly paced, with a compelling protagonist and a fantastic hook, this is a masterful story from one of horrors top writers at the height of his powers. Unlike the stories main character, you certainly won’t regret picking up a copy of Mr Cables.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
November 13, 2020
Engrossing.
Thoroughly, thoroughly engrossing.
Absolutely captivating.
Shamefully, this was my first experience reading Mr. Malfi. Crazy right? I have a number of his books sitting in my TBR, and when JournalStone announced this, I immediately snagged the Kindle version. But then, like a decent chunk of my books, it languished for a few weeks. Until I saw Jeremy Hepler post or tweet that he’d really enjoyed this book and I slapped myself.
So, last night, I was just going to read 25%. I have four other books on the go, all fantastic reads, so I was just going to read 25% and then finish off The Messy Man by Chris Sorensen.
But then this friggin’ book was so friggin’ enthralling, I read it in one sitting.
What I liked: NYT Bestselling Author Wil Paventeau is at a book signing when an older lady comes up to him, tells him his book is the scariest she’s ever read and then flops down a tattered hardcover of ‘Mr. Cables.’ The book has his name on it, his author photo and an almost accurate bio, but the only problem is – he never wrote it.
From there, Malfi delivers a full-force creep attack of something peering in the window, pages that read differently for different readers and the growing sense that the ‘meta-ness’ of the book is all too real. That Paventeau himself is/is not the same author who wrote the book.
I couldn’t stop reading this. Whether the book gripped its talons into my brain like our Mr. Cables did for the readers, or Malfi just writes with such a a casual inviting prose, I just couldn’t bring my self to close the Kindle.
This was superb. Think Stephen King familiarity of writing. Growing dread on each and every page. And an utterly fantastic ending.
What I didn’t like: I’d call it a minor thing, because I really, really did love this book, but there’s a few moments where we kind of need to suspend belief to believe Parenteau forgot some truly key moments in his life. Moments that I’m not sure most people would forget. Places and people. It’s minor but that may put some folks off.
Why you should buy this: There’s a handful of books for me lately that were so engrossing I simply couldn’t put them down. ‘The Ritual’ by Nevill. ‘Night Train’ by Quantick. ‘All Hail the House Gods’ by Stone. ‘Armageddon House’ by Griffin. ‘The Killing Circle’ by Pyper. This easily slots into that array of books that zoomed by and I had to question whether I even breathed.
My introduction to Malfi may have come far later than it should’ve, but holy hell, what a gem this was and I’m beyond excited to dive into this.
Color me a fan.
Thoroughly, thoroughly engrossing.
Absolutely captivating.
Shamefully, this was my first experience reading Mr. Malfi. Crazy right? I have a number of his books sitting in my TBR, and when JournalStone announced this, I immediately snagged the Kindle version. But then, like a decent chunk of my books, it languished for a few weeks. Until I saw Jeremy Hepler post or tweet that he’d really enjoyed this book and I slapped myself.
So, last night, I was just going to read 25%. I have four other books on the go, all fantastic reads, so I was just going to read 25% and then finish off The Messy Man by Chris Sorensen.
But then this friggin’ book was so friggin’ enthralling, I read it in one sitting.
What I liked: NYT Bestselling Author Wil Paventeau is at a book signing when an older lady comes up to him, tells him his book is the scariest she’s ever read and then flops down a tattered hardcover of ‘Mr. Cables.’ The book has his name on it, his author photo and an almost accurate bio, but the only problem is – he never wrote it.
From there, Malfi delivers a full-force creep attack of something peering in the window, pages that read differently for different readers and the growing sense that the ‘meta-ness’ of the book is all too real. That Paventeau himself is/is not the same author who wrote the book.
I couldn’t stop reading this. Whether the book gripped its talons into my brain like our Mr. Cables did for the readers, or Malfi just writes with such a a casual inviting prose, I just couldn’t bring my self to close the Kindle.
This was superb. Think Stephen King familiarity of writing. Growing dread on each and every page. And an utterly fantastic ending.
What I didn’t like: I’d call it a minor thing, because I really, really did love this book, but there’s a few moments where we kind of need to suspend belief to believe Parenteau forgot some truly key moments in his life. Moments that I’m not sure most people would forget. Places and people. It’s minor but that may put some folks off.
Why you should buy this: There’s a handful of books for me lately that were so engrossing I simply couldn’t put them down. ‘The Ritual’ by Nevill. ‘Night Train’ by Quantick. ‘All Hail the House Gods’ by Stone. ‘Armageddon House’ by Griffin. ‘The Killing Circle’ by Pyper. This easily slots into that array of books that zoomed by and I had to question whether I even breathed.
My introduction to Malfi may have come far later than it should’ve, but holy hell, what a gem this was and I’m beyond excited to dive into this.
Color me a fan.
February 26, 2021
Author Wilson Paventeau is given a novel at a book signing that carries his name and his bio, but is one he has never seen nor written. So begins the mystery of ‘Mr. Cables’. It soon becomes clear that anyone who reads it is affected by it, and Paventeau is unable to resist trying to solve that mystery wherever that may lead him. My first Malfi, and ninety nine pages that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Sinister and disturbing rather than gruesome, the novella is well worth the no more than one sitting it will need to finish it.
January 5, 2026
This was my first Ronald Malfi read and was hoping the couple at the end had something sinister up their sleeves, as this is a horror novela, but that didn’t exactly happen. Not a spoiler either.
3.5 stars
I know Malfi is a popular horror author, so I think I need to read another Malfi story to see if I can get more of a horror-ending out of it!
Really enjoyed the story but the ending was not a horror ending. :)
3.5 stars
I know Malfi is a popular horror author, so I think I need to read another Malfi story to see if I can get more of a horror-ending out of it!
Really enjoyed the story but the ending was not a horror ending. :)
March 28, 2021
I have a few novellas on my to-read list, and they seem to languish there forever. There just never seems to be the right time for me to want to read something so short.
Which is stupid, really. Some of my favourite reads of all time have been novellas. Look at Stephen King's Different Seasons: I read those four novellas almost forty years ago and they are STILL burnt into my mind.
I had finished a novel yesterday and downloaded a sample of a new one to begin last night. I didn't make much progress because surprise, surprise, I fell asleep one page in.
Being the troubled sleeper I am, I woke many times through the night, and thought that I should take advantage of the clean reading slate ahead of me for a Sunday morning and knock off a novella in one sitting before getting into another full length one.
This was a great call. I like Ronald Malfi a lot, especially his Bone White, so it was an easy decision to grab Mr. Cables.
This had a nice amount of creepiness through it, and like all of Malfi's books, was highly engaging. It's a first person account of an author who, at a book signing, is presented with a novel with his name on it that he did not write. The mystery ensues and gets nicely unsettling at times.
A great way to spend a cold, rainy Sunday by the fireplace.
Four very strong stars and a reminder to keep this guy's books on my immediate radar.
Two minutes later edit: After saving this review I looked at the cover of this novella and slipped into the story again. And thought about it more. And more.
And gave it five stars.
Which is stupid, really. Some of my favourite reads of all time have been novellas. Look at Stephen King's Different Seasons: I read those four novellas almost forty years ago and they are STILL burnt into my mind.
I had finished a novel yesterday and downloaded a sample of a new one to begin last night. I didn't make much progress because surprise, surprise, I fell asleep one page in.
Being the troubled sleeper I am, I woke many times through the night, and thought that I should take advantage of the clean reading slate ahead of me for a Sunday morning and knock off a novella in one sitting before getting into another full length one.
This was a great call. I like Ronald Malfi a lot, especially his Bone White, so it was an easy decision to grab Mr. Cables.
This had a nice amount of creepiness through it, and like all of Malfi's books, was highly engaging. It's a first person account of an author who, at a book signing, is presented with a novel with his name on it that he did not write. The mystery ensues and gets nicely unsettling at times.
A great way to spend a cold, rainy Sunday by the fireplace.
Four very strong stars and a reminder to keep this guy's books on my immediate radar.
Two minutes later edit: After saving this review I looked at the cover of this novella and slipped into the story again. And thought about it more. And more.
And gave it five stars.
December 27, 2020
As is the case with everything Ron Malfi writes, MR. CABLES is a haunting tale rife with emotional horror and a dread that slips under your skin, and stays there long after you've finished. The "haunted horror author" plagued by something in his/her past is a well-worn trope which takes on a life of its own in Malfi's skilled hands. This little gem demands to be read in sitting, so pick it up today!
November 14, 2020
Mr. Cables has a classic King set-up, or even a vintage Dean Koontz title before he went off the doggy deep-end, that Ronald Malfi makes all his own.
Bestselling author Wilson Paventeau is greeted by an elderly woman at a book signing for his latest release. She wants him to sign her copy of Mr. Cables, proclaiming it to be the scariest book Paventeau has ever written and the most frightening and disturbing thing she's ever read. There's only one problem - Paventeau's never heard of this book and he's damn sure he never wrote it, despite his name, author bio, and an outdated photo of himself on the hardcover's jacket. The woman is willing to part with the book, though, and Paventeau sets about trying to uncover the secrets of Mr. Cables.
The book itself is an odd object. The story of Mr. Cables and its boring protagonist, Quimby, is dull and uneventful. Paventeau complains several times that literally nothing happens -- and yet, he loses hours at a time each time he reads, lost and absorbed by the words he's convinced are not his own. Stranger still, the few others who read this book are left completely unsettled, finding a deeper, far more repulsive story that somehow eludes Paventeau himself.
To give much more away would be a disservice (this is only an 80 page novella for cripes' sake), but the concepts, decisions, and consequences Malfi explores here are pretty damn intriguing. The concept of Mr. Cables itself is a refreshingly unique spin on a classic trope, one that leads Paventeau on a mission of dual purposes. He's left not only to discover the secret history of this irregular title, but to face his own actions, which he'd thought were left buried in the past.
My only real complaint is that I found the ending to be a bit too simplistic. While Paventeau chooses to face his past actions head-on, we're left in the dark as to any actual long-lasting negative repercussions from his choices. I would have liked the ending to plumb the depths of his decisions and their aftermath just a little deeper, and the solution to the riddle that is the Mr. Cables book ultimately felt a little too shallow. The resolution to the mysteries set forth felt a bit too easy, a bit too happy, even, but it's a minor complaint given how well the preceding elements work.
Malfi's Mr. Cables is completely engrossing. I found myself immediately engaged in the writing and the characters, and this book really got its hooks into me right at the outset. I found myself rather discomfited at having the real-world regularly interrupt my reading over the course of the cumulative 90 or so minutes it took to plow through this material. Like Paventeau, I became oddly obsessed and engrossed in this book, albeit far more happily and willingly so.
Bestselling author Wilson Paventeau is greeted by an elderly woman at a book signing for his latest release. She wants him to sign her copy of Mr. Cables, proclaiming it to be the scariest book Paventeau has ever written and the most frightening and disturbing thing she's ever read. There's only one problem - Paventeau's never heard of this book and he's damn sure he never wrote it, despite his name, author bio, and an outdated photo of himself on the hardcover's jacket. The woman is willing to part with the book, though, and Paventeau sets about trying to uncover the secrets of Mr. Cables.
The book itself is an odd object. The story of Mr. Cables and its boring protagonist, Quimby, is dull and uneventful. Paventeau complains several times that literally nothing happens -- and yet, he loses hours at a time each time he reads, lost and absorbed by the words he's convinced are not his own. Stranger still, the few others who read this book are left completely unsettled, finding a deeper, far more repulsive story that somehow eludes Paventeau himself.
To give much more away would be a disservice (this is only an 80 page novella for cripes' sake), but the concepts, decisions, and consequences Malfi explores here are pretty damn intriguing. The concept of Mr. Cables itself is a refreshingly unique spin on a classic trope, one that leads Paventeau on a mission of dual purposes. He's left not only to discover the secret history of this irregular title, but to face his own actions, which he'd thought were left buried in the past.
My only real complaint is that I found the ending to be a bit too simplistic. While Paventeau chooses to face his past actions head-on, we're left in the dark as to any actual long-lasting negative repercussions from his choices. I would have liked the ending to plumb the depths of his decisions and their aftermath just a little deeper, and the solution to the riddle that is the Mr. Cables book ultimately felt a little too shallow. The resolution to the mysteries set forth felt a bit too easy, a bit too happy, even, but it's a minor complaint given how well the preceding elements work.
Malfi's Mr. Cables is completely engrossing. I found myself immediately engaged in the writing and the characters, and this book really got its hooks into me right at the outset. I found myself rather discomfited at having the real-world regularly interrupt my reading over the course of the cumulative 90 or so minutes it took to plow through this material. Like Paventeau, I became oddly obsessed and engrossed in this book, albeit far more happily and willingly so.
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November 14, 2024i would fucking kill myself too if my professor made me read my assignment out lout
November 15, 2024
What a fun, well-paced, mysterious, and genuinely creepy little story!
April 23, 2024
4.5 stars
Turns out Malfi writes spooky books about scary books very well (see also Ghostwritten).
Turns out Malfi writes spooky books about scary books very well (see also Ghostwritten).
July 5, 2025
I thought this was extremely clever. picked it a pallet cleanser, but was thrilled with this audiobook. it's a quick read.
October 5, 2020
Like most readers, I go to different authors depending on what I’m in the mood for. If I want to run with monsters and enjoy the destruction of property and people, I go with Eddie Generous or Hunter Shea. If I want a bit of brutality, I’ll call up Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum or J.F. Gonzalez. If I want to be surprised and get a little bit of everything, I’ll go with Jeff Strand. And if I want a feeling of dread to envelope me as I enter into a world of fear, I’ll devour something from Ronald Malfi. His latest, Mr. Cables, shows just why I can trust Malfi to get under my skin.
You can read my full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read my full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
July 17, 2022
”An honest writer is a dangerous writer.”
This was my first ever Malfi story and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Malfi manages to imbed the terrifying in the mundane and create horror from the everyday.
This short story was brimming with examples of excellent writing, creating atmospheric scenes that send shivers down your spine. Ghosts haunting the pages of this book added a supernatural aspect to the story but the real horror was the portrayal of the living and the consequences of their actions or inaction.
A haunting, sobering read.
This was my first ever Malfi story and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Malfi manages to imbed the terrifying in the mundane and create horror from the everyday.
This short story was brimming with examples of excellent writing, creating atmospheric scenes that send shivers down your spine. Ghosts haunting the pages of this book added a supernatural aspect to the story but the real horror was the portrayal of the living and the consequences of their actions or inaction.
A haunting, sobering read.
November 9, 2020
There’s a reason why I recommend Ronald Malfi to fellow readers. There isn’t a book of his that I didn’t like. His latest novella is no different...
I was instantly hooked and found myself immersed in this story. It was creepy without being violent or gory. More of a mind-f**k kind of creepy. I couldn’t put it down.
I was instantly hooked and found myself immersed in this story. It was creepy without being violent or gory. More of a mind-f**k kind of creepy. I couldn’t put it down.
April 15, 2025
This is a short book that I rated 3.5stars. I enjoyed it and it only took me a little over an hour and a half to read.
It’s about an author who has done some unscrupulous things in his life that may be catching up with him!!
It’s about an author who has done some unscrupulous things in his life that may be catching up with him!!
December 19, 2024
This was so creepy, and it also taught me a valuable lesson.
The atmosphere was so eerie and unsettling. I love it. I had goosebumps all over.
Nothing really happened, and yet so much did, the ending with a little confusing and very scary.
The atmosphere was so eerie and unsettling. I love it. I had goosebumps all over.
Nothing really happened, and yet so much did, the ending with a little confusing and very scary.
February 4, 2025
What the Hell was that.
Yes, I'm mad; this book was pitched as a horror. It has an amazing premise with a book that should not exist, with the "author" not knowing where it came from or why it's causing all these issues. It has a good premise, and that's it.
Firstly, it's not a horror book. There is nothing overtly scary or even subtly. I mean, for a moment the idea of this unknown book being drawn to him and him only is intriguing but far from frightening. You have characters interact with the book and you get an idea that the protagonist just isn't seeing something. However, not enough time is spent with Mr. Cables itself, or even developing the story past a straight-forward narrative that too-quickly drops the esoteric elements, for it to work.
It starts to go downhill when Paventeau goes to the Manhatten bookshop. At that point we have established supernatural occurrences, coincidences, phones not working, people not reading the correct words. A lot of interesting stuff is built up. Then we have him discover a key piece of information, go through about 10 pages of exposition on something that happened back in 1999, and the story neatly wraps up with "oh it was this dead kid he knew no biggie" but also he gets taken onto the bus mentioned in the cursed book and that's where it ends?
No. You have an amazing premise. It's a novella, but even a short story would take the time to explain just enough to be satisfying. This book left me staring at the wall trying to remember who recommended this to me so I can lose their number. This isn't horror. It's not even well-written.
Before I forget, yes; I hate how it's written. The main character describes a stout and bigger-sized woman with a lot of unkind language, and then he constantly describes the dead college student as effeminate. The way the flashback scenes read with the student gave vibes that originally, the character was a woman and a lot more happened, if you know what I mean. The plot is interesting but gets too straight-forward right at the twist--and I wasn't expecting the twist!
So much of the story is spent on build up but none--and I mean none--of it pays off. It's short, but it isn't sweet. It's like a candy that tastes like water: Go on, give us nothing!
Yes, I'm mad; this book was pitched as a horror. It has an amazing premise with a book that should not exist, with the "author" not knowing where it came from or why it's causing all these issues. It has a good premise, and that's it.
Firstly, it's not a horror book. There is nothing overtly scary or even subtly. I mean, for a moment the idea of this unknown book being drawn to him and him only is intriguing but far from frightening. You have characters interact with the book and you get an idea that the protagonist just isn't seeing something. However, not enough time is spent with Mr. Cables itself, or even developing the story past a straight-forward narrative that too-quickly drops the esoteric elements, for it to work.
It starts to go downhill when Paventeau goes to the Manhatten bookshop. At that point we have established supernatural occurrences, coincidences, phones not working, people not reading the correct words. A lot of interesting stuff is built up. Then we have him discover a key piece of information, go through about 10 pages of exposition on something that happened back in 1999, and the story neatly wraps up with "oh it was this dead kid he knew no biggie" but also he gets taken onto the bus mentioned in the cursed book and that's where it ends?
No. You have an amazing premise. It's a novella, but even a short story would take the time to explain just enough to be satisfying. This book left me staring at the wall trying to remember who recommended this to me so I can lose their number. This isn't horror. It's not even well-written.
Before I forget, yes; I hate how it's written. The main character describes a stout and bigger-sized woman with a lot of unkind language, and then he constantly describes the dead college student as effeminate. The way the flashback scenes read with the student gave vibes that originally, the character was a woman and a lot more happened, if you know what I mean. The plot is interesting but gets too straight-forward right at the twist--and I wasn't expecting the twist!
So much of the story is spent on build up but none--and I mean none--of it pays off. It's short, but it isn't sweet. It's like a candy that tastes like water: Go on, give us nothing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2021
This was such a spooky little 80 page read. A one sitting, dread inducing experience! I wasn’t sure was to expect going into this one, I honestly just bought it for the title and knowing I like Ronald Malfi’s writing.
The first half of this one is honestly terrifying, it’s one of those books that doesn’t let you in on its secrets and it truly freaked me out whilst reading it in broad daylight.
The second half was less spooky as the mystery of the story begin to manically unravel. Although I found the conclusion a tad cliché, it was still a real page-turner and exciting to see how everything came to be. Whilst playing on some fun and very creepy horror tropes this one also has an interesting take on ethics, morality & accountability in its story.
Hard to say much more about this one as it’s such a short story but definitely a recommendation for this Halloween season and a great little booster for your yearly goal. Malfi is an amazingly atmospheric writer and really knows how entertain his readers!
The first half of this one is honestly terrifying, it’s one of those books that doesn’t let you in on its secrets and it truly freaked me out whilst reading it in broad daylight.
The second half was less spooky as the mystery of the story begin to manically unravel. Although I found the conclusion a tad cliché, it was still a real page-turner and exciting to see how everything came to be. Whilst playing on some fun and very creepy horror tropes this one also has an interesting take on ethics, morality & accountability in its story.
Hard to say much more about this one as it’s such a short story but definitely a recommendation for this Halloween season and a great little booster for your yearly goal. Malfi is an amazingly atmospheric writer and really knows how entertain his readers!
December 7, 2020
“All honest books are dangerous books”
Mr Cables by Ronald Malfi tells the story behind best selling horror novelist Wilson Paventeau’s success. His best selling horror novel is one he didn’t actually write. Although his name and biography are on the dust jacket, he never wrote one word of that novel. The book reads differently to each person who picks it up but why the sudden appearance and who is behind it?
This novella was a delight to read. The premise alone was enticing. Wilson is a teacher and what kicked off his writing career was a book not written by himself. However the appearance of this book with his name of which he has no knowledge of sends him through a spiral.
What was exciting was to experience the way the author projects the fear and anxieties of the central characters through the writing and the atmosphere. The book is scary and in ways which leave you thinking about it long after you have finished it.
A brilliant wee book I would definitely recommend.
Mr Cables by Ronald Malfi tells the story behind best selling horror novelist Wilson Paventeau’s success. His best selling horror novel is one he didn’t actually write. Although his name and biography are on the dust jacket, he never wrote one word of that novel. The book reads differently to each person who picks it up but why the sudden appearance and who is behind it?
This novella was a delight to read. The premise alone was enticing. Wilson is a teacher and what kicked off his writing career was a book not written by himself. However the appearance of this book with his name of which he has no knowledge of sends him through a spiral.
What was exciting was to experience the way the author projects the fear and anxieties of the central characters through the writing and the atmosphere. The book is scary and in ways which leave you thinking about it long after you have finished it.
A brilliant wee book I would definitely recommend.
November 13, 2020
Creepy, engrossing, intriguing read. Malfi is one of the best writers out there.
June 29, 2024
I tried to enjoy it but only found joy in its end. Meaning the ending was great
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April 22, 2025Can someone with microbangs and an English Lit degree explain the underlying message to me
July 24, 2022
I just read a book about a man reading a book about a man reading a book.
My first time reading Ronald Malfi and after this i will most definitely be reading some more. A great novella which was well paced and utterly entertaining from the beginning which was in some ways unsettling from time to time.
My first time reading Ronald Malfi and after this i will most definitely be reading some more. A great novella which was well paced and utterly entertaining from the beginning which was in some ways unsettling from time to time.
Read
February 11, 2025Will I too, now, be haunted by the sound of wallet chains?
4.25 ⭐️
4.25 ⭐️
September 3, 2025
genuinely unsure if this was stupid or not. it was so middle of the road for me. it definitely could have been scarier.
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