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Come with Me
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2021)A masterful, heart-palpitating novel of small-town horror and psychological dread from a Bram Stoker nominee.
Aaron Decker's life changes one December morning when his wife Allison is killed. Haunted by her absence--and her ghost--Aaron goes through her belongings, where he finds a receipt for a motel room in another part of the country. Piloted by grief and an increasing sense of curiosity, Aaron embarks on a journey to discover what Allison had been doing in the weeks prior to her death.
Yet Aaron is unprepared to discover the dark secrets Allison kept, the death and horror that make up the tapestry of her hidden life. And with each dark secret revealed, Aaron becomes more and more consumed by his obsession to learn the terrifying truth about the woman who had been his wife, even if it puts his own life at risk.
Aaron Decker's life changes one December morning when his wife Allison is killed. Haunted by her absence--and her ghost--Aaron goes through her belongings, where he finds a receipt for a motel room in another part of the country. Piloted by grief and an increasing sense of curiosity, Aaron embarks on a journey to discover what Allison had been doing in the weeks prior to her death.
Yet Aaron is unprepared to discover the dark secrets Allison kept, the death and horror that make up the tapestry of her hidden life. And with each dark secret revealed, Aaron becomes more and more consumed by his obsession to learn the terrifying truth about the woman who had been his wife, even if it puts his own life at risk.
407 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2021
1012 people are currently reading
39343 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Malfi
74 books3,761 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 2,541 reviews
June 14, 2024
Come With Me starts out so strong. The initial pages grabbed me and pulled me in so much, I thought I had that rare 5-star read on my hands. So the fact that it slid downhill to a 2-star read by the end, well, I'm just as surprised as you are.
On a seemingly regular day, Aaron's life is turned upside down when his wife Allison is killed by a random act of violence. He is overcome with grief and haunted by her loss. When he looks through her belongings, he comes across an unexplained receipt. Before he can move on, he has to get to the bottom of it.
I was riveted at the start. I found the initial chapters to be compelling and heartbreaking. Of course Aaron is consumed with grief and lost in this world without Allison, especially after such an unexpected and tragic death. The writing is atmospheric and full of sadness and longing, and I was totally on board. I also couldn't wait to see what secrets and mysteries Allison was hiding.
But then the story kind of stalled on the atmosphere of grief. I felt like I was just reading the same passages over and over, mostly on how sad Aaron is and how he can't let his wife go. He sees her in all the shadows and corners. He sees her in their closet and in the flickering lights. He sees her in the dark and in the mirror. Yep, I got it.
As for the mystery, it unfolds at a snail's pace with barely any developments. I thought there would be secrets to uncover about Allison, but it turns out she was merely looking into something else. So instead of this being Aaron investigating and putting together clues, it becomes him trying to figure out what his wife knew. He does this by obsessing about her, intuiting stuff from his gut, and proceeding as if whatever he thinks up must be correct. It's like my most hated trope—the drugged up, confused female narrator—has turned into a grief-ed up, obsessed male narrator.
There is also a supernatural element in here, which feels like it was shoehorned into the story. Is it supposed to be scary? I found it mostly annoying because it contributes to the extremely slow pacing of the story. Whenever there could be development, instead we spend many paragraphs on descriptions of lightbulbs flickering and dark shadows in corners, which all turn out to be nothing.
There are also a couple of other things that were really problematic for me. Every time there's a flashback of Allison, I liked her less and less, until I could no longer understand why Aaron even loved her to begin with. To top it off, there's clearly a scene of rape in there that the story just glosses over, as if it should be all right since the two people involved are married.
My other big problem with the storyline is that I'm not a fan of vigilante justice, especially ones that are arrived at via intuition rather than hard facts. There are multiple examples of this in the story, with both Allison and Aaron perpetuating it. And the excuse given is always grief. Spare me, please. Lots of people lose loved ones, yet they manage to continue on their lives without beating up or killing people.
This story had so much potential. I just wish it transitioned from a story about grief into the mystery it was meant to be. Instead, we get stuck on the grief, and there just wasn't enough plot advancement or even much sense to sustain hundreds of pages.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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On a seemingly regular day, Aaron's life is turned upside down when his wife Allison is killed by a random act of violence. He is overcome with grief and haunted by her loss. When he looks through her belongings, he comes across an unexplained receipt. Before he can move on, he has to get to the bottom of it.
I was riveted at the start. I found the initial chapters to be compelling and heartbreaking. Of course Aaron is consumed with grief and lost in this world without Allison, especially after such an unexpected and tragic death. The writing is atmospheric and full of sadness and longing, and I was totally on board. I also couldn't wait to see what secrets and mysteries Allison was hiding.
But then the story kind of stalled on the atmosphere of grief. I felt like I was just reading the same passages over and over, mostly on how sad Aaron is and how he can't let his wife go. He sees her in all the shadows and corners. He sees her in their closet and in the flickering lights. He sees her in the dark and in the mirror. Yep, I got it.
As for the mystery, it unfolds at a snail's pace with barely any developments. I thought there would be secrets to uncover about Allison, but it turns out she was merely looking into something else. So instead of this being Aaron investigating and putting together clues, it becomes him trying to figure out what his wife knew. He does this by obsessing about her, intuiting stuff from his gut, and proceeding as if whatever he thinks up must be correct. It's like my most hated trope—the drugged up, confused female narrator—has turned into a grief-ed up, obsessed male narrator.
There is also a supernatural element in here, which feels like it was shoehorned into the story. Is it supposed to be scary? I found it mostly annoying because it contributes to the extremely slow pacing of the story. Whenever there could be development, instead we spend many paragraphs on descriptions of lightbulbs flickering and dark shadows in corners, which all turn out to be nothing.
There are also a couple of other things that were really problematic for me. Every time there's a flashback of Allison, I liked her less and less, until I could no longer understand why Aaron even loved her to begin with. To top it off, there's clearly a scene of rape in there that the story just glosses over, as if it should be all right since the two people involved are married.
My other big problem with the storyline is that I'm not a fan of vigilante justice, especially ones that are arrived at via intuition rather than hard facts. There are multiple examples of this in the story, with both Allison and Aaron perpetuating it. And the excuse given is always grief. Spare me, please. Lots of people lose loved ones, yet they manage to continue on their lives without beating up or killing people.
This story had so much potential. I just wish it transitioned from a story about grief into the mystery it was meant to be. Instead, we get stuck on the grief, and there just wasn't enough plot advancement or even much sense to sustain hundreds of pages.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
August 1, 2025
Aaron and Allison Decker are happily married. They're a great match. Life is pretty good for the young couple.
One December morning, as Allison heads out to a local shopping mall, she says to her husband, "come with me." Aaron, feeling a little too comfortable lounging around, declines her offer.
That's the last time Aaron sees his wife.
Allison's senseless death brings Aaron's world crashing down around him. Overwhelmed with grief, he tries to take it one day at a time, but even basic things are taxing. He's drowning.
Sifting through some of Allison's belongings, Aaron discovers a motel receipt from North Carolina, paid in cash with Allison's name on it.
They live in Maryland. He has no idea why she would have been at the motel for a two night stay; two nights that happen to coincide with a time Aaron was out of town on business. He's sure Allison never told him she left home.
Aaron's mind immediately goes to where yours may have when you read that last paragraph.
He wonders if Allison was possibly having an affair. Immediately he feels guilty. That couldn't possibly be true. Allison wasn't like that, was she?
The receipt gives Aaron something to focus on. He's also insanely curious, thus he sets out on a journey to discover why Allison would have gone there. What exactly was she doing?
Y'all, this is my favorite book of the year so far!!!
The more I think about, the more I appreciate just how incredibly well-crafted this story is.
Every moment of Aaron's journey brings darker discoveries and new information that will ultimately lead him to the truth behind Allison's secret life.
I was constantly floored by what was happening. The reveals, the connections, the red herrings; they just kept coming. Aaron becomes completely obsessed with his task, risking life and limb in order to solve it.
I love how Malfi beautifully wove together the exploration of grief, the supernatural and a tense and brutal mystery. Yes, it's a legit mystery, which I had no idea when I started.
I had barely heard anything about this one. Malfi's name is what made me pick it up and I'm so happy that I did.
I will be shouting from the rooftops about this for a long time to come!! If you haven't picked this one up yet, you really, really should!
Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Titan Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read it early and provide my thoughts.
All the stars in the universe!!!
One December morning, as Allison heads out to a local shopping mall, she says to her husband, "come with me." Aaron, feeling a little too comfortable lounging around, declines her offer.
That's the last time Aaron sees his wife.
Allison's senseless death brings Aaron's world crashing down around him. Overwhelmed with grief, he tries to take it one day at a time, but even basic things are taxing. He's drowning.
Sifting through some of Allison's belongings, Aaron discovers a motel receipt from North Carolina, paid in cash with Allison's name on it.
They live in Maryland. He has no idea why she would have been at the motel for a two night stay; two nights that happen to coincide with a time Aaron was out of town on business. He's sure Allison never told him she left home.
Aaron's mind immediately goes to where yours may have when you read that last paragraph.
He wonders if Allison was possibly having an affair. Immediately he feels guilty. That couldn't possibly be true. Allison wasn't like that, was she?
The receipt gives Aaron something to focus on. He's also insanely curious, thus he sets out on a journey to discover why Allison would have gone there. What exactly was she doing?
Y'all, this is my favorite book of the year so far!!!
The more I think about, the more I appreciate just how incredibly well-crafted this story is.
Every moment of Aaron's journey brings darker discoveries and new information that will ultimately lead him to the truth behind Allison's secret life.
I was constantly floored by what was happening. The reveals, the connections, the red herrings; they just kept coming. Aaron becomes completely obsessed with his task, risking life and limb in order to solve it.
I love how Malfi beautifully wove together the exploration of grief, the supernatural and a tense and brutal mystery. Yes, it's a legit mystery, which I had no idea when I started.
I had barely heard anything about this one. Malfi's name is what made me pick it up and I'm so happy that I did.
I will be shouting from the rooftops about this for a long time to come!! If you haven't picked this one up yet, you really, really should!
Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Titan Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read it early and provide my thoughts.
All the stars in the universe!!!
October 22, 2021
Come With Me by Ronald Malfi (narrated by Joe Hempel)
Aaron Decker's life has been shattered when his wife of five years is killed. The grief that racks Aaron after Allison's death is a solid and real thing. She haunts his sleeping and waking dreams, he sees her, hears her, feels her. His only way of moving and coping is to rely on the side of himself that he calls Other Aaron, the part of him that finishes his latest job translating a book. Other Aaron moves Aaron through life, answering questions, accepting sympathy, putting food in Aaron's mouth. Aaron's grief is almost like another character in this story.
Going through his wife's belongings, Aaron finds that Allison was living a completely hidden life for years, before and after he knew Allison. He feels betrayed by Allison and wonders if he ever really knew her. At the same time he feels compelled to continue on the path of whatever it was that Allison was following, always with Other Aaron, right there with him, helping (or is he hindering?) Aaron's attempt to discover what Allison was really doing in secret.
The story is dark and there is a hint of supernatural, dreams that seem real and reality that seems dreamlike. At the same time, the events seem so down to earth, like we could be right beside Aaron on his quest for information. He takes on Allison's obsession, follows her path, putting himself right in the line of fire of...what? Often Aaron walks right into very unwise situations as he wonders if one or another of the people he interviews could be the monster that he hopes to find at the end of his journey. There is a very real sense of foreboding, danger, darkness, fog, dreams, visions, and possible coincidences that merge together so that we can't tell what is real and what is something else. All through the story, Aaron thinks back to things that Allison told him, things she really couldn't have known but now seem prophetic.
Once again I was listening to a book that I had a hard time putting down. I almost felt like I was in an interactive story as Aaron questioned people and I'd want him to ask something and he'd ask it. Creepy!!! Be sure to read/listen to the author's notes at the end of the story.
Publication: July 20th 2021
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
Aaron Decker's life has been shattered when his wife of five years is killed. The grief that racks Aaron after Allison's death is a solid and real thing. She haunts his sleeping and waking dreams, he sees her, hears her, feels her. His only way of moving and coping is to rely on the side of himself that he calls Other Aaron, the part of him that finishes his latest job translating a book. Other Aaron moves Aaron through life, answering questions, accepting sympathy, putting food in Aaron's mouth. Aaron's grief is almost like another character in this story.
Going through his wife's belongings, Aaron finds that Allison was living a completely hidden life for years, before and after he knew Allison. He feels betrayed by Allison and wonders if he ever really knew her. At the same time he feels compelled to continue on the path of whatever it was that Allison was following, always with Other Aaron, right there with him, helping (or is he hindering?) Aaron's attempt to discover what Allison was really doing in secret.
The story is dark and there is a hint of supernatural, dreams that seem real and reality that seems dreamlike. At the same time, the events seem so down to earth, like we could be right beside Aaron on his quest for information. He takes on Allison's obsession, follows her path, putting himself right in the line of fire of...what? Often Aaron walks right into very unwise situations as he wonders if one or another of the people he interviews could be the monster that he hopes to find at the end of his journey. There is a very real sense of foreboding, danger, darkness, fog, dreams, visions, and possible coincidences that merge together so that we can't tell what is real and what is something else. All through the story, Aaron thinks back to things that Allison told him, things she really couldn't have known but now seem prophetic.
Once again I was listening to a book that I had a hard time putting down. I almost felt like I was in an interactive story as Aaron questioned people and I'd want him to ask something and he'd ask it. Creepy!!! Be sure to read/listen to the author's notes at the end of the story.
Publication: July 20th 2021
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 13, 2022
Second-best book I have read this year. Wow. I had to get use to the narrative, but after that it was amazing. I had no clue where the plot was going or how it all was going to fit together. Every time I thought I knew who did it, I was so wrong. I love authors who can spin a book so well and keep you guessing. The ending was sad. However, when I really thought about it, it was the only way I would have wanted it to end. Highly recommend!
😻😻😻😻😻
😻😻😻😻😻
July 25, 2021
A haunting and atmospheric mystery.
Aaron and Allison were happily married until she was shot to death one winter day. Now, as he does his best to pick up the pieces of his life, he has a hard time moving on. For one thing, he can feel her presence with him. He also finds a receipt for a motel stay in her name from two months prior to her death.
Initially thinking she was having an affair, Aaron realizes her secret was actually something darker. He digs deeper and soon finds himself on a journey that Allison herself took. He wants answers, but every step closer he gets to the truth is a step closer to danger.
First, I’d like to thank my fab GR friends for making me aware of Ronald Malfi’s novels. I had never heard of him before, but the reviews for this one really made me take notice.
This book oozes with atmosphere and apprehension. There were moments that were genuinely spine-tingling. Although there’s a supernatural element, I’d put this one in the mystery genre. The leads are fantastically fleshed out. Aaron’s grief is palpable, and I was consumed with following him on his journey of ghastly discovery and numerous revelations.
While I found the majority of the story compelling, I did think it dragged on a bit towards the end. I started forgetting who some of the side characters were because it took awhile to get to the denouement. I also didn’t LOVE the ending...but apparently I’m the only one with that issue.
Overall, this is a tense and gripping read, and I highly recommend it. It would also make a great film. The author’s note is moving and relevant, so please make sure you read that too. I look forward to digging into Malfi’s previous novels, and highly anticipate his next offering.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now available.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Aaron and Allison were happily married until she was shot to death one winter day. Now, as he does his best to pick up the pieces of his life, he has a hard time moving on. For one thing, he can feel her presence with him. He also finds a receipt for a motel stay in her name from two months prior to her death.
Initially thinking she was having an affair, Aaron realizes her secret was actually something darker. He digs deeper and soon finds himself on a journey that Allison herself took. He wants answers, but every step closer he gets to the truth is a step closer to danger.
First, I’d like to thank my fab GR friends for making me aware of Ronald Malfi’s novels. I had never heard of him before, but the reviews for this one really made me take notice.
This book oozes with atmosphere and apprehension. There were moments that were genuinely spine-tingling. Although there’s a supernatural element, I’d put this one in the mystery genre. The leads are fantastically fleshed out. Aaron’s grief is palpable, and I was consumed with following him on his journey of ghastly discovery and numerous revelations.
While I found the majority of the story compelling, I did think it dragged on a bit towards the end. I started forgetting who some of the side characters were because it took awhile to get to the denouement. I also didn’t LOVE the ending...but apparently I’m the only one with that issue.
Overall, this is a tense and gripping read, and I highly recommend it. It would also make a great film. The author’s note is moving and relevant, so please make sure you read that too. I look forward to digging into Malfi’s previous novels, and highly anticipate his next offering.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now available.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
July 21, 2021
COME WITH ME
Which word you emphasize can change the meaning of these three little words.
“COME WITH ME” Allison suggests to her husband Aaron, “we can get breakfast at ‘The Red Rooster’-a playful suggestion-a plea to join her? He had no idea when he turned her down that it would be the last morning he would see his wife alive.
COME WITH ME- Allison’s handprint could be seen on the inside of the car window as the sheen of fog across the windshield faded-beckoning Aaron to follow a trail she left behind with her unexpected death. A receipt, in the box of belongings packed up at work, showing a two night stay at the seedy Valentine motel, paid for in cash, starts his journey to uncover the secrets she left behind.
COME WITH ME-a command that had to be followed, one night in the past…..
I loved this ATMOSPHERIC mystery with its SUPERNATURAL vibes.
THINGS will happen which will make you wonder if Allison is indeed helping Aaron to discover her secrets, from her grave-if she will be unable to Rest In Peace until he does….
The ENDING made the hair on my arms stand up!
The AUTHOR’S NOTE brought a tear to my eye.
I don’t know how I have missed Ronald Malfi’s work in the past-I WON’T make the mistake of missing it any longer!!
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Thank you to Titan books for my gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Which word you emphasize can change the meaning of these three little words.
“COME WITH ME” Allison suggests to her husband Aaron, “we can get breakfast at ‘The Red Rooster’-a playful suggestion-a plea to join her? He had no idea when he turned her down that it would be the last morning he would see his wife alive.
COME WITH ME- Allison’s handprint could be seen on the inside of the car window as the sheen of fog across the windshield faded-beckoning Aaron to follow a trail she left behind with her unexpected death. A receipt, in the box of belongings packed up at work, showing a two night stay at the seedy Valentine motel, paid for in cash, starts his journey to uncover the secrets she left behind.
COME WITH ME-a command that had to be followed, one night in the past…..
I loved this ATMOSPHERIC mystery with its SUPERNATURAL vibes.
THINGS will happen which will make you wonder if Allison is indeed helping Aaron to discover her secrets, from her grave-if she will be unable to Rest In Peace until he does….
The ENDING made the hair on my arms stand up!
The AUTHOR’S NOTE brought a tear to my eye.
I don’t know how I have missed Ronald Malfi’s work in the past-I WON’T make the mistake of missing it any longer!!
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Thank you to Titan books for my gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
July 17, 2021
A dark obsession.
Allison kept some very dark secrets in her closet. Her husband, Aaron only thought he knew her. After she is tragically killed, he discovers what she has been hiding and he cannot let it go! Her cloak of deceit haunts him.
I could sense the tick, tick, of the cosmic clock as I turned the pages. The serial killer aspect made me uncomfortable and curious to find out more. In his quest to learn what his wife was up to, Aaron experiences haunting visions, visits seedy roadside motels, discovers her laptops search history has been deleted, half-dreams and hidden memories pop up.
The second person narration made the story even more affecting. I'm already excited to read more from this author.
An atmospheric, menacing story that kept me in suspense until the end.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. This one is OUT on July 20, 2021
Allison kept some very dark secrets in her closet. Her husband, Aaron only thought he knew her. After she is tragically killed, he discovers what she has been hiding and he cannot let it go! Her cloak of deceit haunts him.
I could sense the tick, tick, of the cosmic clock as I turned the pages. The serial killer aspect made me uncomfortable and curious to find out more. In his quest to learn what his wife was up to, Aaron experiences haunting visions, visits seedy roadside motels, discovers her laptops search history has been deleted, half-dreams and hidden memories pop up.
The second person narration made the story even more affecting. I'm already excited to read more from this author.
An atmospheric, menacing story that kept me in suspense until the end.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. This one is OUT on July 20, 2021
August 29, 2021
Allison’s last words to Aaron as she leaves for the day are “come with me”. It was the last time he saw his wife alive. Wracked with guilt and grief, while moving through his days in a fog, he talks to her in the first person and sees reminders of her everywhere he turns.
When Aaron finds clues among her possessions that suggests she had a life he knew nothing about, he finds a new purpose in life. What was Allison keeping from him? Aaron decides to follow the clues to find out. As he does, he uncovers surprising secrets that makes him wonder if he ever truly knew his wife.
I’m being deliberately vague, as the delight is thinking the story is going in one direction, only to have it veer off in another. For once, the Goodreads description involves no spoilers and you won’t get one from me.
Well-written, with excellent character development, I especially adored the way Aaron talks to Allison throughout the story (it sounds cheesy but it is not). This is a creepy, atmospheric tale, full of suspense and menace. There is a very slight hint of the supernatural, but it’s well done and grounded in reality. All in all, this was a very satisfying read that was fresh and unique.
*Don’t miss the heart wrenching author’s note at the end.
*The narrator of the audiobook, Joe Hempel, did a phenomenal job, nailing his character perfectly.
When Aaron finds clues among her possessions that suggests she had a life he knew nothing about, he finds a new purpose in life. What was Allison keeping from him? Aaron decides to follow the clues to find out. As he does, he uncovers surprising secrets that makes him wonder if he ever truly knew his wife.
I’m being deliberately vague, as the delight is thinking the story is going in one direction, only to have it veer off in another. For once, the Goodreads description involves no spoilers and you won’t get one from me.
Well-written, with excellent character development, I especially adored the way Aaron talks to Allison throughout the story (it sounds cheesy but it is not). This is a creepy, atmospheric tale, full of suspense and menace. There is a very slight hint of the supernatural, but it’s well done and grounded in reality. All in all, this was a very satisfying read that was fresh and unique.
*Don’t miss the heart wrenching author’s note at the end.
*The narrator of the audiobook, Joe Hempel, did a phenomenal job, nailing his character perfectly.
September 1, 2021
No Thanks, I’ll Stay Put.
Unpopular Opinion Alert.
After pursuing the many stellar reviews, I was really anticipating my library loan for this book. However, I didn’t have the same reading experience as many others unfortunately.
I had difficulty becoming invested and my only semi involvement lasted through the majority of the story. Maybe I read too many thrillers with unlikable characters, twisted humor and the like, but I prefer some juice and this seemed a little dry until near the end.
In addition, I wasn’t totally enthralled with an annoying pattern cropping up continually. When Aaron spoke to his deceased wife, it was with her name at the end of a sentence.
“Every marriage has its secrets. I understand this Allison.”
And a paragraph later:
“I began the process of understanding your secret, Allison, something like three months after your death.”
I found this ongoing style irritating because of reminiscent sales seminars where the audience is instructed to use the target person’s name during a pitch - as often as possible.
It sounded forced and was possibly the root of an unidentifiable artificialness I couldn’t shake. Similar to fake sugar leaving an aftertaste.
I did love the superb ending and the story as a whole but for the execution.
Because my tastes can be ‘off beat’, please check out the many five star reviews as extensive praise abounds for this talented author.
Thank you to my local library for my borrowed print copy.
Unpopular Opinion Alert.
After pursuing the many stellar reviews, I was really anticipating my library loan for this book. However, I didn’t have the same reading experience as many others unfortunately.
I had difficulty becoming invested and my only semi involvement lasted through the majority of the story. Maybe I read too many thrillers with unlikable characters, twisted humor and the like, but I prefer some juice and this seemed a little dry until near the end.
In addition, I wasn’t totally enthralled with an annoying pattern cropping up continually. When Aaron spoke to his deceased wife, it was with her name at the end of a sentence.
“Every marriage has its secrets. I understand this Allison.”
And a paragraph later:
“I began the process of understanding your secret, Allison, something like three months after your death.”
I found this ongoing style irritating because of reminiscent sales seminars where the audience is instructed to use the target person’s name during a pitch - as often as possible.
It sounded forced and was possibly the root of an unidentifiable artificialness I couldn’t shake. Similar to fake sugar leaving an aftertaste.
I did love the superb ending and the story as a whole but for the execution.
Because my tastes can be ‘off beat’, please check out the many five star reviews as extensive praise abounds for this talented author.
Thank you to my local library for my borrowed print copy.
June 1, 2025
Come with Me is the newest book by Ronald Malfi and it was fantastic!
If you haven’t heard of this author, you should check out his books. He’s mainly known in the horror genre, but most of his books have a mystery/thriller feel as well.
His writing is great!
It’s descriptive, haunting, and very atmospheric. It’s not gory but dark, and certainly pulls you into the tragedy.
Come with Me is about Aaron Decker. His wife Allison has just been killed in a tragic event and he soon learns a dark secret about his late wife.
The book is written in second person as he talks to his wife throughout the book. It's a really cool way to write a book because it makes his grief feel more tragic and personal.
You get invested in their relationship and Aaron’s grief about Allison. You also start wondering about Allison and the dark, double life she led in secret.
As all the pieces of the mystery become unhidden, you're into this book!
It’s hard to put down and I read this in 4 days.
I really don’t want to say more about the plot because the less you know, the better!
You’ll enjoy the mystery and wild ride that Aaron goes through as he uncovers the hidden secrets of Allison, and her life before him.
This is solid read and a well written book that has a dark feel to the plot, along with creepy moments that get under your skin!
If you haven’t heard of this author, you should check out his books. He’s mainly known in the horror genre, but most of his books have a mystery/thriller feel as well.
His writing is great!
It’s descriptive, haunting, and very atmospheric. It’s not gory but dark, and certainly pulls you into the tragedy.
Come with Me is about Aaron Decker. His wife Allison has just been killed in a tragic event and he soon learns a dark secret about his late wife.
The book is written in second person as he talks to his wife throughout the book. It's a really cool way to write a book because it makes his grief feel more tragic and personal.
You get invested in their relationship and Aaron’s grief about Allison. You also start wondering about Allison and the dark, double life she led in secret.
As all the pieces of the mystery become unhidden, you're into this book!
It’s hard to put down and I read this in 4 days.
I really don’t want to say more about the plot because the less you know, the better!
You’ll enjoy the mystery and wild ride that Aaron goes through as he uncovers the hidden secrets of Allison, and her life before him.
This is solid read and a well written book that has a dark feel to the plot, along with creepy moments that get under your skin!
August 25, 2021
COME WITH ME by Ronald Malfi has everything I hope for in a book…emotionally impactful, page-turning, complex, thrilling, scary/tension-filled, well crafted, atmospheric, and satisfying.
MY TEASE…
Aaron Decker’s wife wrote a column for a neighborhood paper called Allison’s A-List which highlighted local teens and their accomplishments. Nothing hard hitting, just feel good stories about young people doing good things.
Ironically, kids from Allison’s childhood town wouldn’t have made the cut for her positive newspaper articles, including Allison herself. Apparently, doing good things wasn’t commonplace in the smoky refinery town called Woodvine, Pennsylvania, where even fresh snow was greyed with soot. Maybe the shroud of despair was fueled by the town’s urban legend: Gas Head Will Make You Dead. No wonder Aaron’s wife had rarely talked about her years growing up in Woodvine. Anyway, her family was dead. In fact, dying was the only thing the residents of Woodvine seemed to do well.
Aaron and Allison had enjoyed five years of marriage in Maryland. But it all came to a tragic end one December morning when Allison left to go shopping at a strip mall and a crazed gunman opened fire, killing his ex-girlfriend and three random people, including Allison Decker.
After his wife’s death, Aaron soon learned he had never really known Allison as well as he thought.
First clue? He discovered his wife had padlocked her hope chest. Oh Allison. What kind of secrets have you been keeping in the files stuffed within your hope chest?
Now Aaron had some questions of his own. Where would those secrets lead him? And at what cost?
THOUGHTS…
WOW. I was thoroughly engaged in this story which was an eclectic mix of mystery and suspense, complemented by the haunting tension of restless spirits and the vividness of light horror. And of course, a story of grief. COME WITH ME is one of my favorite reads for 2021 and will be shelved within my top tier of all-time favorites. It was THAT good!
The story was written in third person from Aaron’s point of view, with emotionally gripping insertions of second person when he speaks directly to his wife. I found this combination so fresh, feeling about as close to Aaron’s intimate thoughts as I could get. This approach really worked for me!
The writing was excellent. Here are two samples:
“Directly overhead, the moon was a fat pearl wreathed in smoky black clouds.”
And then…
“Bits of gravel and sand slid out from beneath my shoes and bustled in compact little avalanches down the slope.”
If I was looking hard for some criticism, I would say that sometimes parts of the book could’ve been trimmed back (and would’ve been just as powerful). And every now and then, believability slipped. Even still, I loved this book so much!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5
Main character’s likability: 5
Development of supporting character(s): 5
Settings/Atmosphere: 5
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5
Believability (in the context of the story): 4
Satisfying ending: 5
Tension of the story: 5
Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A
Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No
Cover: 5
OVERALL:
COME WITH ME was an enthralling, 5-star read that refused to let me go.
MY TEASE…
Aaron Decker’s wife wrote a column for a neighborhood paper called Allison’s A-List which highlighted local teens and their accomplishments. Nothing hard hitting, just feel good stories about young people doing good things.
Ironically, kids from Allison’s childhood town wouldn’t have made the cut for her positive newspaper articles, including Allison herself. Apparently, doing good things wasn’t commonplace in the smoky refinery town called Woodvine, Pennsylvania, where even fresh snow was greyed with soot. Maybe the shroud of despair was fueled by the town’s urban legend: Gas Head Will Make You Dead. No wonder Aaron’s wife had rarely talked about her years growing up in Woodvine. Anyway, her family was dead. In fact, dying was the only thing the residents of Woodvine seemed to do well.
Aaron and Allison had enjoyed five years of marriage in Maryland. But it all came to a tragic end one December morning when Allison left to go shopping at a strip mall and a crazed gunman opened fire, killing his ex-girlfriend and three random people, including Allison Decker.
After his wife’s death, Aaron soon learned he had never really known Allison as well as he thought.
First clue? He discovered his wife had padlocked her hope chest. Oh Allison. What kind of secrets have you been keeping in the files stuffed within your hope chest?
Now Aaron had some questions of his own. Where would those secrets lead him? And at what cost?
THOUGHTS…
WOW. I was thoroughly engaged in this story which was an eclectic mix of mystery and suspense, complemented by the haunting tension of restless spirits and the vividness of light horror. And of course, a story of grief. COME WITH ME is one of my favorite reads for 2021 and will be shelved within my top tier of all-time favorites. It was THAT good!
The story was written in third person from Aaron’s point of view, with emotionally gripping insertions of second person when he speaks directly to his wife. I found this combination so fresh, feeling about as close to Aaron’s intimate thoughts as I could get. This approach really worked for me!
The writing was excellent. Here are two samples:
“Directly overhead, the moon was a fat pearl wreathed in smoky black clouds.”
And then…
“Bits of gravel and sand slid out from beneath my shoes and bustled in compact little avalanches down the slope.”
If I was looking hard for some criticism, I would say that sometimes parts of the book could’ve been trimmed back (and would’ve been just as powerful). And every now and then, believability slipped. Even still, I loved this book so much!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5
Main character’s likability: 5
Development of supporting character(s): 5
Settings/Atmosphere: 5
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5
Believability (in the context of the story): 4
Satisfying ending: 5
Tension of the story: 5
Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A
Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No
Cover: 5
OVERALL:
COME WITH ME was an enthralling, 5-star read that refused to let me go.
March 15, 2021
"I'm of the opinion that when it comes to secrets, there is no end to what we don't know about a person. Even the person who sleeps next to us and shares our lives."
Aaron Decker has just lost his wife, Allison, to a tragic shooting. Soon after he receives a package in the mail containing his wife's work belongings. Riddled with grief he decides to unpack Allison's things when he discovers a motel receipt from North Carolina among the items. Her name signed to the receipt. What was his wife doing in North Carolina? After backtracking a bit he discovers that this was the same weekend when he was in New York on business.
Curiosity piqued he decides to investigate what his wife had been up to before she died and he realizes that his wife may not have been the woman he thought she was at all.
Super vague plot description, I know, and without a synopsis on Goodreads you will just have to go in blind.
Another winner for Malfi. This doesn't have the dread inducing creep factor of his previous novel Bone White. I'm not even certain that I would classify this one as the horror genre. It's much more of a mystery with winks and nods to the supernatural. One thing that remains evident in Malfi's work: THE DUDE CAN WRITE!!! Having now read 8 books by him and he still continually impresses me. If you prefer your horror books to be more literary rather than guts and gore then you should look no further. I recommend all of his books all of the time and Come With Me is no exception. 4 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for providing me with a DRC.
I! AM! SO! EXCITED!
Received the ARC of one of my most highly anticipated new releases and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity. *Happy dancing* 💃💃💃
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books!
Aaron Decker has just lost his wife, Allison, to a tragic shooting. Soon after he receives a package in the mail containing his wife's work belongings. Riddled with grief he decides to unpack Allison's things when he discovers a motel receipt from North Carolina among the items. Her name signed to the receipt. What was his wife doing in North Carolina? After backtracking a bit he discovers that this was the same weekend when he was in New York on business.
Curiosity piqued he decides to investigate what his wife had been up to before she died and he realizes that his wife may not have been the woman he thought she was at all.
Super vague plot description, I know, and without a synopsis on Goodreads you will just have to go in blind.
Another winner for Malfi. This doesn't have the dread inducing creep factor of his previous novel Bone White. I'm not even certain that I would classify this one as the horror genre. It's much more of a mystery with winks and nods to the supernatural. One thing that remains evident in Malfi's work: THE DUDE CAN WRITE!!! Having now read 8 books by him and he still continually impresses me. If you prefer your horror books to be more literary rather than guts and gore then you should look no further. I recommend all of his books all of the time and Come With Me is no exception. 4 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for providing me with a DRC.
I! AM! SO! EXCITED!
Received the ARC of one of my most highly anticipated new releases and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity. *Happy dancing* 💃💃💃
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books!
August 30, 2021
Come With Me by Ronald Malfi is a perfectly paced, page-turning, supernatural thriller that immediately draws the reader into an intimate shared space with the narrator of the story, Aaron Decker.
Aaron’s wife, Allison invites her husband to come with her on an errand and he turns her down. Later that day, she is a victim of a mass shooting at a mall. Stricken with grief and the overwhelming loss he has suffered, Aaron finds comfort in immersing himself in memories the couple shared over the course of the marriage. Going through mementos and belongings, Aaron makes a startling discovery that uncovers a secret investigation Allison was involved in that would be outside her job description as a small-town journalist writing lifestyle articles.
This book had me in an unrelenting grip of burning curiosity. The pages fly as the story conjures up scenes of marital intimacy as Aaron embarks on this journey of following in his wife’s footsteps. Where will this trail take him? Who will he meet? What was she investigating and why was it so important to her? I have to draw from my experience watching Mare of Easttown with my husband. A small-town, murder mystery where everyone seems so connected, and all the answers are just out of reach or evolve into new questions. Each episode ending on a new note of discovery enticing the audience to keep going. Come With Me engages the reader in the same way. Malfi’s compelling writing style sparks an insatiable hunger lasting until it is finally satisfied.
One of my favorite books so far this year and I hope this story gets an adaptation either in a series or a movie because it felt so cinematic to me--like how I felt reading Gone Girl or Mystic River. This could be Malfi’s best work, which is saying a lot because both December Park and Bone White are five-star favorites. Don’t sleep on this one!
Aaron’s wife, Allison invites her husband to come with her on an errand and he turns her down. Later that day, she is a victim of a mass shooting at a mall. Stricken with grief and the overwhelming loss he has suffered, Aaron finds comfort in immersing himself in memories the couple shared over the course of the marriage. Going through mementos and belongings, Aaron makes a startling discovery that uncovers a secret investigation Allison was involved in that would be outside her job description as a small-town journalist writing lifestyle articles.
This book had me in an unrelenting grip of burning curiosity. The pages fly as the story conjures up scenes of marital intimacy as Aaron embarks on this journey of following in his wife’s footsteps. Where will this trail take him? Who will he meet? What was she investigating and why was it so important to her? I have to draw from my experience watching Mare of Easttown with my husband. A small-town, murder mystery where everyone seems so connected, and all the answers are just out of reach or evolve into new questions. Each episode ending on a new note of discovery enticing the audience to keep going. Come With Me engages the reader in the same way. Malfi’s compelling writing style sparks an insatiable hunger lasting until it is finally satisfied.
One of my favorite books so far this year and I hope this story gets an adaptation either in a series or a movie because it felt so cinematic to me--like how I felt reading Gone Girl or Mystic River. This could be Malfi’s best work, which is saying a lot because both December Park and Bone White are five-star favorites. Don’t sleep on this one!
July 15, 2021
This was my first book by Ronald Malfi, but it most certainly won’t be my last.
Aaron Decker has just lost his wife Allison in an unimaginable tragedy. He’s wading through life shifting between grief and autopilot when he stumbles upon a clue that his wife was hiding something from him. As he ventures down into a rabbit hole trying to discover what Allison had been up to and why she had seemed so distant prior to her death, he realizes that not only was she keeping secrets from him about what she was up to, but perhaps about who she was fundamentally as a person.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Both the writing and character development are phenomenal. The story was fantastic, containing a mystery that was wonderfully twisty, and thank goodness, plausible* (so many mysteries and thrillers are not). I read a lot in the mystery and suspense genre and this struck me as an elevated version of that, and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to people regardless of what genre they enjoy.
*When I say plausible, I am referring to the general way events unfold. There are some supernatural and “ghost” elements here, and normally that isn’t my thing, but I felt it was really well done in this book. It was a creepy atmosphere that also was grounded enough in reality and “is this just a symptom of grief?” uncertainty that I feel fans of the paranormal and cynics alike will find they are enjoying themselves.
Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows I’m a notorious ending hater. Even for books I really enjoy, I often find myself unsatisfied with the conclusion. It’s a big deal when I like an ending, and let me just say this one left me in awe. I’d already decided this was going to be a 5 star for me, and now I wish I could give it more.
You can get your hands on this one July 20, 2021. And I highly recommend that you do.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan books for an advance copy of this book for review.
Aaron Decker has just lost his wife Allison in an unimaginable tragedy. He’s wading through life shifting between grief and autopilot when he stumbles upon a clue that his wife was hiding something from him. As he ventures down into a rabbit hole trying to discover what Allison had been up to and why she had seemed so distant prior to her death, he realizes that not only was she keeping secrets from him about what she was up to, but perhaps about who she was fundamentally as a person.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Both the writing and character development are phenomenal. The story was fantastic, containing a mystery that was wonderfully twisty, and thank goodness, plausible* (so many mysteries and thrillers are not). I read a lot in the mystery and suspense genre and this struck me as an elevated version of that, and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to people regardless of what genre they enjoy.
*When I say plausible, I am referring to the general way events unfold. There are some supernatural and “ghost” elements here, and normally that isn’t my thing, but I felt it was really well done in this book. It was a creepy atmosphere that also was grounded enough in reality and “is this just a symptom of grief?” uncertainty that I feel fans of the paranormal and cynics alike will find they are enjoying themselves.
Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows I’m a notorious ending hater. Even for books I really enjoy, I often find myself unsatisfied with the conclusion. It’s a big deal when I like an ending, and let me just say this one left me in awe. I’d already decided this was going to be a 5 star for me, and now I wish I could give it more.
You can get your hands on this one July 20, 2021. And I highly recommend that you do.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan books for an advance copy of this book for review.
July 14, 2021
Aaron Decker recently lost his wife in a senseless shopping mall shooting. Feeling a bit haunted by her, Aaron begins to go through Allison's things and discovers a hotel receipt. This receipt spurs anger, then curiosity as Aaron continues to find things Allison never told him about. Is Allison actually haunting Aaron, or is he haunting himself? You'll have to read this to find out!
Having to keep things intentionally vague is hard when it comes to this book. At first I wasn't crazy about it, to be honest. The protagonist is talking to his dead wife in his head the entire time. This leads to many long portions with no external dialogue whatsoever. Then things really started to heat up.
As Aaron continues to seek out more and more information about what Allison was up to prior to her death, more characters and dialogue come into play. Aaron is someone you can really root for, he cared for his wife, and his grief stricken mind is reaching out to her the entire time. Every woman deserves a man like Aaron, a man that TRULY loves them.
The pacing was generally good, (except for that rather slow start), but it picked up quite a lot towards the end. The denouement was surprising and had me at the edge of my seat. There were so many suspect characters, I had no chance of guessing the culprit. I love when that happens!
The narrator, Joe Hempel, did a marvelous job voicing Aaron. It must have been particularly difficult too, as we are living in Aaron's head for a good part of this novel. Aaron's grief and anxiety seemed to spill out of my phone's speaker and tear right into my heart.
I've long thought that Ronald Malfi was an under-rated author; he deserves to be more well-known. He's quietly turning out brilliant books and as for myself? I will line up to read them. I hope that you'll COME WITH ME and give this one a try!
Highly recommended!
*Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the download of this audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
Having to keep things intentionally vague is hard when it comes to this book. At first I wasn't crazy about it, to be honest. The protagonist is talking to his dead wife in his head the entire time. This leads to many long portions with no external dialogue whatsoever. Then things really started to heat up.
As Aaron continues to seek out more and more information about what Allison was up to prior to her death, more characters and dialogue come into play. Aaron is someone you can really root for, he cared for his wife, and his grief stricken mind is reaching out to her the entire time. Every woman deserves a man like Aaron, a man that TRULY loves them.
The pacing was generally good, (except for that rather slow start), but it picked up quite a lot towards the end. The denouement was surprising and had me at the edge of my seat. There were so many suspect characters, I had no chance of guessing the culprit. I love when that happens!
The narrator, Joe Hempel, did a marvelous job voicing Aaron. It must have been particularly difficult too, as we are living in Aaron's head for a good part of this novel. Aaron's grief and anxiety seemed to spill out of my phone's speaker and tear right into my heart.
I've long thought that Ronald Malfi was an under-rated author; he deserves to be more well-known. He's quietly turning out brilliant books and as for myself? I will line up to read them. I hope that you'll COME WITH ME and give this one a try!
Highly recommended!
*Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the download of this audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
February 26, 2022
UPDATE: $1.99 Kindle US 2/26/2022
4.5 Stars - He wrote a mystery/thriller
The writing was great. The story was great. The audio narration was great.
The authors note made me tear up!
Recommend to all mystery/thriller readers!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
4.5 Stars - He wrote a mystery/thriller
The writing was great. The story was great. The audio narration was great.
The authors note made me tear up!
Recommend to all mystery/thriller readers!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
December 28, 2021
Changed my rating from 4 to 5.
When I first read Come with Me I loved it, but I was let down because I wanted a horror novel and this felt much more like a mystery/thriller. Months later though, I still think about how much I enjoyed it. And I constantly recommend it.
Come with Me is memorable, beautiful, and well written. So, 4 stars really isn't the correct rating for me.
However, I still maintain it's not horror, and I think more horror lovers would rate it higher if they were expecting a well-written Malfi mystery with supernatural overtones.
When I first read Come with Me I loved it, but I was let down because I wanted a horror novel and this felt much more like a mystery/thriller. Months later though, I still think about how much I enjoyed it. And I constantly recommend it.
Come with Me is memorable, beautiful, and well written. So, 4 stars really isn't the correct rating for me.
However, I still maintain it's not horror, and I think more horror lovers would rate it higher if they were expecting a well-written Malfi mystery with supernatural overtones.
July 11, 2021
This was my second book by Mr Malfi and having enjoyed his other work, I had high expectations regarding this audiobook.
Aaron Decker, grieving after his wife, comes across some documentation of unsolved murders of teenage girls which span over a decade. Intrigued by this discovery Aaron decides to follow the links and embarks on a journey that uncovers the truth about his wife, and not only that.
I must admit that while listening I thought I had some clear ideas about Allison and the murders, however, I was wrong. I am still a little confused but it does not mean the book did not deliver. It held my attention and the hours I spent listening to Come With Me, narrated by Joe Hempel, were quite enjoyable.
*Many thanks to Ronald Malfi, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
Aaron Decker, grieving after his wife, comes across some documentation of unsolved murders of teenage girls which span over a decade. Intrigued by this discovery Aaron decides to follow the links and embarks on a journey that uncovers the truth about his wife, and not only that.
I must admit that while listening I thought I had some clear ideas about Allison and the murders, however, I was wrong. I am still a little confused but it does not mean the book did not deliver. It held my attention and the hours I spent listening to Come With Me, narrated by Joe Hempel, were quite enjoyable.
*Many thanks to Ronald Malfi, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
January 21, 2022
Well this is the best book I've read in a long time, I absolutely loved it!
It's superbly written, engaging, fast-paced and the characters were excellent.
There was supernatural vibes throughout and it was very atmospheric.
This is my first time reading something written by Ronald Malfi and it certainly won’t be my last!
It's superbly written, engaging, fast-paced and the characters were excellent.
There was supernatural vibes throughout and it was very atmospheric.
This is my first time reading something written by Ronald Malfi and it certainly won’t be my last!
December 26, 2021
Make no mistake about it, “Come with Me” by Ronald Malfi is a genuine page-turner and an overall very strong book. The characters, eerie settings, paranormal situations, and overall buildup of this novel were all excellent. I genuinely cared for each character as this was not only a horror story but one that flirts with mystery and suspense as well.
Once everything comes together towards the final few chapters, the anticipation of how this would all end made me beyond anxious since I had no idea what would transpire. After the final reveal at the end, it was a bit underwhelming. That’s the only thing I didn’t like as I was expecting a bit more or even a final twist after going on such an adventure.
If this had a better ending, I would have definitely given this a perfect 5 Star rating. It doesn’t take too much away from the book as a whole as I’m sure over avid readers probably felt it ended well and was satisfying. It just didn’t do it for me but besides that, bonus points to the author for all the 80s music references throughout this novel. Being an 80s child, it added a nice layer of immersion which is always a great thing.
Overall, “Come with Me” by Ronald Malfi gets a 4/5 as I loved the writing style which gave this novel an extremely unique way to tell a riveting story. It could have had a better ending but either way, this is definitely a book I’d recommend for anyone looking to read a horror mystery that will undoubtedly have you guessing until the very end.
Once everything comes together towards the final few chapters, the anticipation of how this would all end made me beyond anxious since I had no idea what would transpire. After the final reveal at the end, it was a bit underwhelming. That’s the only thing I didn’t like as I was expecting a bit more or even a final twist after going on such an adventure.
If this had a better ending, I would have definitely given this a perfect 5 Star rating. It doesn’t take too much away from the book as a whole as I’m sure over avid readers probably felt it ended well and was satisfying. It just didn’t do it for me but besides that, bonus points to the author for all the 80s music references throughout this novel. Being an 80s child, it added a nice layer of immersion which is always a great thing.
Overall, “Come with Me” by Ronald Malfi gets a 4/5 as I loved the writing style which gave this novel an extremely unique way to tell a riveting story. It could have had a better ending but either way, this is definitely a book I’d recommend for anyone looking to read a horror mystery that will undoubtedly have you guessing until the very end.
October 13, 2021
I guess I just don’t get the hype with this one. It also felt way more like a mystery to me than a horror. I don’t think I’d consider this horror.
Reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/ZuJK4T4tkRQ
Reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/ZuJK4T4tkRQ
August 29, 2021
4.0 Stars
This is a beautiful story of marital love and grief blended into a compelling mystery
Malfi is an incredible storyteller and his latest novel once again demonstrates his ability to tell an immersive narrative. In terms of writing, this one might be his best work yet. The prose was lovely and haunting.
The character development was equally strong. I felt deeply connected to the main character, sharing in his grief. This book certainly packs an emotional punch.
Malfi is better known for his horror stories, but this one better fits the label of a slow burning mystery. The story touches on dark obsessions without becoming gruesome or grisly.
December Park remains my personal favourite, but from a more objective perspective, this one is arguably his best. Come Wit Me is a fantastic place to start for readers new to Malfi's books.
Needless to stay, I would highly recommend this emotional novel to fans of dark fiction.
Disclaimer I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher, Titan Books.
This is a beautiful story of marital love and grief blended into a compelling mystery
Malfi is an incredible storyteller and his latest novel once again demonstrates his ability to tell an immersive narrative. In terms of writing, this one might be his best work yet. The prose was lovely and haunting.
The character development was equally strong. I felt deeply connected to the main character, sharing in his grief. This book certainly packs an emotional punch.
Malfi is better known for his horror stories, but this one better fits the label of a slow burning mystery. The story touches on dark obsessions without becoming gruesome or grisly.
December Park remains my personal favourite, but from a more objective perspective, this one is arguably his best. Come Wit Me is a fantastic place to start for readers new to Malfi's books.
Needless to stay, I would highly recommend this emotional novel to fans of dark fiction.
Disclaimer I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher, Titan Books.
November 29, 2025
“That’s what grief does. It robs us of a part of ourselves, leaving a crater of madness and irrationality in its place.”
My first Ronald Malfi novel. Well, it was horroresque, more of a haunting atmospheric mystery thriller sprinkled with supernatural vibes. It was a slow burn most of the way (sometimes bordering on draggy) with a huge emphasis on Aaron's grief over his dead wife and following clues she left behind, then it ends with a solid finish. I found it interesting that the story is told in first-person to quasi second-person, with Aaron addressing Allison directly as "you." This gave the book a more personal feel. It was also very touching how the author states his inspiration for writing Come with Me was from a personal tragedy: the murder of a friend in a mass shooting who was a newspaper reporter.
Now that I know Malfi's writing style, I look forward to another of his books when I am in the mood for a read like this.
My first Ronald Malfi novel. Well, it was horroresque, more of a haunting atmospheric mystery thriller sprinkled with supernatural vibes. It was a slow burn most of the way (sometimes bordering on draggy) with a huge emphasis on Aaron's grief over his dead wife and following clues she left behind, then it ends with a solid finish. I found it interesting that the story is told in first-person to quasi second-person, with Aaron addressing Allison directly as "you." This gave the book a more personal feel. It was also very touching how the author states his inspiration for writing Come with Me was from a personal tragedy: the murder of a friend in a mass shooting who was a newspaper reporter.
Now that I know Malfi's writing style, I look forward to another of his books when I am in the mood for a read like this.
November 25, 2021
Oh my, this gave me headaches!
I loved the eerie atmosphere and the supernatural elements. It kept me guessing, I thought I had an idea about what’s happening only to be proven wrong after every revelation. The story was full of red herrings, it really made me think— deeply. (That explains the headaches. Haha.)
It was a good book. I felt the heavy emotions and grief while I trail around with Aaron, searching for the truth. There were too many images and mysteries woven through vivid words by the author and I appreciated that.
Also, the author’s note broke my heart. So tragic.
I loved the eerie atmosphere and the supernatural elements. It kept me guessing, I thought I had an idea about what’s happening only to be proven wrong after every revelation. The story was full of red herrings, it really made me think— deeply. (That explains the headaches. Haha.)
It was a good book. I felt the heavy emotions and grief while I trail around with Aaron, searching for the truth. There were too many images and mysteries woven through vivid words by the author and I appreciated that.
Also, the author’s note broke my heart. So tragic.
July 16, 2021
Aaron Decker is grief stricken when his wife Allison is murdered in a mass shooting. Shortly after her death he finds something which makes little sense to him and he realises that you never really know a person, only what they choose to show you. His discovery becomes an obsession to learn more about what his journalist wife has secretly been working on for years before her death. His quest is to pursue the truth for himself and for her.
First of all, the way this is written is absolutely brilliant as it’s as if Aaron is talking throughout with Allison. This works so well as you follow the huge emotional rollercoaster mission which also examines the duality of personality in actions and in words. People, places and events are described so well that you get uneasy hints of creepiness, chills on the back of your neck and some images that are so powerful I feel as if they are burned into my brain! Boy, oh boy, this man can write. The storyline that emerges is very dark, there are ghostly, supernatural elements that infuse the shocking discoveries that Aaron makes and it feels like he’s trying to pin back a gas like fog to get to the elusive truth. This goes backwards and forwards so cleverly as we go on a car journey with Aaron to prove his wife’s theories correct. The ending is excellent and really clever as it dawns on you that’s exactly where all this has been heading.
Overall, the author has had me glued to my seat and his every word for several hours. I don’t think this is horror per se but it certainly has hints of the ghostly and the storyline is darkly gritty. It’s well worth reading the authors notes at the end to appreciate how this book came about and what he has produced is high quality writing.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. .
Thank you to Marilyn and Jen for putting this on my radar!
First of all, the way this is written is absolutely brilliant as it’s as if Aaron is talking throughout with Allison. This works so well as you follow the huge emotional rollercoaster mission which also examines the duality of personality in actions and in words. People, places and events are described so well that you get uneasy hints of creepiness, chills on the back of your neck and some images that are so powerful I feel as if they are burned into my brain! Boy, oh boy, this man can write. The storyline that emerges is very dark, there are ghostly, supernatural elements that infuse the shocking discoveries that Aaron makes and it feels like he’s trying to pin back a gas like fog to get to the elusive truth. This goes backwards and forwards so cleverly as we go on a car journey with Aaron to prove his wife’s theories correct. The ending is excellent and really clever as it dawns on you that’s exactly where all this has been heading.
Overall, the author has had me glued to my seat and his every word for several hours. I don’t think this is horror per se but it certainly has hints of the ghostly and the storyline is darkly gritty. It’s well worth reading the authors notes at the end to appreciate how this book came about and what he has produced is high quality writing.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. .
Thank you to Marilyn and Jen for putting this on my radar!
July 17, 2021
This is such a haunting and atmospheric thriller that I found myself holding my breath at times. Really well written with a direct way of telling the story to the reader, it has a horror vibe with a smidgeon of ghost story as well.
Aaron Decker and his wife Allison were very much in love when she was tragically killed in a shopping mall shooting. Going through her belongings after the police returned them to him, he found a receipt for a two day stay in a motel some 300 miles away. Aaron had been away on business at the time but Allison hadn't mentioned going anywhere. Although he thought he knew everything about his wife, Aaron soon discovered she had dark secrets she had been keeping from him and feels compelled to follow her tracks to solve the mystery. What he finds not only astonishes him but puts him into danger.
It's a dark story, very creepy and brooding. Aaron's profound grief has him imaging Allison is still around and he can't rest until he's found out what was haunting her. A stunning thriller, brilliantly written. I'll definitely be checking out more of Malfi's novels.
With thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for a copy to read
Aaron Decker and his wife Allison were very much in love when she was tragically killed in a shopping mall shooting. Going through her belongings after the police returned them to him, he found a receipt for a two day stay in a motel some 300 miles away. Aaron had been away on business at the time but Allison hadn't mentioned going anywhere. Although he thought he knew everything about his wife, Aaron soon discovered she had dark secrets she had been keeping from him and feels compelled to follow her tracks to solve the mystery. What he finds not only astonishes him but puts him into danger.
It's a dark story, very creepy and brooding. Aaron's profound grief has him imaging Allison is still around and he can't rest until he's found out what was haunting her. A stunning thriller, brilliantly written. I'll definitely be checking out more of Malfi's novels.
With thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for a copy to read
July 21, 2021
This book was, quite simply, stunning! It was a love story, a ghost story, a mystery, a whodunit and a thriller. Aaron Decker’s life falls apart when he loses his wife of five years, Allison, in a shooting incident at a local mall. His grief knows no bounds. He hears Allison, he sees her, he talks to her and it seems like she is still there with him as his town house lights and music system seem to have a mind of their own. He sees her ghostly hand print on the windscreen of their car. He can only get through the days by relying on ‘other-Aaron’ an alter ego that does his work and ensures he eats. Other Aaron seems to operate effectively without much input from Aaron.
One day a parcel arrives for Allison, when Aaron finally gets to open it he finds, among all her work things, a receipt for a two night stay at the Valentine Motel in another state. Aaron is confused, he doesn’t remember her being away. Aaron goes through the rest of Allison’s things. She keeps some mementos in a hope chest at the bottom of her wardrobe. Under the Christmas gifts she had already wrapped for him he finds….a gun. Wow! And right at the bottom, a folder containing details of crimes Allison had been secretly investigating for years. It seems there is a lot he didn’t know about Allison.
Aaron feels compelled to follow in Allison’s investigative footsteps and so begins his odyssey across the eastern states. It makes him feel closer to Allison to walk where she walked, to speak to the people she spoke to and slowly he pieces together a rather horrific story that had its roots in Allison’s very own childhood. I don’t normally like paranormal elements in books but it was done with such a very light touch here it just felt right.
It hard for me to do this book justice in my review but this one really gave me the all ‘the feels’. Aaron was such a well done character. He felt so real. The sense of creeping menace got more and more pervasive as the book progressed. It wasn’t creepy per se but very unsettling, or haunting - in a good way. It had a sort of otherworldly quality about it which I find very rare in books. The supporting cast all played their parts to perfection. It almost felt like I was there, walking alongside these characters. The ending was perfect. I really loved this book! Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Ronald Malfi for providing a free copy of the book that I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
One day a parcel arrives for Allison, when Aaron finally gets to open it he finds, among all her work things, a receipt for a two night stay at the Valentine Motel in another state. Aaron is confused, he doesn’t remember her being away. Aaron goes through the rest of Allison’s things. She keeps some mementos in a hope chest at the bottom of her wardrobe. Under the Christmas gifts she had already wrapped for him he finds….a gun. Wow! And right at the bottom, a folder containing details of crimes Allison had been secretly investigating for years. It seems there is a lot he didn’t know about Allison.
Aaron feels compelled to follow in Allison’s investigative footsteps and so begins his odyssey across the eastern states. It makes him feel closer to Allison to walk where she walked, to speak to the people she spoke to and slowly he pieces together a rather horrific story that had its roots in Allison’s very own childhood. I don’t normally like paranormal elements in books but it was done with such a very light touch here it just felt right.
It hard for me to do this book justice in my review but this one really gave me the all ‘the feels’. Aaron was such a well done character. He felt so real. The sense of creeping menace got more and more pervasive as the book progressed. It wasn’t creepy per se but very unsettling, or haunting - in a good way. It had a sort of otherworldly quality about it which I find very rare in books. The supporting cast all played their parts to perfection. It almost felt like I was there, walking alongside these characters. The ending was perfect. I really loved this book! Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Ronald Malfi for providing a free copy of the book that I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
October 27, 2022
A must read! So I have had two five star ratings in a row and this is the third. I will likely jinx myself but what a splendid little roll. I don’t like giving much more info than a book jacket reveals but the jacket in relation to this book says very little. In a way that’s awesome as it lets us discover everything for ourselves. At the end of the book the author’s notes reveals how he came up with the idea for this book and it is born out of a passion and compassion for a lost friend. One who suffered death in what is kind of a uniquely American way to die - though what happens does happen in other countries it nowhere near happens as often as it does in the States. Geez I wonder what that could be - I don't consider it a spoiler as it has little to do with the plot though Malfi does touch on the subject.
So Aaron Decker loses his wife Allsion. She had invited him to tag along that morning, hence the title Come with Me, but Aaron chose to stay in bed. 8am is a little early to start one’s day and personally I can so identify with that. I hate doing anything of importance prior to tenish. Not going with Allison though changes everything. It’s easy to second guess yourself isn’t it? Like have you ever been in an accident or have something bad happen and you just say to yourself man if I had left a few minutes earlier or a few minutes later this would have never happened – things like that play with us and not going with Allison plays with Aaron’s mind.
After Allison’s death Aaron starts to discover some things about his late wife. Allison was a reporter who wrote small time articles championing women in a small time paper. Yet what she appeared to be secretly working on was very substantial and dealt with hunting down a serial killer. As Aaron learns more and more it appears Allison was very close to finding this killer. Aaron picks up where his wife left off and from his investigation he learns that Allison had a reason for stalking the killer and a side of Allison shows itself to Aaron in a way he didn’t think was possible. There are moments when he thinks of her as a monster, someone who may have even killed someone she used to love very much.
As Aaron picks up the pieces and the clues with regard to the serial killer the book leads you in certain directions but Malfi doesn’t make it easy for us. It is a challenging mystery and intertwined with it in a perfect way is how we as individuals deal with death and the imagined or possibly spiritual link we have to our deceased love ones. Malfi does not go crazy with this aspect. There are references and a few paragraph stories within a story that really make you think and I think that I agree with a lot of what Malfi says. I assume Malfi’s ideas are his own as there is no mention of this aspect with regard to the novel in his acknowledgements but to me his ideas are excellent. Again it’s a very brief outlook with regard to this type of thinking and I can say that out of nearly 400 pages there is not much more than ten pages total with regard to this aspect and ten pages may be too high a number.
This book is not graphic, it is a read that I think anyone can handle and it is just so damn good and well written. I have read quite a few of Malfi’s books and they are great. At the beginning of this one there are a few well know author’s claiming it is his best. Again I think back to his notes and his explanation of how this book started – the why of how it came to be and I agree with these authors, it is out of the compassion that this book started that the roots were so well grounded and the story so well done. In a way this story is a tribute to someone important to Malfi. It is the best book I have read in a while and coming off of two five star ratings in a row in relation to what I’ve just read it too merits five starts. ENJOY it – I can almost guarantee you will!
So Aaron Decker loses his wife Allsion. She had invited him to tag along that morning, hence the title Come with Me, but Aaron chose to stay in bed. 8am is a little early to start one’s day and personally I can so identify with that. I hate doing anything of importance prior to tenish. Not going with Allison though changes everything. It’s easy to second guess yourself isn’t it? Like have you ever been in an accident or have something bad happen and you just say to yourself man if I had left a few minutes earlier or a few minutes later this would have never happened – things like that play with us and not going with Allison plays with Aaron’s mind.
After Allison’s death Aaron starts to discover some things about his late wife. Allison was a reporter who wrote small time articles championing women in a small time paper. Yet what she appeared to be secretly working on was very substantial and dealt with hunting down a serial killer. As Aaron learns more and more it appears Allison was very close to finding this killer. Aaron picks up where his wife left off and from his investigation he learns that Allison had a reason for stalking the killer and a side of Allison shows itself to Aaron in a way he didn’t think was possible. There are moments when he thinks of her as a monster, someone who may have even killed someone she used to love very much.
As Aaron picks up the pieces and the clues with regard to the serial killer the book leads you in certain directions but Malfi doesn’t make it easy for us. It is a challenging mystery and intertwined with it in a perfect way is how we as individuals deal with death and the imagined or possibly spiritual link we have to our deceased love ones. Malfi does not go crazy with this aspect. There are references and a few paragraph stories within a story that really make you think and I think that I agree with a lot of what Malfi says. I assume Malfi’s ideas are his own as there is no mention of this aspect with regard to the novel in his acknowledgements but to me his ideas are excellent. Again it’s a very brief outlook with regard to this type of thinking and I can say that out of nearly 400 pages there is not much more than ten pages total with regard to this aspect and ten pages may be too high a number.
This book is not graphic, it is a read that I think anyone can handle and it is just so damn good and well written. I have read quite a few of Malfi’s books and they are great. At the beginning of this one there are a few well know author’s claiming it is his best. Again I think back to his notes and his explanation of how this book started – the why of how it came to be and I agree with these authors, it is out of the compassion that this book started that the roots were so well grounded and the story so well done. In a way this story is a tribute to someone important to Malfi. It is the best book I have read in a while and coming off of two five star ratings in a row in relation to what I’ve just read it too merits five starts. ENJOY it – I can almost guarantee you will!
February 5, 2025
Every Marriage has its Secrets...
COME WITH ME
by Ronald Malfi
No spoilers. 4 stars. I would classify this novel as a crime mystery. I wavered between 3 1/2 and 4 stars, finally settling at 4 stars...
Every marriage has its secrets, but after his wife Allison's death, Aaron learns that there is no end to what we don't know about our spouse...
3 months after Allison's funeral, Aaron began the process of learning her secret, for it didn't reveal itself all at once...
The first clue was in a cardboard box left on their porch. Then he discovered that she had put a padlock on her hope chest sitting at the foot of their bed...
At some point, Allison had wiped her laptop's memory, and her purse contained Xanex, but even more puzzling was her cryptic message...
Gas Head will make you dead...
Aaron began to wonder who this girl he had married really was, and he made it his quest to find out exactly what she had been hiding and why...
This was a whodunit mystery with many clues. The first half of the novel was pretty slow going and repetitive. At about 50%, it picked up a little more, and at the last 20%, it was quite a page-turner, but the last 10% dragged on and on recapping everything except for the last surprise waiting at 97%.
This author drives me crazy using the word "campaign" in place of walk or trudge along. It just seems so glaringly out of place and unnecessary. He fixates on that word like Stephen King fixates on flatulence and cancer and uses both in every book he writes. It's time to dig out the 'ole thesaurus boys!
COME WITH ME
by Ronald Malfi
No spoilers. 4 stars. I would classify this novel as a crime mystery. I wavered between 3 1/2 and 4 stars, finally settling at 4 stars...
Every marriage has its secrets, but after his wife Allison's death, Aaron learns that there is no end to what we don't know about our spouse...
3 months after Allison's funeral, Aaron began the process of learning her secret, for it didn't reveal itself all at once...
The first clue was in a cardboard box left on their porch. Then he discovered that she had put a padlock on her hope chest sitting at the foot of their bed...
At some point, Allison had wiped her laptop's memory, and her purse contained Xanex, but even more puzzling was her cryptic message...
Gas Head will make you dead...
Aaron began to wonder who this girl he had married really was, and he made it his quest to find out exactly what she had been hiding and why...
This was a whodunit mystery with many clues. The first half of the novel was pretty slow going and repetitive. At about 50%, it picked up a little more, and at the last 20%, it was quite a page-turner, but the last 10% dragged on and on recapping everything except for the last surprise waiting at 97%.
This author drives me crazy using the word "campaign" in place of walk or trudge along. It just seems so glaringly out of place and unnecessary. He fixates on that word like Stephen King fixates on flatulence and cancer and uses both in every book he writes. It's time to dig out the 'ole thesaurus boys!
October 29, 2021
Gas Head will make you dead.
There’s really only one thing I can say about Come With Me . . . .
Wait, how did my kid’s gifs get mixed in here???
Really, though, Ronald Malfi is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine and this new release was October perfection. I’ve said before that the Average Joe becoming a sleuth doesn’t always work for me (unless it’s a cozy Hallmark movie type of mystery), but the story here of a widower attempting to find out what his wife had been doing in the weeks prior to her untimely death was an absolute winner.
Book translator Aaron was already reeling after losing his wife Allison, so when a UPS box arrives containing what was supposed to be the contents of Allison’s desk – but also included a receipt for a two night hotel stay in a random North Carolina town he had never been to – he’s baffled. Aaron’s brain goes to the immediate place a husband’s is wont to do – that Allison was having an affair. But those thoughts are quickly dismissed when he finds an accordion folder containing . . . . information (that's all you get - go read the book). Grief turns into a near obsession while Aaron tries to figure out exactly what Allison was trying to piece together in her final days.
I have zero complaints about this book. As I said above, it was perfection. The pacing, the plotting, the characters, the palpable grief, the big reveal, how the entire story was woven together so seemlessly – everything worked for me. I give this one all the Stars and my highest recommendation. I’m so happy Ronald Malfi has a backlist of books for me to wade through while I wait for what he comes up with next.
There’s really only one thing I can say about Come With Me . . . .
Wait, how did my kid’s gifs get mixed in here???
Really, though, Ronald Malfi is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine and this new release was October perfection. I’ve said before that the Average Joe becoming a sleuth doesn’t always work for me (unless it’s a cozy Hallmark movie type of mystery), but the story here of a widower attempting to find out what his wife had been doing in the weeks prior to her untimely death was an absolute winner.
Book translator Aaron was already reeling after losing his wife Allison, so when a UPS box arrives containing what was supposed to be the contents of Allison’s desk – but also included a receipt for a two night hotel stay in a random North Carolina town he had never been to – he’s baffled. Aaron’s brain goes to the immediate place a husband’s is wont to do – that Allison was having an affair. But those thoughts are quickly dismissed when he finds an accordion folder containing . . . . information (that's all you get - go read the book). Grief turns into a near obsession while Aaron tries to figure out exactly what Allison was trying to piece together in her final days.
I have zero complaints about this book. As I said above, it was perfection. The pacing, the plotting, the characters, the palpable grief, the big reveal, how the entire story was woven together so seemlessly – everything worked for me. I give this one all the Stars and my highest recommendation. I’m so happy Ronald Malfi has a backlist of books for me to wade through while I wait for what he comes up with next.
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