Black Mouth

by Ronald Malfi

For nearly two decades, Jamie Warren has been running from darkness. He's haunted by a traumatic childhood and the guilt at having disappeared from his disabled brother's life. But then a series of unusual events reunites him with his estranged brother and their childhood friends, and none of them can deny the sense of fate that has seemingly drawn them back together.

Nor can they deny the memories of that summer, so long ago—the strange magic taught to them by an even stranger man, and the terrible act that has followed them all into adulthood. In the light of new danger, they must confront their past by facing their futures, and hunting down a man who may very well be a monster.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Paranormal, Mystery, Supernatural

436 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2022

About the author

Ronald 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

Reviews

[LTJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Black Mouth” by Ronald Malfi started out pretty interesting as I was excited to see where it would take me. At first, the whole creepy villain of this novel really got me hooked at first as I immediately got some IT vibes but unfortunately, the direction of this character got lost in the shuffle.

Nothing remotely scary happens as this villain and the main characters are introduced and eventually developed. After 150+ pages in, I was waiting for something, anything really, to be horrific since, you know, this is supposed to be a horror novel.

I felt that at least the main villain needed more development to solidify why as a reader, I should be terrified of this character to the point where I can’t sleep at night. This villain just seemed so generic and lacked basic attributes to make him hated, feared, and memorable.

That’s what was really disappointing about this novel. This main villain isn’t sinister or crazy, but just creepy/weird. This character doesn’t do much of anything near the level of expectations, especially when the description of this novel says…

“Perfect for fans of Stephen King’s IT, a group of friends return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they first stumbled on as teenagers in this mesmerizing odyssey of terror.”

Odyssey of terror? All bark, no bite, unfortunately. The whole going back and forth between time, just as it is in IT isn’t anything new or groundbreaking but ended up being confusing, especially when new characters are introduced down the road. Not only was it just trying desperately to be like IT but it dragged on like you wouldn’t believe.

There is way too much repetitive dialogue here and not enough action or actual scary events or tension you should find in a horror novel. I felt like this novel could have been trimmed down to 150+ fewer pages to make it a tighter read without needing to repeat things over and over again. There are way too many useless chapters here that don’t add anything at all to the story. There is not enough horror to warrant a novel that’s 449 pages deep and just keeps dragging on and on and on where the majority is just reading about dialogue, theories between characters on events, and recapping those very same events. Common now.

This pales in comparison to IT as this just feels like an extremely watered-down version of a masterpiece with a villain that is nowhere near as frightening or impactful as Pennywise. Combine that with a boring bunch of kids and adults that I didn’t care at all for and you have a recipe for failure.

This just felt like a novel of young friends talking endlessly and trying to solve an overhyped mystery in their heads that nobody cares for. You know, trying desperately to make me, as a reader, get that engaged and invested. It just falls flat in the grand scheme of things where I was beyond bored since there is just so much fluff here.

Even the ending was a huge letdown, just a continuation of more endless, uninspired dialogue. No climactic ending or anything worth speaking about after such a long, dull read. The final chapter was another slogfest of, yep, you guessed it, more dialogue. It got to the point where I wish it would have just ended already, it’s that boring and uneventful.

I give “Black Mouth” by Ronald Malfi a 1/5 as it’s truly a shame. I really enjoyed his previous novel “Come with Me” which was a significantly better read and was shocked that this is the direction Malfi went in with his latest novel. It doesn’t deliver at all and I hope he bounces back in the future because I do think he’s a solid writer. This just didn’t do it at all for me and again, was surprised by how long and bad this was.

I just think if you’re comparing anything to a horror masterpiece like IT directly in the description of your novel, you better bring your A-game, and unfortunately, this is just a complete dud that I would not recommend to anyone. This is a slow, annoying read that I couldn’t wait to finish so I could finally move on to something better.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Warren left Sutton's Quay, West Virginia, as soon as he was old enough, unfortunately leaving his disabled brother, Dennis, behind.

Jamie was running from a lot of things, but no matter where he goes or how much time passes, the memories of his traumatic childhood continue to haunt him.



When he receives a call that his Mother has passed, he has mixed feelings. In spite of Jamie's complicated relationship with his Mom, he knows he has to go back.

The property will need to be dealt with. Dennis can't do it himself, so Black Mouth here he comes.



Upon returning to the family farmhouse, Jamie is shocked by the state of it. He can't believe that his brother and mother had been living in these conditions.

Additionally, his brother has been picked up by the police. Dennis had been walking along the highway, clearly distressed. Sadly, that's how they're reunited.



While all this is happening, states away, Jamie's best friends from childhood, Mia and Clay, are also experiencing things that are drawing their attention back to Black Mouth; the name of the area on the outskirts of Sutton's Quay where they all grew up.

The trio are pulled back into each other's lives like moths to a flame, and like many close friends, once they're back together it's like no time has passed at all.



Together with Dennis, the three begin to investigate a mysterious man who had a huge impact on their lives all those years ago.

A man who lived in the woods and showed them magical and disturbing things.



Through past and present perspectives you're drawn into an exceptionally twisted story with horrors great and small. Everything about this was mesmerizing to me. The writing is lush, the imagery is distinct and the atmosphere is intense.

Black Mouth took me for a ride and ultimately left me with tears in my eyes, wondering how long it would be before I read it again. It's that good.



I'm so glad I preordered a copy of this because I need it gracing my shelves. The story is incredibly detailed and I'm sure there are little things that I missed as I rushed towards the conclusion. It will be an absolute joy to revisit.

There are so many aspects that I loved about this book, but first and foremost would be the phenomenal quality of the storytelling. It's delicious.



As a King Constant Reader, I couldn't help but notice things that reminded me of some of my favorite King works. I don't know anything about Ronald Malfi, but just for me, I liked having all these little reminders of King's work.

I honestly don't know if any of it was intentional, like if it was a doffing of the cap, but I sort of hope it was. All the elements brought together was magic for my mind.



Without saying too much, it was in the details, like Dennis reminding me of Duddits, Mia's name, the carnival vibe, a group of outcast kids fighting evil, even some of the supernatural aspects reminding me of the Bill Hodges trilogy.

Please note, I am not saying this in a negative way. I hope I am explaining myself appropriately. I don't intend any shade toward Malfi by making these comparisons. I was beyond impressed by Come with Me, my favorite book of 2021, and over the moon excited about this one.



I highly, highly, highly recommend this story for fans of coming of age horror novels. This is absolutely exceptional.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Titan Books and Tantor Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This could potentially end up as my favorite book of 2022. It's certainly in the lead for now!



CW: Graphic animal harm to a dog. I would provide you with more details, but I skipped the entire end of the chapter after I gleaned what was coming. I believe it was somewhere around chapter 4, but that could be totally wrong. I am going from memory after listening to the audiobook.

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog

Once again another new to me author and boy am I ever late to the party. Better late than never, right? This is a disturbing read where children are the killers and a man they call The Magician is responsible for putting the kids up to it. Malfi wrote the thoughts and feelings of the children in such a realistic way that I had goosebumps. The way he wrote differently abled Dennis was just magnificent. I especially loved how he gave us a clear background of each of the main characters as children.

These poor messed up kids were so vulnerable and The Magician knew it and he used it against them to his advantage. What's scarier than that? This story was so atmospheric and downright sinister. This is a slow burn of a book but in a really good way that makes you want to continue reading to find out what happens next.

Many have said this is reminiscent of Stephen King's IT but Malfi makes it his own in so many ways. Yes, it's a group of kids that meet up again as adults to fight the evil from their younger years...but the similarities end there.

There are many heavy topics in this one...suicide, addiction, animal cruelty, bullying, partner and child abuse. And as these kids are coming of age they have to deal with it all. The ending was extremely satisfying. Our main characters are far from perfect but I still liked them and cheered them on as they stood up for each other had had each other's backs. If you like coming-of-age stories that have a bit of historical background with lots of horror thrown in I highly recommend this one.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Ronald Malfi. I have Come with Me on my TBR so when I saw Black Mouth on NG, I certainly didn't want to miss it.

1998 Suttons Quay, West Virginia. Eleven-year-old Jamie woke up from a bad dream seeing his brother Dennis staring out the window. Outside in the storm, he saw a flickering light inside their huge barn across the fields. His mother's asleep and his dad's not home, why was the light on? Jamie decides to go out and have a look. Dun Dun Dun...

Inside the barn was a homeless-looking man with an eye patch who said he'll be on his way if Jamie can give him some food and drink. He showed Jamie a card trick. Later that summer Jamie met the mysterious man again, this time while with his friends in the woods.

"Do you want to see a magic trick?"

C'mon I haven't seen any kids who don't want to see a magic trick. I--- want to see a magic trick!

Everyone in this town appears to carry some kind of pain. Told by Jamie in present-day alternating with flashbacks from twenty years ago, readers learn how The Magician befriend children and manipulates the innocent.

This is a dark and gritty kind of horror with all sorts of triggers that may be sensitive to some readers. I wouldn't say this is scary but it is somewhat creepy while the abandoned mine gives me the chills. Overall, a balanced book with complex characters and an engaging plot. Highly satisfying!

I enjoy the audiobook with Joe Hempel. I'm excited that he is also the narrator of "Come with Me" which I'll definitely be listening to.

Thank you Tantor Audio and Netgalley for this DRC.

[Misty Marie Harms · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this release. I read a few of his other books and I loved them. This one, however, I didn't enjoy that much. Seventy percent of the book is the main character getting drunk, puking, and being an asshole in general. The last thirty percent was where it really got interesting, but then it fell flat. I know you can do better, Malfi. This was a hot mess.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jamie Warren was 11 years old he experiences something so traumatizing that it follows him for years to come. The only solace he can find, if one can call it that, is at the bottom of a bottle.

Jamie grew up in Suttons Quay, West Virginia. A once vibrant town now desolate in the wake of a mine collapse. Jamie and his two best friends, Clay & Mia, live on the edge of the collapse and this place is now called Black Mouth by the local townsfolk. Being known as Black Mouth kids doesn't earn you many friends so these children grow extraordinarily attached to one another. There is also Dennis, Jamie's special needs brother, rounding out the group of misfits.

While strolling through the woods they come across a man living amongst the trees and he becomes known as The Magician. He offers to make them his apprentices by teaching them various magic tricks and they are so elated that they overlook how strange and bedraggled he is. His last and final trick he wants to show them is to promise them pure magic but it doesn't come without a high price to pay.

Moving on a decade later, Mia now a famous horror movie director, spots who she believes is the Magician in her travels. She can't believe her eyes so she takes a picture and decides it's time to wrangle the old crew back together to see if they can find and banish this sick bastard once and for all.

A new Malfi book always brings a smile to my face and this one is no exception. He writes characters that I grow to love because they are so well developed and nuanced. In this particular book the relationship between Jamie and his special needs brother, Dennis, was the highlight for me. I really adored Dennis and I was sick with worry in any scene he was in. His writing, as always, was impeccable. I could easily visualize all that was happening making me wonder when one of his books might get the big screen treatment. Netflix, you listening?

My only drawback to this book was that it was a bit longwinded. Some editing could have really tightened this up because the repetition definitely bogs down the pacing at times. The last few chapters went a little haywire and the epilogue a touch too long but the final conclusion itself was satisfying. 4 stars!

TW: Domestic abuse, animal abuse, bullying, suicide, alcoholism, and depression.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for my complimentary copy.

[Mike's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Video Thoughts Here: https://youtu.be/JB_Ebib0_Do

Wow. I didn't think it could be done with a modern horror author, but I think I've found an instant classic in the genre for me.

Since I made it a point to try and read more horror authors than just Stephen King 3-4 years ago I have gotten flooded with recommendations. Most of them usually contain the phrase "similar to Stephen King" and I always end up disappointed. I mean, setting the bar at my favorite author of all time is quite a disservice. But even accepting that they're different there have been some hits (Nick Cutter, Philip Fracassi, Grady Hendrix) and some misses (T. Kingfisher, John Langan, also somehow Grady Hendrix) but I always left unfulfilled and started wondering if any horror author was speaking in the voice I was wanting. After 2 reads by Ronald Malfi, I think I've found that author.

I liked Come With Me, and it won Book of the Month when I read it last year, but I didn't love it because it was more of a cold case/crime thriller and not horror. But I liked his style enough to say I'd try again. I'm beyond thankful that I did because Black Mouth is the best modern horror novel I've read since I can remember. It hit on everything I want in my horror; coming of age, making the reader uncomfortable from horrors they can see coming but can't stop, not showing the monster too much, and how past events fuck us up all the way into adulthood. Black Mouth does this to perfection and even when I was horrified, I couldn't help but smile.

Something Malfi does great with our quintet of child protagonists is that he's able to capture the way that kids of that time and age spoke to one another. Not falling into the trap of having his 11-year-olds wax poetic on the political issue that is bothering the author and instead having them worry about bullying, abusive parents, damaging appearances, and mental incapability feels more real. The adult versions of these characters are damaged as hell because of their childhood and while some came out stronger for it, others have become a mess.

The only way Jamie could have been more like a Stephen King protagonist is if he has also been a writer. His struggles with his alcoholism and coming to grips with his abusive father and the aftermath of what happened to these 4 kids in that fateful summer is the crux of the story along with the mysterious drifter they befriended years ago. As someone with a special needs child, I was instantly endeared to Dennis and understanding of Jamie's frustrations with that. The parts about the "turtle shell" was touching and made so much sense to anyone with a special needs kid that tries to shut out the outside world for not understanding.

In the end, the friendship between the two brothers and Mia and Clay just felt so special and real. If you've had that friend you haven't seen in years and when you do see each other again it is like no time has went past...then you know. This was a special book for me and it was the first time a horror book had made me feel this connected to the characters where I was sad to say goodbye to them in...well, a long time. It is looking like I will become a Malfi Constant Reader going forward.

[TheNeverendingTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book by a very talented author at the top of his game, this is a masterpiece.

It grabs your attention from the start and keeps you enthralled until the end, I just love his writing style - it reminds me of early Stephen King.

'Black Mouth' is a very atmospheric read that I enjoyed every step of the way.

The characters were well-developed and likeable.

A must-read for horror fans.

I'd like to see an adaptation of this.

ARC provided by Titan Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Thanks!

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Ronald Malfi book and I was not disappointed! We are whisked into a world of a mysterious magician luring children into the woods and teaching them magic tricks. But as always there is so much more to it.

With stellar thriller vibes and rich vibrant characters we are treated to a fabulous storyline with creepy moments, carnival rides and mysterious murders. I really liked the dual timelines as it gave so much clarity and really flowed well in telling the story past and present. The suspense kept building and the ending is more than satisfactory with a little tear shed too.

I loved this book and Ronald is now one of my favourite thriller authors.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: In the summer of my eleventh year, a monster came to Black Mouth. It came in the night, slinking below the sightline of normal folks, destined to arrive at the threshold of my youth. Perhaps it sought me out the way a bloodhound tracks a scent. Or perhaps it was sheer happenstance, a flip of a coin, a flutter of distant butterfly wings. Events in our lives often have meaning because we choose to give them meaning. Whatever the case, it arrived in the way monsters sometimes do; as a creature in need.

A clash of thunder, a deluge of rain. Some indistinct sense of wrongness roused me from a fitful sleep. I rolled over in a bed damp with sweat just as a flash of lightning pulsed against the bedroom window. Briefly, Dennis's silhouette stood in sharp relief against the dazzle of a storm-churned sky. It was the hottest summer in a hundred years, or so the old-timers at the Quay attested, and Dennis and I had taken to sleeping with our bedroom window open because the old farmhouse's HVAC unit was on the fritz. Again.

'Dennis,' I said, sitting up in bed. My sheets were soggy with dream-sweat, and the breeze coming through the open window on the storm felt good against my hot, sticky flesh. 'What are you doing over there? Get back in bed.'

Dennis didn't answer, didn't get back in bed. That was Dennis's way. He only pressed his face against the screen. Rainwater rushed in, sprinkling against his face and chest, raindrops rapping along the windowsill. I climbed out of bed and joined my nine-year-old brother at the window. The floorboards were wet beneath my feet.

'It's just a thunderstorm,' I told him, a half-whisper. Maybe the storm had frightened him. Maybe something else had. 'Go back to bed.'

Dennis was staring out into the yard, across the dark field of dessicated alfalfa toward the edge of our property. It was where the black crest of trees rose up like something massive and prehistoric and deceivingly alive.

I saw it - a flicker of tangerine light dancing between the warped slats of the barn at the edge of our property. Firelight.

Someone was in there.

ABOUT 'BLACK MOUTH': For nearly two decades, Jamie Warren has been running from darkness. He's haunted by a traumatic childhood and the guilt at having disappeared from his disabled brother's life. But then a series of unusual events reunites him with his estranged brother and their childhood friends, and none of them can deny the sense of fate that has seemingly drawn them back together.

Nor can they deny the memories of that summer, so long ago – the strange magic taught to them by an even stranger man, and the terrible act that has followed them all into adulthood. In the light of new danger, they must confront their past by facing their futures, and hunting down a man who may very well be a monster.

MY THOUGHTS: Another book that started out brilliantly, but eventually left me feeling a tad disappointed.

Malfi starts by setting a wonderfully atmospheric scene. The Magician is a delightfully creepy character. So what went wrong?

In a nutshell - Jamie the main character. He is a weak man who repeatedly takes refuge in a bottle of whatever comes to hand. I was fed up with his constant drinking, puking and dodging responsibility. Although he does have one particularly touching moment of redemption. Dennis, his younger Down's Syndrome brother, is the star of this book. He is incredibly perceptive.

I did a read/listen of Black Mouth, and I must admit to much preferring the read to the audiobook. I didn't enjoy the narration by Joe Hempel, finding his delivery very flat.

I have read and really enjoyed other books by this author and was disappointed by this merely okay read. Shivers and chills? Sadly, no.

⭐⭐⭐.3

#BlackMouth #NetGalley

I: @ronaldmalfi @titanbooks @tantoraudio

T: @RonaldMalfi @TitanBooks @TantorAudio

#contemporaryfiction #friendship #horror #mystery #paranormal

THE AUTHOR: Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he and his wife, Debra, currently reside along the Chesapeake Bay with their two daughters.

When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock back VEER.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Titan Books and Tantor Audio for respectively providing digital and audio ARCs of Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Do you want to see a magic trick?“ hooks in friends Jamie Warren, Mia Tomasina and Clay Willis, united in being outcasts, to the world of The Magician. As an adult Jamie is wrestling with demons including that of alcohol when he learns of his mothers suicide. He is also informed that brother Dennis who has learning difficulties, has taken a six mile walk in heat wearing just his underpants. “She. Is. Now. Dead” is pretty much all Dennis will say but what Jamie mostly learns is that Black Mouth where he grew up has finally caught up with him as you can’t outrun the past. Meanwhile, in LA moviemaker Mia encounters Sunshine Devil Girl who warns her something is coming and that what she’s been running from is catching up with her. Clay is now a social worker and he becomes involved in a case very reminiscent of their past. The four are on a collision course where the past and the present sets off a chain reaction.

First of all, the characterisation is really good especially of Jamie and Dennis. Jamie is haunted by dark thoughts and ghosts which are described with powerful imagery. Dennis is simply wonderful and for me is the standout character as though he struggles in many ways his intuitive wisdom and understanding leads to the right path. His portrayal is fantastic and sensitively done.

All of them have struggles growing up in Black Mouth which is a cursed place where home life is black where they have bleak and black experiences. There is another black mouth image via the character of Wayne Lee Stull which is very horrifying.

There’s a lot going on that leads the storyline to a dramatic end. There’s tragedy, fires, murder, walking dreams, a carnival and to say nothing of The Magician. In places it’s spooky and creepy , with chills, shivers, gulps and jaw drops. It’s very haunting in parts in particular the heavy weight of pain that certain characters carry.

However, despite the many positives it is protracted at the start and a bit slow to get going. I can buy in too much of it but there is one very bizarre bit at the end I have difficulty swallowing as it just seems so random, striking an off note .

Overall though it’s a compelling read and ones that fans of Stephen King may appreciate.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the past haunt you...

Growing up in Black Mouth, the site of a collapsed mine was less than ideal. But Jamie, Mia, Clay and Jamie's learning-disabled brother, Dennis form a tight friendship. After an encounter with The Magician, things will never be the same for them. He shows them some magic tricks and offers to show them how to do magic tricks as well. They will serve as his apprentices, well, he has an issue with Dennis, but being his apprentice comes with a price.

After learning of his mother's suicide and of his brother walking for miles in his underwear, Jamie has come home. Jamie now has a bit of a drinking problem and has not been home for years. Mia is a movie director, horror of course, and Clay is a social worker. They have come back together after so many years apart due to interesting circumstances. Who said you can never go home again?

Together they must face their past, their shared secret, and confront their own personal demon.


I had not read a Ronald Malfi book before and enjoyed this. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. They blurb wasn't kidding; this does give strong Stephen King "IT" vibes. I appreciated how he showed Jamie's reaction to his childhood trauma by distancing himself and self-medicating with booze. I also enjoyed the use of two timelines which provided readers with glimpses into the past, while also showing the present. I found this to be nicely done.

I loved Dennis and he stole the show for me!

The book got a little drawn out in parts, but overall, I found this to be enjoyable and look forward to more of Malfi's books in the future.

#BlackMouth #NetGalley

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does it matter if I'm a latecomer to Malfi's work? Hell no. As is often said, better late than never.

I'd say that this story reminded me of those dark and difficult moments when growing up, the key experiences that shape the years well beyond childhood. The vulnerabilities of the characters, and the way this is written by Malfi, make me feel for the them as much as believe in them. They are a few friends bound by the haunted Barrows-like place they live near and sometimes play. What brings them together is the same place that tears them apart, but what also brings them together is sameness in being outcasts.

Bringing the characters back to that place of their childhood can be the make or break for a novel like this (there have been so many novels written in this manner). Do they remain relative as adults? Does the story still feel engaging? Yes and yes for Black Mouth and Malfi's writing of its characters, both as children and later when adults (the timeline consistently moves back-and-forth, which I've always thought works better than linear). There is an important protagonist, Dennis, who doesn't speak much due to his mostly unidentified disability, but even so he becomes the glue that binds the foursome and the story. Possibly, because of his disability he is not encumbered by the world like the others, and yet again he is more so. It could be a small thing for many, yet for me it was big in “feel” then becoming the crux of this novel.

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing, terryfing and captivating. The latest offering by Mr Malfi bears all the hallmarks of his grand story-telling and unravelling the secrets hidden deep.
A group of friends who as children meet a man called the Magician are drawn into darkness that will follow them for decades. As adults, they are ready to shake off the demons and confront the pure evil.
Mr Hempel does a splendid job as a narrator.
*A big thank-you to Roland Malfi, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eff this book!! You think it’s ok to put random animal cruelty in your book. I stopped at the start of the dog thing. You want to hurt animals, then don’t come near me! I usually love some of the authors books but eff this and kudos to the few that spoke up about it too! And if you write crap on my review you will be deleted and blocked 😘



Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Black Mouth" by Ronald Malfi is a creepy, atmospheric Horror story!

Estranged brothers, Jamie and Dennis Warren, and their two childhood friends, Clay Willis and Mia Tomasina, are back together again in their hometown of Sutton Quay, West Virginia. Recent incidents, eerily similar and reminiscent of something and someone from their past, is what pulls them back there.

Haunting memories and emotional scars from twenty-five years ago, drives each of them to find the stranger known to them as The Magician. Together, they are finally ready to confront that dark summer from their past so they can move on with their lives!

This is my first experience reading this author's work and it was a memorable one with creepy, atmospheric vibes of a Stephen King novel pulsing through the entire story and keeping me turning the pages.

But what really stood out to me about this story were the character building and back stories of the childhood friends. These four characters are solidly built, and the friendship is supported with each of their 'outsider' vulnerabilities; that 'thing' that drew them together in the first place. Jamie's character was a realistic portrayal of an alcoholic struggling with recovery, guilt, and reoccurring thoughts from a horrific childhood. This author knows how to create characters that pull the story forward and stick with you!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Joe Hempel. His voicing was perfectly animated for several of the characters but not for all of them. The more I listened, the more familiar I became with his narration style, and it grew into an enjoyable experience.

The story did feel a little long and repetitive, something that could have been remedied with additional editing. However, overall, this was a great first-time experience with this author, and I will definitely partake again. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Ronald Malfi for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this one. Maybe 3/3.5 stars?
There are parts that I liked and some things that could have been better.

Black Mouth is the new book by Ronald Malfi and of course, I love his writing and had to read this. His books are atmospheric and have a wonderful descriptive quality that I love.

Black Mouth is about a group of adult friends coming together to confront a dark terror that changes their lives when they're kids.

The childhood friends lived in a small town in West Virginia called Sutton’s Quay. The town is destroyed by a mining accident that caused the land to implode, kill hundreds of miners, and take away the industry that sustained the town.

Viewed from the sky, the land looks like a big mouth with collapsed tunnels that drop down into the pit of the earth. Hence the nickname, Black Mouth.

Jamie, Clay, Mia, and his brother Dennis grow up in this grim place.
One day, the carnival comes into town, and they meet a man called The Magician. He drastically changes their lives with his magic tricks and presence, and they are never the same.

I enjoyed how this one ended even if it was a bit weird and I did enjoy all the details along the way with The Magician's victims.
I do love a book that involves a carnival theme!

I would have rated this higher. It comes down to a couple of things that brought down the rating for me.

✔️ There’s nothing new with this coming of age tale in Black Mouth.
I’ve read better books with this theme by King in It and Hill in NOS4A2 that involves a strange man causing chaos and horror to young kids.
In fact, the books mentioned above feel like horror. The Magician just wasn't that horrifying.

✔️ The main character of Jamie Warren was hard to like or have anything but indifference for. If it wasn’t for his childhood friends and brother, I would have rated this lower because he just kind of sucks.
I’m a big fan of characterization in books and if a main character annoys me, it’s going to be hard to emotionally get behind a plot.

Clay, Mia, and Dennis made this book better for me and thank goodness for them!

Other then that, if you are a fan of books by Malfi, give this one a try.
I wouldn’t expect anything new from the genre though.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about being a reader is discovering a new to me writer who already has several published works. Recently I read and fell in love with Ronald Malfi’s writing when I read his book, Come With Me. Needless to say, I was super excited for the opportunity to read his newest book, Black Mouth.

Black Mouth is centered around Jamie Warren. For the past 2 decades, Jamie has been running from the darkness. Jamie is haunted by not only a traumatic childhood but also the guilt of having disappeared from his disabled brother’s life. But after a series of unusual events, fate has reunited him with his estranged brother as well as his childhood friends Mia and Clay.

The group can no longer deny their haunting memories of a summer long ago- the strange magic taught to them by even a stranger man and the terrible act that followed them. In the light of a new danger, they must confront their past by facing their futures, and hunt down a man who very may well be a monster.

Holy book hangover! It's been 2 days since I finished this one and I'm still incapable of starting a new read because I can't get this one off of my mind. Hands down, Black Mouth has earned the top spot of my #1 favorite horror book of 2022(so far).

The synopsis made me very reminiscent of Stephen King’s It so it immediately piqued my interest. Black Mouth is both perfectly creepy and hauntingly atmospheric. The plot is centered around a decades old mystery with an unforgettable cast of characters. I absolutely loved the main character Jamie as well as Dennis, Mia, and Clay. All of them were very dimensional and cleverly written. In fact, the whole story was so well written that the words seemed to come alive. The story was so vibrant that I became fully imersed from page one until the end. At a whopping 436 pages, I wouldn't have minded one bit if the story had of been longer.

The ending perfectly tied up every aspect of the story. Even certain parts that I had forgotten about earlier in the story were perfectly tied up in the end. Ronald Malfi is the one author that every horror fan needs to read. If you are a horror reader, run, don't walk to get yourself copy of Black Mouth by Malfi! He is one author that deserves way more hype than what he gets.

A massive thanks to Titan Books for the gifted copy!

Trigger Warnings:
The book discusses darker themes of addiction, suicide, child abuse, animal abuse, domestic violence, so it could be very triggering to a lot of people.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this creepy, atmosphere read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job. This is my second book by this author and it just keeps getting better and better. Childhood, outcast friends return home to Black Mouth, a town filled with terrible memories to confront the evil that still haunts them. It gave me Stephen King It vibes. What could be better than that?

Black Mouth is available July 26,2022

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[JaymeO · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

“Friendship too, is a certain kind of magic.”

Three childhood outcasts return home to Sutton’s Key to an area called Black Mouth, named after an old mining site. Jamie, Mia, and Clay are now adults and haunted by childhood memories of a man that forever changed their lives. The Magic Man preyed on their innocence and set into motion a series of events that led Jamie to a dark place. Now, this man might be responsible for another murder, and they are determined to find him.

With the help of Jamie’s brother, Dennis, who has special needs, the group sets out on an adventure to solve the mystery of the The Magic Man.

With Stephen King vibes and parallels to The Slender Man murder case, Black Mouth is a creepy Horror thriller that is sure to spook you!

The audiobook is read by Joe Hempel, who does a terrific job voicing the characters. The Magic Man is especially sinister!

I am a huge fan of Ronald Malfi since I read Come with Me. This book is filled with excellent character development, creepiness, and dread. He explores the depths of friendship, the lengths one will go to protect the ones they love, and the power of revenge. I enjoyed Black Mouth, but it took a long time to grab my interest and was very long-winded. This book could benefit from another edit. I also didn’t love the open ending and wish more answers were provided.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who aren’t squeamish and enjoy a creepy carnival!

Trigger warnings: suicide, alcoholism

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 7/26/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC of Black Mouth in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This is new book to read for anyone who loved coming of age stories. Reviewers are comparing this one to IT by Stephen King but personally I found it more comparable to Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury .

This book had a slower start for me, but it picked up once the nostalgic narrative voice kicked in. I enjoyed those elements as the main character reflected back on the past.

This story was good, but it just did not feel completely special or new. I have read and loved most of Malfi's backlist so I know what he is capable of writing. This just felt a bit underwhelming and perhaps a bit too derivative. I liked this one, but I wanted to love it.

I wouldn't still recommend this one to any fellow Ronald Malfi fans along with readers always looking for new coming of age narratives.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to see a magic trick?



When I saw Ronald Malfi’s upcoming release out on NetGalley I was just a teensie bit afraid to request it. Not because I'm a chickenbaby and he’s a horror writer, but because I wasn’t sure how it would compare to the phenomenal Come With Me of last year. But since I want to not only read allllll of the things (even more so when they have a house on the cover) I clicked the request button lickity split. And despite me having a dismal review ratio, somehow I got approved. Then it rained like a Forest Gump rain for a couple of days and I just soaked this sucker in.

The premise here is . . .

In the summer of my eleventh year, a monster came to Black Mouth.

That quote and the blurb gives a shout-out to the obvious . . . .



But that is a disservice to Malfi. At this point his writing chops should stand alone and the comparison to It is weak at best (a bad guy came into some kids’ lives and then might be back when they are adults). And heck, if we’re going to compare every single horror novel ever written to Stephen King, you might as well throw this one in there as well . . . . .



I’m not going to give any more of the story away (hell, you’re lucky I haven’t just been typing about my cat or something completely off topic like I normally do in my “reviews”). If you have enjoyed Malfi in the past, I’m fairly confident you’ll enjoy this one. If you enjoy discovering new fictional friends, I’m fairly confident these folks will end up as people you’d like to know in real life. And if you enjoy a good storyteller, I’m absolutely confident in saying Malfi is a remarkable one.

“We’re not the fucking Hardy Boys, Mia.”

“Maybe you’re not, but I’m the hardiest fucking boy there is.”

Oh, and unlike King’s alien space spiders and adolescent gang-bangs, Malfi manages to write his entire novel without shitting the bed with the ending.

I’m giving it all the Stars.



ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

[Meisha (ALittleReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An audio- ARC copy was sent to me from Titan Books via Netgalley. So big thank you to them! All opinions are my own.

First off, I want to say what a fantastic job the narrator did. Every single character had their own voices which made it so much easier to differentiate the characters. He did an especially fantastic job with Dennis! I will be looking for more audiobooks that are narrated by this narrator.
About the book though... This was my first Ronald Malfi book. So I was so excited to get a copy to read and review. And although this one wasn't one for me personally, I can see why so many people are raving about it and love it so much.
The comparison of IT is spot on. I could also see a little bit of Dream Catcher mixed in. I think that was mainly due to Dennis. He reminded me a lot of the main character from Dream Catcher (I can't remember his name at the moment. It's been too long) So if you're a fan of Stephen King or a fan of the "little kids fighting evil and growing up and going back to fight the evil again" trope, I HIGHLY recommend this one.
And as long as we are on the topics of characters.... Wow! The characters were SO well fleshed out. They were each very personable and three dimensional. You really end up loving these morally Grey characters by the end of this book. Which was refreshing to see. Even the villain in this book was very three dimensional and so so creepy. Every scene with him made it very unsettling and uncomfortable. What a creeper!
As a side note, people should note that there are a LOT of triggers in this. Including grooming, abuse, addiction, graphic and gore scenes and even animal cruelty. So please know that going in and tread lightly...
On a different note though, the plot... I personally found the plot kind of unoriginal and wasn't necessarily thrilled or excited at any point through the book. Simply because I've seen it before. The only new aspect that kept things interesting for me was the Magician Villian. I really wish there were more scenes with him. Or even more scenes from his perspective. But that ending though!! That really did a lot for me and ended up saving a lot of the book for me. It both kept me at the edge of my seat and broke my heart.. well done! The writting in its entirely was well done.
Ultimately, I just felt like something was missing.
This is one of those books that I know there's not necessarily anything wrong with this book. It's actually objectively a good book. It was just lack luster for me. There's something about it that had something missing and I can't put my finger on it. However I know I am in the minority with this one. So please don't let this review deter you. So many people love this one. And that love is well deserved. So if this one sounds interesting to you, if you like IT, if you like the children fighting evil as adults trope, if you like STEPHEN KING! I do actually recommend giving this a try.:) I know that I personally will be giving this author another chance.
In my heart this is 3 star. But objectively it's a 4. And since this is a review and not a book I was reading purely for enjoyment, I'm going to rate it at an objective 4 stars! :)

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I never knew I could pull for such a Motley Crew but I think the Radiohead song Creep with the lines "But I'm a creep.......I'm a weirdo...........What the hell am I doin here? ............I don't belong here" just nails the theme if a book could have a song as its theme song.
So the title derives from a part of the city they live in where a mine collapsed, and the resulting landscape looks like a mouth and the trees are angled and it looks like a Black Mouth.
The novel starts out in the present and we meet our cast of heroes. Mia is a Hollywood horror producer and she receives a strange message from a psychic. Through her travels she comes across a person who does not seem to have aged over the 30 years since she and her gang first met him. From that meeting with this ageless person something very terrible happened to our heroes which changed them forever when they were young.
Malfi slowly and methodically weaves an intricate tale. We are introduced to Dennis Warren who we quickly learn has issues. Malfi spares nothing and refers to him as a retard repeatedly but we also learn that Dennis is special along the lines of an idiot savant. Dennis has a brother Jamie who fled Black Mouth but has to go back when their mother dies. He finds Dennis in a state of despair. The main part of the story is told through Jamie.
The fourth party in this motley crew is Clay Willis. He is a black man suffering with vitiligo which is when you see a black person covered in white splotchy parts - the splotches are almost creamy in appearance. Malfi paints a picture of these four growing up together and especially because of Clay and Dennis their childhood is rough.
When Mia, Jamie and Clay are 11 (Dennis would be 9) Jamie comes across an unusual character known as the magician - the same party who Mia took the recent photo of. Dennis is not introduced to him for some time but when the magician brings back a dead rabbit to life Mia, Jamie and Clay are hooked. The magician promises them that they too can learn true (read supernatural) magic and their journey down that path begins. When the magician finally meets Dennis he is very uneasy about him. There is something that the magician doesn't like or even fears about Dennis. As we read on we see that Dennis somehow connects with the magician at a very different level. So then the four begin to apprentice under the magician in the woods of Black Mouth and when the magician wants Jamie to kill his own brother things go very astray and instead the group participates in starting a fire in the woods where a mom and her infant son die as a result of that fire. The four are held accountable except for Dennis due to his mental capacity and Mia, Jamie and Clay are put in a reformatory. Mia and Clay are then wisely moved away with their parents from Black Mouth but Jamie stays and due to what everyone now thinks of him and his own guilt he becomes an alcoholic.
So when Mia takes the photo of an unchanged magician some 30 years later she gets in contact with her old gang. Jamie is hesitant to follow up with the matter but Clay is a social worker now and when he looks into the matter he sees that there are many instances where young children around 11/12 kill each other where the magician shows up. Having recently read The Outsider by King and The Black Widow by Patterson/Barker and Assasins Code by Jonathan Maberry this character of the magician has strong parallels to such a character. When the magician fled the fire Jamie chased after him and saw his face change into something very ugly. Is the magician mortal is he something more? Is that what the magician does, get children to kill other children?
I will point out one thing though. About half way through the book we are introduced to a character known as Wayne Lee Stull. He too has quite the deformity with an abnormal mouth and a hideous face. Malfi does a great job with this character but you have to really have an open imagination. When we first meet him he gets fired and he believes that he is terminated because of his looks. He goes home and puts on a different face. He has dozens of faces that he glues over his own and then he goes to his bosses house to take out his dog. It was brutal to read as Malfi can write and I wish he would have killed his boss over this poor dog. It was disturbing to read and note it is the only animal violence in the book.
I took a regular reading break somewhere a little after Stull is introduced and that night as I lay awake in bed I started questioning the whole book per se. I thought how is Malfi going to save this book. Stull makes no fn sense. A man with a briefcase of faces and yet he is so truly cool and f'd up as a character. One of the neatest and different characters I have come across. So I was somewhat disappointed with how the book was turning but trust me I will choose my future book breaks accordingly. To stop where I stopped was a mistake and if I ever get that hinkey feeling again I will simply read on because Malfi does clear up the character of Stull. Is he actually the magician himself? Well I can't really go there.
In the end our foursome are able to follow the path of the magician. He is connected to a travelling carnival, the same carnival that went through Black Mouth when the four apprenticed under him. They want to confront the magician and put an end to him. Working to that end the story gives us almost two endings without doing two endings. It's hard to explain but does what Jamie and Dennis face in the end really happen? Malfi has you question this but he also provides the answer imo.
I've read quite a few of Malfi's books and I love him and his style. He takes his time and paints quite the picture. His detail is amazing. Always a steady and slow build up but he builds up to something truly special. This would be my favourite Malfi novel so far and I'm not sure this review does it justice because it may be too convoluted and trust me the book isn't. I am reminded of the review I saw for the Black Widow - DNF 30% it was stupid. So aside from Stephen King and the Outsider we have the Black Widow Patterson/Barker and Jonathan Maberry's Assassin's Code and though not definitive here Malfi kind of joins that group. Now are these authors a motley crew who come up with stupid idea after stupid idea? Lmao clearly not. Maybe when reading thrillers/horrors one should open up their imaginations a bit because in so doing you can thoroughly enjoy some special reads. An easy five star. Unique, different and special!!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a Ronald Malfi fan. He's a fantastic writer with a knack for telling classic horror tales, but every time I set this book down it was a chore to pick back up. The characters didn't grab me and the story felt drawn out. It won't stop from from picking up his next book though.

[Auđur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a hard one for me to review. First because I wanted to love it and I didn't, second I didn't quite know why I didn't love it. But after some pondering 🤔 I think the reason that I didn't love it is because I didn't like nor did I care for the the main caracter Jamie. In some stories that would be fine but I think for this story you needed to care for him a little bit but for me that moment never happened. Ronald Malfi is a great writer and storyteller so give this one a try you might love it.

[Indieflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first novel length read from Malfi and I enjoyed it for the most part, the blurb compares it to King's IT and I can see the similarities, however, I'd describe it more as IT Lite, the supermarket value version if you will. The elements were all there, big bad creepy villain, bad stuff happening to kids who then come back as adults to face it is down, but for me the plot lacked something, it never ramped up, it felt like a huge chunk of something was missing. Fear maybe? There weren't any moments of real dread or tension, and the climax of the book was kinda disappointing, the Big Bad subsequently became disappointing too, just not scary enough, in fact one of the other characters was far more disturbing. However, having said all that, I really enjoyed the writing, that's what kept me fully engaged, so much so I want to check out all Malfi's other stuff and see where it takes me, so a respectable 3 stars for that.

[Gareth Is Haunted · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I'm a magic trick, a walking talking social working magic trick'

This was my second time reading Ronald Malfi and it most certainly will not be my last. I love his writing style, the way his characters are drawn and his ability to be both amusing and horrific at the same moment.

Black Mouth was a real roller coaster of a ride, full of atmosphere and tension throughout. The relationships between the main characters were solidly built, even with them all being flawed in their specific way. This helped produce some kind of empathy in me, they felt real and full-bodied.
As for the plot. Things twist and turn, you're left guessing or even assuming certain details until the last. The picture painted by Malfi was nothing but epic.
I can't help drawing comparisons with Stephen Kings IT although, for the most part, they are miles apart.

In summary, this was a great read and I would highly recommend it to any fans of the horror genre.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on suicide, self-harm, grooming, alcoholism, sexual abuse against a minor, graphic physical abuse against a minor, parental neglect, psychological distress, parental abuse, racially motivated crime, graphic animal cruelty, death of an animal, abuse of a person with developmental delays, murder of a child, & others.

When I was young I learnt that with the right imagery, scenery & trust, a person could be led into a minefield of fear. It didn’t matter what was being told or what was happening, per se, but rather the malleability of the mind to be encouraged to linger on the event. I cannot call to mind the first time I watched “We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story” (1993) but the character of Professor Screweyes has stayed with me well into adulthood. Watching ‘Professor Screweyes’ Eccentric Circus roll onto the screen clicked with some part of my brain that longed for me to feel intrigued & repulsed by the man with the screws for eyes who lured children into his Eccentric Circus; feeding off their plights from the Fright Radio until it became apparent that he was emboldened by the aspects of a person’s entity that are seldom able to be controlled.

Time has distanced me from the first impressions I held of Professor Screweyes; I have come to know that the world is full of people who linger outside the confines of ‘good’ whether or not their end goal is to divert attention from their own terror, such as it was for the Professor. Yet, with all the years between me & my first viewing of the film, I refuse to shake the imagery that the movie has embedded in my mind. I understood that even if this movie presented me with the absurd—a professor who fed Brain Drain cereal to revert fun-loving Rex & his palls back into prehistoric beasts—the intention behind Professor Screweyes’ actions was a real facet within my reality. Children had been lured from safety into the clutches of people who might as well have had screws for eyes, so little was there behind the iris’.

I credit this 1993 movie with gifting me the ability to discern terror in the absurd; fear in the monstrously outlandish; & the comprehension that a distinctly crafted image can settle, mould & infect the recess’ of the mind for life. It is with the vivid recollection of Professor Screweyes, wandering within my mind, that I began reading this most recent work by Malfi.

In West Virginia, Black Mouth resides in something of a concavity within the land. Sucking the inhabitants dry of their will to bloom within their own lives & instead filling their hearts with tar; sedating them into positions of vulnerability poured forth from wicked tales of ghosts walking the earth; actioning despair through the limbs of guardian figure-heads wandering the corridors in broad daylight.

This is where the heart of Jamie Warren’s issue lies. The main character of this book, Jamie, is a man well into his thirties who is narrating this story to the reader from a moment in the future; reflecting on his emotions as one might when one is faced with the bulk of everything that holds one back. From the introductory parts of this book until the end, Jamie presents a clear & honest narration; expressing every detail in a blunt, weighted fashion that leads the reader to discern that what haunts Jamie the most is everything unsaid.

Jamie suffers from alcoholism that is sustained by the traumatic experiences he suffered throughout his childhood & which he has never been in a position to confront. I do not blame him for this. Each of the characters in this book might be read as presenting aspects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By this I mean, that Jaimie, Dennis, Clay, Mia & Wayne are characters whose personalities, actions & decisions are driven forward by markers of what one might clock as being the consequences of trauma on the mind of a child.

Though it would be accurate to state that the after-effects of a traumatic event play out in very different ways for every person affected, I regard Malfi very highly for being able to write characters who very much resemble me or you in that they are not simply the horrific events that they experienced but, entire human beings that live in a world that is real.

I have seldom come across an author who was able to present the weight of actual horror without necessitating a minute recounting of everything that could go wrong in the chemical makeup of the brain, that influences a person to act in a certain way. A traumatic experience is one that has the power to overthrow the person you have hoped to become.

Living through traumatic experiences as a child changes the world; it strips away any semblance of safety & revolts within the body repeatedly over the years until such a time as you are faced with yourself & wonder why things happened as they did. None of it ever seems fair & speaking that into existence seems pitiful because, of course, it wasn’t fair but outside yourself & the shadowy haunts of actions performed beyond your control, no one can possibly grasp the weight of what it means to be afraid in your own home.

There is great praise to be given to Malfi in that he was able to present the reader with a cast of characters who were incredibly well-developed, solid, entities in this realm. One might make a case study of each of the characters; discerning how each of their choices throughout life shed light on the results of their morbid experiences in childhood. For example, Clay became a social worker, one who seeks out children who are experiencing horrific abuse & attempts to give them a helping hand—one he admits to never having been given himself.

Another example can be found in Mia who maintains an obsession with the morose to the point of wanting to have imagery of ‘spooky’ beings tattooed on her body. This obsession can be noted as initially developed after she was given a graphic retelling of the events which saw her parents decapitated in an automobile accident.

When I started this review I sought to highlight that horror does not need to be presented as the masked man looming the street with a knife while a babysitter makes popcorn. Nor does it need to be Professor Screweyes’ murder of crows eating him alive at the end of an animated movie. What is scary about both of those scenes lies in their presence in reality. Just as the screw-eyed cartoon man wanders in my mind so too did The Illustrated Man seep into the forefront when we are introduced to The Magician in this book.

I cannot say for certain if Malfi sought to pay homage to Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1962) or if I drew the parallels myself out of wishful & appreciative thinking. However, Bradbury’s ‘The Illustrated Man’ resembles Malfi’s ‘The Magician’ in ample ways, one might even be led to feel that these two dangerous figures are one & the same; a nightmare that seeks out the joyful trust of children.

As the mind-numbingly swift writing drew me into this story, revoking my need to reside on the sidelines as I saw myself approaching sentiments that I have held as desolated as the characters, I began to feel my heartbeat mounting in my ears as the dirty, fleshly figure of The Magician appeared to us in the darkened barn of Jamie Warren’s childhood home.

I find it most difficult to read books that involve child abuse because it leaves me in the impossibility of trying to stop what I, inevitably, know is going to happen. This is where Malfi’s superb writing comes into play. As I read, begrudgingly turning the pages of the book in molten anticipation of what I knew would happen when Jamie saw The Magician, Malfi saw fit to leave me hanging. The stress, anxiety & worry, that I had building remained peaked as the scene passed by with The Magician giving Jamie a blank playing card, & nothing else.

I read on knowing that at any moment I would be brought to the precipice of what my emotions had been preparing me for; setting a cushioning in my brain for the terrible things I knew I would have to read. Yet, that moment never came. Instead, I was left feeling succumbed with heated worry for the children page after page, until the book drew to a close & I realized that the symbolism of everything that happened would play out in my mind for as long as Professor Screweyes had been wandering the periphery.

Malfi did not write a book that leaves the reader to contemplate everything that might have happened—those things did happen. He did not write antagonists who wandered in the dark never to seek out the light—those characters sauntered the streets as any normal person might. Everything that Malfi wrote was intended & valuable. Even if you are a reader who does not want to acknowledge or seek out the undercurrent of themes, truth & actions, performed in a magic trick fashion—disillusioning yourself that the fire was the worst of it—Malfi grants your mind permission, almost sickeningly so, to absorb the words & have them play out in a mirage when you least expect it.

With all my heart, I found myself adoring this book. I would love to say that this is a feeling I encounter regularly but, it is not. I am seldom one who is able to look past aspects of a story that do not make sense & within this book, there were few if not any. I will say that I found myself a bit annoyed—rather irrationally upset—that Dennis died. This is a character who somewhat carried the weight of the narrative by saying nothing at all, yet all of Jamie’s drive to be a better person, a brave person, resides in the being of Dennis Warren.

I have no professional weight to back my comments regarding Dennis & I would like to highlight that here as well. Malfi’s inclusion of an array of characters never read as tokenism; everyone was positioned within the plot because, just as in life, there are people of all sorts. I never felt that the inclusion of Dennis, a character who had developmental delays, was in an effort to play this character off as being a brilliant but uncommunicative genius who saw past the ploy of The Magician. Rather, Dennis read as a person you might meet in your life & as someone who followed their older brother to the woods to play with his friends.

A single read of this book will not be enough for me to comment on every aspect of the story. I find myself at a loss to communicate why Dennis’ death leaves me feeling cheated but then, I ask myself how his character's display of PSTD plays within the story. Should I discern that The Magician having been trapped in Dennis’ turtle shell means that Dennis internalized the evil that he could not name & it drove him away from this world—in whatever metaphorical way this might mean?

Should I conclude that Dennis & Jamie’s relationship saw them play off each other’s strengths until they were both unable to grasp enough courage to face the demons of their lives? Could this be read as meaning that the weight of internalized, chemically altering, trauma can remove a person from this life? I’m sure there are many interpretations of this event yet, I remain irritated that Dennis died.

Wayne Lee Stull—the serial murderer & victim of The Magician—plays such a seemingly minute role in this book that it is easy to villainize his participation in the plot. Yet, with prose that seeps through the pages & riddles the senses with the flourish of nostalgia, the reader remembers that everyone started out as a child who looked upon a guardian in the hopes of love, safety & comfort.

How quickly life can change when we are tormented at the hands of people who brought us here; people who have accepted us into their homes; people that are supposed to protect us. I cannot speak to the experiences of all people & certainly, will never pretend to nor can I confidently say that everyone began at the same starting point in life—this would be ignorant—However, what I can say is that Malfi welcomes the possibility of reflection & divergence on all accounts.

It is important for me to read a book that challenges me. I can certainly appreciate a straightforward narrative that sees the moral of the story as simple to understand. However, I prefer to trudge through the plot & feel uncertain at the end of a book. I want to be left to sit with myself & allow my mind to wander past every word, replaying every scene; I want to be pensive, reflective & uncomfortable.

By writing a story that leads a reader through generational trauma with characters who are very real, fully developed, & strong, Malfi encourages the reader to fly through this book without a qualm. He settles the reader within the community & allows them to grasp hold of this place could be their hometown too. What, in fact, differentiates the fictional from the non-fictional?

I am left feeling incomparably thankful. A well-written book is something that I treasure to the core. Books have held a special place for me when nowhere else did. Here I remain, steadfast, searching for the stories that wedge their way between the unfathomable & the tangible human experience.

Thank you to Edelweiss+, Titan Books & Ronald Malfi for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I really enjoyed Malfi’s release last year - Come With Me, so I was very happy to get my hands on this one. Black Mouth tells the story of three friends - Jamie Warren, Clay Willis and Mia Toamasina and the dramatic events that took place when they were 11 years old. Also part of the group is Dennis, Jamie’s brother but more on him later.

The 3 friends and Dennis live at the edge of the Black Mouth which is a massive depression in the ground following a collapse of some mine shafts years ago. Some of the miners were not able to be saved and some folk believe the place is haunted by their spirits. Mostly though it is just very dangerous as the whole area is still riddled with mineshafts that could yet collapse. The residents of Sutton’s Quay that live by the black mouth are pretty much shunned by the other townsfolk so the children are their own little clique.

One day they meet ‘the magician’ in the woods. He shows them magic tricks and teaches them sleight of hand. If they want to learn real magic, however, they will need to go to ‘the well’. The guy is a bit creepy and what he asks of them makes them balk. In a fit of pique they set fire to some trees with terrible consequences. As soon as they are able the children move away and mostly forget about the magician, except for Jamie who has his own demons and secrets. And Dennis stays behind with his mother.

24 years later Mia thinks she sees the magician at a fairground in Kentucky and takes some covert photos. This is the catalyst for bringing the group together again, whence they are thrust into a nightmare situation.

I love the way this is written! You are never sure what is real and what is imaginary or even an hallucination. The book flirts with the paranormal without thrusting it in your face. The human mind is still a very mysterious thing and the power of suggestion is very, well, powerful. Still, the book was very creepy (yay a creepy book at last) and there was a growing sense of doom as the friends tried to find this magician again.

The characters were very well developed and I enjoyed them all. They were very relatable and had all overcome obstacles in their lives. Their loyalty to one another was beautiful to see but Dennis stole the show.

Dennis, the gentle giant with an unknowable mind. Always considered to be slow witted, Dennis was tuned in to things the others could not fathom. He sensed so much that was hidden as if his mind was purer than that of a ‘normal’ person. The group looked out for Dennis and Dennis looked out for them. The bond between the brothers was wonderful and, in the end, it was Dennis who guided Jamie to where he had to go. Many thanks to Netgalley and Titan Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.