They Lurk is a collection of five novellas, four previously published between 2009 and 2012, and one that’s brand new. All of the stories are of the strange and unusual variety, with a good dose of dread thrown in there.
Skullbelly
Three months ago, four teenagers went into the forest. One returned, and he’s not talking. The families, frustrated by the police’s lack of response, hire P.I. Jeffers to investigate. Wandering around in a forest looking for evidence of … something gave me Predator vibes. I love Predator! This was my favourite story.
“There’s animals, Mr. Jeffers. Things with claws and teeth.”
The Separation
Prizefighter Charlie hasn’t been himself since Gloria left him. Charlie’s psychotherapist friend, Marcus, hopes he can help. I guessed where this one was heading.
“She took a part of me with her when she left”
The Stranger
Someone’s sitting in David’s car. And they won’t get out. I had absolutely no idea where this story was going to take me. In hindsight, I would have been extremely surprised if I’d figured this one out ahead of time.
“God has laid a miserable fate upon us.”
After the Fade
Tommy was planning on breaking up with his girlfriend at The Fulcrum tonight. Then once upon a cheerleader Wendy Pratchett showed up and everything changed. Tommy probably should have stayed home instead.
“It’s still ringing. How can 911 still be ringing?”
Fierce
Connie and her mother survived the car accident but now they’re living a nightmare. There’s a fun connection between this and the first story.
Keep it together, Connie. Collect yourself.
I’m keen to read more books by this author. As this is only my third Ronald Malfi read, I’ve got some catching up to do.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Once Upon a Blurb
COME CLOSER…
Five terrifying collected horror novellas newly reissued from the “modern-day Algernon Blackwood”.
Skullbelly
A private detective is hired after three teenagers disappear in a forest and uncovers a terrible local secret.
The Separation
Marcus arrives in Germany to find his friend up-and-coming prizefighter Charlie in a deep depression. But soon Charlie’s behaviour grows increasingly bizarre. Is he suffering from a nervous breakdown, or are otherworldly forces at work?
The Stranger
Set a rural Florida parking lot, David returns to his car to find a stranger sat behind the wheel. The doors are locked and there’s a gun on the dashboard. And that was when then the insanity started…
After the Fade
A girl walked into a small Annapolis tavern, collapsed and died. Something had latched itself to the base of her skull. And it didn’t arrive alone.
Now, the patrons of The Fulcrum are trapped, held prisoner within the tavern’s walls by monstrous things, trying to find their way in.
Fierce
A teenage girl and her mum are in a car accident with another vehicle on a remote country road in the middle of a nightmarish snowstorm, which soon devolves into gruesome madness.
Schizanthus Nerd 