First the birds disappeared.
Then the insects took over.
Then the madness began . . .
A building sense of foreboding. Something has happened, is happening.
It's an amazing feeling when you start a new book by a capable writer. one who gently takes you by the hand and guides you on your journey. Ronald Malfi is such a writer.
Malfi is a master at giving the reader just enough to draw you into his world and then slowly reveals bits and pieces until it all comes together. Much like painter creating a work of art by adding layer after layer until the piece is just right.
There is a new plague in the land. Wanderer's Folly, which results in nosebleeds, hallucinations, and ultimately death. No one knows the cause or even how the disease is transmitted. There is no cure. Some regions are devastated and others are barely affected. David Arden and his soon to be nine-year-old daughter, Ellie are on the run. You see, Ellie is special, not only is she immune, but she's exhibiting other talents. Talents which may be a result of her immunity or the reason for it. And, of course, the government wants to know more.
The dialog in The Night Parade is brisk and delightfully refreshing.
I generally don't enjoy stories with flashbacks, but I found Malfi's use of the technique to be effective and useful in filling in the gaps of the events which lead to David and Ellie's current situation. One such flashback featured the tale of a Freez-E-Friend truck pulling up in the Arden's cul de sac, at one in the morning, in the dead of winter.
The reveal of the story behind the book's title was charming and effective.
The Night Parade has a creepy vibe and some genuinely terrifying moments. I even teared up a time or two. It's everything I look for in a great read.
Highly recommended.
Published by Kensington Press, The Night Parade is available in paperback, e-book, and audio formats.
Ronald Damien Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York and spent most of his childhood growing up along the Chesapeake Bay. He professed an interest in the arts at an early age and is also known to be a competent artist and musician. In 1999, he graduated with a degree in English from Towson University. For a number of years, he fronted the Maryland-based alternative rock band Nellie Blide.
Most recognized for his haunting, literary style and memorable characters, Malfi's horror novels and thrillers have transcended genres to gain wider acceptance among readers of quality literature. He currently lives along the Chesapeake Bay.
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