Small Town Horror

Malfi (Black Mouth) delves into the true horrors lurking behind small-town facades and teenage cruelty gone horribly wrong. The story follows Manhattan lawyer Andrew Larimer, who is becoming increasingly unsettled over his wife’s troubling pregnancy. Then, he is called back to his hometown of Kingsport, MD, when he learns that his friend Dale’s wife has gone missing. Once in town, he meets up with the rest of his high school friends, a complicated reunion that brings up long-held secrets and events from the past that are not forgiven or forgotten. Andrew’s worries over his wife are upsetting, but they pale in comparison with the secret that this motley group has carried for years. Narrator Joe Hempel’s performance is utterly gripping, pulling listeners in from the beginning and ratcheting up the tension from there. Hempel’s varied tones and inflections make it easy to get lost in the storytelling, even as the book shifts back and forth from the past to the present. The shocking ending may come as a surprise, so listeners may want to brace for impact.