All bets are off.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Four years ago, an unthinkable disaster occurred. In what was later known as the Low-Probability Event, eight million people were killed in a single day, each of them dying in improbable, bizarre ways: strangled by balloon ropes, torn apart by exploding manhole covers, attacked by a chimpanzee wielding a typewriter. A day of freak accidents that proved anything is possible, no matter the odds. Luck is real now, and it’s not always good.

Vera, a former statistics and probability professor, lost everything that day, and she still struggles to make sense of the unbelievable catastrophe. To her, the LPE proved that the God of Order is dead and nothing matters anymore.

When Special Agent Layne shows up on Vera’s doorstep, she learns he’s investigating a suspiciously—and statistically impossibly—lucky casino. He needs her help to prove the casino’s success is connected to the deaths of millions, and it’s Vera’s last chance to make sense of a world that doesn’t.

Because what’s happening in Vegas isn’t staying there, and she’s the only thing that stands between the world and another deadly improbability.

GRADE: A

REVIEW:

This book was bonkers—in the best way possible. One of the things I absolutely love about Chuck Tingle’s writing is how the horror hits fast and out of nowhere. You’re not easing into dread; you’re slammed into it headfirst, just like the characters. It’s chaotic, terrifying, and ridiculously fun.

The story follows Vera, a woman who survived a catastrophic disaster that wiped out 8 million people in a single day—including her own mother. She’s been living as a recluse for the past four years, until Agent Layne knocks on her door with a wild proposition: help him investigate a suspiciously lucky casino that might be tied to the tragedy that changed her life.

Mara Wilson nails the narration. She brings so much emotion and complexity to Vera, making the character feel fully alive—even as the world around her spirals into total madness.

This book is like Final Destination meets The X-Files, with a heavy dose of surreal, queer chaos. It’s gory, strange, and bursting with Tingle’s signature imagination. And in true Chuck Tingle fashion, amidst all the horror and sci-fi mayhem, there’s a powerful, affirming message: Bisexuals exist. Loudly, proudly, and yes—right in the middle of a conspiracy-laced nightmare.

If you love horror that’s fast-paced, weird, and unapologetically queer, this one’s a must-read. Highly recommend.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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He pretended to be human for seven years. Until he couldn’t.

PLOT SUMMARY:

He’s a traveling salesman named Paul Cattaneo, except he isn’t. He’s a Mirror Person–a hyper-empathetic eldritch abomination. He found the human Paul Cattaneo’s mangled corpse seven years ago and decided to mimic it. It’s just what Mirror People do. Mimic. Absorb. Control.

But breeding season for Mirror People comes around every seven years, inducing a sociopathic state… and Paul’s time is up. Unable to avoid the reality of what he truly is, Paul has a mental breakdown, goes on a cross-country road trip…and runs afoul of something far, far more inhuman and dangerous than himself.

GRADE: B+

REVIEW:

I’ll start by saying this is the first book I’ve read by this author—and I’m not usually drawn to cosmic horror. But the premise was just too compelling to pass up, and I’m so glad I gave it a shot.

The story follows Paul, who has lived for seven years as a human… until his dormant parasite instincts awaken. Suddenly, he’s forced to choose between embracing his true nature or continuing to pretend to be something he’s not. It’s a fascinating, unsettling concept—what does identity mean when your biology tells you you’re something else entirely?

There’s plenty of horror and gore for fans of the genre (which I definitely am), and the writing is sharp and confident. I won’t spoil the plot—this is a short novella, and I really think it’s best experienced with as little context as possible. Going in blind made the experience all the more intense and unpredictable.

After this, I’ll absolutely be checking out Huff’s earlier work and anything she releases next. If you’re into cosmic horror with a sci-fi twist, this is one to put on your list.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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PLOT SUMMARY:

What do you see…?

When the mutilated body of a young woman is discovered in the desert on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the detective assigned to the case can’t deny the similarities between this murder and one that occurred a year prior. Media outlets are quick to surmise this is the work of a budding serial killer, but Detective Bill Renney is struggling with an altogether different scenario: a secret that keeps him tethered to the husband of the first victim.

What do you hear…?

Maureen Park, newly engaged to Hollywood producer Greg Dawson, finds her engagement party crashed by the arrival of Landon, Greg’s son. A darkly unsettling young man, Landon invades Maureen’s new existence, and the longer he stays, the more convinced she becomes that he may have something to do with the recent murder in the high desert.

What do you feel…?

Toby Kampen, the self-proclaimed Human Fly, begins an obsession over a woman who is unlike anyone he has ever met. A woman with rattlesnake teeth and a penchant for biting. A woman who has trapped him in her spell. A woman who may or may not be completely human. 

GRADE: A

REVIEW:

Senseless was my first Ronald Malfi book, and I was hooked from page one! The story is told through three distinct narratives—Renny, Toby, and Maureen—and the audiobook narrators really brought each of them to life. These storylines don’t intersect until the very end, which keeps the tension building throughout.

Renny is a detective still grieving the loss of his wife, Linda, while investigating two eerily similar murders that happened a year apart. His chapters are steeped in emotional weight and slow-burning suspense. Maureen seems to have it all—she’s engaged to a successful movie producer—but things take a dark turn when she meets her soon-to-be stepson, Landon, whose presence immediately feels off. Then there’s Toby, a troubled man who believes he’s a fly. His descent into obsession is both bizarre and tragic, especially when he becomes fixated on a girl he believes is a vampire.

Each point of view brings its own unique horror: psychological, supernatural, and deeply personal. The mystery of the murders ties them all together in a way that’s both surprising and satisfying.

I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be diving into more of Malfi’s work. If you like eerie, layered horror with strong characters, give Senseless a try!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & Tantor Media for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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