Growing up in Black Mouth, a dying mining town, Jamie and his best friends, Clay and Mia, are misfits brought together by “The Magician”, who teaches them simple magic tricks, but to learn real magic, they will have to accompany him into the “Well”. What follows is so traumatizing it’s changed the trajectory of Jamie’s life, and as an adult, he’s battling alcoholism. The friends are brought back together more tan two decades later, when Mia is sure she’s seen The Magician. Malfi is the best, most literate horror writer of the 21st century; many compare him to Stephen King, but the truth is, he’s better, scarier and mush more fun to read

4.3 stars
"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 "

"Do you want to see a magic trick" That quote will creep me out until the end of time.
This book was very interesting, it had creepy elements but I wouldn't call it a full blown Horror book. In my opionin it was more of a thriller/ mystery with paranormal elements.
What I did appreciate, was how Ronald Malfi discussed serious subjects. I felt educated on the human condition, and it helped widen my perspective on mental illness, and how trauma can correlates with certain addictions.
Also, it made me ponder about the ideology of nature vs. nurture. Are we born to be not evil and its our experiences and enviorment that make us evil or is it inherently in certain people who are evil no matter what they experience.
I found this book to be engaging at times, however there were lulls in the book that seemed drawn out and I found myself losing interest.
The ending took a little longer that I would have liked but once it got there, it was filled with so much excitement and action that I remembered why I liked this book from the begining.
All in all, I felt this book is worth purchaing and the audiobook is also worth purchasing.

4 stars

Folks looking for a creepy, insidious, strong-threads-of-horror-through-the-thriller vibe will be pleasantly disturbed by this newest effort from Malfi. The narrator of the audio version is excellent, so for maximum impact, have a listen, if possible!

The connections between this novel and _It_ are apt. That tie made me nervous because any new book that gets lumped in with a classic can't possibly live up, but for me, this one possesses some striking similarities in an appealing way AND it has its own sense of originality. Thus, fans of King's work may find themselves interested in the communal effort of adults who were also childhood friends and who were - and are again - facing off against one heck of an adversary.

Jamie, the m.c., is flawed in the ways that a horror protagonist should be. He's struggling with unimaginable childhood trauma, with recent trauma, and with his own alcoholism. When he's forced to return to the location of much of his childhood trauma, it's no wonder that it all comes flooding back.

The character work here is noteworthy. I love the distinct ways in which each character is flawed or feels flawed, and though not everyone overcomes their lasting demons, there is a satisfying sense of closure that occurs by the end. These factors - coupled with the fast pacing of the plot - make me certain I'll be jumping back into Malfi's earlier works and now be on the lookout for any future efforts.

Flip the lights on, say "no" to the backwoods carnival, and press play for a thrilling time.