Little Girls

Laurie grew up with a harsh, unkind father and her childhood was full of rules. The most important one was to never open the door at the top of the stairs. Years later and miles away, Laurie thinks she’s left the past behind her, but all that changes when she has to return home to settle her father’s estate. At least this time she’s not alone, she brings her husband and ten year old daughter with her. But her past rises up to meet her and Laurie can’t help wonder if there might be something residual lingering in the house. She’s definitely freaked out by her daughter’s new friend, Abigail, who looks exactly like the little girl who lived and died next door when Laurie was a little girl

If I could give this book more stars I would. I loved every second of this creepy , twisty book. It has all the elements of a scary time, creepy house, child ghost , unexplained deaths. I honestly did not know which way this story would go and I liked that! Unpredictable , creepy and scary. This book will keep you up all night

Absolutely fantastic.

Little Girls is a brilliant horror novel that is sure to make you uncomfortable in every way possible. A traditional ghost story with a horrific twist that will leave you wanting more even at the end.

After learning that her father has passed away, Laurie and her family make the trip to Maryland to her childhood home to deal with her father's possessions. Most of which he decided to leave to Laurie in his will.

What starts off as a routine suicide by an older adult that suffered from debilitating dementia, turns into the rollercoaster of a lifetime for Laurie, her husband Ted, and their daughter Susan. Now tasked with determining if her father's rantings were related to his dementia, or if he really was being haunted, Laurie uncovers chilling secrets about her father that no one knew.

Absolutely fantastic.

Wow ... a very thrilling novel. I nearly read it twice!

I really like the way the author builds the story, and is able to incorporate a couple of really surprising twists, but without getting too drawn in to the murkier topics. Overall, both the story and writing are skilful and engaging, and totally deserving of A Bram Stoker award nominee.

4.5 stars!

LITTLE GIRLS is an atmospheric, supernatural, gothic-style read that flowed perfectly for me from beginning to end. From the very start, when Laurie Genarro, with her husband. Ted. and daughter, Susan, travel to Laurie's father's estate after his apparent suicide, you can feel that nothing is what it seems on the surface. Laurie's unease continues to build--whether from the memory of a childhood friend's death, or her own mental issues--the tension relentlessly ratchets up. There were quite a few twists to the story; some of which I suspected, and others that came as a complete surprise.

Malfi keeps on adding to the suspense with small occurences that hint at a much deeper significance, and his incredibly descriptive prose. In one scene, Laurie comes upon a small greenhouse that her father used to tend: "The smell coming from the structure was rank enough to transcend olfaction; it was as if all of her five senses were capable of being brutalized by the horrific odor of rotting vegetation."

If you're looking for a quick blood-drenched massacre, you won't find that here. What you will find is a quiet, stealthy horror that will have you holding your breath until the final page. In terms of atmospheric dread and fear, Malfi is one of the best authors around today that consistently delivers.

Highly recommended!

*I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*