I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was not familiar with Ronald Malfi’s work when I received the opportunity to review Little Girls, but the premise was intriguing. By the end of the book, I had become a fan and will be seeking out more of Malfi’s books.

Little Girls is the story of Laurie Genarro, who has returned to her childhood home after her father’s passing. He was an old man, but there was nothing natural about the manner in which he died. Laurie moves into the house with her husband and daughter, with the intention of preparing the old home for sale. Her father’s caretakers tell Laurie about her father’s ranting in the throes of his dementia, and she can’t help but wonder if there was any truth to his fear. What if something was trying to get into the house? Laurie is also unsettled by her daughter’s new friend; Abigail looks exactly like her own childhood friend Sadie, who died thirty years ago.

This was an amazing book. Every time it seemed like logic and reason were going to provide an explanation for the strange events, something would happen to justify the fear. Laurie searches for answers, but only finds more questions. The house seems to be affecting her much more than her husband and daughter, and her actions begin to seem erratic. Is there something in the house that is causing this or is it all psychological?

I would absolutely recommend Little Girls. This book kept me wondering until the very end, and even then, I can’t quite explain what happened. Malfi takes the story in a different direction that what might have been expected, but this only enhances the suspense. He does a wonderful job of building suspense, and there were many moments when I was legitimately scared. Perception, memories, and reality have all been distorted.