[From the Vault] Ronald Malfi & Can Death Do Us Part?
Summary
Neil McRobert interviews horror author Ronald Malfi about his novel *Come With Me*, a murder mystery and road trip story set in the Mid-Atlantic. Malfi discusses the book’s origins in the Capital Gazette shooting and his personal grief, alongside its exploration of marriage secrets and the ambiguous supernatural entity known as Gas Head. The conversation also touches on the influence of true crime and the eerie, post-industrial landscapes that serve as the novel's backdrop.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Estee Lauder Glimmer
Sponsor: Coca-Cola
Host intro and novel draft update
Overview of 'Come With Me'
Recording conditions and guest introduction
Guest background and Mid-Atlantic region
Book release and synopsis
Plot: Grief and the wife's secret life
Style: Character-driven American storytelling
Discussion of previous works
Personal inspiration: Friend's death
Influence of 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark'
Media cycle and unsolved deaths
Narrative voice and depicting grief
Balancing genre plot with emotional depth
Theme: Marriage secrets and self-identity
Character arc and final reveals
The title refrain and cosmic clock
Music recommendation and mood shift
Origins of the serial killer plot
Sponsor: Shopify
Sponsor: Estee Lauder Glimmer
The Gashead entity and ambiguity
Local legends and pollution
Setting: Post-industrial decay
Evil places and environmental horror
Visual palette and cinematic writing
Film adaptation news
Career breakthrough and publisher
Prose style and editing process
Book recommendations
Closing remarks
Sponsor: Estee Lauder Glimmer
Sponsor: Coca-Cola
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