December Park

By: Ronald Malfi

Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

In the fall of 1993, the quiet suburb of Harting Farms is shocked when children begin to vanish, and one is found dead near December Park - a great, sweeping expanse that is sunken below the streets and surrounded on three sides by vast woodlands, a place children believe is haunted. Newspapers call the abductor the Piper because he has come to lead children away, while kids whisper darker names for him in the school halls. Angelo Mazzone and his friends discover a link to the dead girl and take up the search for the killer, vowing to stop the Piper's reign of terror. Their teenage pledge becomes a journey of self-discovery and an odyssey into the darkness of their own hometown.

©2014 Ronald Malfi (P)2017 Journalstone Publishing

Loved this one. Written and narrated very well.

Welcome to Harting Farms. Home of The Piper. Oh wait, that’s not really a good thing.

Simply calling this one a “coming-of-age” tale really doesn’t do the story justice. It is more than that. It is a nostalgic tour of small town childhood in the early 1990’s, as five schoolyard friends are thrust into a hunt for the serial killer that has gripped their town in fear and paranoia. Everyone is suspect. Every one of their acquaintances is a potential victim. Including them.

I have really become a big of Ronald Malfi. Dude can write. Thrillers, horror, mystery, crime/drama. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. He’s good. Real good. Definitely earned a spot on my must read author list. If you haven’t read him yet, then you are missing out.

The dialog and action in this one really rang true for me. I was more a child of the 80’s than 90’s, but kids are kids and Malfi deftly navigates the wonder and thrill of being on the younger side of the teenage years in a (somewhat) small town.

Very well done and put together. A solid 4.5+ Stars and Highly Recommended.

Beware the Piper!

At its heart December Park is a murder mystery. The fun and listening enjoyment comes from Ronald Malfi's talent at creating completely realistic characters and an immersive atmosphere. In this case using teens in a small suburban town gripped by a rash of child disappearances. Great story and narration.

Silly and Juvenile

About 25% into this book, I had to go back to Audible to check and see if it was in the Young Adult category and I had somehow just missed it. Not. Story is totally implausible, dialogue is inane and childish and yet at times, the 15 yr old narrator speaks like he is F. Scott Fitzgerald or Ernest Hemingway. Cannot believe I wasted all of my time trying to get to the end of this one, finally hoping at the end that the Piper got the entire Goon Squad.

Great boys tale!

This book is at heart a tale of teenage boys while having lots of tension, it is at heart a tale of the bond teenage boys have.

didn't finish...it never went anywhere

7.5 hours into the book and the plot still hadn't advanced to any meaningful point

worst book ever!

This book just drones on and on and on! Every little tiny detail doesn't need to be written down. There is absolutely nothing "horror" about this book ,all it is is description of what kids do

Garbage

Long and exhausting. This book could have been four hours and you wouldn’t have missed a thing. It is also the worst narration I’ve ever listen to.

Just wasn’t what I thought it would be

I couldn’t get into the book. It is like a story or song that you almost like but the flavor is too weak or just off in beat. Good twist to the end.

The narrator made me stop listening

The story was already subpar but Jesus the narrator is God awful. He pronounces Madonne Madon... Obviously never been around an Italian person in his life. And his cadence is like a psycho robot.

Excellent

Not what I expected. Kept me guessing until the end. You won't be disappointed. Wow

Absolutely Brilliant

I rarely will write a more glowing review for a book. I feel as if I have been in the world of December Park for months as I have been unable to 'put this book down' or rather turn it off. It is not a short book but it occupies a world that is a mixture of Famous 5, Hardy Boys and maybe even a little of To Kill A Mockingbird, as the depiction of the world of teenagers is depicted so well but within thr context of young adults on the brink of turning into adults. The story is gripping, and it is very well read. I loved it and am currently in that state where I wish it had not ended.

I didn’t want it to end.

Beautiful story with wonderfully vivid characters that’ll take you right back to childhood, long summer days riding bikes plus all the excitement and drama that went with it.