Series: Six Stories #4
Published by Orenda Books on December 24, 2019
Format: eBook, Paperback, Audiobook
Source: Bought
Pages: 242
Amazon UK
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Also by this author: Changeling, Six Stories, Hydra, Deity , Demon
Elusive online journalist Scott King examines the chilling case of a young vlogger found frozen to death in the legendary local ‘vampire tower’, in another explosive episode of Six Stories…
In the wake of the 'Beast from the East' cold snap that ravaged the UK in 2018, a grisly discovery was made in a ruin on the Northumbrian coast. Twenty-four-year-old vlogger, Elizabeth Barton, had been barricaded inside what locals refer to as 'The Vampire Tower', where she was later found frozen to death.
Three young men, part of an alleged 'cult', were convicted of this terrible crime, which they described as a 'prank gone wrong'. However, in the small town of Ergarth, questions have been raised about the nature of Elizabeth Barton's death and whether the three convicted youths were even responsible.
Elusive online journalist Scott King speaks to six witnesses – people who knew both the victim and the three killers – to peer beneath the surface of the case. He uncovers whispers of a shocking online craze that held the young of Ergarth in its thrall and drove them to escalate a series of pranks in the name of internet fame. He hears of an abattoir on the edge of town, which held more than simple slaughter behind its walls, the tragic and chilling legend of the ‘Ergarth Vampire'…
Both a compulsive, taut and terrifying thriller, and a bleak and distressing look at modern society's desperation for attention, Beast will unveil a darkness from which you may never return…
Back again with Scott King and the fallout from Challenging. I loved the new style of interviews on the audiobook. The background noises when Scott was interviewing people, subtle things like the clock ticking in the Bartons front room, the voices in the cafe when interviewing Amirah. I thought it all added to the intensity and intrigue of the story. I was a bit miffed at first that narrator had changed for Scott but after a while, I became accustomed to the new guy and I liked his voice (Still miss the original Scott though).
I will admit, I got impatient over Christmas as I knew I couldn’t get back to the audiobook anytime soon. So I read the rest of the book, I say read, I flew through it. I just love how we think one thing about the story and then Scott interviews someone and the whole dynamic changes. Is Lizzy B really as loveable as we are led to believe?
Like Hydra, we get a bit of closure, still left with so many questions but there is some closure. Just not the type you imagine. It leaves you wanting and so much hearsay for you to make up your own minds.
I thought the idea of the vampire was ingenious and such an interesting concept. Once you saw it from this point of view, everybody started to appear slightly different. The rose-tinted glasses started to fall, and you are exposed to some harsh realities of the characters.
I seriously do love this series, it is just so refreshing and my favourite way to enjoy these is by listening to the audiobook. I just love how realistic it feels, how as I have said previously, you feel these are real stories and not a work of fiction. This is the power that Matt’s words and his lead character Scott has over you.
Scott is so diplomatic unless riled. He really does look at every angle, with you nodding your head in agreement. He asks all the right questions and questions the morality of everyone’s actions. He voices what we think which I feel is a damn fine way to write this character.
I just love this series. As long as there are unsolved crimes to look at, there will always be Scott King. If not, I am sure someone will entice him out of retirement.
Right off the read Deity now.
Until the next time xxx
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