Published by Orenda Books on June 1, 2018
Format: Audiobook
Source: Bought
Pages: 258
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Also by this author: Changeling, Six Stories, Beast, Deity , Demon
Elusive online investigative journalist Scott King investigates the case of Arla Macleod, who bludgeoned her family to death, in another episode of the chilling, award-winning Six Stories series.
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A family massacre A deluded murderess Five witnesses Six stories Which one is true?One cold November night in 2014, in a small town in the north west of England, 21-year-old Arla Macleod bludgeoned her mother, father and younger sister to death with a hammer, in an unprovoked attack known as the Macleod Massacre.
Now incarcerated at a medium-security mental-health institution, Arla will speak to no one but Scott King, an investigative journalist, whose Six Stories podcasts have become an internet sensation.
King finds himself immersed in an increasingly complex case, interviewing five witnesses and Arla herself, as he questions whether Arla’s responsibility for the massacre was a diminished as her legal team made out.
As he unpicks the stories, he finds himself thrust into a world of deadly forbidden ‘games’, online trolls, and the mysterious black-eyed kids, whose presence seems to extend far beyond the delusions of a murderess…
Dark, chilling and gripping, Hydra is both a classic murder mystery and an up-to-the-minute, startling thriller, that shines light in places you may never, ever want to see again.
Gah, I love this series and I am just getting a chance to catch up with Book 2, read these completely out of order! I first tried to get into this a while ago and I will admit I struggled at first. I then stopped and tried again…boy! I blasted the audiobook in just over a day!! I LOVED IT!! I have said it before and I say it again, the idea of telling the story via a podcast is ingenious. The cast for each podcast, the voices is just hypnotic.
The story of Arla was fascinating, she was troubled and the talk of the BEK (Black Eyed Kids) and the Elevator Game and many others were chilling but an epic addition to the book to add a supernatural element, just enough to make you doubt whether Arla was indeed “crazy” or truly haunted.
I love this series, I love listening to Scott and his interviews. I love discovering the case and what may or may not happen in said interview. It was cleverly done and then the clarity for the reason to why this book is called Hydra was just spot on.
I wish there was more with Arla, I wanted a finality on certain aspects but that is what I love about it, it’s a cold case, it’s not going to be resolved, you are left with questions and you question what you believe. During that last interview with Arla, right at the end, my heart broke and I am not ashamed to admit but I cried. WOW!
Matt is an absolute god with the words and this series. Literally. He has created such a legend with Scott King. What is truly amazing is that despite knowing this is a work of fiction, you still have that nagging doubt that maybe it’s not. The way everything is carried out within these pages have you doubting that it is fiction. What is awesome too, is the fact they are crime thrillers but they set you on edge with the supernatural elements that are weaved seamlessly into the story. You still google Arla Macleod and her story, because these people, the story and the case feel real. It is hard to get around the fact that it’s not.
Every book I am blown away by them and I am so glad that I have been able to savour this series and not rush it. They are addictive and they are mesmerising, I just can’t get enough of them! Seriously! I can’t wait to jump on to the next book for me to read Beast! I am excited for sure! I could seriously gush all day if you are like me and haven’t caught up with the series – blinking do it!
Until the next time xxx
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Kelly says
This is still my favourite Six Stories audiobook, Jane Slavin did such an amazing job with Arla!