Audiobook Review – Demon

From Goodreads:

Scott King’s podcast investigates the 1995 cold case of a demon possession in a rural Yorkshire village, where a 12-year-old boy was murdered in cold blood by two children. Book six in the chilling, award-winning Six Stories series.

In 1995, the picture-perfect village of Ussalthwaite was the site of one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, in a case that shocked the world. Twelve-year-old Sidney Parsons was savagely murdered by two boys his own age. No reason was ever given for this terrible crime, and the ‘Demonic Duo’ who killed him were imprisoned until their release in 2002, when they were given new identities and lifetime anonymity.

Elusive online journalist Scott King investigates the lead-up and aftermath of the killing, uncovering dark and fanciful stories of demonic possession, and encountering a village torn apart by this unspeakable act.

And, as episodes of his Six Stories podcast begin to air, King himself becomes a target, with dreadful secrets from his own past dredged up and threats escalating to a terrifying level. It becomes clear that whatever drove those two boys to kill is still there, lurking, and the campaign of horror has just begun…

I have always enjoyed these books and have always recommended them in audio and this one is no different. Experiencing them in audio adds so much more to them as you forget you are listening to an audiobook and go into true crime podcast mode. The use of a full cast to record them makes them feel like a real podcast, which makes them all the more thrilling.

I have to admit I think this for me was the weakest of the series so far. While the mystery was interesting and the history of the village, its landscape etc was just as well plotted as the other 5 books in the series the ending for this one just lacked the punch that the others had. It all just seemed a little blah at the end. While, it is usual for these books to be more open ended. Much like true crime podcasts it allows the reader to decide was it supernatural or was it mundane, there is usually a little final act twist that make me gasp but this one just fizzled out which was a little disappointing. I just didnt find it as impactful as the others in the series.

That being said it was still a really engaging read, taking us back to the 1990’s again and building such an atmospheric picture of the time and the events that happened in this story. I honestly could not recommend this series enough to those that love a good thriller.