Six Stories (Six Stories, #1) by Matt Wesolowski

Mar 24, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Chelsea by: Orenda Books

Shelves: from-publisher

This was a little bitty book that packed a mighty wallop. WOW. I just keep saying that over and over. While I was initially drawn in by the cover, and we all know Chelsea is a sucker for pretty pictures, the inside is what sealed the deal. I've never been a huge listener of pod casts, not because I find them boring or unappealing, but due to the fact I usually can't squeeze in the extra time and find a quiet place to do so. This gave me the best of both worlds; I was able to read a book per my u This was a little bitty book that packed a mighty wallop. WOW. I just keep saying that over and over. While I was initially drawn in by the cover, and we all know Chelsea is a sucker for pretty pictures, the inside is what sealed the deal. I've never been a huge listener of pod casts, not because I find them boring or unappealing, but due to the fact I usually can't squeeze in the extra time and find a quiet place to do so. This gave me the best of both worlds; I was able to read a book per my usual routine while gaining the satisfaction of "listening" to a pod cast. It was brilliant. Utterly genius. I hate to hype this up too much, as I know when people do this to me it ends up making said book underwhelming in comparison, but this one was just SO good people.

This was part murder mystery, part character study, with just a tinge of horror which topped off a near perfect read, in my opinion. The idea was so unique and appealing; I feel as though I've started to grow stagnant in my mystery/thriller reads as there isn't much being published that I haven't read in some form before. Six Stories immediately tingled my spidey senses and I just knew it would end up being something special, mainly because it had the Orenda stamp of approval. By the way, I read somewhere the author wrote how grateful he was to Karen for giving him a chance when others wouldn't. I bet those ignorant turd munchers are kicking themselves in the face for missing out on what has turned out to be a buzz-worthy, highly anticipated read by many.

Ok, here's a secret; sometimes I get bored in novels that feature heavy characterization because I need all of the things to be happening for my easily distracted mind to stay focused. It's likely why I gravitate toward thrillers filled with suspense and YA novels of fantasy and adventure. My reading is typically an escape for me; I need something to take me away from kid's doctor and therapy appointments. All that to say, while this is heavy on the characterization, it is anything but boring. I am shocked at how full bodied and easily connected we are to the character's story when the book is only 225 pages long. I'm convinced that the format of "episodes" and current day scenes are what give this a special touch. It was a daring risk on the author's part, yet he pulled it off flawlessly. The thing that set this apart for me as a 5 star read was the fact that the author blurred the lines of reality and the paranormal; while reading the book you are wondering who really killed Tom Jeffries. Was it one of the fellow campers the night he disappeared? Was it one of the cultural legendary boogeymen? You'll have to read it to know more, but suffice it to say we receive full closure by the final page.

Before I sign out, I just wanted to touch on the issue of bullying and how it was portrayed in the book. I'm pleased the author not only included such a relative and timely problem, but didn't shy away from showing it's horror and unpleasantness to the full. I'm always appreciative of diverse characters being added into a book, and I felt the character portrayed with Autism was well done with respect and honor. Having a child with Autism, I could easily recognize the signs and symptoms, and I felt each scene with a realness others who don't experience that lifestyle on a daily basis might not catch as sensitively.

I'm not sure what else to say, other than READ THE BOOK! What do you have to lose? It's a teeny little thing, but I'm confident you'll be thinking about it long after you've closed the last page and moved on to the next. Highly recommended for those who enjoy crime fiction with a noir feel!

*Many thanks to Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to participate in the Blog Tour and share my review!
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Jun 07, 2017 Melissa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, suspense-mystery-thriller, 2017

This is a book that strives to bring something new to the suspense genre, riding on the coattails of the popular podcast Serial, urging readers to follow along and draw their own conclusions about the mysterious death at hand. If you haven’t experienced Serial (seriously, what are you waiting for?!), the format of this book and the many times the podcast itself is mentioned, just might drive you to give it a listen. Believe me, you won’t regret it; both seasons have proven to be wholly addicting This is a book that strives to bring something new to the suspense genre, riding on the coattails of the popular podcast Serial, urging readers to follow along and draw their own conclusions about the mysterious death at hand. If you haven’t experienced Serial (seriously, what are you waiting for?!), the format of this book and the many times the podcast itself is mentioned, just might drive you to give it a listen. Believe me, you won’t regret it; both seasons have proven to be wholly addicting and beyond intriguing true crime.

In fact, it was my love for the actual podcast that landed this work of fiction in my hands. Similar to Serial, this story is told over a series of weekly podcast episodes; six to be exact, hence the title. Sadly, I can’t say this book is anywhere near as gripping as the podcast it so willingly attached itself to. There’s nothing bold, noteworthy or even excitingly different about the plot itself, it’s simply the delivery that makes this feel shiny and new.

While I liked it enough to keep reading, I wasn’t gaga over the storyline or the cast of characters, like so many other readers seem to be. I guess, I shouldn’t be surprised, my picky ways tend to land me at a table for one quite often. Why would I think this particular book would be an exception?

The six people within the vicinity of Tom Jeffries that fateful night, twenty years earlier, are interviewed in an effort to unravel his mysterious death. The varying perspectives lend the plot twists, skew the attempts at nailing down a timeline, foil the flow of truth and manage to drum-up some doubt. What was absent was any inkling of feelings for these characters, on my part. To be blunt, I just didn’t care enough. Maybe it was the shorter length of the book or the fact that it was almost entirely a question and answer format (am I contradicting myself now?) that hindered any sort of emotional connection on my end.

And here I go wrestling with my own wishy-washy thoughts some more—there's one aspect of the ending I found surprising, but then there’s the part that was sort of expected. Ok, maybe expected isn’t the right word to use. I guess a better way to say this is—there are only so many possible motives—and leave it at that. Or, been there, done that . . . many times before.

While not horrible by any stretch of the imagination, this just wasn’t the stellar read I was hoping for. It’s not one I’ll look back on in a few months and reminisce about or feel the hankering to re-read. In fact, at this point in time, it feels all too forgettable. So far, it’s proven to be one that other suspense lovers are eating up though, so by all means, don’t let my sliver of discontent hold you back.

*Thank you to Orenda Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 07, 2017 Larry H rated it really liked it

I'd rate this 4.5 stars.

Wow, this was crazy good! I wasn't really sure what to expect but it definitely surprised me!

I may be in the minority, but I never listened to any of the Serial podcast. I know, I know...it was supposed to be fantastic, but strangely enough, I have a real problem focusing if I have to just concentrate on listening to something. Reading, watching television, listening to music are all fine, but listening to a podcast or an audio book doesn't work for me. I'm a little t I'd rate this 4.5 stars.

Wow, this was crazy good! I wasn't really sure what to expect but it definitely surprised me!

I may be in the minority, but I never listened to any of the Serial podcast. I know, I know...it was supposed to be fantastic, but strangely enough, I have a real problem focusing if I have to just concentrate on listening to something. Reading, watching television, listening to music are all fine, but listening to a podcast or an audio book doesn't work for me. I'm a little too manic, I guess!

Matt Wesolowski's Six Stories follows the work of investigative journalist Scott King, whose program of the same name explores complicated cases, looking at them from six different perspectives. (Get it? Six perspectives, six stories?) He doesn't have a particular purpose in selecting the case—he's not an advocate for freeing unfairly prosecuted criminals or looking to reopen cases, he's just fascinated by complicated cases.

King decides to take on the 1996 disappearance of 15-year-old Tom Jeffries, who went missing during a trip his Outward Bound-type group took to the Scarclaw Fell Woodlands Centre. Tom was one of five teenagers who participated in the trip, and none of his peers knew what happened to him—when they went to bed he was there, and when they awoke in the morning, he was gone. Tom's body wasn't discovered until a year later by the son of the man who bought the land where the Centre once stood. His death was ruled a "misadventure," and no one was found liable.

Twenty years later, King interviews many of those involved at the time—the leader of the outdoors group who took the teens on the trip, a man who became inadvertently enmeshed with the teens, and several of the participants themselves, as well as the man who discovered Jeffries' body. The story that emerges years later sheds new light on the events leading up to the night Jeffries disappeared, the dynamics of the group of teenagers and their sometimes-troubling behavior, the instances in which more adult supervision might have changed things, and the disturbing and bizarre legends and ghost stories about a sinister figure or creature who haunts the Fell.

"There is evil in the world. There is definitely evil in this world of ours. We carve monuments to our fallen, engrave them with the names of those whose lives were snuffed out when trying to stop evil. We don't forget."

What really did happen the night Jeffries disappeared, and why did it take a year for his body to surface? Was someone supposedly innocent actually guilty, or was there a supernatural force at play? Can our memories, our interpretations of events which occurred so long ago, particularly when we were young, be trusted, or is everything open to manipulation? Can the person who weaves the threads of the stories together be trusted either?

This was a tremendously compelling book, full of suspense and twists. While I might have had some suspicions about how things would unfold, Wesolowski really kept me guessing, and kept me hooked as if I were listening to one of his podcasts. The story is a little creepy, a little sad, a little frustrating, and a little confusing—just like life itself.

I'm still not 100 percent sure how everything tied together, or what really happened in the end, but I enjoyed the ride Wesolowski took me on. Definitely one of those books that grabs you and doesn't really let you go.

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo.... ...more

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Aug 01, 2017 Always Pouting rated it really liked it

The book is mostly made up of the transcripts of a podcast, well maybe not transcript but I can't think of a better word so fuck it, following a series on a murder that took place years ago during a camping trip. The podcast host, Scott King, interviews six different people who knew the victim, Tom Jeffries, and presents the circumstances around Tom's death. Tom was one of the kids in a group of five that belonged to a local wilderness club started by parents. On the day of one of the trips Tom The book is mostly made up of the transcripts of a podcast, well maybe not transcript but I can't think of a better word so fuck it, following a series on a murder that took place years ago during a camping trip. The podcast host, Scott King, interviews six different people who knew the victim, Tom Jeffries, and presents the circumstances around Tom's death. Tom was one of the kids in a group of five that belonged to a local wilderness club started by parents. On the day of one of the trips Tom disappears over night and isn't heard from until his body is found a year later. The mystery of Tom's death had never been solved, and as the podcast proceeds it becomes more ambiguous as to what exactly killed Tom.

Definitely 4.5 stars for this one because I read it all the way through in one sitting, though I was in the car and didn't have much else to do, regardless it kept my attention all the way to the end. I have seen Serial and though I don't listen to podcasts on my own much my boyfriend loves them so I have listened to a variety of them. I personally like podcasts and how they kind of play into the oral story telling tradition, though I do tend to forget I'm listening and miss chunks of what is being said. The book really captured my favorite parts of listening to podcasts though, especially ones that have a story line that they build up on through out the episodes. I think the book did an excellent job building up the suspense and I was basically dying of anticipation to know what had happened to Tom.

I also loved the underlying hints at some kind of monster being responsible for Tom's death and I love podcasts that tell stories about creepy supernatural things the most so that was a plus. The characters were all interesting as well and complex, all of them had their own strengths and weakness which makes a book infinitely better. The ending was the best though because even though it seems like I should've seen it coming somewhat because it wasn't out of left field, I really was not expecting it and god damn it it still felt extremely satisfying and wow like it makes just a fantastic story and imagine if something like this happened in real life that would be okay kind of shitty but at the same time I'd be so amused and just like how? Anyway definitely one of the better books I've read this year. ...more

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Aug 15, 2018 Debra rated it really liked it

"Don't fear the dark, dear, swift is the night,
For nothing will harm you, wrapped up here, tight.
That's just a shadow, dear, don't fear a sprite.
Don't pay your mind to the tricks of the light."

Fifteen-year-old, Tom Jeffries body has been found at an outward-bound center in Scarclaw fell one year after he went missing. His disappearance was investigated and chalked up to misadventure. Twenty years later, investigative journalist Scott King, decides to investigate the case. King has reached cult i "Don't fear the dark, dear, swift is the night,
For nothing will harm you, wrapped up here, tight.
That's just a shadow, dear, don't fear a sprite.
Don't pay your mind to the tricks of the light."

Fifteen-year-old, Tom Jeffries body has been found at an outward-bound center in Scarclaw fell one year after he went missing. His disappearance was investigated and chalked up to misadventure. Twenty years later, investigative journalist Scott King, decides to investigate the case. King has reached cult internet success. He keeps his face hidden as he wants the emphasis to be on story - the podcasts a.k.a. the six stories that give the reader/listener some insight into what happened that fateful night that Jeffries went missing. The podcasts focus on various people who were on the trip with Tom Jeffries or who had contact with the teenagers during 1996-1997. Each podcast is told from that person's point of view as they are being interviewed by King. Local folk legends/tales are also discussed and add to the creepiness of the story. King emphasized he is not there to judge or to determine for himself what happened, that it is up to the audience to come up with their own conclusions.

"There is evil in the world. There is definitely evil in this world of ours."

This book started slowly for me. This book isn't a fast-paced page turner but more of a character study on teenagers, the group dynamic, bullying, and those who encounter them. As the podcasts progress, I had no idea as to what could have happened to Jeffries. Did he fall into the Fell? Was he murdered? Did some dark spooky creature or a witch claim him? Were the dark tales real? Are there really things that go bump in the night? What I liked is that I was slowly sucked into the story and could feel the damp, cold, dreary atmosphere seep in. I found myself getting sucked into this book even though it is on the slower side, but it creates such an atmosphere that I was captivated before I even knew it. This book snuck up on me!

This one gets points for originality and for telling the story from various viewpoints without becoming boring or redundant. The various characters had distinct personalities which helped set the stage and move the story along.

Again, not a fast-paced book but one that slowly creeps up on you, gets under your skin and sends shivers down your spine.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

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May 22, 2017 Meredith rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Six Stories is a creepy, atmospheric, suspense filled psychological thriller fueled by unreliable memories coupled with fear, myth, and darkness.

“We like to give things names, personify our darkness.”

On a camping trip 20 years ago in eerie Scarclaw Fell, 15 year old Tom Jeffries went missing. His body turned up a year later. While police didn’t entertain murder at the time, his story made headlines and became a national sensation.

Told in the format of six podcasts covering Tom’s disappearanc ...more

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Feb 22, 2018 j e w e l s rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-bejeweled, audio

4 STARS

An unusual approach in a mystery book ALWAYS gets my attention! This one is presented in a podcast-style format. OH YES. YES. I do love me a crime podcast. By the way, this book keeps referencing SERIAL, but SERIAL is kind of old news by now. Can we talk about ATLANTA MONSTER? MY FAVORITE MURDER? CRIMINAL? SWORD & SCALE?

Sorry, I digress.

I wanted to love this book as much as my readerly friends all seem to love it. And I do love it, BUT…while innovative and brief (a very short little book ...more

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Jan 14, 2018 Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: twitter, orenda

Ingenious, inventive, gripping, unique, all and more of these words could be used to describe this wonderfully suspenseful book. "Six Stories" by Matt Wesolowski was an utter pleasure to read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It was such a refreshing change to read a story that's told in a stunningly original and modern way using up to date media such as podcasts. It's amazing how quickly you are hooked into the fabulous narrative as soon as you start reading, it really is an attention grabbing plot.
The Ingenious, inventive, gripping, unique, all and more of these words could be used to describe this wonderfully suspenseful book. "Six Stories" by Matt Wesolowski was an utter pleasure to read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It was such a refreshing change to read a story that's told in a stunningly original and modern way using up to date media such as podcasts. It's amazing how quickly you are hooked into the fabulous narrative as soon as you start reading, it really is an attention grabbing plot.
The body of teenager Tom Jeffries is found at an Outward Bound centre at Scarclaw Fell in 1997 and judged a misadventure - but not everyone is convinced. The truth of what happened in the beautiful but eerie fell is locked in the memories of a group of friends who embarked on that fateful trip. Ten years later elusive investigative journalist Scott King with his concealed identity and podcast examinations of complicated unsolved cases 'digging up the dead' makes him a cult internet figure. In a series of six podcast/interviews, King attempts to work out how the dynamics of a group of teenagers conspired with the sinister legends surrounding the fell to result in Jeffries’ mysterious death. As every interview unveils a new revelation, will what happened surrounding Jeffries' death be revealed and who is actually telling the truth?
Living in North East England myself I found the Northumberland setting to the story very captivating and the author (who is also from the North East) is fantastic in describing Scarclaw Fell in such atmospheric detail you'd think you were standing amongst the trees, ferns, wildlife and woodland paths yourself. The characters are just brilliant and I loved how the story was told through each of the teenagers involved now they are adults. After hearing one recollection you just had to read the next, forming your own opinion and view on the tragedy that happened.
I can see why "Six Stories" has so many glowing reviews, it truly is THAT good, guaranteeing to get under your skin. I also imagine the audible version will be fabulous too, its ready made for it. I also believe that YA readers would love this too with the angst teenager angle and without a doubt crime and mystery readers will devour this original and unique read.
Packing a punch, gripping and compelling with tremendous story telling I can't recommend it enough and can't wait to read the latest instalment in the Scott King series "Hydra" which looks equally as exciting.
5 stars ...more

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Apr 15, 2017 Zoeytron rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: new-fangled-e-reader, net-galley

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

Up from the depths of the murky muck of the marshland in Scarclaw Woods, a shambling figure emerges. All claws and teeth and long grasping fingers, and she is hungry. Is Nanna Wrack real or just the product of a stoner's wild imagination?

A group of bored teenagers encounter a childlike man, Haris Novak. He likes to watch the animals in the woods. He misinterprets the interaction between he and the teens, thinking he has found some friends. H ...more

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Apr 09, 2017 Linda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, 5-star-winners, mystery-thrillers, nature-themes, psychological-thriller

Raking through the earth of old graves.......

You know the thrill of it. The creep that slithers in from drawing out ancient tales of the undead. The inability to turn away when the whispers begin to ooze out of mouths recanting stories of those dark, gnarly figures that walk soundlessly through the night. Searching, clawing their way out to encompass the unsuspecting......

Matt Wesolowski presents a story that will have you checking under your bed for more than just those ol' dust bunnies who hav Raking through the earth of old graves.......

You know the thrill of it. The creep that slithers in from drawing out ancient tales of the undead. The inability to turn away when the whispers begin to ooze out of mouths recanting stories of those dark, gnarly figures that walk soundlessly through the night. Searching, clawing their way out to encompass the unsuspecting......

Matt Wesolowski presents a story that will have you checking under your bed for more than just those ol' dust bunnies who have long taken residence there. He creates this telling within the brillance of six podcasts focusing on the murder of a teenage boy in the countryside of Northumberland twenty years ago. The body had not been found until now. Scott King, the investigative journalist, manages the episodic series quite deftly while drawing the reader into the macabre events.

Scott King interviews the now adult teenagers, the chaperones, and a village man with special needs involved in the unfolding of events that took place in Scarclaw Fell that fateful night. Their stories almost form a literary escarpment in which the reader forms the uncertainty of those actions on the edge of reality. What actually happened so long ago? Will one ever really know?

Matt Wesolowski crafts his story with descriptors imbued with a deep physical sense. You seem to hear the crunch underfoot and experience the rawness of the swampy woodland that holds a death knell for the abandoned mine shafts hidden in the choke of winding growth.

This is a dark study in characterization like no other. Wesolowski almost forces you to walk around inside the heads of these people who hold onto their secrets like the sap adhering to those well-worn trees. But it is in the telling that Wesolowski reveals just enough with each podcast to have you perplexed.....perplexed with the inability to fit the puzzle pieces together.....and the fear that they just might.

I received Six Stories through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Matt Wesolowski and to Orenda Books for the opportunity.
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May 20, 2017 Jan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, suspense

What a unique read! Capitalizing on the recent success of the iTunes podcasts 'Serial', but in book form. This could have been a hot mess, but it is really well done. In fact I would bet that the audio is even better!

I grabbed this book from NetGalley after I kept seeing a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews. The marketing synopsis really doesn't do it justice, so once again Goodreads came through in directing me to a great read that I would have normally taken a pass on.

Strong in characterization, the ...more

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Apr 05, 2017 Jill McGill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, mystery-thriller, fiction

Dark… Twisted… Creepy… Crazy… Fantastic!!!

Matt Wesolowski is a natural born writer! It is very hard to believe that this is his debut novel.

This mind blowing novel is told in present day, 2017, through podcasts about the murder of a teenage boy, Tom Jeffries, that took place 20 years ago in 1997. With six podcast interviews and six transcripts of those interviews, Wesolowski’s story-telling is original, pure genius and works on so many different levels. He draws you in from the very first sente ...more

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Mar 25, 2017 David - proud Gleeman in Branwen's adventuring party marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Recommended to David - proud Gleeman in Branwen's adventuring party by: Chelsea Humphrey

Shelves: recommended-by-awesome-gr-friends, mystery

The amazing Chelsea from The Suspense Is Thrilling Me blog gave this book a "HOLY GUACAMOLE"! That right there is enough to convince me this is a must-read! ...more

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Dec 02, 2016 Liz Barnsley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have seen so many great reviews of Six Stories since I read it and have been patiently (??!!??) awaiting my turn whilst leading up to it with a Six Stories about Six Stories set of features but now here we are my day for the blog tour and I find myself speechless. Well ok not really but Six Stories is a book that rendered me speechless for a little while after finishing it.

There is actually no way I can improve on what everyone else has been saying, Six Stories is a genuine marvel of a novel w ...more

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Jan 31, 2018 Dennis rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, 2018-read, crime-fiction, contemporary

Six Stories has been on my radar since I saw everyone ranting and raving about it all summer long. I know that I'm a little late to the party, but honestly it was perfect timing for me to pick this read up. I've never listened to the podcast Serial, but I always hear water-cooler talk in the office about it. I'm more of a Bitch Sesh podcast listener #RealHousewives, but I do love crime-mysteries and figured that this story would be an original telling of a genre that has gotten so played out Six Stories has been on my radar since I saw everyone ranting and raving about it all summer long. I know that I'm a little late to the party, but honestly it was perfect timing for me to pick this read up. I've never listened to the podcast Serial, but I always hear water-cooler talk in the office about it. I'm more of a Bitch Sesh podcast listener #RealHousewives, but I do love crime-mysteries and figured that this story would be an original telling of a genre that has gotten so played out. I'm here to tell you ladies and gentlemen, Six Stories wiped the socks right off me! What an interesting, forward-thinking approach that (in my opinion) has reinvented the crime-fiction genre. Mr. Wesolowski, kudos to you for thinking outside of the box, while incorporating current pop culture phenomenon.

Six Stories mostly takes place in 2017, with Scott King as host and creator of Six Stories—a crime discovery podcast similar to the popular Serial. Scott's new series for his podcast will venture back to the 1997 murder investigation of teenager Tom Jeffries; found a year after in rural Scarclaw Fell. Scarclaw Fell is a popular forest consisting of acres and acres of wildlife brush for camping, hunting, and just outdoorsy "fun". As Scott King interviews Tom Jeffries's social circle, a picture begins to be painted that definitely should've been more accurately told back in 1997. Was Tom Jeffries murdered? Why did it take a full year for the body to be found? Why did someone want this teenager dead?!

Six Stories was a very interesting and dynamic read for me because I've never read a book that was told in the form of a podcast. Matt Wesolowski's approach to writing this story never ceased to amaze me and by the time we got to Episode 3, I really felt that I was reading the transcript of a podcast! It wasn't your typical [enter stereotypical crime-fiction plot here] kind of story, which I am truly grateful for. If you know me *somewhat* personally, you would know that thrillers, horrors, and crime-fiction novels are some of the only ways that my pea-brained attention span can focus. I really appreciate when an author can venture into a popular genre and deliver. I cannot wait to start Hydra as soon as possible. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 K. Elizabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle, owned, below-average, fiction, mystery, horror, 3-stars, reviewed

This was an interesting set-up for a book! I definitely recommend it to those into investigation and criminal matters.

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Mar 25, 2017 Crime by the Book rated it it was amazing

*screams* THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. Guys. Buy this book. JUST DO IT. ... ok but seriously, full review to come, but this book is AMAZING. Fiercely original, a puzzle that just hits you over the head with its final reveal.

Find my full review here: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2017/3... ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Nigel rated it really liked it

Generally I found that a very satisfying read. Normally I'd say that narratives that switch place, person, time can be rather irritating however this was very well crafted. Anyone who has listened to the Serial podcast will get the idea of this very easily. This story is mainly in the form of 6 "podcasts" about a boy who went missing on Scarclaw Fell. Why he died has remained a mystery for years until it is looked at by the investigative journalist behind this podcast. The steady reveal of event ...more

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Aug 12, 2020 Helga rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, british, mystery, series

There are stories that need to be told.

Scarclaw, where even in the daylight there is darkness; where monsters and sprites may be lurking in the marshes; where some ghosts never die; where In 1996, fifteen year old Tom Jeffries went missing; where his body was found a year later in the nearby marshland.

His death was ruled accidental. It was an open and shut case. Until it wasn't.

'Don’t fear the dark, dear, swift is the night,
For nothing will harm you, wrapped up here, tight.
That’s just a shadow, ...more

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Jun 28, 2018 Malia rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-suspense

Six Stories was not exactly what I thought it would be, compared as it was to the compulsively binge-worthy podcast Serial. It was the slow pace, which surprised me, but that did not stop me from enjoying the story, though that seems the wrong word to use for such a dark tale. The author is really talented in building a creepy atmosphere, even as the story is essentially told looking backwards in an interview-style format. I can't say the ending was terribly surprising for me, however, this does ...more

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Mar 21, 2017 Sandy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: atmospheric, psychological-drama, british-authors, suspense, mystery, coming-of-age

Scarclaw Fell is a wild area in Northumberland popular with hikers, cavers & climbers. Its beautiful but treacherous terrain is riddled with marshes, old mine tunnels & neolithic grave sites. In 1996, two adults & 5 teens arrived for a few days of R&R during school break. Sadly, one of them went missing & was never found.

In 1997 the land was purchased by Lord Ramsay, much to the dismay of locals & environmentalists. But for his son Harry, it was the perfect place to hang with a couple of friends Scarclaw Fell is a wild area in Northumberland popular with hikers, cavers & climbers. Its beautiful but treacherous terrain is riddled with marshes, old mine tunnels & neolithic grave sites. In 1996, two adults & 5 teens arrived for a few days of R&R during school break. Sadly, one of them went missing & was never found.

In 1997 the land was purchased by Lord Ramsay, much to the dismay of locals & environmentalists. But for his son Harry, it was the perfect place to hang with a couple of friends & plenty of booze. Or it was until they stumbled across the body. Tom Jeffries, the missing teen, is found.

Twenty years on Harry is approached by the enigmatic host of the podcast “Six Stories”. Scott King’s specialty is digging into old cases & retelling the events through multiple POV’s of the people involved. And although the Ramsays have never spoken publicly, Harry decides it’s time.

What follows are conversations between Scott & 6 of the people who were there in 1996. And just like any story, there are definitely 6 different versions. Some of their memories are shared but each has something unique to add that puts their own slant on what happened to Tom. As the conversations progress, ugly truths begin to emerge. All the participants are 20 years older now & able to look back on some of their youthful acts with clarity & regret.

As the series continues, it becomes extremely popular & reignites media attention. Everyone is on edge waiting for the final instalment & Harry begins to wonder if he made a terrible mistake. In alternate chapters, we walk with him as he visits the fell for the first time in years & reexamines everything that happened the night they found Tom’s body.

I don’t want to reveal any more of the plot as there are so many different twists & elements to the story. It’s much more fun to just “listen” to the podcasts as they unfold & see if you can guess the ending. The novel’s format is so clever & reels you in from the start. It’s a modern day version of a time when people sat around the radio listening to their favourite serials. The lack of visual distraction created an an intimacy between the faceless voices & listeners as they (and us) hang on every word.

There’s a tense, almost claustrophobic feel to the podcast chapters & it’s really tempting to race to the finish. Don’t. The devil is in the details & each of the people interviewed has a secret they’ve been keeping. Our walks with Harry are richly atmospheric & the fell itself becomes an ominous character that’s been looming over their lives for 20 years.

It’s a creepy & compelling story that also makes you think about larger issues. Some of the passages will give you goose bumps, some will have you checking the locks. There are no bells & whistles here, just great story telling that allows your imagination to run wild. What else do you need? ...more

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Oct 05, 2017 Katie Ziegler (Life Between Words) rated it really liked it

This was a fun thriller. I correctly guessed the killer early on, but there was a big twist at the end that I didn’t see coming, so that made up for it! What also made up for it: the interesting format. It’s told as if it were a podcast and each chapter is an episode, focused on a conversation with someone involved in the long ago murder being investigated. Maybe more like a 3.5-3.75 - a lot of fun, but not the best thriller I’ve ever read.

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Aug 28, 2020 Ellen Gail rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: freebie, first-reads

I’m not entirely sure what I expected this story to be. But it’s something altogether more chilling and better than I could have predicted.

"Horrible, right? We should have done something about it, shouldn’t we? We were fifteen; that’s what I have to keep reminding myself when I think about that day. We were just stupid children."

At slightly over 200 pages, Six Stories is a little book with a big punch! Riding the popularity wave of podcasts (which I feel has grown even bigger since quarantin ...more

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Dec 25, 2017 Shannon rated it it was amazing

Thanks to Janel over at keeperofpages for the recommendation. I loved loved this!! The setup of this story was so dope! Im definitely looking forward to hydra. Full Review to come 😜

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Oct 01, 2018 Paul Bryant rated it liked it

Shelves: novels, gangsters-floozies-and-creeps

I’m struggling to figure out why so many readers were knocked out by the originality of this book. Comments like

An intense, unforgettable, and gripping journey into the harrowing motives behind a gruesome act. Impossible to put down; absolutely brilliant.

And I’m Uh? What was that again? For a start there’s only one single dead teenager. That’s not very many. I prefer more than one dead teenager – three is usually when the fun really begins. But that’s just me. Secondly, there were a lot of chara ...more

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Jan 09, 2020 Evi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020

Six Stories was a great book to start 2020! 🍾

Complex characters ✔️
Creepy and dark atmosphere ✔️
Unique and exciting writing style ✔️

This was a perfect reading for me. I love when the characters are complex in a novel. We can see their behaviours and everything that happened through multiple point of views. The characters told their stories one by one in a podcast series.
Scarclaw Fell is a beautiful but dangerous place, and there are mysteries, legends and creepy stories about it. Chilling! 😱
The ...more

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Feb 23, 2017 The Book Review Café rated it it was amazing

All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com

If you are looking for a new and different type of thriller to read look no further than Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski it’s a classic murder mystery with a modern twist. The story is told through podcasts, which immediately piqued my interest, as it’s such a highly original concept to use in story telling. In the series of six interviews journalist Scott King investigates the truth surrounding the death of teenager Tom Jefferies who die All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com

If you are looking for a new and different type of thriller to read look no further than Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski it’s a classic murder mystery with a modern twist. The story is told through podcasts, which immediately piqued my interest, as it’s such a highly original concept to use in story telling. In the series of six interviews journalist Scott King investigates the truth surrounding the death of teenager Tom Jefferies who died two decades previously, each interview focuses on one of the friends who was there at the time, you exactly feel like your eavesdropping on someone’s conversation rather than reading the transcript from each podcast, uncomfortable maybe, but you just can’t pull yourself away. What follows is a captivating read that I found impossible to put down, and one I pretty much read in one sitting.

Six Stories is a penetrating and intelligent looks at the dynamics of a tight-knit group of teenagers and their subsequent behaviour. Each character has a story to tell some are more reliable narrators than others, but that’s what I absolutely loved about this book the author lets the reader reach their own conclusion as he skilfully reveals more about the events surrounding Tom’s death. The author expertly explores teenager behaviour, the emotions, feelings and confusion are very credible (yes I can just about remember my teen age years!), and like them or loathe them all the characters are superbly depicted.

Matt Wesolowski expertly pulls back the layers, revealing more in each interview, as the plot thickens I feel a genuine sense of unease take hold which stayed with me until the novel reached its conclusion. The author has has a unique writing style he sets the scene and creates an atmosphere that is both disturbing and eerie, beautifully descriptive, Scarclaw Fell is a place which will capture your imagination as you conjure up images that will both horrify and haunt you.

This book made for a unpredictable read as it was pretty much impossible to second guess this brilliantly told story, so I felt a constant sense of unease from the first page until the last. Unsettling and disturbing, the actions of the all too human characters lead to a tense and shocking conclusion that left me breathless. Six Stories is like no other book I have ever read it’s highly original and superbly executed, and makes for an absorbing and thrilling read. Matt Wesolowski is a refreshing and powerful new voice in crime fiction and is certainly one to watch out for. ...more

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Sep 04, 2018 Hannah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, crime

While looking for a new audiobook to listen to, I saw that this one is narrated by a whole cast of people – and I had just seen a positive review for this book that had been on my radar for a while, so it did seem like fate. And for the most part I had a lot of fun listening to this. Given that the book is told in podcast format, I do think that listening to it was the best idea.

Modelled after podcasts such a Serial, this book tells the story of a group of friends and the sudden death of one of ...more

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Mar 13, 2017 Meggy - Chocolate'n'Waffles rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Welcome to Chocolate'n'waffles. I'm Donna and this will be my one and only review-podcast.
In the next paragraphs, we will take a look at a book who has not left readers indifferent. For the past weeks, its cover has been spotted all over the blogosphere. We will try to understand and discuss the reasons behind its success.

Readers seek originality. After reading a few books from the same genre, one can become jaded with the same patterns being used over and over again. A usual example is the old

Welcome to Chocolate'n'waffles. I'm Donna and this will be my one and only review-podcast.
In the next paragraphs, we will take a look at a book who has not left readers indifferent. For the past weeks, its cover has been spotted all over the blogosphere. We will try to understand and discuss the reasons behind its success.

Readers seek originality. After reading a few books from the same genre, one can become jaded with the same patterns being used over and over again. A usual example is the old investigator in crime stories with a tendency to drink his lack of life and dozens of problems in whisky. The best books manage to surprise you with a fresh idea, or a different take on an old idea. A few twists and surprises, a good cast, the right combination of elements satisfy the avid devourers of stories. But few authors manage to find originality with a giant O. The one that will make readers go crazy and dash to the nearest bookstore / book selling website to experience the novelty.

Matt Wesolowski has found the key combination to create a chilling and unique story to capture the essence of betrayal, appearances, and truths.

Episode 1: The Format

Welcome to Chocolate'n'waffles. I'm Donna.
In this first paragraph, we'll take a look at what struck me first as the most appealing side of this story.

A podcast format. I love podcasts, I listen to the news in the car, to book-related podcasts while blog-hopping, and a podcast about happiness every Wednesday. But podcasts means voices, they mean an audio file. So of course, when I heard about a book built on a series of podcasts, I was curious. Because the thing, it could have missed its target. You need a writer who knows what he is doing to be able to put on paper the husky voice, the stammering, the hesitating of someone who is recalling an event or just talking about themselves. I never thought writing and talking, two ways of communication, would ever collide, but Matt Wesolowski created the perfect blend. I could imagine every different voice, I could hear every emotion as if they were coming from my headphones, and most of all, I could connect to the story behind. I became a listener of Six Stories, waiting for every new episode, trying to figure out what I was hearing, what connection or what detail would be revealed next. I became addicted to those minutes of dissection of a crime. I was a hooked listener with the need to know. Six Stories, by its format only, screams originality and oozes novelty and appeal.

This has been Donna at Chocolate'n'waffles raving about an author's ability to capture voices on paper.
Until next paragraph...

Episode 2: The Characters

Welcome to Chocolate'n'waffles. I'm Donna. Right now, we will take a look at the heart of the story: its characters.

Even when you have the perfect cooking set, you still need the best ingredients to rustle up the perfect dinner. In order for the format to work, you need to offer good enough material to keep your readers, or should I say listeners, interested. You need a full cast, unique voices, clever manipulators and sweet and trusting guests at your table. You need strong links between them all, some visible, others for you to discover.

A dead teenager in a remote area. His body found after a year. Decades later, a journalist decides to interview the people involved in the case. Only the truth can come up, right?

The podcast format allowed me to meet every character through their own words and Scott King's assessments. I could make my own opinion on what I was hearing and I just felt I was right there in front of every guest, hanging on to every word. There was no showing, only telling. Different conversations on the same events through eyes not always keen to dig up old stories, different versions of events told by different personalities and memories. Every new episode brought me a different light on a character I thought I had figured out during the previous episode. I was on my toes, trying to find the truth lying under the lies, making my way through an old case by holding the hand of a different protagonist in every episode. Being able to hear their voices in my head made me connect to some of them, made me feel sorry, angry, confused. The author made its characters feel real, for each word, each opinion, each hypothesis, felt genuine. I was eagerly listening to a bunch of adults recalling their teens years and the black cloud that had changed their lives forever, I was relishing in the stones being turned and the mud explored. The author awoke the blood-loving side inside of me, leaving me with no choice but to seek for the truth, even if it meant digging up the worst.

Groups have rules, a leader, followers, outcasts. Every episode of Six Stories creates a picture told by adults about their younger selves, leaving the listeners/readers wondering just who and how much they can trust, and how many bonds, quarrels, laughs, and disasters are left in silence, or told in purpose. We all know groups are tricky to dissect and understand. This particular group has all you need to keep you hanging to your book, scrambling at the pages to try and see through them.

I haven't named anyone here and I won't in the rest of the review because discovering those characters is the main reason for this story to be told.

This has been Donna at Chocolate'n'waffles praising an amazing array of characters you can only discover by letting your eyes fly on the paper and your ears catch the sound of their voices.

Episode 3: The Story

Hello, this is Donna on Chocolate'n'waffles, digging for the last time around Six Stories as much as she can without giving her readers any spoilers that would ruin the amazing experience that is this book.

For a format and characters to mix, you need a storyline that fits. Crime. Crime is a good choice. I admit I had never heard of crime stories discussed in podcasts. Now I am very interested in this and will research the matter. I find it crazy not to have thought about it before when I think of the number of real-crime shows my mother forces me to watch. I'm digressing here. Must be the format!

An old case, a chilling setting, a group of teens. Anything could happen. Something did happen. Now the magic of this plot is that it offers the readers/listeners drops of information they can never be sure of. Are the characters relatable? Are appearances what they seem? Are memories to be trusted? We are used to a hundred questions stuck in our heads with every crime story, but this time, we don't witness actions, we hear about them, and you can only rely on bit of recollections, impressions and old feelings that left me with a constant feeling of details being left in the dark, because let's be honest, no one tells the entire truth when they are involved, and the mind only allows you to remember what it wants you to. This helped build a tension I thought could never be summoned by a simple and harmless podcast. I was left in doubt all the way, crossing statements and looking for answers to questions that were left hanging in the air.

The fact this story doesn't involve the police at all is genius. A journalist picks a story and takes a look at everything and everyone, giving the book a false impression of detachment. I will always be drawn to the journalistic edge but Matt Wesolowski took it to a different and very satisfying level.

The chapters are split between the interviews and a narration that takes you right where the worst took place and I was comforted in my choice to dislike camping and the outdoors in general. The frightening descriptions make the setting of the crime absolutely creepy and turns a beautiful but dangerous place into an eerie and living location. The place literally breathed and I could smell its fetid odor emitted from the pages.

As the story unfolded, I just couldn't stop reading and was so happy to be spared the wait for another episode.

A dead teenager, a body found a year later, in itself, this doesn't sound original, don't you think? Well, think twice. This story is not what it seems. Nothing is what it seems here, and readers will be left surprised, gasping, shocked and asking for more.

This was Chocolate'n'waffles last episode of her only written podcast created to tell readers to use their eyes and ears and prepare themselves for one of the most unique tale they will ever get the chance to read, or better, hear. If there is one thing Six Stories is, it is marvelously original and dark. That makes two things, but my podcast, my rules. Now I'll say this, don't miss out on this book!

This review was originally published on my blog. The rating was rounded up from 4.5 to 5 stars. ...more

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Mar 25, 2017 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: physical-arcs, best-of-2017

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

Orenda Books has a knack for publishing unique, fresh books under the umbrella of crime fiction and once again, I’m completely blown away by one of their books. Six Stories is a wholly original, modern twist on a classic murder mystery. There are six distinct stories, six very easily distinguishable voices used in this podcast style book. Tom Jeffries was fifteen when he disappeared in 1996 and his body was found a year later. Twenty years lat All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

Orenda Books has a knack for publishing unique, fresh books under the umbrella of crime fiction and once again, I’m completely blown away by one of their books. Six Stories is a wholly original, modern twist on a classic murder mystery. There are six distinct stories, six very easily distinguishable voices used in this podcast style book. Tom Jeffries was fifteen when he disappeared in 1996 and his body was found a year later. Twenty years later and Scott King, a podcast host decides to feature the story on his podcast. What happened the night he disappeared? Why did it take a year for his body to be discovered? And most importantly, who killed him?

The format of this book really made it standout from the crowd for me. I loved the conversational style it provided, it really felt like I was listening to a true crime podcast. Wesolowski did a phenomenal job of giving each character a clear, unique voice and I couldn’t help but think the audiobook version of this must be superb. As my husband isn’t a reader I’m thinking we need to listen to it together, but I digress. As each podcast comes to a close, more truth is revealed, but more questions also arise. Who is actually reliable and trustworthy? Seeing as how the events in question occurred twenty years ago, everyone’s recollections are hazy at best making it all the more complicated to put all the puzzle pieces together. Everyone interviewed by King is directly involved in the case and they all add a new twist to things, leaving you to draw your own conclusions as to what to believe, or not to believe. As the layers are slowly peeled back, secrets are unveiled that finally shed light on what truly happened.

This was an unsettling read, one that makes you feel like evil is lurking just around the corner, that leaves a pit of uneasiness in your stomach. Scarclaw Fell was hauntingly atmospheric and a ideal setting for such a tragic event. The whole thing was brilliantly, cleverly executed and a highly immersive read. You could feel the chill in the air, hear the sounds of the forest, see glimpses of the unknown skulking about. The ending was utterly perfect, I really can’t find fault with any aspect of this one and I’m praying that Wesolowski is currently working on his next book. ...more

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