Pages: 276
Published: 20th November 2021
Genre: Crime
Content warnings: Child murder, animal death/cruelty, injury detail, suicide
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…
In creating the most addictively compelling true crime podcast in the world of fiction, this series has hardly shied away from anything, and that has arguably never been more true than for the sixth instalment. We have another unspeakable crime which took place in unusual circumstances at an eerie location amid talk of a supernatural presence; tales of disturbed upbringings and broken homes; revelations becoming greater with each passing episode.
And once again, the deep, almost forensic dissection of complex and sensitive societal issues. With its thrilling yet gritty level of realism, it confronts and often presents differing moral arguments and polarising opinions, doing so in a most eloquent and frankly mesmerising way while presenter Scott King acts as the reliable, reassuring voice of reason. Here we may not have the most pulsating Six Stories of the lot, but it definitely seems like the most difficult to unpick.
This one focuses on the murder of 12-year-old Sidney Parsons in 1995, for which two boys of the same age were found guilty. That alone immediately makes it unsettling, but the atmosphere of the kilns where the crime took place and the stories of possession only add to that feeling, which is present throughout the entire book and could perhaps be described as a kind of sinister melancholy.
The suicide of a man at the beginning in the present raises questions, and as the episodes slide by it is interesting how the curious incidents described by some of the interviewees make the story far more complex and in some ways, indecipherable. Will Campbell and Terry Atkinson both provide haunting testimonies and indeed, never has this series entertained the thought of paranormal forces to such an extent.
Terry was a particularly sad case and his episode was the most moving of all, but easily the most thought-provoking was that of Katy, the officer at the institution where the two killers – Robbie Hooper and Danny Greenwell – were detained. It discusses the morals of revealing the new identities they were given upon release, and this section is brilliantly written, making Katy a compelling character in the process.
Even though the final episode is revealing in many ways, the one real disappointing thing about the book is that it fails to produce many answers at the end. While it was never going to draw any firm conclusions for what drove the two boys to commit the crime, it could at least have explained the circumstances of the suicide in the present and who exactly was the man that Kelly got to know.
Interspersed between the six episodes of the podcast are letters written by a particular character to his mother, which are quite affecting. It becomes obvious relatively early on who has written them. We also have items such as news articles and threatening emails sent to Scott King from an anonymous address, all of which cast a spotlight on the host and his role in the case.
These serve to highlight the fact that Scott’s role in events is being scrutinised more. He may be the host, but a lot of the cases he covers turn out to be quite close to home and that truly comes to the fore in a decidedly ominous ending. He frequently speaks about how he likes to rake over old graves and use the podcast as a kind of discussion group, but he is questioning himself by the time this one concludes.
It all leads to uncertainty as to what direction this series will take next, or if this really is the end and Scott King will be be as elusive as ever. With each passing book it continues to evolve, providing a refreshed take on a winning formula, and here the paranormal influences float very close to the surface. The murmurs of possession and the descriptions of eerie noises certainly puts you edge.
Atmosphere radiates during these moments and although the town of Ussalthwaite itself does not come across as a particularly threatening place, the area by the kilns where Sidney was found dead is a different story. It almost has something of a haunted vibe, which is exacerbated by Robbie and Danny’s hostile activities.
The writing is thoughtful and introspective, and Matt Wesolowski retains his amazing talent for creating believable characters who utter realistic dialogue. In the final two episodes here it carries an extra weight with the moral questions that are discussed, and in the meantime none of the plot strands lose their relevance even if they amount to little in the way of a payoff.
Overall, this is an impactful and compelling read, just like the other books that have gone before it. The narration is top-notch and as ever, the podcast format never grows tiresome, but the lack of answers towards the end was a bit frustrating. Whether or not Scott King will be back for more, the atmosphere of Ussalthwaite and the hints of evil possession will live long in the memory.
Not my absolute favourite Six Stories, but still an excellent read. The only things missing were a thrilling twist and a few more answers at the end.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 