Demon by Matt Wesolowski

It’s Mandie’s turn to share her thoughts on Demon by Matt Wesolowski. We’re both big fans of the series, loving the blend of mystery and the mysterious and were really looking forward to this latest instalment. Here’s what it’s all about:

About the Book

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 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, and King himself becomes a target of media scrutiny and the public’s ire, it becomes clear that whatever drove those two boys to kill is still there, lurking, and the campaign of horror has just begun…

Mandie’s Thoughts

It’s hard to believe that Demon is the 6th book in the series. With the podcast format each book seems both familiar and very different at the same time. This time Scott King is revisiting the murder of a 12yr old boy that took place 26 years ago. What is especially horrific is that two of his classmates were convicted of the crime and ever since have been known by the title the demonic duo.

This book for me seemed a little darker than the previous ones possibly because of the subject matter. One thing you can’t deny is that Matt Wesolowski certainly knows how to pack in the tension with each new perspective of events. You will find yourselves comparing the crime to real events that have happened but in a way that just adds to the mystery in the book as you are challenged to decide if people really are born evil or if it is a case of circumstance that makes them that way.

As you would come to expect from this series things are never quite black and white. The people who come forward to tell their version of events show a different side to some of the people involved that will have you wondering if justice was served or if there was more than one victim in the end. As ever there is always the element of local myth and folklore in the mix that muddy the waters of the investigations. 

I have really come to love the different voices that come out in these books. With each one being given their own “podcast” it is the ultimate multi viewpoint storytelling but in a way that does not confuse the reader but enhances their enjoyment. Each book is perfect as a standalone due to this unique presentation, but it has been an utter pleasure to start from the beginning to see just where the author will take this series to next.

About the Author

Matt Wesolowski is an author from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the UK. He is an English tutor for young people in care. Matt started his writing career in horror, and his short horror fiction has been published in numerous UK- and US-based anthologies such as Midnight Movie Creature, Selfies from the End of the World, Cold Iron and many more. His novella, The Black Land, a horror set on the Northumberland coast, was published in 2013. Matt was a winner of the Pitch Perfect competition at Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2015. His debut thriller, Six Stories, was a bestseller in the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia, and a WHSmith Fresh Talent pick, and TV rights were sold to a major Hollywood studio. A prequel, Hydra, was published in 2018 and became an international bestseller. Changeling (2019), Beast (2020) and Deity (2021) soon followed suit.

Follow the tour: