1997. Scarclaw Fell. The body of teenager Tom Jeffries is found at an outward bound centre. Verdict? Misadventure. But not everyone is convinced. And the truth of what happened in the beautiful but eerie fell is locked in the memories of the tight-knit group of friends who took that fateful trip, and the flimsy testimony of those living nearby.
2017. Enter elusive investigative journalist Scott King, whose podcast examinations of complicated cases have rivalled the success of Serial, with his concealed identity making him a cult internet figure.
In a series of six interviews, King attempts to work out how the dynamics of a group of idle teenagers conspired with the sinister legends surrounding the fell to result in Jeffries’ mysterious death. And who’s to blame… As every interview unveils a new revelation, you’ll be forced to work out for yourself how Tom Jeffries died, and who is telling the truth.
I was really excited to start reading Six Stories because I had heard so many great reviews about it being a bit different from the normal thriller books. Now having read it I have to agree, I think the way the story is told has something refreshing about it and makes reading it new and enjoyable.
Six Stories is set out as six podcasts, and tells the story of the discovery of a body who is of a teenager who went missing twenty years before. The podcasts focus on six different characters who have a story to tell about the missing teenager. As you continue to read through the different podcasts you start to piece together what actually did happen to the teenager.
I think the format of using podcasts to tell the story is very unique and something very different from normal thriller stories. Reading about one persons views and opinions one at a time makes you able to full immerse yourself in the story and makes you feel that you are a detective trying to solve the mystery. The book way be short but that doesn’t mean that the story is not fully developed, because the podcasts delve into the characters more than normal books and you feel like you really know the characters after reading each podcasts.
Another plus about this book is that you are able to put it down and leave it for a while, and then dive back into it again and still remember where you left it. Most books I try to finish in a couple of days, but because this book was very heavy on the characterisation, it can become very heavy to read. So I did read one podcast then read something else for a bit then go back to reading another podcast. I found this a great way to read this book because it made the mystery last longer, and it also made me think more about the book and its characters. This is the first time I have done something like this, and I don’t think this method would work well with other books, but for me it definitely worked. So if you find yourself getting too bogged down with information, then try reading something else for a bit and then go back and read about more.
Overall I have to say Six Stories is an engaging and refreshing read, that will leave you immersed in the story and its characters. If you are looking for a new take on the thriller genre then you should definitely check this book out, you will not be disappointed.
I rate this book 4/5 stars
***I was sent a copy of this book to review. Everything in this review is my own honest opinions.***
Mike Reads 