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billymac1962's review against another edition
5.0
Another winner from Matt Wesolowski, this his third volume in the great Six Stories series.
In case you don't know, these volumes are like reading transcripts from the Serial podcast (for example), where there is a cold case and the six stories are interviews from six different people. There may or may not be supernatural elements...
These novels could easily be turned aside for being Serial knockoffs, but that would be a huge disservice. So far all three of them have been highly engaging and the stories irresistible. They are the perfect reads for rescuing anyone from a reading slump.
Changeling surrounds the 30 year-old case of a missing 7 year-old boy, Alfie. His father had taken him from his drunken mother's home on Christmas Eve and stopped his car beside a suspected haunted forest to investigate a strange sound coming from the car. When he returned to the inside of the car, Alfie had vanished.
Half of the excitement of these books is wondering who the next interviewee is going to be, and I enjoyed the story for the most part. I will say that I wasn't quite as enthralled as I was with the previous volume (Hydra), and I was feeling a four star rating throughout.
Until I finished it. Wesolowski knocked the ending out of the park, kicking this up to a solid five star rating for me.
There is only one thing that bothered me, and it involves some logistics that simply don't make sense for a 7 year-old. A 3 year-old? Sure. Of course I can't say anything as they would be massive spoilers. On the other hand, there are some big picture aspects that just may explain them...I guess that's part of the fun here.
Anyhow, I'm now halfway through this series and very keen to see what the next volume has in store.
In case you don't know, these volumes are like reading transcripts from the Serial podcast (for example), where there is a cold case and the six stories are interviews from six different people. There may or may not be supernatural elements...
These novels could easily be turned aside for being Serial knockoffs, but that would be a huge disservice. So far all three of them have been highly engaging and the stories irresistible. They are the perfect reads for rescuing anyone from a reading slump.
Changeling surrounds the 30 year-old case of a missing 7 year-old boy, Alfie. His father had taken him from his drunken mother's home on Christmas Eve and stopped his car beside a suspected haunted forest to investigate a strange sound coming from the car. When he returned to the inside of the car, Alfie had vanished.
Half of the excitement of these books is wondering who the next interviewee is going to be, and I enjoyed the story for the most part. I will say that I wasn't quite as enthralled as I was with the previous volume (Hydra), and I was feeling a four star rating throughout.
Until I finished it. Wesolowski knocked the ending out of the park, kicking this up to a solid five star rating for me.
There is only one thing that bothered me, and it involves some logistics that simply don't make sense for a 7 year-old. A 3 year-old? Sure. Of course I can't say anything as they would be massive spoilers. On the other hand, there are some big picture aspects that just may explain them...I guess that's part of the fun here.
Anyhow, I'm now halfway through this series and very keen to see what the next volume has in store.
fromadistantsun's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
fondoffiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual violence
nicjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
I was more than a little sceptical about this book until about half way. And then it took off. It was well worth staying with because the ending is superb. One word of caution, while it is a stand alone, enjoyment may be enhanced if you have read at least one of the earlier books in the series!
angeladobre's review against another edition
4.0
Alfie Marsden a fost declarat mort în 1995, la șapte ani de la dispariția sa misterioasă. În noaptea dispariției, copilul în vârstă de șapte ani se afla în mașina tatălui său, în drum spre locuința acestuia. Pe o vreme furtunoasă, în mijlocul pădurii, tatăl se vede nevoit să oprească mașina pentru a verifica un zgomot produs de motorul acesteia. În timpul în care Sorell, tatăl, verifica sub capotă cauza defecțiunii, copilul dispare fără urmă. În ciuda căutărilor asidue, nu a fost găsită nicio urmă și niciun fel de indiciu care să explice misterioasa sa dispariție. Pur și simplu, copilul s-a evaporat.
https://booknation.ro/recenzie-misterul-din-padure-de-matt-wesolowski/
https://booknation.ro/recenzie-misterul-din-padure-de-matt-wesolowski/
teameak's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed. I read this in very few sittings because I just couldn't get enough - the way it was written draws you in and you just want to read until you find the answers. I half guessed the ending in story 5 but that didn't ruin the experience at all - still finding it out was gratifying and a great round up to the story. Will definitely read more of his books.
per_fictionist's review against another edition
4.0
Another amazing book from Wesolowski and just
In time for "beast"
In time for "beast"
sophieroseobooks's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite in the series so far! It had some great twists and I did not see that ending
readbookswithjaz's review against another edition
5.0
This one will keep you on your toes the entire time. An absolutely amazing read with a twist at the end you don’t see coming. First book I read from the series and will be reading the others straight away.
kellyvandamme's review against another edition
5.0
Matt Wesolowski is a master storyteller, plain and simple. He has the ability to paint a picture with a few well-chosen words. It’s practically magic. Poof! And you’re there, in the forest, wondering what dwells beneath the branches, wondering what walks unseen between the tree trunks, wondering at that sound you keep hearing. This is an author whose work I can pick up, and regardless of how ridiculously high my expectations are at the start, I never end up disappointed.
I’ve been trying to figure out why I love the Six Stories books so much, especially this third instalment and I think it’s because Matt scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had, by adding paranormality to the thriller genre. Although by the sixth story it’s usually become clear that the explanation is much more mundane than it first seemed, Matt has you wondering the entire time. In Changeling he deftly interlaces a missing child case with fairy lore, which has always fascinated me.
Just like its predecessors Six Stories and Hydra, Changeling grabs you by the throat from the get-go and you know there’s no going back, there’s no stopping until you know what happened to little Alfie Marsden. And let me tell you this: however thrilling and chilling the ride was (and it was VERY thrilling and chilling!), it was nothing compared to the finale. I was cooking while listening to it and it’s a small miracle I didn’t burn down the entire kitchen. Holy crap, but finding out what happened to Alfie was jaw-droppingly good!! I swear, if you figure out that one before the reveal, quit your day job and join the police force, they’ll be happy to have you!
If you’re into audiobooks, do yourself a favour and listen to the Six Stories series. They’re full cast audiobooks, meaning every character is voiced by a different narrator, which makes for a very VERY realistic podcast. You can’t even call it a narration, it is so much more than that. The combination of the voice actors (for they really are actors) and the prose is truly magnificent. The imagery is lifelike.
If you haven’t listened to audiobooks yet, do yourself a favour and use your Audible trial for one of the Six Stories books. Beware: you will start with the very best, top-notch audiobooks and you may end up ruined for all other audiobooks once you move on from this series!
Of the three books so far, Changeling has become my favourite in terms of story, but as an audiobook, Hydra is still my no. 1; I cannot forget Jane Slavin’s Arla, major brownie points for making me cry in my car! (Yeah all in all I’m a tad surprised I’m still alive, listening to Orenda Books is living on the edge my friends 😉)
I think it’s safe to assume you can look for Changeling in my Best of 2019 list, in the best audiobook category if nothing else. Chances of finding a more satisfying one are slim to none!
In case I wasn’t clear: very highly recommended!
I’ve been trying to figure out why I love the Six Stories books so much, especially this third instalment and I think it’s because Matt scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had, by adding paranormality to the thriller genre. Although by the sixth story it’s usually become clear that the explanation is much more mundane than it first seemed, Matt has you wondering the entire time. In Changeling he deftly interlaces a missing child case with fairy lore, which has always fascinated me.
Just like its predecessors Six Stories and Hydra, Changeling grabs you by the throat from the get-go and you know there’s no going back, there’s no stopping until you know what happened to little Alfie Marsden. And let me tell you this: however thrilling and chilling the ride was (and it was VERY thrilling and chilling!), it was nothing compared to the finale. I was cooking while listening to it and it’s a small miracle I didn’t burn down the entire kitchen. Holy crap, but finding out what happened to Alfie was jaw-droppingly good!! I swear, if you figure out that one before the reveal, quit your day job and join the police force, they’ll be happy to have you!
If you’re into audiobooks, do yourself a favour and listen to the Six Stories series. They’re full cast audiobooks, meaning every character is voiced by a different narrator, which makes for a very VERY realistic podcast. You can’t even call it a narration, it is so much more than that. The combination of the voice actors (for they really are actors) and the prose is truly magnificent. The imagery is lifelike.
If you haven’t listened to audiobooks yet, do yourself a favour and use your Audible trial for one of the Six Stories books. Beware: you will start with the very best, top-notch audiobooks and you may end up ruined for all other audiobooks once you move on from this series!
Of the three books so far, Changeling has become my favourite in terms of story, but as an audiobook, Hydra is still my no. 1; I cannot forget Jane Slavin’s Arla, major brownie points for making me cry in my car! (Yeah all in all I’m a tad surprised I’m still alive, listening to Orenda Books is living on the edge my friends 😉)
I think it’s safe to assume you can look for Changeling in my Best of 2019 list, in the best audiobook category if nothing else. Chances of finding a more satisfying one are slim to none!
In case I wasn’t clear: very highly recommended!