It’s been too long since I’ve shared some horror and I have a good one for ya. I listened to The Beast Of Barcroft and it was a Cryptid treat.
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The Beast Of Barcroft
Written by Bill Schweigart
The Fatal Folklore Trilogy #1
My Review
Right from the beginning I felt almost like I was watching a movie. Cue the music as an ominous scene unfolds and the mystery of the The Beast Of Barcroft began. I was hooked.
Ben is a sympathetic character. He thinks he’s finally moving up in the world. That his hard work has paid off. That’s until he discovers that his posh new digs are planted right alongside a rundown house riddled with rats and stray cats. His life begins to fall apart. And it changes forever when he sees the creature that killed his beloved dog.
Yep, I thought I should warn you, a dog dies in this story. But the author doesn’t describe it’s death. Just what happens afterwards. When Ben faces the beast, it’s so otherworldly yet so beautiful.
The story moves swiftly then. The mystery deepens, some vital characters are introduced and the horror of the beast takes over.
Wowser. I thought I knew what the beast was. But I was way off. It was something new to me and that’s a huge bonus. I love cryptids and this one prowled right out of folklore in all its shiny newness. Some scenes were more subtle. And some were so intense I couldn’t see how anyone would survive. Some didn’t. Some did, and they want after the beast. The final confrontation seemed hopeless. I braced myself and took what the author dished out. But, wait. It wasn’t over. There was one more violent confrontation. Then it was over.
Now, about the final battle. I thought about it for awhile. Then I decided it worked. Might not be what I wanted, but it worked.
Did I enjoy The Beast Of Barcroft? Yes I did. The audible is over seven hours long and I listened to it straight through. Would I recommend it? In a heartbeat.
Narrated by Will Damron
This is the first time I listened to a narration by Will Damron and I’ll be watching for him now. He nailed the characters, male and female, his inflection was on point and his reading was smooth.
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Synopsis
Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.
First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.
Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.
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Sounds right up my alley, thanks for the review!
I’ve read a couple of his other books and really liked them. This series is going to be fun!
I read the sample for this last year and liked the sound of it but haven’t got round to getting it yet!
This one kept my attention. And the beast was something new. We always like that! LOL
Great review. Sounds like one for the reading shelf.
sherry @ fundinmental</a
Yep. I know you would like this one, Sherry.
This sounds pretty good but I immediately honed in on “His dog dies.” I must have a 6th sense!
I mentioned it because of us dog lovers. It doesn’t describe the dog’s death at all. It’s more about what happens afterwards. I got through it:)
That will help I’m sure. I’ll give it a try then 🙂
I read an ARC of this one years ago and remember loving it. I am glad that the audio was well done. Great review!
I have the next two to listen to also. I read the second book and really liked it so I figured listening to them would be fun too.
I love stories that read (or sound in this case) like movies! Glad the end “kinda” work for you 🙂
I’m thinking all of the movies I’ve watched in so many genres helps with that. Don’t you think so too? Our brains have soaked up so much:)
I like that even though it wasn’t the ending you imagined that the author made it work. Great review!
I’m not sure what I was wanting, just got something different. LOL
It’s so cool that the book makes you feel like you are watching a movie. I am really intrigued by that beast. Sounds like a good series to check out. 🙂
I had a few different ideas on what the beast was. Wrong on all of them!