The Beast of Skull Rock

Monsterious #4

by Matt McMann

Here’s the fourth book in the Monsterious series—terrifying tales that combine monsters + mysteries, perfect for fans of Goosebumps.

“Spine-chilling and creepy!” —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth , on Escape From Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, #1)

Twins Simon and Jade are thrilled to visit their grandfather in tiny Skull Rock, Maine, and stay with him above the cabinet of curiosities museum he runs, which is full of creepy old relics, taxidermy specimens, and other sinister odds and ends. But lately, strange reports have come out about a series of nighttime animal attacks in the area, leaving Simon wondering if Panther Man—a monster that's part human, part panther, and rumored to live in a cave outside of town—might be responsible. Could it be that the stories of Panther Man are true? Or is something far more dangerous prowling the streets of Skull Rock?

Genres: Middle Grade, Horror

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2024

About the author

As a professional musician, MATT MCMANN played an NFL stadium, a cruise ship, and the International Twins Convention. Now he writes the kind of spooky mystery-adventure books he loved as a kid. He’s hiked the Pacific Northwest, cruised Loch Ness, and chased a ghost on a mountain. While he missed Bigfoot and Nessie, he caught the ghost. He enjoys brainstorming new books with his wife, New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann; viewing his son Kilian McMann’s artwork; and watching his daughter, actor Kennedy McMann, on television. Visit him online at mattmcmann.com, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @matt_mcmann.

Reviews

[Tor Domay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first taste of Monsterious, and it's left me eager for more. Matt McMann presents a classic horror scenario applied to extremely likeable and creative characters, and the result is a family friendly tale that has a certain touch of edge that is spellbinding.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite in the series, which is so fun to begin with. I loved that it took place in a creepy museum of the weird (I was basically picturing Henri as Vincent Price in my head) and the fact that it was a were-hyena was so fun and unique. Give this to your patrons who have read all the Goosebumps books and are looking for a series of more stand alone horror stories.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Simon and Jade offer contrasting characters. Simon loves the mysterious and scary while Jade is more practical with a love for performing magic. Simon has researched all kinds of creatures from around the world and he comes across a book with legends from Skull Rock. An article about a werehyena catches his eye since its description sounds like something from recent break-ins. Jade is skeptical but she becomes suspicious too when their grandfather doesn’t want to talk about strange sounds they’ve been hearing at night. With Simon taking the lead, they decide it’s up to them to investigate.
The opening chapter describes a beast prowling the town so there’s never any question about what kind of monster is threatening Skull Rock. Newspaper descriptions and security pictures match the morgund statue in the grandfather’s museum so it seems inevitable that this stuffed artifact is causing the disturbances. The real question is how it’s happening. The twins wish their grandmother was around since she has an interest in magic and might be able to help. The monster continues to strike every night with the attacks becoming more harmful to citizens.
Some chapters are written from the creature’s point of view which lets readers know the beast is intelligent. It maneuvers along rooftops to stalk its prey and shows patience before pouncing. It even knows to remain still when it’s being watched in the museum. These chapters help connect the monster with readers and act as reminders of the imminent danger. Potential victims are shown going about their daily activities, unaware a vicious predator is moving in for an attack. These descriptions build suspense into the plot as readers anticipate when the monster will strike next.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot lacks the suspense readers might expect that typically surrounds a vicious monster. The early pages reveal its presence but don’t include any reports of injury or death. One chapter even talks about the creature breaking into a store and eating a display of candy. More dramatic confrontations arise later but monster lovers may want more.
The final verdict:
This book is a nice introduction to the monster genre since events never get too intense. The plot is easy to follow and readers may be surprised by a revelation during the climax. Overall, this is a fun, eerie adventure and I recommend you give it a shot.

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m aware I’m about to make some genuine complaints on a up-and-coming/smaller author’s work, but I’m not gonna sit here and lie either. This book wasn’t all that and frankly was just okay. I lightly enjoyed it but wouldn’t recommend it. There, honesty—with respect to the author. But this book has some decent stuff, like the location: Skull Rock. It’s a pretty cool place with a (hilarious but bear with me) skull-shaped rock on a cliff. I like the oceanic vibes and the shops/locations there are pretty cool and give the place a unique feel. Grandpa Henri is a solid character that is probably the most complex of the cast from an emotional standpoint. There’s some great moments like the big reveal of the story towards the end, the vent scene, and some creature madness. Plus, there’s some instances of smart decision making and genuinely okay jokes and lines. Now for the respectful bashing… the giant reveal is too obvious. From the seemingly useless info dump and inclusion for a certain character to the few instances we’re reminded of them, I was able to predict the reveal within the first 20 pages. It’s not bad for a reveal to be predictable… it’s bad if it’s intended to be the big twist. Anywho… I didn’t like the writing. Yeah, I’m sorry, but it lacks flair—a completely personal preference. There’s a lot of kids horror books that greatly improve from writing with genuine flavor, and this book even with its small instances didn’t have much of a unique taste… a notable one, at least. Now to barrel through the last of the issues: the story is relatively bland and could’ve been shorted for what it was; there’s awkward cuts sometime; the mystery of the morgund wasn’t all-too intriguing since a lot of the book is spent meandering to the end after we find out WHAT is causing the attacks; the first sentence of chapter 11… and I think I’m done bashing. Overall, 6/10. Again, no hate; I hope Mr. McMann continues to have fun making these and I hope people keep enjoying them. This wasn’t for me, but I will return to these… someday. Trust me.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, but I love the MONSTERIOUS books, it's true. THE BEAST OF SKULL ROCK did not disappoint, so I'm going to say right now, it has my recommendation as a fun, spooky middle grade read.

To begin, one of my favorite parts of this book was its setting. I love the idea of something inanimate in a museum coming to life -- it's just fun, and in this case, creepy and dangerous. I also really liked the twins Simon and Jade. Their personalities balanced each other nicely and I loved how they supported each other even when one didn't fully believe in what was going on. I think the thing that I love best about these books is how the kids are able to take what they know, from their own hobbies/interests, and apply it to help solve the problem/mystery -- or in this case, stop the Beast of Skull Rock.

I've said this before, the MONSTERIOUS books are ones that I would have loved to have had when I was a kid. As an adult, they're a quick, fun read that transport me back to a less chaotic time of my life. I definitely recommend for middle grade readers who enjoy smart kids, action, and some creepy/spooky characters.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beast of Skull Rock is another great addition to Matt McMann’s scary series for middle grade readers. This installment features twins Simon and Jade. They are spending the summer with their grandfather who runs a curiosities museum full of creepy artifacts in a seaside tourist town. A series of break-ins and animal attacks in the town paired with suspicious scratch marks on a door and scratching noises heard from the museum make the twins wonder who—or what—is behind these events. This leads to an engaging mystery that the twins use their special interests and skills to attack. The book has just the right amount of scary to serve as an introduction to the genre for middle grade readers and an ending that may surprise young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.

[Matt V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery. I liked that it's a werehyena rather than a typical werewolf. There are some other unique elements, such as the intelligent raven, Edgar. Ravens fit a spooky aesthetic really well. Compared to other middle grade horror, this maybe feels more like a supernatural detective novel than most. I enjoyed that. The siblings Jade and Simon are intelligent and always coming up with clever ideas.

Simon and Jade are the main characters. If they, or their relationship, was annoying, it would negatively impact the book significantly. But I liked both characters and felt they were a good team. The ending was entertaining. This is my favorite modern middle grade horror book that I've read.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt McMann has done it again with a great spooky novel for middle grade readers! Twins Simon and Jade are excited to spend summer with their grandpa in Skull Rock, Maine. The twins love helping Grandpa in his curiosities museum full of creepy displays and creatures. But when odd break-ins and attacks start happening around town, the twins are determined to uncover who…or what…is behind them. Any young reader who enjoys just the right amount of mystery, monsters, and spookiness is sure to enjoy this book.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4 of Monsterious. This fun short novel has a surprising twist ending as well as the normal “more to follow” ending. This is a fun little read for those reluctant middle school aged readers. Lots of detective work and a good example of showing kids doing mundane work as well. That said, I like the series and recommend it to Goosebumps fans looking for similar novels. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Angie Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

By far my favorite in the series at this point (I've read three.) I write as well as read, so it's not often a book surprises me, but this one got me. I loved the ending so much I bumped this up from a 4 to a 4.5 rounded up. Great mystery as well as beastly shenanigans. Well plotted and enjoyable.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but the twist at the end was a touch too predictable for me.

[Marisa Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25*

[ShytStyx · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I needed mindless, cozy, easy reads and naturally ran to the middle grade section. Picked this up on a whim due to the nostalgic goosebumps vibes I got when I saw the cover. Sweet little story with the touch of spooky/horror elements. Just what I needed. I will be picking up more of these from the series. Middle grade reads just hit different when life is difficult.

[Amber Stories Create Moments · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.