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Six Stories #5
Deity
Online investigative journalist Scott King investigates the death of a pop megastar, the subject of multiple accusations of sexual abuse and murder before his untimely demise in a fire … another episode of the startlingly original, award-winning Six Stories series.
When pop megastar Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion, his mysterious demise rips open the bitter divide between those who adored his music and his endless charity work, and those who viewed him as a despicable predator, who manipulated and abused young and vulnerable girls.
Online journalist Scott King, whose ‘Six Stories’ podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the accusations of sexual abuse and murder that were levelled at Crystal before he died. But as Scott begins to ask questions and rakes over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal’s remote home really an accident? Whose remains – still unidentified – were found in the ashes? Why was he never officially charged?
Dark, chillingly topical and deeply thought-provoking, Deity is both an explosive thriller and a startling look at how heroes can fall from grace and why we turn a blind eye to even the most heinous of crimes…
When pop megastar Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion, his mysterious demise rips open the bitter divide between those who adored his music and his endless charity work, and those who viewed him as a despicable predator, who manipulated and abused young and vulnerable girls.
Online journalist Scott King, whose ‘Six Stories’ podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the accusations of sexual abuse and murder that were levelled at Crystal before he died. But as Scott begins to ask questions and rakes over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal’s remote home really an accident? Whose remains – still unidentified – were found in the ashes? Why was he never officially charged?
Dark, chillingly topical and deeply thought-provoking, Deity is both an explosive thriller and a startling look at how heroes can fall from grace and why we turn a blind eye to even the most heinous of crimes…
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2020
60 people are currently reading
1684 people want to read
About the author
Matt Wesolowski
24 books674 followersMatt Wesolowski is an author from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the UK. He is an English tutor for young people in care.
'Six Stories' was published by Orenda Books in the spring of 2016 with follow-up ‘Hydra’ published in the winter of 2017, 'Changeling' in 2018, 'Beast' in 2019 and 'Deity in 2020
‘Six Stories’ has been optioned by a major Hollywood studio; ‘Changeling’ was longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, 2019 Amazon Publishing Readers’ Award for Best Thriller and Best Independent Voice.
'Beast' won the Amazon Publishing Readers' Award for Best Independent Voice in 2020
Matt is represented by Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq
Film/TV Rights - Luke Speed at Curtis Brown
'Six Stories' was published by Orenda Books in the spring of 2016 with follow-up ‘Hydra’ published in the winter of 2017, 'Changeling' in 2018, 'Beast' in 2019 and 'Deity in 2020
‘Six Stories’ has been optioned by a major Hollywood studio; ‘Changeling’ was longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, 2019 Amazon Publishing Readers’ Award for Best Thriller and Best Independent Voice.
'Beast' won the Amazon Publishing Readers' Award for Best Independent Voice in 2020
Matt is represented by Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq
Film/TV Rights - Luke Speed at Curtis Brown
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
October 18, 2021
It is always a joyous occasion when another book in the Six Stories series is released. As a person that stays away from *series* this is one in which I wait with bated breath for it's return.
Deity introduces us to Zach Crystal. He is a world renowned musician that is reclusive by nature. Rarely seen without a mask or veil disguising his face. Rarely heard from as he does not give interviews. All the while creating this enigma, this untouchable man, living in solitude amongst five hundred acres within Colliecrith National Park in Scotland. His treehouse overlooks the grounds in which he keeps a watchful eye. Zach believes the forest surrounding his house are haunted by the Frithgast, a very dead deer like creature with a tangle of horns atop its head, and a sighting of this is either an omen of death or grave misfortune.
Zach Crystal for so many is a savior. A musician whose music stirred their soul. It's a rare occasion to find someone unfamiliar with Crystal. His posters adorn the bedrooms of many and his mysterious nature only attracts more and more fans.
Fans that can be downright frightening in their resolute and absolute love for him. Fans that also claim to see the Frithgast.
Then Zach disappears for a year after his best friend and business partner falls to his death on the property surrounding his fortress.
During this disappearance some of his "fans" or his "special girls" as he liked to call them come forward with harrowing information. Not only did he invite these teenage girls to stay with him he was also brainwashing them and sexually abusing them. When anyone would call his behavior into question they were paid handsomely for their silence. See, most of the girls he took in came from troubled homes or treatment facilities. Girls that not only no one cared about but girls that wouldn't be missed.
Zach suddenly reappears after his year of silence to appear on a popular BBC television show. His first interview ever where he claims he has a new record coming out and will begin touring again. Also claiming that all accusations are ridiculous lies not to be believed. Soon after, Crystals charred remains are found inside his tree house which has burned to the ground.
Scott King returns with his podcast in which he interviews six people to get their side of the story. All of these people have been a part of Zach's life in some form over the years. All of these people have inside information that has never been heard before about a man who is as much myth as he is legend. What will Scott discover? You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
This is another strong entry into what has become one of my favorite book series EVER. However, to enjoy this you have to be comfortable with the pod cast structure in which it is written. I love how each interview adds more puzzle pieces while connecting other puzzle pieces until you get the full picture. It's a genius strategy, I think, because it's building intrigue the entire way.
I am already eagerly anticipating his next entry, Demon, which will be the sixth book in this series and I really hope that just because this is the sixth book in this series that it doesn't mean the end of the Six Stories series. 🤞🙏
Geez, that was a mouthful that I hope makes sense! 😉 4 stars!
Deity introduces us to Zach Crystal. He is a world renowned musician that is reclusive by nature. Rarely seen without a mask or veil disguising his face. Rarely heard from as he does not give interviews. All the while creating this enigma, this untouchable man, living in solitude amongst five hundred acres within Colliecrith National Park in Scotland. His treehouse overlooks the grounds in which he keeps a watchful eye. Zach believes the forest surrounding his house are haunted by the Frithgast, a very dead deer like creature with a tangle of horns atop its head, and a sighting of this is either an omen of death or grave misfortune.
Zach Crystal for so many is a savior. A musician whose music stirred their soul. It's a rare occasion to find someone unfamiliar with Crystal. His posters adorn the bedrooms of many and his mysterious nature only attracts more and more fans.
Fans that can be downright frightening in their resolute and absolute love for him. Fans that also claim to see the Frithgast.
Then Zach disappears for a year after his best friend and business partner falls to his death on the property surrounding his fortress.
During this disappearance some of his "fans" or his "special girls" as he liked to call them come forward with harrowing information. Not only did he invite these teenage girls to stay with him he was also brainwashing them and sexually abusing them. When anyone would call his behavior into question they were paid handsomely for their silence. See, most of the girls he took in came from troubled homes or treatment facilities. Girls that not only no one cared about but girls that wouldn't be missed.
Zach suddenly reappears after his year of silence to appear on a popular BBC television show. His first interview ever where he claims he has a new record coming out and will begin touring again. Also claiming that all accusations are ridiculous lies not to be believed. Soon after, Crystals charred remains are found inside his tree house which has burned to the ground.
Scott King returns with his podcast in which he interviews six people to get their side of the story. All of these people have been a part of Zach's life in some form over the years. All of these people have inside information that has never been heard before about a man who is as much myth as he is legend. What will Scott discover? You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
This is another strong entry into what has become one of my favorite book series EVER. However, to enjoy this you have to be comfortable with the pod cast structure in which it is written. I love how each interview adds more puzzle pieces while connecting other puzzle pieces until you get the full picture. It's a genius strategy, I think, because it's building intrigue the entire way.
I am already eagerly anticipating his next entry, Demon, which will be the sixth book in this series and I really hope that just because this is the sixth book in this series that it doesn't mean the end of the Six Stories series. 🤞🙏
Geez, that was a mouthful that I hope makes sense! 😉 4 stars!
April 1, 2022
Podcaster/online journalist Scott King is back in Deity. In this book he is investigating the death of mysterious superstar, Zach Crystal. A man clouded in mystery who invited young girls (why only young girls?) to his remote mansion in the woods. He wants to help them, to guide them, to....
There are some who still idolize him, there are some who believe he is a predator. What side will you be on once Scott King finishes his podcast using six stories?
Another great installment in a great series. These can be read/listened to out of order. I love listening to them. I feel the podcast element works great when done via audiobook with the various narrators.
Either way, if you have not read any of these books, you can pick anyone and dive in! I find these books to be extremely well thought out and presented. They are both thought provoking and entertaining.
This one also provides a lot of food for thought. Why do we put entertainers on a pedestal? Why are they above the law? Why can they do whatever? Why do their fans go over the top?
This was so good that I didn’t want to stop listening. Dark, entertaining, and hard to put down!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
There are some who still idolize him, there are some who believe he is a predator. What side will you be on once Scott King finishes his podcast using six stories?
Another great installment in a great series. These can be read/listened to out of order. I love listening to them. I feel the podcast element works great when done via audiobook with the various narrators.
Either way, if you have not read any of these books, you can pick anyone and dive in! I find these books to be extremely well thought out and presented. They are both thought provoking and entertaining.
This one also provides a lot of food for thought. Why do we put entertainers on a pedestal? Why are they above the law? Why can they do whatever? Why do their fans go over the top?
This was so good that I didn’t want to stop listening. Dark, entertaining, and hard to put down!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
November 2, 2023
After reading and being blown away by Matt Wesolowski's Demon in 2021, I am slightly embarrassed that it has taken me this long to return to the Six Stories world. To make matters worse, I am reading the books in the opposite order that they were published. Even with that being the case, I have had an absolute blast devouring Deity, racing through it in a couple of days. Fortunately, each of these novels stands alone and follow a steady and ingenious structure. There are six stories. Six interviews with the enigmatic fictional podcaster Scott King.
"Welcome to Six Stories. I’m Scott King. Over these strange six weeks, we’re delving into something that at its heart, I guess, is a cold case. A fire. Four tragic deaths. Allegations. Rumours, whispers. Like always, we’re raking up old graves."
Deity, Six Stories' 5th entry, is about Zach Crystal. A legendary pop star, who skyrocketed to fame, first as a member of a pop duo, and then as a solo star, arguably becoming the most influential celebrity on the planet. He was a troubled yet charismatic soul, wearing veils and deer antlers to obscure his face whilst having an overall elfish quality. He died in a mysterious fire in his giant tree house, which was part of his secluded forest mansion property. He was fascinated with a mythological Scottish monster called a Frithghast which was a portent of doom. He was adored by legions of loyal fans who worshipped him and were extremely protective of his kooky and can-do-no-wrong persona. He was accused by at least five ladies of sexual assault that occurred when they were children, and there was a horrifying video, footage of which shows two young women before they died in the forest, trying to get closer to their hero. Or, perhaps escape from...
"COMMENTS: Mayfly776: Ew creepy ForzaRadish: Zach Crystal fans are fuckin psychos. TLDR: Stanning Zach Crystal = BAD DEATH Butwhytho: Surely someone has to have looked into this? I mean rly?
B0NN13: Has anyone asked Scott King yet lol?"
The majority of Deity is the back-and-forth podcast interviews. Each discussion is a witness or influential person's take on a crime, event, phenomenon, or mystery that surrounds Zach Crystal. As I heard/read more regarding the events, I was trying to unravel the puzzles and predict the outcomes, engrossed, wearing my amateur sleuth's hat again. One of the interviewees is a loyal Zach Crystal fandom influencer and YouTuber, another is a pedophile hunter who thought he had trapped the popstar, and a further point of view is a member of staff who worked at Zach Crystal's forest mansion. All the viewpoints have different agendas and reasons for showcasing their take on these events to Scott King. Each chapter takes about thirty minutes to read, and there are other mediums peppered throughout, in addition to the podcast introductions and conversations, such as the text of the elusive celebrity's extremely rare interview with the BBC, comment sections on fictional news sites, and descriptions of important video footage.
"I wonder, though, if Zach Crystal himself knew about what had happened, or knew of the rumours that abounded later about Jessica Morton eating her friend’s flesh. We also cannot ignore the horrific parallels between this and the old story of the Frithghast."
The subject matter of Deity is often uncomfortable to read. A mix of spooky and chilling for the horror, mystery, and supernatural elements, as well as disgusting and powerfully dark and dread-inducing in the presentation of the potential for depravity. Deity is thrilling, thought-provoking, and stomach-turning and had me gripped until the end, hoping King was able to find concrete answers about whether or not Zach Crystal was a deity, monster, troubled star, or misunderstood enigma. Events especially heat up by the time the last two stories are divulged. The final exchange, in particular, was phenomenal and revealed just how talented a writer Wesolowski is and how every moment that came prior was designed to add an emotional punch to the novel's superb finale. This is a tale that will linger with me for a while, as only the finest horror stories can.
"Welcome to Six Stories. I’m Scott King. Over these strange six weeks, we’re delving into something that at its heart, I guess, is a cold case. A fire. Four tragic deaths. Allegations. Rumours, whispers. Like always, we’re raking up old graves."
Deity, Six Stories' 5th entry, is about Zach Crystal. A legendary pop star, who skyrocketed to fame, first as a member of a pop duo, and then as a solo star, arguably becoming the most influential celebrity on the planet. He was a troubled yet charismatic soul, wearing veils and deer antlers to obscure his face whilst having an overall elfish quality. He died in a mysterious fire in his giant tree house, which was part of his secluded forest mansion property. He was fascinated with a mythological Scottish monster called a Frithghast which was a portent of doom. He was adored by legions of loyal fans who worshipped him and were extremely protective of his kooky and can-do-no-wrong persona. He was accused by at least five ladies of sexual assault that occurred when they were children, and there was a horrifying video, footage of which shows two young women before they died in the forest, trying to get closer to their hero. Or, perhaps escape from...
"COMMENTS: Mayfly776: Ew creepy ForzaRadish: Zach Crystal fans are fuckin psychos. TLDR: Stanning Zach Crystal = BAD DEATH Butwhytho: Surely someone has to have looked into this? I mean rly?
B0NN13: Has anyone asked Scott King yet lol?"
The majority of Deity is the back-and-forth podcast interviews. Each discussion is a witness or influential person's take on a crime, event, phenomenon, or mystery that surrounds Zach Crystal. As I heard/read more regarding the events, I was trying to unravel the puzzles and predict the outcomes, engrossed, wearing my amateur sleuth's hat again. One of the interviewees is a loyal Zach Crystal fandom influencer and YouTuber, another is a pedophile hunter who thought he had trapped the popstar, and a further point of view is a member of staff who worked at Zach Crystal's forest mansion. All the viewpoints have different agendas and reasons for showcasing their take on these events to Scott King. Each chapter takes about thirty minutes to read, and there are other mediums peppered throughout, in addition to the podcast introductions and conversations, such as the text of the elusive celebrity's extremely rare interview with the BBC, comment sections on fictional news sites, and descriptions of important video footage.
"I wonder, though, if Zach Crystal himself knew about what had happened, or knew of the rumours that abounded later about Jessica Morton eating her friend’s flesh. We also cannot ignore the horrific parallels between this and the old story of the Frithghast."
The subject matter of Deity is often uncomfortable to read. A mix of spooky and chilling for the horror, mystery, and supernatural elements, as well as disgusting and powerfully dark and dread-inducing in the presentation of the potential for depravity. Deity is thrilling, thought-provoking, and stomach-turning and had me gripped until the end, hoping King was able to find concrete answers about whether or not Zach Crystal was a deity, monster, troubled star, or misunderstood enigma. Events especially heat up by the time the last two stories are divulged. The final exchange, in particular, was phenomenal and revealed just how talented a writer Wesolowski is and how every moment that came prior was designed to add an emotional punch to the novel's superb finale. This is a tale that will linger with me for a while, as only the finest horror stories can.
February 5, 2021
Make sure you are sitting down, and you have your seatbelt properly connected. Deity is a frank and brutal look at the evil within. It’s shocking and it is an investigation on how celebrities are put upon a pedestal, they become godlike, a deity. They rely upon fans to be their shield; their security fence and money and infamy makes them untouchable. Their depravity goes under the radar and accusations can easily disappear behind the wall of yes men, the best lawyers that money can buy and loyal fans that will attack anyone that says anything discriminatory against their idols. It’s a twisted and intelligent story that makes Matt Wesolowski one of my favourite authors.
It only takes a split second to realise the skill and the suffocating tension Wesolowski can manipulate in his narrative. He has proven time and time again just why he’s so damn good at grabbing his reader with his original style highly combustible plots. He’s tapped into the popularity of podcasts and what attracts listeners to them. True crime has become a very popular genre and he has the fundamentals oozing with addictiveness. Interviews, fear, and the popularity of a dead popstar feed into the guests panic about speaking up. I was hooked.
Like the previous books in the Six Stories series, Deity can be read as a standalone, but I recommend for that full immersive experience that you pick up the others in the series as soon as you are able. The story is emotionally gripping and extremely relevant with the breakthrough movement of #metoo. Like the other books we follow online journalist, Scott King, owner and producer of the true crime podcast, Six Stories. He investigates a story and interviews six people directly related to the events. In this case it’s the story of dead pop star, Zach Crystal. He aims to tear open the old wounds of allegations of abuse that surrounded his aura. He doesn’t judge until he has the full facts and even then, it’s the reader how gets to make up their own mind.
Zach Crystal was a mega superstar. Think about celebrities who have hit that kind of heights, Curt Cobain, Ed Sheeran, and Britney Spears. He was thrown into the spotlight early on when he was a child star with his sister, Naomi, performing as the Crystal Twins. A rag to riches story, abuse at the hands of their parents, was brought up in an almost fanatical religious household in a rough housing estate. This rise to fame continued through-out their teens until going solo at around the age of nineteen. It then went stratospheric. He was an enigma, never showing his face and it only meant the world wanted more of him. His reclusiveness accumulated in the purchasing of Crystal Forest, a 500-acre woodland near Aviemore. It comprised of a sprawling mansion, a luxurious treehouse and recording studio.
The horrific element of this story is just how this happens with celebrities that hit that Deity status time and time again. Why do we the fans catapult them to that level? Why do we feel we deserve a part of them? Why do they think they are above morality and the law? Why? When all they are just a man at the end of the day.
Deity is hauntingly enigmatic and powerfully obtrusive. It slides into your mind and takes root. This story has a heartbeat and unleashes horrors that linger way longer than just the duration of the story.
It only takes a split second to realise the skill and the suffocating tension Wesolowski can manipulate in his narrative. He has proven time and time again just why he’s so damn good at grabbing his reader with his original style highly combustible plots. He’s tapped into the popularity of podcasts and what attracts listeners to them. True crime has become a very popular genre and he has the fundamentals oozing with addictiveness. Interviews, fear, and the popularity of a dead popstar feed into the guests panic about speaking up. I was hooked.
Like the previous books in the Six Stories series, Deity can be read as a standalone, but I recommend for that full immersive experience that you pick up the others in the series as soon as you are able. The story is emotionally gripping and extremely relevant with the breakthrough movement of #metoo. Like the other books we follow online journalist, Scott King, owner and producer of the true crime podcast, Six Stories. He investigates a story and interviews six people directly related to the events. In this case it’s the story of dead pop star, Zach Crystal. He aims to tear open the old wounds of allegations of abuse that surrounded his aura. He doesn’t judge until he has the full facts and even then, it’s the reader how gets to make up their own mind.
Zach Crystal was a mega superstar. Think about celebrities who have hit that kind of heights, Curt Cobain, Ed Sheeran, and Britney Spears. He was thrown into the spotlight early on when he was a child star with his sister, Naomi, performing as the Crystal Twins. A rag to riches story, abuse at the hands of their parents, was brought up in an almost fanatical religious household in a rough housing estate. This rise to fame continued through-out their teens until going solo at around the age of nineteen. It then went stratospheric. He was an enigma, never showing his face and it only meant the world wanted more of him. His reclusiveness accumulated in the purchasing of Crystal Forest, a 500-acre woodland near Aviemore. It comprised of a sprawling mansion, a luxurious treehouse and recording studio.
The horrific element of this story is just how this happens with celebrities that hit that Deity status time and time again. Why do we the fans catapult them to that level? Why do we feel we deserve a part of them? Why do they think they are above morality and the law? Why? When all they are just a man at the end of the day.
Deity is hauntingly enigmatic and powerfully obtrusive. It slides into your mind and takes root. This story has a heartbeat and unleashes horrors that linger way longer than just the duration of the story.
December 14, 2023
I reviewed this (and wrote about my love for Six Stories in general) for Sublime Horror. Read the full piece here: Matt Wesolowski’s Six Stories series gets a superb new addition in Deity (December 2020)
Reread November 2021, December 2023. Original review (November 2020): The fifth book in Matt Wesolowski's always-excellent Six Stories series, Deity focuses on the life and death of Zach Crystal, a singer who ascends to megastardom while maintaining an enigmatic image and secretive persona, before first disappearing for a year and then – after a brief return to the public eye – becoming the only victim of a fire at his custom-built home in an otherwise wild area of Scottish woodland. Podcast host Scott King investigates a number of rumours surrounding Crystal, chiefly allegations of inappropriate conduct with young fans. As ever, Wesolowski crafts a gripping and intensely readable mystery laced with elements of horror (here the 'Frithghast', a creature born from a ghost story specific to the locale of Crystal's mansion), but it's also excellent on questions around power, idolatry and celebrity, the role of abuse in shaping an abuser, and 'separating the art from the artist'. A real return to form after Beast, which I enjoyed but found worryingly ambivalent towards the victim at its centre.
I received an advance review copy of Deity from Sublime Horror, courtesy of Orenda Books.
Reread November 2021, December 2023. Original review (November 2020): The fifth book in Matt Wesolowski's always-excellent Six Stories series, Deity focuses on the life and death of Zach Crystal, a singer who ascends to megastardom while maintaining an enigmatic image and secretive persona, before first disappearing for a year and then – after a brief return to the public eye – becoming the only victim of a fire at his custom-built home in an otherwise wild area of Scottish woodland. Podcast host Scott King investigates a number of rumours surrounding Crystal, chiefly allegations of inappropriate conduct with young fans. As ever, Wesolowski crafts a gripping and intensely readable mystery laced with elements of horror (here the 'Frithghast', a creature born from a ghost story specific to the locale of Crystal's mansion), but it's also excellent on questions around power, idolatry and celebrity, the role of abuse in shaping an abuser, and 'separating the art from the artist'. A real return to form after Beast, which I enjoyed but found worryingly ambivalent towards the victim at its centre.
I received an advance review copy of Deity from Sublime Horror, courtesy of Orenda Books.
March 12, 2022
4.5
When someone's desires are untamed, unlimited and never questioned, they lose all sense of humility and reason.
Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion situated in the middle of the forest known as Whispering Woods.
Where were you when Zach Crystal died?
Who is the reclusive pop megastar Zach Crystal? What secrets has he been hiding from the public?
Some believe him to be a philanthropist. Some view him as a manipulative, despicable predator who abused vulnerable girls.
For some, he is a monster.
For his fans, he is a god.
In this episode of Six Stories, we are going to look back at a crime through six different pairs of eyes. We are going to listen to six interviews with six people who knew Crystal or worked for him.
We are going to Rake up old graves.
- Can you describe what you saw?
- It was like an animal... a horse or a deer... with horns on its head. It was all rotted away, like a skeleton...
Zach Crystal believes it always appears the day before something bad happens.
Is it a dream? Is it a nightmare? Is it real? Is it made up?
When someone's desires are untamed, unlimited and never questioned, they lose all sense of humility and reason.
Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion situated in the middle of the forest known as Whispering Woods.
Where were you when Zach Crystal died?
Who is the reclusive pop megastar Zach Crystal? What secrets has he been hiding from the public?
Some believe him to be a philanthropist. Some view him as a manipulative, despicable predator who abused vulnerable girls.
For some, he is a monster.
For his fans, he is a god.
In this episode of Six Stories, we are going to look back at a crime through six different pairs of eyes. We are going to listen to six interviews with six people who knew Crystal or worked for him.
We are going to Rake up old graves.
- Can you describe what you saw?
- It was like an animal... a horse or a deer... with horns on its head. It was all rotted away, like a skeleton...
Zach Crystal believes it always appears the day before something bad happens.
Is it a dream? Is it a nightmare? Is it real? Is it made up?
June 19, 2025
3.5
This group of episodes investigates the mysterious death surrounding pop icon, Zach Crystal. He was discovered dead after a fire ripped through his home in a remote wooded area in Scotland within an area that is known to be haunted. After his death, young girls have come forward and accused him of sexual abuse. As per usual format, Scott King has six episodes interviewing six different people to get a panoramic view of who Zach was and what led to his death.
The first two episodes are polar opposites… the first one deals with vigilantes who attempt to undercover pedophiles via the Internet and the second one deals with the ultimate fan girl who has dedicated her entire life to being Zack’s biggest fan. In her mind, there is no way he could abuse girls. The remaining episodes I appreciated much more as it got to the heart of the investigation, and my favorite, a bit of folklore. In this case a haunted forest.🤗
This is not one of my favorite in the series as it deals with celebrity status and the lengths people will go to worship someone they know nothing about besides a talent they have. This book reminded me a good bit of the Michael Jackson case as there were some similarities.
One more book to go…. I’m hoping it doesn’t deal with influencers or celebrities!
This group of episodes investigates the mysterious death surrounding pop icon, Zach Crystal. He was discovered dead after a fire ripped through his home in a remote wooded area in Scotland within an area that is known to be haunted. After his death, young girls have come forward and accused him of sexual abuse. As per usual format, Scott King has six episodes interviewing six different people to get a panoramic view of who Zach was and what led to his death.
The first two episodes are polar opposites… the first one deals with vigilantes who attempt to undercover pedophiles via the Internet and the second one deals with the ultimate fan girl who has dedicated her entire life to being Zack’s biggest fan. In her mind, there is no way he could abuse girls. The remaining episodes I appreciated much more as it got to the heart of the investigation, and my favorite, a bit of folklore. In this case a haunted forest.🤗
This is not one of my favorite in the series as it deals with celebrity status and the lengths people will go to worship someone they know nothing about besides a talent they have. This book reminded me a good bit of the Michael Jackson case as there were some similarities.
One more book to go…. I’m hoping it doesn’t deal with influencers or celebrities!
December 15, 2020
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again : Matt Wesolowski’s books are just impossible to review when you’re a mere mortal like myself. I lack the vocabulary to adequately express the awesomeness of his work. “Holy shit” seems to be the extent of it. So, this review will most likely be at hot mess but it is what it is.
They say you should never meet your heroes or idols. In most instances the reality is hugely disappointing. After all, no matter their achievements or accomplishments they are still as human as the next person. Nowadays with social media, things are even harder to hide. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has unfollowed a favourite actor or singer for whatever reason. Celebrities and fans are in much closer contact these days. Good? Bad? Who knows.
But in Deity, there are rumours surrounding singer Zach Crystal and they are a different story altogether. His career was dogged by accusations. Was there a monster lurking underneath that public persona? Or were the rumours indeed just rumours? Now, Zach Crystal has perished in a fire at his secluded mansion in Scotland and his death has divided a nation. Good riddance to bad rubbish? Or a sad farewell to a talented and charitable “legend”?
Scott King returns with his podcast. Six episodes, six interviews, six stories about one case. Or in this instance, six ways to look at one man. Son, brother, uncle, friend, entertainer. Misunderstood genius? Perverted predator? Did anyone really know the man behind the legendary entertainer?
As I’ve already mentioned, I always find Matt Wesolowski’s books so incredibly hard to review. If you’re familiar with his work, then you know he never writes just a creepy thriller. Spooky and creepy, yes. But the monsters are always horrifyingly real. His stories have immense depth to them and are always far more thought-provoking than you might at first expect. Deity most definitely is and nobody really comes out of this story looking good.
The concept of telling these stories via podcasts remains as genius and as fresh as the first Six Stories instalment. (By the way, I’m told that these provide a truly excellent listening experience as well so if audiobooks are your thing, give them a go!) The various points of view made perfect sense and the reader is even given the opportunity to hear from the man himself by way of an exclusive tv interview he conducted a few months before his death.
One of the aspects of the story that I found truly fascinating was the fan perspective. I’m sure many of us can relate and I’m sure many of us have seen footage from Beatle-mania, for instance, and I’m also sure many of us look at things like that now and cringe. Thousands of adoring fans lining up, almost being brainwashed by lyrics, convinced the songs are about them, feeling this connection with whomever is singing and ultimately defending this object of their affection until the bitter end. This blind adoration for their idol, their god, their deity. How would a devoted fan feel if their idol suddenly singled them out? How easy is it for someone with bad intentions to take advantage of that? And when someone like that falls from grace, is it still okay to appreciate the catalogue of songs or movies they’ve left behind? Is it ever okay to remain silent? There are an incredible amount of topics in Deity that would make for fabulous discussions.
Deity is dark, disturbing, incredibly twisted, so SO immensely clever but also extremely thought-provoking and emotional throughout. And by the end, I was quite frankly just stunned into silence. Utterly speechless. My mind blown, as always happens with a Wesolowski book. So yes, “holy shit”. But also “best one yet”. Buy it now.
They say you should never meet your heroes or idols. In most instances the reality is hugely disappointing. After all, no matter their achievements or accomplishments they are still as human as the next person. Nowadays with social media, things are even harder to hide. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has unfollowed a favourite actor or singer for whatever reason. Celebrities and fans are in much closer contact these days. Good? Bad? Who knows.
But in Deity, there are rumours surrounding singer Zach Crystal and they are a different story altogether. His career was dogged by accusations. Was there a monster lurking underneath that public persona? Or were the rumours indeed just rumours? Now, Zach Crystal has perished in a fire at his secluded mansion in Scotland and his death has divided a nation. Good riddance to bad rubbish? Or a sad farewell to a talented and charitable “legend”?
Scott King returns with his podcast. Six episodes, six interviews, six stories about one case. Or in this instance, six ways to look at one man. Son, brother, uncle, friend, entertainer. Misunderstood genius? Perverted predator? Did anyone really know the man behind the legendary entertainer?
As I’ve already mentioned, I always find Matt Wesolowski’s books so incredibly hard to review. If you’re familiar with his work, then you know he never writes just a creepy thriller. Spooky and creepy, yes. But the monsters are always horrifyingly real. His stories have immense depth to them and are always far more thought-provoking than you might at first expect. Deity most definitely is and nobody really comes out of this story looking good.
The concept of telling these stories via podcasts remains as genius and as fresh as the first Six Stories instalment. (By the way, I’m told that these provide a truly excellent listening experience as well so if audiobooks are your thing, give them a go!) The various points of view made perfect sense and the reader is even given the opportunity to hear from the man himself by way of an exclusive tv interview he conducted a few months before his death.
One of the aspects of the story that I found truly fascinating was the fan perspective. I’m sure many of us can relate and I’m sure many of us have seen footage from Beatle-mania, for instance, and I’m also sure many of us look at things like that now and cringe. Thousands of adoring fans lining up, almost being brainwashed by lyrics, convinced the songs are about them, feeling this connection with whomever is singing and ultimately defending this object of their affection until the bitter end. This blind adoration for their idol, their god, their deity. How would a devoted fan feel if their idol suddenly singled them out? How easy is it for someone with bad intentions to take advantage of that? And when someone like that falls from grace, is it still okay to appreciate the catalogue of songs or movies they’ve left behind? Is it ever okay to remain silent? There are an incredible amount of topics in Deity that would make for fabulous discussions.
Deity is dark, disturbing, incredibly twisted, so SO immensely clever but also extremely thought-provoking and emotional throughout. And by the end, I was quite frankly just stunned into silence. Utterly speechless. My mind blown, as always happens with a Wesolowski book. So yes, “holy shit”. But also “best one yet”. Buy it now.
February 24, 2021
WOW! Where do I even begin? I honestly do not think anything that I could write would do this book just or explain just how much I loved it but I am going to give it a shot.
DIETY by Matt Wesolowski is the 5th installment in the "Six Stories" series and sadly it is the first one that I have read. I say sadly because BOY have I been missing out! I will be reading all the previous books and any future ones without hesitation.
There are so many great things about this book. The theme is phenomenal as it delves into the darkness nestled deep inside humanity. A darkness that is often overlooked based on ones social status in society. The format of this book while awkward to read at first makes this work of fiction read like a true modern day crime podcast.
DIETY while both dark and disturbing is one of the most thought provoking books that I have read in quite some time. I loved reading all the alternating stories. To be able to look at one big picture from so many varying standpoints was eye opening, thought provoking and emotionally taxing in the best of ways.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you again Orenda Blog Tours for including my review.
DIETY by Matt Wesolowski is the 5th installment in the "Six Stories" series and sadly it is the first one that I have read. I say sadly because BOY have I been missing out! I will be reading all the previous books and any future ones without hesitation.
There are so many great things about this book. The theme is phenomenal as it delves into the darkness nestled deep inside humanity. A darkness that is often overlooked based on ones social status in society. The format of this book while awkward to read at first makes this work of fiction read like a true modern day crime podcast.
DIETY while both dark and disturbing is one of the most thought provoking books that I have read in quite some time. I loved reading all the alternating stories. To be able to look at one big picture from so many varying standpoints was eye opening, thought provoking and emotionally taxing in the best of ways.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you again Orenda Blog Tours for including my review.
November 8, 2022
Hum... This is not my favourite of this very good series. Indeed up until the 6th story here I'd maybe have given this 3 stars but then things changed. Overall this is a series that surprises me. I tend not to like the changes in format that you get with this. The blog interview idea actually works well however there are other things interspersed which might normally bug me. With this series (all the previous books) I've actually really enjoyed it. Indeed I'd have to say that Matt writes extremely well to my mind. He also has a talent for understanding people which lies at the heart of these stories and gives them power.
In this specific one - mega rockstar lives in incredible tree house in isolated part of Scotland and selects "special (young) girls" to stay with him - I simply didn't find myself particularly engaged with the story. As Matt has done a sort of rockstar one before it didn't feel as fresh I guess. Trying to get to the truth of his life - he died in a fire in the previously mentioned tree house on his own once "stories" about him were starting to emerge - was a difficult ask. However for me the 6th story really engaged me and brought the whole book to life for me. Got the next one - will read it and enjoy it I imagine.
In this specific one - mega rockstar lives in incredible tree house in isolated part of Scotland and selects "special (young) girls" to stay with him - I simply didn't find myself particularly engaged with the story. As Matt has done a sort of rockstar one before it didn't feel as fresh I guess. Trying to get to the truth of his life - he died in a fire in the previously mentioned tree house on his own once "stories" about him were starting to emerge - was a difficult ask. However for me the 6th story really engaged me and brought the whole book to life for me. Got the next one - will read it and enjoy it I imagine.
December 1, 2020
Deity is a look at the evil within, the monster that can be hidden behind the mask of celebrity, fame and fortune and how those in a position of power exploit their fans to sate their depraved appetites. Deity is yet another addictive, clever and twisted delight by the diabolical talent that is Matt Wesolowski and the fifth book in his always stellar Six Stories series. Like the previous four books, it features a self-contained story and can easily be read as a standalone. Six Stories is a true-crime podcast hosted by the online journalist Scott King where six individual stories are told over six episodes with each new episode introducing a new guest who has links to the case that King is investigating. With each guest, King questions them, probing and reopening old wounds, but he allows them the chance to tell their own story and their piece of the puzzle. King has no agenda, he is an intermediary, a go-between and Six Stories the conduit that allows the guests the opportunity for their voice and their words to be heard. Where the story goes, King follows travelling down the roads that open up. King allows listeners to his podcast (us readers) the chance to make up our own minds, laying out the information while remaining neutral. He has no personal stake in the investigation and he doesn’t pass judgement until he has all the facts at his disposal and until he has heard all six stories from his guests.
In Deity, Scott King is looking into the life and death of Zach Crystal and the allegations of abuse that plagued his career both in life and in his death as more and more women are coming forward with historical abuse claims against the deceased superstar. Zach Crystal was a megastar who had a stratospheric rise to fame. A rags to riches story, coming from a poor family and a deeply religious upbringing on a council estate in the Midlands, through to his teenage years in ‘The Crystal Twins’ with his twin sister Naomi before he left to going solo and his ascent to becoming a world-famous musician. Crystal was a recluse and an enigma who, before his death lived in Crystal Forest, a five-hundred-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands comprising a remote mansion, recording studio and two-storey treehouse (a sanctum, a sanctuary away from the world where he could be himself) deep in the wilderness, surrounded by state-of-the-art security and miles away from anyone.
Without going into detail, the six guests on the six episodes of Six Stories in Deity and the souls that are tangled in the story, that are entwined with Zach Crystal and the web surrounding him are the host of Monster-Busters, a YouTube channel that exposes online predators and who believes that Crystal is guilty of the accusations levelled against him. A super fan of Zach Crystal and ardent supporter of his innocence who has her own podcast ‘The Crystal-Cast’. A groundskeeper in Colliecrith National Park, the park where Zach Crystal’s estate (Crystal Forest) was located who was originally employed to help build the estate and who was then, after the estate’s completion hired as a security guard. A mother of a Zach Crystal fan who, along with her daughter spent time at Crystal Forest. A musician who was famous in the early noughties, who have had their own share of controversy surrounding them (they are a returning guest to Six Stories, their inclusion in Deity makes perfect sense from a storytelling perspective as both they and Crystal are/were involved in the music industry and their appearance is also a wonderful nod and throwback to a previous Six Stories book and serves to show how much Scott King has grown as a host as back on their first appearance, King wasn’t asking the right questions, but maybe he is now) and whose path has crossed with Zach Crystal on both a personal and a professional level. And finally, a family member, kin and Zach Crystal’s own blood. Interspersed between each of the episodes of Six Stories there are snippets of a transcript from the last interview that the Zach Crystal did a few months prior to his death.
Each new episode and interview goes further beneath the surface and there’s nothing shallow or superficial about the story told in Deity as Wesolowski plumbs the depths of Zach Crystal. Wesolowski keeps the waters murky and tenebrous, obscuring the picture and making you question if Crystal is someone whose legacy has been tainted by people with a vendetta against him. People who are out for nothing more than to make money and a name for themselves at the expense of a dead man as the dead can’t speak and they can’t defend themselves or their actions. If he is simply different and misunderstood, an eccentric musician who wanted nothing more than to help damaged teenagers from disadvantaged upbringings by giving something back to those who have nothing in life but scars from a troubled childhood. Or, if he truly is guilty of the heinous and horrific accusations against him and that he used his fame, fortune and name to coerce, manipulate and seduce his fans into doing things that they shouldn’t as they worshipped at the altar of their musical idol.
As you fall deeper down the rabbit hole you find yourself turning the pages with ominous dread, a sense of foreboding for where the story will lead. After all, it’s Six Stories, it’s Wesolowski and you know that there will be no sunshine, kittens and lollipops waiting for you as you reach the end of the story. However, it’s only with the last guest and the last part of their interview that the water truly becomes clear, chillingly so and any lingering shred of doubt that you might have had over whether or not Zach Crystal is guilty of the accusations against him finally vanishes. You are nearing the end, the page count is fast dwindling, there are only a few pages left, you think that all the cards have been dealt and that you know where they have fallen, but no, Wesolowski has one last trick up his sleeve as he pulls out THAT shocker of a revelation and jaw-dropping denouement, stunning, absolutely stunning.
The plotting in Deity is devilish by design, tension-filled and keeps you gripped throughout. The writing is the same high standard that we have all come to expect from Wesolowski and that he consistently delivers in his Six Stories series. The sense of setting that Wesolowski manages to convey is, once again terrific with the forest where Crystal Forest is located feeling menacing and highly atmospheric. Even five books into the series the interview transcript format still feels fresh and unique. There are distinctive characters in Deity, all with their own voice who come to life and feel like real people, while they may not be likeable, they are human.
In the Six Stories series, Wesolowski incorporates a supernatural element into his work that casts a lengthening shadow over the story blending together the natural with the supernatural in an unholy union. In Deity, the supernatural aspect comes from the Frithgast, a creature with a rotting body, a skeletal face and glowing red eyes. Sighting of the Frithgast is a portent that something bad will happen and an ill omen for what is to come. The local legend has its own folklore and myth surrounding it and comes with its own chilling ghost story.
Deity once again finds Wesolowski dancing with the darkness as he takes the reader on another powerful, unsettling and thought-provoking journey into the disturbing and darkened heart of human nature.
In Deity, Scott King is looking into the life and death of Zach Crystal and the allegations of abuse that plagued his career both in life and in his death as more and more women are coming forward with historical abuse claims against the deceased superstar. Zach Crystal was a megastar who had a stratospheric rise to fame. A rags to riches story, coming from a poor family and a deeply religious upbringing on a council estate in the Midlands, through to his teenage years in ‘The Crystal Twins’ with his twin sister Naomi before he left to going solo and his ascent to becoming a world-famous musician. Crystal was a recluse and an enigma who, before his death lived in Crystal Forest, a five-hundred-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands comprising a remote mansion, recording studio and two-storey treehouse (a sanctum, a sanctuary away from the world where he could be himself) deep in the wilderness, surrounded by state-of-the-art security and miles away from anyone.
Without going into detail, the six guests on the six episodes of Six Stories in Deity and the souls that are tangled in the story, that are entwined with Zach Crystal and the web surrounding him are the host of Monster-Busters, a YouTube channel that exposes online predators and who believes that Crystal is guilty of the accusations levelled against him. A super fan of Zach Crystal and ardent supporter of his innocence who has her own podcast ‘The Crystal-Cast’. A groundskeeper in Colliecrith National Park, the park where Zach Crystal’s estate (Crystal Forest) was located who was originally employed to help build the estate and who was then, after the estate’s completion hired as a security guard. A mother of a Zach Crystal fan who, along with her daughter spent time at Crystal Forest. A musician who was famous in the early noughties, who have had their own share of controversy surrounding them (they are a returning guest to Six Stories, their inclusion in Deity makes perfect sense from a storytelling perspective as both they and Crystal are/were involved in the music industry and their appearance is also a wonderful nod and throwback to a previous Six Stories book and serves to show how much Scott King has grown as a host as back on their first appearance, King wasn’t asking the right questions, but maybe he is now) and whose path has crossed with Zach Crystal on both a personal and a professional level. And finally, a family member, kin and Zach Crystal’s own blood. Interspersed between each of the episodes of Six Stories there are snippets of a transcript from the last interview that the Zach Crystal did a few months prior to his death.
Each new episode and interview goes further beneath the surface and there’s nothing shallow or superficial about the story told in Deity as Wesolowski plumbs the depths of Zach Crystal. Wesolowski keeps the waters murky and tenebrous, obscuring the picture and making you question if Crystal is someone whose legacy has been tainted by people with a vendetta against him. People who are out for nothing more than to make money and a name for themselves at the expense of a dead man as the dead can’t speak and they can’t defend themselves or their actions. If he is simply different and misunderstood, an eccentric musician who wanted nothing more than to help damaged teenagers from disadvantaged upbringings by giving something back to those who have nothing in life but scars from a troubled childhood. Or, if he truly is guilty of the heinous and horrific accusations against him and that he used his fame, fortune and name to coerce, manipulate and seduce his fans into doing things that they shouldn’t as they worshipped at the altar of their musical idol.
As you fall deeper down the rabbit hole you find yourself turning the pages with ominous dread, a sense of foreboding for where the story will lead. After all, it’s Six Stories, it’s Wesolowski and you know that there will be no sunshine, kittens and lollipops waiting for you as you reach the end of the story. However, it’s only with the last guest and the last part of their interview that the water truly becomes clear, chillingly so and any lingering shred of doubt that you might have had over whether or not Zach Crystal is guilty of the accusations against him finally vanishes. You are nearing the end, the page count is fast dwindling, there are only a few pages left, you think that all the cards have been dealt and that you know where they have fallen, but no, Wesolowski has one last trick up his sleeve as he pulls out THAT shocker of a revelation and jaw-dropping denouement, stunning, absolutely stunning.
The plotting in Deity is devilish by design, tension-filled and keeps you gripped throughout. The writing is the same high standard that we have all come to expect from Wesolowski and that he consistently delivers in his Six Stories series. The sense of setting that Wesolowski manages to convey is, once again terrific with the forest where Crystal Forest is located feeling menacing and highly atmospheric. Even five books into the series the interview transcript format still feels fresh and unique. There are distinctive characters in Deity, all with their own voice who come to life and feel like real people, while they may not be likeable, they are human.
In the Six Stories series, Wesolowski incorporates a supernatural element into his work that casts a lengthening shadow over the story blending together the natural with the supernatural in an unholy union. In Deity, the supernatural aspect comes from the Frithgast, a creature with a rotting body, a skeletal face and glowing red eyes. Sighting of the Frithgast is a portent that something bad will happen and an ill omen for what is to come. The local legend has its own folklore and myth surrounding it and comes with its own chilling ghost story.
Deity once again finds Wesolowski dancing with the darkness as he takes the reader on another powerful, unsettling and thought-provoking journey into the disturbing and darkened heart of human nature.
August 5, 2022
"Jesus Christ."
"To coin a phrase: not quite."
Wesolowski did it again and with the brutal and cinical force of a talent I can't even explain.
He writes some of the sickest murder mysteries and both the format and the stories themselves are something you just can't get enough, no matter how gory and scandalous they get.
What I like the most about MW's Six Stories series, is the pace. You get enough info and shocking revelations each time to keep you guessing and glued to the pages.
You just can't get enough.
This fifth story is my favorite so far. It gave me actual chills and, even though the presented crime was a fictional one, it made me question about mine and other people perception of what's good and what's evil.
I must admit some of the twists I saw them coming way before they were revealed, but it's always an entertaining experience to stay for the entire thing and figure everything out along with our favorite podcast host.
Wesolowski's writing is raw and straight to the point. Sometimes you forget it's not actually Scott King behind the pen.
As always, the supernatural halo that envelopes each one of these stories, just added an additional chill that's always more than appreciated.
Bravo, Matt Wesolowski. Can't wait for another of his books.
ACTUAL RATINGS 4,5/5
April 9, 2021
This is an excellent series. Highly recommended to all fans of podcasts, mysteries, thrillers and good books!
November 11, 2023
The Popstar Zach Crystal is dead. His fans remain fanatic and protective. His reputation has taken some abuse because of all the teenage girls he used to invite into his mansion. Podcaster Scott King takes a closer look at the deity, the popstar, and the rumors.
January 23, 2021
Visit the locations in the novel
The Six stories series is a winner in my book. The central mystery of each ‘episode’ draws you in and you get so involved and immersed in what is going on, who you should believe, that you soon lose all sense of self.
This episode of Six Stories reads a little different from the other ones. Where the other ones have cantered on the horror angle, this felt like a dark, suspenseful and dare I say it, timely case. There were horror aspects to it however. There is something in the woods where the main character lived, in a remote forest getaway. And we all know what kind of forests Matt W likes to create in his stories. No teddy bears here!
The central theme was sadly timely as it follows the death of a mega superstar – the Justin Bieber of his day. Someone feted so much and put on a godly pedestal by fans that he seems untouchable. Then thigs go wrong. He is accused of the unspeakable, he lives as a recluse, his house burns down and his charred body is found in the remains…..
I felt uncomfortable reading this as it reminded me of the documentary about Michael Jackson’s accusers. Where we seem to value and wonder at celebrity so much, that we never question what is acceptable and what isn’t. Where parents as well as their children become so caught up with the fame game that all sense goes out of the window. Money talks but fame and celebrity seems to drown all of that out.
This episode of Six stories was particularly clever as it brought a real and uncomfortable scenario alive via the brilliant podcast series that Matt has made his own. The perfect vehicle for showcasing what the media shows us, what we believe and then what turns out to be true.
This novel made me think about celebrity and why we favour celebrities so much, what that means and what goes on behind the scenes. We hear from the superstar himself, Zach Crystal, his staff, family and fans. I was believing one thing one minute and something else entirely the next. The truth was another surprise itself and raised even more questions.
This novel makes you look at things differently and makes you think. Matt W has delivered another thrilling story with a new edge to it. This podcast vehicle is cleverly done and I am excited to see where he takes it next.
This has been Susan The BookTrailer with another book review for Six Stories series.
July 9, 2022
Superstar, maverick, genius, abuser, murderer?
Six Stories is about as consistent a series as you could ask for. I love the balanced blend of horror tinged mystery and thriller, delivered in such a unique and engaging style.
I’m kind of mystified this series hasn’t become wildly popular, tbh. It’s a great mix of palatable and creative.
Can’t wait to read the next one!
Six Stories is about as consistent a series as you could ask for. I love the balanced blend of horror tinged mystery and thriller, delivered in such a unique and engaging style.
I’m kind of mystified this series hasn’t become wildly popular, tbh. It’s a great mix of palatable and creative.
Can’t wait to read the next one!
February 10, 2021
Is this the best in the series? It very well may be.
March 15, 2025
cross charles manson and michael jackson and you get zach crystal
December 11, 2020
Deity is the 5th book on the #SixStories series and like the other books in the series it features modern day themes, combined with the darkest myths. Like each book in this much loved series, Deity makes for a disturbing, haunting, bone chilling read. Zach Crystal’s story is one that we have all sadly heard or read at some point. A pop mega star adored by the public, known for their charity work, but behind the public persona he’s plagued by controversy, speculation and allegations of abuse of young, vulnerable girls. The megastar is dead, and yet there are a plethora of questions left unanswered, and that’s the very reason investigating journalist Paul King creates a Six Stories based on Crystal’s life. Each podcast is told from the perspective of six witnesses, whose lives are intertwined with Crystal’s. Matt Wesolowski takes the reader on a unsettling journey that grows darker at every flip of the page.
There’s a tangled web of stories, accusations and claims to explore in the convoluted story of Zack Crystal, Paul King like any good interviewer slowly but deftly scratches away, digging deeper into the rabbit warren that is Crystal’s life. As we learn more about the pop star’s life, the book takes on an ominous, chilling tone. Was Zach an eccentric, “Peter pan”, shy, misunderstood individual, whose aim in life was to help underprivileged children? Or was he a typical predator, manipulative, devious, someone who committed the most hideous crimes, using his superstar status to his own advantage? It’s only as you reach the final podcast that the truth is revealed.
Matt Wesolowski always creates the perfect location and atmosphere for his books, in Deity it’s Crystal’s remote home set against the backdrop of the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. It’s a forest where an ancient evil spirit roams, it’s a forest that’s shrouded in folklore and malevolence. If there’s one thing I that makes this series a ‘must read’, it’s the author’s astonishing ability to write a book that doesn’t fit one particular genre, it has elements of many genres, horror, crime thriller with a modern day twist, which blend together to make an all-consuming read. Each book Matt Wesolowski writes is imaginative, unique, captivating, and devilishly plotted. Six Stories is a series that takes you by surprise, as each book is so different to the last. Once again, the author has written the epitome of a page-turner. Highly recommended to those looking for a unique and memorising read that’s not without its fair share of chills and thrills.
There’s a tangled web of stories, accusations and claims to explore in the convoluted story of Zack Crystal, Paul King like any good interviewer slowly but deftly scratches away, digging deeper into the rabbit warren that is Crystal’s life. As we learn more about the pop star’s life, the book takes on an ominous, chilling tone. Was Zach an eccentric, “Peter pan”, shy, misunderstood individual, whose aim in life was to help underprivileged children? Or was he a typical predator, manipulative, devious, someone who committed the most hideous crimes, using his superstar status to his own advantage? It’s only as you reach the final podcast that the truth is revealed.
Matt Wesolowski always creates the perfect location and atmosphere for his books, in Deity it’s Crystal’s remote home set against the backdrop of the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. It’s a forest where an ancient evil spirit roams, it’s a forest that’s shrouded in folklore and malevolence. If there’s one thing I that makes this series a ‘must read’, it’s the author’s astonishing ability to write a book that doesn’t fit one particular genre, it has elements of many genres, horror, crime thriller with a modern day twist, which blend together to make an all-consuming read. Each book Matt Wesolowski writes is imaginative, unique, captivating, and devilishly plotted. Six Stories is a series that takes you by surprise, as each book is so different to the last. Once again, the author has written the epitome of a page-turner. Highly recommended to those looking for a unique and memorising read that’s not without its fair share of chills and thrills.
December 24, 2021
This was great. Unfortunately I was not able to polish it off in one sitting, like the others, due to life- ew- and work and such so I was not able to become fully immersed in the story, but I did submerge for periods, surfacing to TCB. These books are all excellent, any fan of horror or suspense would love them, and they go more deeply into characters than you usually see in your basic formulaic blah suspense.
January 31, 2023
What did I think? WHAT DID I THINK?? I’ll jolly well tell you what I think.
I think that Matt Wesolowski is one of the most original, horror/thriller writers out there. I’ve read five out of the six books in this series now and they all got the 5 star treatment.
I’ve got the last one left to read - Demon - is it going to be a full house of five stars ratings?
Well, I’d put money on it. I’m THAT SURE.
Quite possibly the best series of books I’ve ever read.
I think that Matt Wesolowski is one of the most original, horror/thriller writers out there. I’ve read five out of the six books in this series now and they all got the 5 star treatment.
I’ve got the last one left to read - Demon - is it going to be a full house of five stars ratings?
Well, I’d put money on it. I’m THAT SURE.
Quite possibly the best series of books I’ve ever read.
March 30, 2022
4 star review coming to Kendall Reviews!
December 18, 2020
I skipped from the first Six Stories book to Deity, which is the 5th book in the Six Stories series. I absolutely have to go back and read the other three because these books are truly one of a kind. Thank you so much to Orenda Books and Matt Wesolowski for this thrilling book. They are written in the format of a podcast that tells six stories and gets six points of view on one polarizing case. This book was about superstar Zach Crystal, who was found dead in his home. After his death it comes to light he may have been a predator? Maybe a pure-hearted lover of charity? Maybe a delusional mad-man who believed in a dark beast that was an omen of death? So many stories come out and Scott King and his podcast are trying to get to the bottom of it.
Thoughts: I love the way this book contrasts old folklore with relevant and poignant themes of today. The juxtaposition of Scottish lore against current rock music is interesting and unique. I love the way that each story explains things more and more, and shows things in a different light. The author creates the perfect atmosphere for a creepy story and building plot. I love the way his books always have so many relevant issues, in this book being the #metoo movement.
I loved the different perspectives in this story and how you can truly imagine it happening in real life. Each story was so different and unique, and it all twisted together to create a great story. I never can guess where his books are going and this one was no exception. I was completely captivated by this book- 5 stars!
Thoughts: I love the way this book contrasts old folklore with relevant and poignant themes of today. The juxtaposition of Scottish lore against current rock music is interesting and unique. I love the way that each story explains things more and more, and shows things in a different light. The author creates the perfect atmosphere for a creepy story and building plot. I love the way his books always have so many relevant issues, in this book being the #metoo movement.
I loved the different perspectives in this story and how you can truly imagine it happening in real life. Each story was so different and unique, and it all twisted together to create a great story. I never can guess where his books are going and this one was no exception. I was completely captivated by this book- 5 stars!
February 15, 2021
In podcasting terms, this is another brilliant series of Six Stories, an astonishingly compelling story that examines the very fabric of certain societal issues while unravelling an infinitely dark and fascinating mystery. Full of the usual atmosphere, range of authentic perspectives, and murmurings of the supposedly paranormal, it is both a thrilling work of fiction and a profound portrayal of the dark side of fame.
The writing is immersive and contains voluminous depth throughout, though it is the kind of book that cannot be fully appreciated until the end once all the voices have been heard and the multitude of questions that have arisen along the way are gradually answered. The way this is executed elevates it from an highly impressive read into an exceptional one, with the eventual revelation of disturbing truths and unexpected twists.
This latest case for online investigative journalist Scott King is that of the deceased pop star Zach Crystal, one of the biggest names in showbusiness who was killed in a fire at his mansion in the Scottish Highlands just a matter of weeks after announcing a musical comeback. He had only recently re-emerged after going missing for over a year, and his whereabouts during that time have remained unknown.
In the time before and after his death, Crystal had been the subject of a number of sexual abuse allegations. He strongly denied the claims while many of his devoted fans, who revered him as something akin to a god-like figure, aggressively protested his innocence, however his actions provided plenty of cause for suspicion.
For several years he had invited teenage girls to his home, and frequently spent time with them alone and unsupervised. In addition, two girls were found dead in the nearby woods shortly after the release of his final album. As Scott speaks to six people who had connections with Zach Crystal at various points in their lives, he finds that the star was even more of an enigma than he originally seemed.
The subject matter ensures that this is often a dark and unsettling read, but also powerful and deeply thought-provoking. It explores in great detail how someone of such immense standing can fall from grace, appalling acts can go unpunished or disputed, and the many lives that are terminally affected in the process. Zach Crystal may be a fictional character, but it is hard not to liken his story to that of real-life celebrities or public figures whose past crimes have come to light in recent years.
As a result, the book carries a huge amount of relevance, also touching upon concepts such as victim blaming, cancel culture, and how different groups of people are portrayed by the media. There are occasional references to the #metoo movement that fit with the narrative, which represents, over the course of testimonies from six different interviewees, an exceedingly broad and eloquent social commentary.
The plot is very well crafted, beginning with a background of the case and hearing from those who knew Zach Crystal on the outside, before gaining increasingly clear insights that hint more closely towards the truth. I had a fun time guessing who would be the guest for each new episode and as ever they were all super interesting, with the best saved until last.
In between each section of the book, there are extracts from a television interview Zach Crystal conducted shortly before his death. This is written in the form of a transcript and sheds light not only how unusual a personality he is, but also his untouchable status. This whole aspect does seem quite curious at first for more reasons than one, but it all makes sense in the end with a twist I did not see coming.
As fictional podcast hosts go, you can hardly get any better than Scott King. He sets the scene perfectly and asks all the right questions, getting to the heart of all his interviewees’ moral dilemmas and sometimes sharing his own relationship with the case. Every little detail is of the utmost importance and all six people he spoke to were well developed, bringing something new to the story.
The only character I had a slight problem with was Ruby Rendall, who came across as more of an awestruck fangirl than a primetime talk show presenter. As for Zach Crystal himself, the descriptions of him gave me a lot of uncomfortable vibes as you would expect, but the author does a fabulous job of making him seem elusive despite most of his flaws being very evident.
A lot of the story focused on events at Zach Crystal’s home and the surrounding acres of woodland, which made for a frightful setting. This was emphasised by talk of the Frithghast, a spectral creature that supposedly appears when something bad is about to happen, creating a threatening, oppressive atmosphere as well as adding an extra layer to the mystery.
The writing and storytelling are unsurprisingly excellent and there is such a degree of realism in the dialogue and the facts of the case that no matter how many instalments of Six Stories there are, you cannot fail to admire it. The ending was a particular highlight and the twist set off a few minor explosions in my brain before everything fell into place.
Overall, this is a book that delivers the goods in pretty much every respect, but where it really excels is in terms of the social commentary and topical elements. It is impactful and wide-ranging with a dark atmosphere, which keeps you turning the pages at a never-ending rate. This is Six Stories, and once again, it does not disappoint.
The writing is immersive and contains voluminous depth throughout, though it is the kind of book that cannot be fully appreciated until the end once all the voices have been heard and the multitude of questions that have arisen along the way are gradually answered. The way this is executed elevates it from an highly impressive read into an exceptional one, with the eventual revelation of disturbing truths and unexpected twists.
This latest case for online investigative journalist Scott King is that of the deceased pop star Zach Crystal, one of the biggest names in showbusiness who was killed in a fire at his mansion in the Scottish Highlands just a matter of weeks after announcing a musical comeback. He had only recently re-emerged after going missing for over a year, and his whereabouts during that time have remained unknown.
In the time before and after his death, Crystal had been the subject of a number of sexual abuse allegations. He strongly denied the claims while many of his devoted fans, who revered him as something akin to a god-like figure, aggressively protested his innocence, however his actions provided plenty of cause for suspicion.
For several years he had invited teenage girls to his home, and frequently spent time with them alone and unsupervised. In addition, two girls were found dead in the nearby woods shortly after the release of his final album. As Scott speaks to six people who had connections with Zach Crystal at various points in their lives, he finds that the star was even more of an enigma than he originally seemed.
The subject matter ensures that this is often a dark and unsettling read, but also powerful and deeply thought-provoking. It explores in great detail how someone of such immense standing can fall from grace, appalling acts can go unpunished or disputed, and the many lives that are terminally affected in the process. Zach Crystal may be a fictional character, but it is hard not to liken his story to that of real-life celebrities or public figures whose past crimes have come to light in recent years.
As a result, the book carries a huge amount of relevance, also touching upon concepts such as victim blaming, cancel culture, and how different groups of people are portrayed by the media. There are occasional references to the #metoo movement that fit with the narrative, which represents, over the course of testimonies from six different interviewees, an exceedingly broad and eloquent social commentary.
The plot is very well crafted, beginning with a background of the case and hearing from those who knew Zach Crystal on the outside, before gaining increasingly clear insights that hint more closely towards the truth. I had a fun time guessing who would be the guest for each new episode and as ever they were all super interesting, with the best saved until last.
In between each section of the book, there are extracts from a television interview Zach Crystal conducted shortly before his death. This is written in the form of a transcript and sheds light not only how unusual a personality he is, but also his untouchable status. This whole aspect does seem quite curious at first for more reasons than one, but it all makes sense in the end with a twist I did not see coming.
As fictional podcast hosts go, you can hardly get any better than Scott King. He sets the scene perfectly and asks all the right questions, getting to the heart of all his interviewees’ moral dilemmas and sometimes sharing his own relationship with the case. Every little detail is of the utmost importance and all six people he spoke to were well developed, bringing something new to the story.
The only character I had a slight problem with was Ruby Rendall, who came across as more of an awestruck fangirl than a primetime talk show presenter. As for Zach Crystal himself, the descriptions of him gave me a lot of uncomfortable vibes as you would expect, but the author does a fabulous job of making him seem elusive despite most of his flaws being very evident.
A lot of the story focused on events at Zach Crystal’s home and the surrounding acres of woodland, which made for a frightful setting. This was emphasised by talk of the Frithghast, a spectral creature that supposedly appears when something bad is about to happen, creating a threatening, oppressive atmosphere as well as adding an extra layer to the mystery.
The writing and storytelling are unsurprisingly excellent and there is such a degree of realism in the dialogue and the facts of the case that no matter how many instalments of Six Stories there are, you cannot fail to admire it. The ending was a particular highlight and the twist set off a few minor explosions in my brain before everything fell into place.
Overall, this is a book that delivers the goods in pretty much every respect, but where it really excels is in terms of the social commentary and topical elements. It is impactful and wide-ranging with a dark atmosphere, which keeps you turning the pages at a never-ending rate. This is Six Stories, and once again, it does not disappoint.
February 9, 2021
I’ve loved the #SixStories series from the start. Scott King (well Matt Wesolowski) investigates some very sinister supernatural tales so I couldn’t wait to get my hand on Deity. Just the title made me wonder who or what was being exalted to such a title!!
Dead, he might be, but man, the guy has a fucking army of seething, dedicated, maniacal fans.
What Scott uncovers in this series of Six Stories is totally messed up. A pop superstar found dead in his reclusive mansion amid rumours of all things dodgy. Were the rumours the result of jealousy, blackmail, attention seeking from his fans? Did he commit suicide? So so many questions Scott needs to find the answers to in his own unique fashion.
Yet again, Wesolowski delves in to folklore to give his Six Stories episode an unnerving theme. Each book has given me chills, proper chill and the Frithghast is one hell of a scary prospect.
I found Deity heavier and darker than the previous Six Stories. I felt the ever so slight shift to a more human darkness in Crystal made this a more disturbing read… but as with the previous instalments of Scott King’s podcast, I was engrossed and invested to seek the truth of this tale. Another cracking instalment of #SixStories.
Dead, he might be, but man, the guy has a fucking army of seething, dedicated, maniacal fans.
What Scott uncovers in this series of Six Stories is totally messed up. A pop superstar found dead in his reclusive mansion amid rumours of all things dodgy. Were the rumours the result of jealousy, blackmail, attention seeking from his fans? Did he commit suicide? So so many questions Scott needs to find the answers to in his own unique fashion.
Yet again, Wesolowski delves in to folklore to give his Six Stories episode an unnerving theme. Each book has given me chills, proper chill and the Frithghast is one hell of a scary prospect.
I found Deity heavier and darker than the previous Six Stories. I felt the ever so slight shift to a more human darkness in Crystal made this a more disturbing read… but as with the previous instalments of Scott King’s podcast, I was engrossed and invested to seek the truth of this tale. Another cracking instalment of #SixStories.
August 10, 2021
Deity is my first time reading Matt Wesolowski and based on the brilliant plotting and expert narrative it won't be the last.
Deity works as a standalone novel but may slightly spoil a previous Six Stories due to a returning character.
This is a book that you need to know as little about as possible bar the synopsis. The only thing I can say about Deity is that it is one of the best books I've read this year. Wesolowski is a genius at characterisation and dialogue. This is good old fashioned story telling at it's very finest.
The delivery of story via interviews, newspaper clippings and of course the podcast is incredibly well done. Wesolowski absolutely nailed the story, keeping me on my toes whilst I frantically turned the pages as I worked towards the conclusion of Zach Crystals controversial life.
As I said, one of the best books I've read this year and in Matt Wesolowski I have a new author that I'll want to read everything they've published. Six Stories is an inspired idea and Deity has delivered superbly.
Deity works as a standalone novel but may slightly spoil a previous Six Stories due to a returning character.
This is a book that you need to know as little about as possible bar the synopsis. The only thing I can say about Deity is that it is one of the best books I've read this year. Wesolowski is a genius at characterisation and dialogue. This is good old fashioned story telling at it's very finest.
The delivery of story via interviews, newspaper clippings and of course the podcast is incredibly well done. Wesolowski absolutely nailed the story, keeping me on my toes whilst I frantically turned the pages as I worked towards the conclusion of Zach Crystals controversial life.
As I said, one of the best books I've read this year and in Matt Wesolowski I have a new author that I'll want to read everything they've published. Six Stories is an inspired idea and Deity has delivered superbly.
November 21, 2020
This has become my annual joy. Another book from Matt in the Six Stories series. What will I do if they ever end? I guess ... read them all again. Be excited about what he does next. Deity is another twisted, clever, unusual, thought-provoking and yet still somehow always emotional read, with all the usual dark fairytales and folklore present. There are woods again, an evil forest, where a great deity lives - worldwide superstar Zach Crystal. Except now he's dead. But is he quite the revered idol everyone thought? I loved this, needless to say. I'm now bereft. So, as Scott King says, this has been Six Stories, and until next time....
April 21, 2023
Loved all the books in this series so far, and this is not an exception. I feel this was less creepy or thrilling than all the others before though. Up until the sixth part it was interesting and I enjoyed it but I didn't find myself wondering if there was indeed anything sinister going on other than what we already knew from the beginning.
Read
November 20, 2022This is the first one of the series that I haven't liked. I found the writing a bit repetitive and the subject matter/outcome somewhat predictable. Unusual, considering the first four weren't like that at all. I will still read the next one, but not for a while.
February 27, 2021
I am absolutely thrilled to be on this blog tour, as not only did I love Matt Wesolowski’s Changeling, I was recently treated to all five of the Six Stories books for my birthday. It’s safe to say I’m a fan!
For those new to the Six Stories series, first I would strongly recommend starting at the beginning and reading through in order. Each book stands alone in terms of the main story under investigation, but each book also reveals layers of back story about our host, narrator and main character, Scott King.
This series has a unique format that I find utterly compelling: Scott’s ‘Six Stories’ is a podcast in which he takes a high-profile cold case – a murder, a disappearance, a fire – and ‘digs over the grave’, looking at the story from six different angles, six different points of view. Scott interviews six people involved, directly or peripherally, with the case and we readers get the transcripts of his six podcasts featuring those interviews, along with other related research material – newspaper reports, transcripts of tv shows, song lyrics. Scott’s commentary on the information is presented within his podcast format, with no story narrator editorializing the material, leaving the listeners, and readers, to make up their own minds as to what to believe and what might have happened.
That uncertainty and open-ended concept applies to the plots as much as the opinions. Scott repeatedly assures his listeners that he can’t produce answers or definitive ‘truths’. His purpose is to simply rake through the remains, as impartially as possible, and show us aspects of the story that may not previously have been uncovered or understood. Of course, sometimes answers do show up as a result of his digging, resulting in an explosive climactic reveal, but there will always be questions left unanswered, mysteries left to haunt you.
Deity features an investigation into the life and death of Zach Crystal, a controversial pop star who rose to fame from childhood and was known for Neverland-ranch-style eccentricities. Now, some still adore him as a god, while others decry him as a monster, but who is the real Zach Crystal behind the mask and make-up? And does a skeletal, antlered figure really haunt him and his closest fans? Scott puts on his most neutral, objective professional mask and begins to (metaphorically) dig up the grounds of the infamous Crystal Forest, to see what bones he can turn up, and his listeners won’t be disappointed. Sickened. Horrified. Saddened. But not disappointed.
Woven into the story of a pop star on his pedestal are some very current themes: #metoo; the license that allows the rich and/or famous to do whatever they want; our tendency to believe what we want to believe, regardless of evidence; spin and propaganda; the corruption of power; idols and clay feet. All real problems – mundane, dirty, common – but Wesolowski elevates and twists the issues into something new and arresting, with his signature ingredient: a touch of the paranormal, a hint of the occult, a glimpse behind the curtain of the other.
Matt Wesolowski is a master of subtle, creepy storytelling, and Deity is yet another example of his finest craft. Immersive, haunting and very topical, the Six Stories series is perfect for fans of dark mystery looking for something unique. Personally, I am off to gloat Gollum-style over my precious birthday paperback set, while I wait anxiously for the next in what I hope will be a very long-running series!
'Welcome to Six Stories.
I’m Scott King.
Over the next six weeks, we’ll be looking back at one of the most polarising scandals of recent times, one that should have opened up the floodgates, made a giant crack in the zeitgeist, made us question ourselves and each other and perhaps galvanised us into questioning how we look at things.
Yet somehow it didn’t.
This was the biggest thing that never happened.'
– Matt Wesolowski, Deity
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
For those new to the Six Stories series, first I would strongly recommend starting at the beginning and reading through in order. Each book stands alone in terms of the main story under investigation, but each book also reveals layers of back story about our host, narrator and main character, Scott King.
This series has a unique format that I find utterly compelling: Scott’s ‘Six Stories’ is a podcast in which he takes a high-profile cold case – a murder, a disappearance, a fire – and ‘digs over the grave’, looking at the story from six different angles, six different points of view. Scott interviews six people involved, directly or peripherally, with the case and we readers get the transcripts of his six podcasts featuring those interviews, along with other related research material – newspaper reports, transcripts of tv shows, song lyrics. Scott’s commentary on the information is presented within his podcast format, with no story narrator editorializing the material, leaving the listeners, and readers, to make up their own minds as to what to believe and what might have happened.
That uncertainty and open-ended concept applies to the plots as much as the opinions. Scott repeatedly assures his listeners that he can’t produce answers or definitive ‘truths’. His purpose is to simply rake through the remains, as impartially as possible, and show us aspects of the story that may not previously have been uncovered or understood. Of course, sometimes answers do show up as a result of his digging, resulting in an explosive climactic reveal, but there will always be questions left unanswered, mysteries left to haunt you.
Deity features an investigation into the life and death of Zach Crystal, a controversial pop star who rose to fame from childhood and was known for Neverland-ranch-style eccentricities. Now, some still adore him as a god, while others decry him as a monster, but who is the real Zach Crystal behind the mask and make-up? And does a skeletal, antlered figure really haunt him and his closest fans? Scott puts on his most neutral, objective professional mask and begins to (metaphorically) dig up the grounds of the infamous Crystal Forest, to see what bones he can turn up, and his listeners won’t be disappointed. Sickened. Horrified. Saddened. But not disappointed.
Woven into the story of a pop star on his pedestal are some very current themes: #metoo; the license that allows the rich and/or famous to do whatever they want; our tendency to believe what we want to believe, regardless of evidence; spin and propaganda; the corruption of power; idols and clay feet. All real problems – mundane, dirty, common – but Wesolowski elevates and twists the issues into something new and arresting, with his signature ingredient: a touch of the paranormal, a hint of the occult, a glimpse behind the curtain of the other.
Matt Wesolowski is a master of subtle, creepy storytelling, and Deity is yet another example of his finest craft. Immersive, haunting and very topical, the Six Stories series is perfect for fans of dark mystery looking for something unique. Personally, I am off to gloat Gollum-style over my precious birthday paperback set, while I wait anxiously for the next in what I hope will be a very long-running series!
'Welcome to Six Stories.
I’m Scott King.
Over the next six weeks, we’ll be looking back at one of the most polarising scandals of recent times, one that should have opened up the floodgates, made a giant crack in the zeitgeist, made us question ourselves and each other and perhaps galvanised us into questioning how we look at things.
Yet somehow it didn’t.
This was the biggest thing that never happened.'
– Matt Wesolowski, Deity
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
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