Review: Changeling (Six Stories #3)
/4 stars. Brilliant. I'm obsessed with this series and hope they continue forever. While I guessed the ending early/easily in this one, I was still glued to it and the other twists and turns kept me satisfied. I love that Wesolowski manages to layer horror so successfully in each of these: the outer layer (ghosts, paranormal, creepy stuff) and the inner layer (the worst of humanity). Poor Scott King!
Changeling (such a clever title) sees the return of King's true crime podcast, this time exploring the disappearance of a young boy in a supposedly haunted forest. He interviews those who knew the kid's parents, those who had experiences in the forest, and others who orbit the case itself. Like in the other books in this series, we as readers circle and circle and circle the truth, edging around what turns out to be a very heartbreaking and personal revelation.
In this one he tackles abuse. It features, in my opinion, one of the scariest villains of all time - wishy washy at first, because he blurs the line of victim and villain so deftly. I appreciated the author's clear sensitivity surrounding some of the darker themes, which rang very sadly true. And I loved the way he ended it with a glimmer of powerful hope. My only complaint is that I wanted a little bit MORE! A few questions are left unanswered and we say goodbye a bit abruptly.
Thank goodness there are more books in this series. It's become such a saving grace over the past few weeks and I hope he never stops writing them. My brain loves puzzles like these and I can't get enough. Bonus points for being genuinely, honestly spooky.
Changeling on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads