Title: Deity

Author: Matt Wesolowski

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication Date: 18th February 2021 (Paperback) / E-book out now

Rating: 5/5

Cover:

Summary:

A shamed pop star
A devastating fire
Six witnesses
Six stories
Which one is true?

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 rake over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal’s remote home really an accident? Are reports of a haunting really true? Why was he never officially charged?

Review:

I am a huge fan of the Six Stories series and every one I have read has been brilliant – Deity is absolutely no exception. The format is the same as all the others in the series – we get six points of view on the same mystery in the form of a podcast. In Deity the mystery surrounds pop superstar Zach Crystal and the rumours surrounding his life and death.

What I love most about this book, as with all the other Six Stories mysteries is how totally impossible it is to predict the direction the story will take. There are so many layers to unpick in Deity and the author gives us each perspective on a very elusive man’s life whilst building to a startling crescendo. The host of the Six Stories podcast is, as ever, Scott King and he is almost as mysterious as Zach Crystal himself. I love the way King builds a picture of a case without appearing to take a side and yet there is always something that ties him to the narrative. He’s a phenomenal character which makes the reader become totally engaged with whatever story he is investigating.

There are no easy answers in Deity – things are murky and multifaceted in a way that had me desperately turning the pages in an attempt to uncover the truth. The story is timely which brings an impressive resonance with it and it felt so unbelievably real. That is something Wesolowski does particularly well – his characters and the original and inventive format make the book almost feel like nonfiction. I don’t want to give anything at all away about the plot because the twists and turns are what make it such a fantastic reading experience (plus there are some brilliant jaw-dropping moments I would hate to spoil) but let’s just say things are never quite what they seem in the Six Stories universe! I cannot recommend Deity (plus all the others) highly enough. Intelligent, chilling, unique and unmissable for anyone looking for an unpredictable and thrilling read.

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received an e-copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.