A caterpillar on a city sidewalk...

This is the intense and disturbing first person monologue of an unnamed, emotionally immature college student who finds himself accused of assault, then murder, following the shooting of the judge at his hearing. Distraught by the ending of his year long relationship with girlfriend, Kelly, and the perceived betrayal of best friend, Tony, he goes on the run, only to be further pursued by the sinister Puppet Man.

The Monster is a quick to read novella which brand attention from the very first line ('Once in every generation, a monster awakes') and holds on tightly thereafter, as the teller of the tale pours out his lonliness, fears and unhappiness as he runs away from arrest and the charge of murder, finding help in unlikely places. The writing is vibrant and direct, the characters of not only the main protagonist but also the other players gently surfacing as the story proceeds. It is a book that lingers in the mind after it has been finished and the reader has moved on.
Narration is by Scott Cluthe, who becomes our nameless story teller; his deep, almost languid, voice is full of expression and appropriate intonation. A fine performance.

My thanks to the rights holder of The Monster, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It was an immersive and enjoyable short thriller that I am very glad to have read, and definitely recommend to anyone who likes their narrative directly from the mindset of the main protagonist, and with the wrinkles of a psychological thriller. Good, unusual story and, though short, thought provoking, a tad scary and well worth a listen.

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