The Terror of Ed Killingworth

By: Robert Bottass

Narrated by: Tom Guild

Ed Killingworth isn't your typical murder suspect. When Ed can't explain why he's mixed up with three horrific slayings, Lt. Zachary Henry of the Massachusetts State Police turns up the heat on this unassuming family man.

Ed quickly realizes that he's part of something far darker and far reaching than he can make himself believe. In desperation, he seeks help from a trio of locals with checkered pasts. Unsure if he can trust any of them, Ed has to find the courage to confront a cold-blooded killer who has the power to inflict a suffering worse than death itself.

©2015 Robert C. Bottass, Jr. (P)2015 Robert C. Bottass, Jr.

Great effort from first-time novelist!

If you could sum up The Terror of Ed Killingworth in three words, what would they be?

Crime, horror, Lovecraftian

What other book might you compare The Terror of Ed Killingworth to and why?

Hard to compare, as I haven't read many books (if any) that combine a police detective angle with a Lovecraftian twist. But it is an effective combination.

Have you listened to any of Tom Guild’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Tom before but he did a very good job here.

If you could take any character from The Terror of Ed Killingworth out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Ed Killingworth, of course!

Any additional comments?

My only complaint, if I have one, is that I wished it was longer! (Would have liked even more detail during the climactic scene). It's a unique book, and I read a lot of horror fiction.

A story that builds suspense all the way through

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend. The author created a story with a "real" feel to it, but with a supernatural twist that further highlighted the down-to-earth nature of the main character.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the way the author continuously built suspense throughout the story. The plot details developed slowly (not in a monotonous way, just methodical and incremental....this was a large part of what made the story so engaging-I was anxiously listening to find out where the story was going), and I found myself speculating about what the end result was going to be and constantly adjusting my view of what I expected to happen as the story evolved.

The main character's life ("Ed Killingworth") was mundane in every way, and it was easy to relate to a character who is living an "everyday" sort of life. When something jarring happens in Ed's life and he gets pulled deeper and deeper into trouble, I found myself rooting for him to survive (literally and figuratively).

Which character – as performed by Tom Guild – was your favorite?

Ed Killingworth (the main character) is a grounded, likable character. He is an extremely relatable character who will strike a chord with the listener. It is impossible not to root for this person who was pulled into something mysterious, spooky, and dangerous. Mr. Guild's smooth, deep voice and cadence was a great fit for the main character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The book took its time in releasing plot details that ultimately led to the climax. The deftly-balanced pacing made me want to listen for increasingly long sessions.

Any additional comments?

An impressive novel from a rookie author. Given the author's considerable talents at establishing mood and giving the listener a strong sense of the physical environment of the story, I hope to see him write a book that allows him to showcase those skills even more. His descriptions of typical New England winter weather and things like trees was spot-on.

The supernatural feel to the book was a nice twist that helped drive the suspense, but it would have been nice to see the climax fleshed out more fully. The slightly anti-climactic finish is more a testament to the artful job the author did in immersing me in the buildup of the story, rather than a negative comment about the effectiveness of the ending.

I look forward to the author's next project!

Loved my first audible book!!

This was my first audible book. I loved the story. Being familiar with central and western Massachusetts made the story even better. The author inserts philosophical and metaphysical mores into the story from the hero Ed Killingworth. The protagonist reflects many of the feelings I share when things happen in life. I love a murder mystery, yet this one achieves that with a twisting tale terror and reason. The author should continue his writing.