Deity by Matt Wesolowski

This is fourth outing for online journalist Scott King and his Six Stories podcast, and he’s looking into the mysterious life and death of pop megastar Zach Chrystal. Chrystal shot to fame as a child star with his sister Naomi, but then went solo and became a superstar. Unlike many in show business though, he rarely gave interviews and was an elusive figure. He also visited hospitals and befriended troubled teenage girls in the wards. He was regularly the subject of tabloid speculation, but used his army of well-paid lawyers to shut down troublesome rumours and questions. One day he went missing, and no one knew where he was, only to reappear and announce a new album and tour. This injected his career, which had flagged in recent years, with new impetus, and his old albums sold once more; he soared to new heights. But then there was a fire at his remote mansion and he died in the blaze.

So, that’s the subject of this edition of the Six Stories podcast, and as usual, it’s told in six parts, each taking a unique perspective on Zach Chrystal’s life. Along the way we meet a paedophile hunter who thought they had ensnared Zach on social media trying to meet an underage girl; a pro-Chrystal blogger, and one of an army of fanatical fans ready to harass and doxx anyone with a bad word to say about their icon; a former employee of Chrystal’s who worked in his mansion; and the mother of a girl who he befriended and has since run away. There are two other guests who I won't reveal in this review as I don’t want to divulge spoilers.

My guess is that Zach Chrystal is modelled on Michael Jackson (the mega stardom; the elusiveness and rare media appearances; the outrageous clothing; the befriending of underage teenagers and having them stay over, and defending this behaviour by saying he’s just a child at heart; the fanatical fan base eager to attack those who criticise him), with some influences from Jimmy Savile (visiting hospital wards to befriend those sick or injured, and giving money to those hospitals to ensure they're in hock to him). 

Certainly, this is a book about stardom and how it can shield wrongdoing. But of course, there’s a supernatural element too. Wesolowski is an author who always imbues his tales with a whiff of the occult, and here we have a strange beast that stalks the forest in which Chrystal has built his mansion and which the pop star is obsessed with. Might this creature be responsible for the death of two of his fans in those woods?

Deity is yet another brilliant novel in this series, and the Six Stories franchise, if I can call it that, is as strong as ever. I look forward to reading the sixth Six Stories tale, or indeed, whatever the author chooses to write next.

4 out of 5 stars