Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Beast of Barcroft
    The Beast of Barcroft
    The Beast of Barcroft
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Beast of Barcroft

    Written by Bill Schweigart

    Narrated by Will Damron

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Ben McKelvie believes he's moving up in the world when he and his fiancee buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he's moving down-way down-thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.

    First, Ben's fiancee leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine's noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he's not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn't possibly exist-in this world.

    Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 15, 2016
    ISBN9781515984320
    The Beast of Barcroft
    Author

    Bill Schweigart

    Bill Schweigart is the author of The Fatal Folklore Trilogy, Running Light, and Slipping The Cable. A former Coast Guard officer, he daylights as a branch chief with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife and daughter who, along with their monstrous Newfoundland and four cats, provide him with all the adventure he can handle.

    More audiobooks from Bill Schweigart

    Related to The Beast of Barcroft

    Titles in the series (3)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Paul Tremblay

      Jun 17, 2020

      IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS that I would live to see the end of everything,” says Paul Tremblay, speaking to SFX from his Massachusetts home in the middle of lockdown. It’s a singularly peculiar time, and a peculiar interview for him to

      3 min read

    • Article

      Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit

      Sep 1, 2023

      Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit
      26 min read

    • Article

      A Lost Prayer

      Feb 2, 2023

      A Lost Prayer
      10 min read

    • Article

      Intelligent Creatures

      Jul 6, 2023

      Intelligent Creatures
      19 min read

    • Article

      Jackie FRENCH My Fire Wombat

      Oct 7, 2020

      Jackie FRENCH My Fire Wombat
      5 min read

    • Article

      Fiction: Wolfdreams

      Feb 12, 2022

      Fiction: Wolfdreams
      6 min read

    • Article

      Now That It’s Come to This

      Jun 3, 2021

      Now That It’s Come to This
      13 min read

    • Article

      Roosevelt Elk Relived

      Aug 2, 2022

      Roosevelt Elk Relived
      5 min read

    • Article

      It Happened to Me…

      Sep 7, 2023

      It Happened to Me…
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Canine Retiree

      Jul 19, 2021

      The Canine Retiree
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Canine Retiree

      Jul 19, 2021

      The Canine Retiree
      6 min read

    • Article

      Karolina

      Jun 15, 2019

      I first saw Karolina outside the Sumesa on the corner of Avenidas Oaxaca and Álvaro Obregón. She was smoking a stubby cigarette, a sled-like backpack hitched to her shoulders. I stopped short, felt my heart lurch. Could it be? Karolina was my brother

      31 min read

    • Article

      Speed of Mercy

      Jul 30, 2021

      Speed of Mercy
      10 min read

    • Article

      Speedboat

      Mar 24, 2022

      Nobody died that year. Nobody prospered. There were no births or marriages. Seventeen reverent satires were written – disrupting a cliché and, presumably, creating a genre. That was a dream, of course, but many of the most important things, I fi nd,

      14 min read

    • Article

      The Road to Paradise and Back

      Dec 1, 2022

      The Road to Paradise and Back
      23 min read

    • Article

      The PRIDE

      May 1, 2023

      The PRIDE
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Jewel, Complete With A Crown

      Jun 9, 2021

      A Jewel, Complete With A Crown
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Dancing Skinny

      Jul 11, 2019

      The Dancing Skinny
      12 min read

    • Article

      The Walk Home

      Mar 29, 2021

      The Walk Home
      10 min read

    • Article

      After the Storm

      Oct 22, 2019

      After the Storm
      9 min read

    • Article

      Swimming with Riba

      May 23, 2022

      Swimming with Riba
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Beast of Barcroft

    4/5

    34 ratings11 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      This was a very suspenseful book. I enjoyed it immensely, It kept me reading past my bedtime and I was afraid I would have nightmares. I didn't, but the next morning, before breakfast even, I was reading the book again. The main character, Ben, is well developed. He has his flaws, but is a kind hearted man trying to survive. The other characters were also well rounded. The plot was exciting and interesting. I can't wait to read another book by this author. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Excellent!
      When I first read the description I thought this just may be a little too crazy... even for me. I mean a zoologist? a cryptozoologist? not my usual cup of tea but the comparison to Bentley Little made it a must read for me and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. Plus I can totally relate to having horrible neighbors that attract all manner of filth and vermin so I felt bad for Ben straight off before I even realized that my neighbor infesting us with fleas was nothing compared to what's hanging around Ben's neighborhood. I am so looking forward to the sequel "Northwoods" that will be coming out next year.

      I received a free copy for review
    • 4/5
      I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley

      When I first read the description of this book, I was expecting a werewolf story. What I got was something much more interesting and imaginative. The beast is indeed something that nightmares are made of. I loved the fact that they bring in a cryptozoologist. I could have read even more scenes with him. I enjoy it when there are explanations to legitimize the monsters.

      The main character, Ben, was at times likable, and at times not so much. But he was still an interesting, well written character, full of flaws. The story had plenty of action, and a satisfying ending. I really enjoyed this book.
    • 3/5
      Neighbor & Creatures from Hell! 3.5 stars...

      I had a date with The Beast of Barcroft this week and it got off to a rocky start. The chapters in the beginning felt disjointed and I thought the execution was choppy and awkward. Then as I got further into it, around Chapter 8, the writing improved and the flow got a lot smoother. Once the writing and story came together, I started enjoying it a lot more. It's basically a quick thriller about a community with a terrible neighbor and an even worse animal problem. I thought the horror and gore was mildly portrayed though so even those that are squeamish or scare easily can still enjoy this one.

      *I received this ARC from NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Hydra in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

    • 1/5
      "One twisted, gnarled body, thousands of tiny heads protruding. The mass crested over her swaying like a cobra for a moment, hundreds of black eyes looking down on her, before it crashed over her in a wave and thousands of razor-sharp teeth found purchase at once." When I read this about a quarter of the way into The Beast of Barcroft I thought whoa!! James Herbert eat your heart out!! this is like a modern retelling of The Rats, 70's horror at its best.....but unfortunately that was as good as it got.......The Rats was one of the first horror books I ever read and was influential in my early love of the horror genre. It was a book with a great and simple story, a rat plague strikes London, and a wonderful list of characters that instantly got me interested in the story that each had to tell. So why I am talking about The Rats when this is a review of an entirely different book? Simply put The Beast of Barcroft is unfortunately a book that will do little to ingratiate new readers to the horror genre in the way that The Rats did for me all those years ago. It is utter drivel! with characters that are instantly forgettable and a story line that had the potential to relive all those great books from so many years ago and instead turns out to be a damp squib.Ben McKelvie has moved into a new pad in Arlington Virginia with his dog Bucky, and a disorganised neighbour whose chaotic and irresponsible lifestyle is attracting all types of rodents and vermin to the streets outside his home. What more is there to say....the beast/shapeshifter arrives, takes on whatever form he chooses and terrorizes and kills a few inhabitants. So will our hero (who loves Lindsay but she is really in love with her new partner Faith, so then he loves Lisa!) save the day. Do I really care about the puerile and petty little lives of hollow and forgettable characters in some nondescript town, I can only hope that in this battle of attrition against a poor and defenceless beast that the beast wins. You will of course, dear reader, have to read the story (if you can be bothered) to find out the answer but personally I would prefer to be buried up to my neck in pig swill rather than have to endure such drivel again!I cannot understand why so called horror authors have the audacity to present such poorly written rubbish for print, are all those positive reviews a fair and unbiased point of view?.....I simply state this point as the Amazon star system always makes me a little suspicious of reviewers who claim...... a very good read, compellingly creepy and well written.....well written my ar*eSo an honest one star from me and I'm being generous :)
    • 4/5
      Review copyI must admit, I never heard of Bill Schweigart until I came across this book in Netgalley, but I found the title, description, and cover to be enough to pique my curiosity. I am so glad I took a chance. The Beast of Barcroft was a genuinely pleasant surprise.Great writing and interesting storytelling. The author is quite skilled in character construction and creating believable situations out of beyond believable events.There are a number of twists as the facts slowly come to light and several "Oh, Wow!" moments.The story begins in the Arlington, Virginia, community of Barcroft where, recently divorced, Ben McLelvie is having a bit of a rat problem due to a neighbor, Madeleine Roux, who calls herself an animal rehabilitator. Her activities have lead to all kinds of vermin which seem to have attracted a bigger predator to the neighborhood.As deaths mount and the story changes, Ben is put in touch with Lindsay Clark, the curator of great cats at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo. She has a friend who is a cryptozoologist, and that's when things really get interesting.I'm kind of beating around the bush here because I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you I did enjoy the read and will likely read the sequel when it comes out in February of 2016.The Beast of Barcroft is currently available, as an e-book, and is published by Hydra Books, a division of Random House LLC.Recommended.Bill is a former Coast Guard officer who drew from his experiences at sea to write the taut nautical thriller, SLIPPING THE CABLE. Bill currently residents in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter, who along with their monstrous Newfoundland and mischievous kitten, provide him with all the adventure he can handle.
    • 4/5
      Thank goodness I know my neighbors well; otherwise, The Beast of Barcroft might well have left me cowering behind locked doors and drawn blinds. This terrific, fast-paced horror story was hard to put down, so I was delighted to discover that it may be the launch of a new series featuring not only traumatized suburbanite Ben McKelvie, but also National Zoo great cat curator Lindsay Clark, Native American indigenous studies expert Alex Standingcloud, and eccentric (is there any other kind?) cryptozoologist Richard Severance.What prevented The Beast of Barcroft from earning five stars was its relative lack of character development, particularly with respect to Standingcloud and Severance, who clearly have a relationship predating the events in this novel. I look forward to them acquiring more depth in the sequel, Northwoods, which is scheduled for publication in February, 2016.I received a free copy of The Beast of Barcroft through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      The neighborhood near the seat of power for the U.S. should have been a fantasy come true; old stately homes, quite neighbors, the perfect place to live. Do not be deceived, something is very wrong in Barcroft, Virginia. It started with the neighbor from hell, Madeleine Roux, raccoon rehab, feral cats, rats, and an ecosystem altered inviting something evil to come, commune, and feast on the community. Ben McKelvie's life has been on a downward spiral for sometime, however the horror to come will forge him into the man he was meant to be. Along with a small group of fellow believers, Ben will fight for his life and community. Hero's will emerge before the end of the story.Mr. Schweigart grabbed me from the first paragraph. The tension, evil, and horror leaps off each page. The story never slows as horror after horror is revealed from the imagination of Mr Schweigart. He keeps you guessing, what is behind the savage killings, is it a big cat, a wolf, a man; you will have to read this story to find out. You will be hooked and unable to put this book down as you journey down the road of mystical native creatures, evil, and people who rise to the occasion to fight against the unknown.The plotting was excellent in this story and the character development was spot on. I loved watching Ben become a strong man in a world gone wrong and the twists and turns kept me guessing.I highly recommend this book for those that love an adventure filled with evil and things unknown, a great story line, and well-developed characters. I look forward to the sequel due for publication in early 2016. Great job Mr. Schweigart!I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      I was looking for a book to get me into the Halloween spirit and The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart definitely did the trick.
      I am a fan of Stephen King and love horror novels so I can be a bit picky at times. I was hoping this book would be an ok read but it was way better than my expectations. The dark brooding atmosphere and the description of the woods were so well done that I felt I was there with Ben and Lindsay. The unsettling question of "what is that thing?" was foremost on my mind throughout most of the book and the author did not offer an explanation until near the end which helped to keep the suspense going.
      Ben and his then fiance move to a new house in a new neighborhood. They fail to realize that their next door neighbor is everyone's worst nightmare but she is not the worst thing stalking the neighborhood.
      The main characters were well thought out but did not take up too much space which was left for "the beast". I am excited to know that there will be a second novel to this one.
      I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      The Beast of Barcroft gave me the heebie jeebies yet still managed to make me chuckle at times. It starts out with a public health employee who is tasked with remedying the pest control problem in Barcroft. Residents have been up in arms for quite some time over the issue, which was caused by the strange habits of one particular (recently deceased) neighbor. Even though this neighbor passed away, the problem persists because her decrepit house serves as a sanctuary for the critters. Besides the rats, other small vermin have also moved in, supposedly making the community a target for larger predators. It is the reported sighting of one of these predators that prompts the previously mentioned public health employee to investigate. What he finds ends up being unfortunate for him, and it is also what drives the plot of this unique story.I found myself engrossed in this book for a number of reasons. *An amusing cast of characters *A down-on-his-luck hero you can’t help but like *Witty dialogue *A creepy, critter-infested house *A bloodthirsty creature (possibly creatures) on the looseA good portion of the story focuses on the pursuit of the creature that killed the public health employee (as well as others eventually). Is it a mountain lion? A large dog? A wolf? Without giving anything away, the answer is yes and no. And this is where the horror aspect of the story faded for me. While I loved the characters and the buildup leading to the big reveal, the identity of the creature disappointed me because I don’t understand where it came from. Even though the ending wasn’t for me, I still recommend this book to readers who enjoy horror, suspense, and paranormal elements.Overall, The Beast of Barcroft is a good book, and I intend to read more from Schweigart.*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book compared very favourably to those written by Dean Koontz, in fact it was faster moving and scarier than the last Koontz I read. Obviously, I enjoyed the book and think that if you like the genre you will be pleasantly surprised - or should I say, horrified - by Schweigart's work. I think it truly first rate, and will be awaiting the promised sequel in February 2016.