Blackwood by Skylark Media
In the small town of Blackwood, three high school sophomores decide to spend their summer working on a podcast of the local legend of the Blackwood Bugman. Molly leads the project with her lifelong buddy Bryan and newcomer Nathan completes the trio. What started as fun quickly takes a dark turn, when the teens uncover the very real deaths of teenagers in the local woods. Under their investigation they find links to their very own families as well as a dead tree in the local woods. As friendships are tested the thee realizes the Blackwood Bugman is more terrifying than they bargained for.
In time for Halloween, Blackwood is a spooky mystery. Told mostly by the three friends as their project to stave off summer boredom takes a dark turn with a narrator to pull it all together it does feel like a spooky documentary. The characters are likeable, and I was rooting for them to get to the bottom of the Blackwood Bugman—even after it was clear there would be a price.
Definitely listen to the podcast more than once. (It isn’t very long, 6 half hour episodes) and go to the website to look for clues in the bonus materials. It ends on a note I hope there is a second season.
I will say there are a couple of clues that I felt strained credibility when the characters uncover them. One plot twist I saw a mile away and I was a little disappointed the characters didn’t see it first. The device of the college reporter looking back on the case mostly works. My main complaint is that there isn’t enough answers, but I did put a few clues together.
If you’re looking for a spooky podcast to put you in the Halloween mood, I definitely recommend Blackwood.