The Deadly Pod: A Gruesome Tale

"The Deadly Pod" is a chilling horror tale set in the picturesque fishing village of Beer, Devon, where the seemingly idyllic coastal landscape conceals a family's monstrous legacy. The Stabb family—patriarch Paul (73), matriarch Susan (68), their son Peter (54), his wife Margaret (51), and their teenage son James (18)—operate a deadly glamping business from their remote clifftop cottage.

In 2018, the family installs a modern holiday pod designed to lure solo travelers to their doom. Beneath its sleek exterior lies a hidden chamber where victims are imprisoned before being murdered and cannibalized. The pod becomes a perfect hunting ground, with Susan managing online bookings while Paul and Peter handle the gruesome logistics. James, traumatized and reluctant, is forced to participate in the family's ritualistic meals.

The system proves devastatingly effective, claiming multiple victims including Sarah (a London photographer), Marcus (a German artist), and Eleanor (a retired librarian). Each disappearance is carefully orchestrated, with the family using victims' own devices to send false messages explaining extended stays. The isolated location and Paul's knowledge of local tides ensure evidence vanishes into the sea.

However, the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown destroys their operation. With tourism halted, the family faces starvation. Desperation breeds paranoia, and Margaret's mental breakdown triggers the first act of familial cannibalism when Peter kills her during a violent confrontation. The family's consumption of Margaret marks their point of no return.

As hunger and madness consume them, the remaining family members turn on each other. Susan suffers psychological collapse, Paul loses his authority, and Peter becomes increasingly unstable. In the climactic confrontation, Peter murders his father before James, in a desperate act of survival, kills Peter with a kitchen knife.

Police Constable Miller discovers the carnage.

© 2025 Christopher Allen (Audiobook): 9798295312885

Release date

Audiobook: 22 August 2025