• Down the Beaten Path

  • By: Chad A. Clark
  • Narrated by: Alex Freeman
  • Length: 2 hrs and 33 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Down the Beaten Path  By  cover art

Down the Beaten Path

By: Chad A. Clark
Narrated by: Alex Freeman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $6.95

Buy for $6.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The town of Foster has always existed under a shroud of mystery and suspicion, relegated to the depths of local superstitions and legend. What could have happened to the close-knit religious community? Did they all decide at once to simply leave the town behind? Were they the victims of some kind of foul play, or worse? Many years later, one man becomes increasingly obsessed with the town of Foster and with the fate of its occupants. What could have happened and who or what might be responsible? Even he is powerless to stop his slow descent into madness in his pursuit of answers to questions that may well be left buried.

©2016 Chad A. Clark (P)2017 Chad A. Clark

What listeners say about Down the Beaten Path

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Short and Sweet

Sometimes, I'm in the mood for something I can finish in one sitting while doing laundry or cleaning, etc. 'Down the Beaten Path' is a great example of this kind of story. It grabbed me right away and kept me furiously folding and washing for the entire duration of the book. If you're looking for a short, thrilling, paranormal type story, then this is for you! Alex Freeman does a good job narrating. I'd be happy to listen to more books by both Clark and Freeman.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Al
  • 05-17-20
Listener received this title free

A decent vanishing town yarn

Due to a dalliance with his boss's wife, a man gets consigned to Nowheresville as punishment, While there he discovers a local legend of a town of religious folk who mysteriously vanished one night hundreds of years ago. Why does the man find himself so drawn to the town, why is there little information about it, and why does the local librarian go to great lengths to prevent him from visiting the site of the town.
A pretty good tale, well read, and a nice twist ending (but not unexpected).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Solid Vanished Town Short

Down the Beaten Path was a walk down a beaten path. I think the overall story has been told many times and I don’t think this added much uniqueness to that story, but did have a solid ending. That being said, I did still thoroughly enjoy the entire story. While I personally would like to add more detail to specific sections and remove it from others, I think the overall length was appropriate. Where I really think this story shines is the characters. The two main characters really added to the story and it is their relationship that I found the most intriguing. Overall it is a solid short story that is well worth the listen. Alex did a great job narrating. I enjoyed his voice and the energy he put into the characters.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Spooky

At my request, I received a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this short story. It was sweet and direct and to the point. Filled with details but not meaningless fluff. I honestly wish other writers would lay out their stories this way. It cuts out all of the lulls yet still reads the same and gives the same amount of information as any 8-9 hour book.

This author knows how to spin a tale that sucks you in. After only 10 min I was ready to go explore the abandoned town of Foster myself. I could feel the crisp air and the prickle of goosebumps as strange events began to take place in the deep woods. It reminded me of all the ghost stories my dad would tell me as a child. I highly recommend Down The Beaten Path.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

creepy and dark

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great quick story! Very creepy and dark. Should you go digging in the past or leave it be? Some times you get more than you bargain for when you go looking where you dont belong.

I enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful and dark. Great mystery notes. Not overly gory for people who don't like gore. Mild sex scenes. 4 stars overall.

Narration was very well done. Very pleasant to listen to, smooth flow. five star on performance.

I would listen to more books if this is continued. It leaves open to possible continuation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Short, creepy story

This story is about a man that has a growing obsession with an abandoned town. He wants to figure out out what exactly happened.

I liked how this story got straight to the point instead adding useless words to extend the book. It had a great build up and ending.


This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Possession

It was a decent short thriller that could have been longer. Enjoyed the characters of Gale and Rita and the creepy town of Foster. Left me wondering what happened to Rita. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Good story

One man’s obsession with a small abandon town
A well narrated entertaining short story
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

creepy ghost town

this was a great quick listen. A creepy ghost town out in the middle of the woods? yes please! cult like religion? yeah!! our protagonist is kind of an asshole. He gets in some trouble and get shipped out to BFE and hears about Foster. He decides to look into and that turns into obsession. i really like the vagueness about what was really going on in Foster. what was in that book? i like that Chad leaves some of this up to our imagination.

Thank you Chad A. Clark for a free copy of the audio book. this is my honest review.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Great short story

I really liked Down The Beaten Path. It's a thought provoking short story about the town of Foster and the hidden secrets/mystery within. It's rare that I spend any time pondering a book after I finish, but this one has me thinking. The malevolent forces in play in this story will most definitely haunt my thoughts to come. Job well done, Chad A. Clark.

I received this audiobook from the author/narrator/publisher in exchange for an honest review via Audiobook Boom.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!