Chasing the Boogeyman

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Chasing the Boogeyman is a dazzling work of fresh imagination and psychological insight...a rare read that brings that beyond words feeling of having slipped away into another world. The story has the most riveting unique pulse as if there is a real heart beating in there. I am in awe!”

Chizmar's writing style is fluent and concise, and I am not surprised at all that he teamed up with Stephen King for some joint venture, as their art of capturing the kid or teenage spirit in small towns - whether they are American or elsewhere - is very similar. The character development is superb, and that is a crazy thing to say of a text that reads as true crime, right? This reads as a true crime book with photos which make this book feel even more real. But it is a work of fiction. I had to remind myself of this several times while reading. Parts are taken from the Author's real life which also give this book a very authentic feel. Don't stop reading when you reach the end, the Author's note is a must-read section of this book as well. I’m ending my review with John Milton quote Rich Chizmar chose to add which quote fits with the entire soul of this intense, dark story: “Innocence, once lost, can never be regained. Darkness, once gaze upon, can never be lost.” One of the Goodreads Most Popular Horror Novels of 2021 and a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Books of 2021I'm a little late to this party and I am sure you have all heard the buzz about this book. A fictional serial killer story meant to read like true crime, pictures and all, and partly a memoir. Author Richard Chizmar grew up in Edgewood, Maryland, a town where each generation of children feared the “Rubberband Man” and where the “Phantom Fondler ” found his prey... Chasing the Boogeyman pulled me down deep then buried me alive. Combining gritty true crime with the darkly imagined, Chizmar offers something unique—and uniquely frightening.” —Andrew Pyper, bestselling author of The Residence The mutilated bodies of several missing girls how up in a small Maryland town. The Police believe that a serial killer is targeting those young women in their suburb utopia. But there are rumors that the killer may not be human. *gasp* If the killer is not human, that what is it? The police and FBI will tell you to not believe the rumor that the killer is in fact a human who is playing games with them.

Dawe, Luke (August 1, 2023). " The Boogeyman Sets Digital and Physical Release Dates". Collider . Retrieved August 1, 2023. As a horror writer, Chizmar knows how to build suspense and create a suitably chilling atmosphere, but mostly he suffuses this story with nostalgic affection for the well-meaning young man he once was and the people who shaped him. Can a serial-killer thriller warm the heart? This one does.” — “The Reader’s Shelf,” Library JournalThis is the best book that I have read in a long time and is certainly the only book of its kind that I have ever read.” — Ramblings of a Bookworm So the question is, how much of it is fiction and what part is based on true events? You’ll have to read it to find out. It’s a slow burn, but no less compelling.

Chasing The Boogeyman is an engaging and cleverly told suspenseful mystery, and I look forward to reading more of Chizmar’s work. Lowry, Brian (May 31, 2023). " 'The Boogeyman' turns deep-seated fears into a small-scale Stephen King movie". CNN. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023 . Retrieved June 6, 2023. Neighborhood Watch groups are formed, curfews are made mandatory, and everyone is on high alert. Richard is right there in the center of it all as an aspiring writer and someone who is very familiar with the streets, passageways, and history of the town. My breath caught in my throat, and suddenly my eyes misted and my legs wavered. All at once, I was five years old again, only this time my father wasn’t standing next to me, reaching over to take hold of my hand. I remember telling myself in that moment that everything was going to be okay, that I was going to grow up and be happy and one day become a writer, and the words I put down on paper were going to help people make sense of this world. My thanks to the author and Gallery Books for providing me with a gifted copy to review via NetGalley.because this book is also a love letter to edgewater, and chizmar knows every inch of this neighborhood; its geographical shortcuts and residents and history, and he brings it all to life down to the smallest details with the insights of someone intimately familiar with the physical terrain and social mores. I was a little disappointed with the reveal of the killer, which was almost anti-climatic. I suppose I had hoped that Richard or his accomplice Carley would stumble upon the killer, or at least find an important clue as to who he might be. Graham, Jamie (April 27, 2023). "Stephen King loved The Boogeyman so much he urged them to release it in theaters". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023 . Retrieved April 30, 2023. The acclaimed New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling novel of small-town evil that “is genuinely chilling and something brand-new and exciting” (Stephen King) and “unforgettable” (Harlan Coben). Literature was invented around 3400 B.C. Approximately 5,419 years later, Richard Chizmar has invented an entirely new genre of literature with Chasing the Boogeyman. Compulsive, encompassing storytelling. Do not miss this one!” —Brian Keene, bestselling author of The Rising

This book haunted my soul! Its unique writing style, realistic chapters reminds you of documentary scripts, unconventional conclusion are truly haunting your soul and giving you nightmares! Chasing the Boogeyman perfectly captures the feeling of growing up in a small town facing an existential threat from real evil. Chizmar’s Edgewood is post-Bradbury-esque, not as idyllic as that author’s Green Town...it’s grittier and more grounded in a reality contemporary readers will recognize and respond to. Richard Chizmar has invented a new literary genre—brilliant!" - Bev Vincent

Rich became the witness. He was there when the hell broke loose. He was haunted because somewhat that monster’s story became his own. Chasing the Boogeyman is a dazzling work of fresh imagination and psychological insight...a rare read that brings that beyond words feeling of having slipped away into another world. The story has the most riveting unique pulse as if there is a real heart beating in there. I am in awe!" - Caroline Kepnes