What a read!

Tense, powerful. The 1st person narrative - almost documentary - was a great way to tell this tale.

So, I thought I would love this book. I had heard all the hype and read the synopsis and got very excited and while yes, it was a great story of a post graduate returning to his parents house in a small town with vast dreams of being a writer whilst successfully becoming enthralled and twisted up in a serial killer mystery killing young girls in the neighbourhood. I cannot fault the storytelling in this book but did it break the mould, destroy mystery, crime writing boundaries? No. No, it did not. Ignore the hype and just read it for a true crime style serial killer mystery.

This completely blew my mind and the minds of everyone I've recommended it to. Going in blind is best!

A fantastic metafiction 'true crime' novel concept that builds tension throughout.

I enjoyed this one but didn't love it as much as I expected as felt at times it was like it was taking too much from other books such as I'll Be Gone In The Dark and True Crime Story.

Full review to come.

I have to admit, I came to believe the story was true because it was so bloody well written, with the photos and everything. Although I read that it was a fictional true crime story, was it so believable that I was so caught up in the story that when I read how the author made it all up with the photos, I was just stunned. It felt so real...

I didn't quite know what to make of this book at first - the style was very different and I had to read the synopsis to double check it was fiction as it reads as true crime. As the book progressed though I became engrossed and would highly recommend

An incredible story of fiction that feels like it's true crime and takes you on a wild journey of small town life and the horrors they can contain. The writing was beautiful, so atmospheric and i felt i was there with Chizmar.

A brilliant piece on fiction blurring the lines between true and false.
This was an excellent true crime, non fiction style story about crimes committed in a small town.

Richard Chizmar crafts a brilliant new book about growing up under the menace of a serial killer. This isn’t written as fiction though, it’s written like a true crime thriller. An excellent read that draws vividly on growing up in a small town, reminiscent of Stephen Kings The Body, except here, the Bodies just keep piling up.

What an absolutely enthralling read! It bewitched me from the first page and I was obsessively googling the names of the victims (because it felt like it had to be true), just to be disappointed every time! It has an absolutely unique style and is different from anything else I've ever read.

It is the story of a town under siege with a serial killer on the loose. (The only fictional part). Looking into this we have a young Richard Chizmar who writes horror stories.
It is set in the author's home town which makes for visual reading because it is a place very familiar to him.

This book seamlessly moves between fiction and non-fiction with so many blurred lines that you don't know where the one starts and the other one ends. The story was also made to feel even more authentic with the photos throughout the book.

A very unique and fascinating must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Reading Chasing the Boogeyman felt like sitting down with an aging relative. They regale their stories with ease, with fervor and they don’t skimp on the details. It read like a diary, and I suppose to an extent it was. It felt sneaky and private, I was given a first-class ticket on the reign of terror. An undercurrent of evil fizzling through each page, a strong urge to check over my shoulder. The presence of evil threatening to snap to the surface and make its presence known. Chasing the Boogeyman will satisfy that true crime urge.

Four murdered girls. Part memoir. Part fiction. 80’s nostalgia. You can’t go wrong!

Rich Chizmar is a twenty-two-year-old graduate in Journalism who returns to his hometown of Edgewood in Maryland. He stays here before marrying his childhood sweetheart. Three days before Rich arrives, a 15-year-old girl, Natasha Gallagher has been stolen away from her bedroom and into the night. His family is familiar with the Gallagher’s and although he didn’t know her personally, it’s a huge shock to him and the community. The girl is discovered and it rocks this small town to its core.

Chasing the Boogeyman became Rich Chizmar’s life. Somewhere along the line, everything became blurred, the Boogeyman’s story somehow became his own. He was there when the shit hit the fan, he was plagued with prank callers and he witnessed the killer watching him. He puts his Journalism skills to good use and starts documenting the events that take place in 1988. With the help from his reporter friend, Carly Albright, and the lead detective on the case, Lyle Harper. Can they piece together the evidence before he strikes again?

I went into this story blind. Chizmar laughed, bundled me up, threw me in his car, and drove away to an unknown destination but boy was it worth the ride!

Each character has complex layers and as the night develops we get to see them stripped bare. Motives and behaviours are being unleashed under stress and panic. The fine line treaded between grief and love was expertly executed. A book with foreshadowing and worry…and boy that ending, put a fork in me, I’m done!

Richard Chizmar writes with a honed skill that leaves devastation in his path. He writes everyday normal people with such an authentic sense of foreboding. I had my suspicions, but I was entirely proven wrong, I liked that the author dropped the mic on me. I felt the fear, how vivid scenes became, dancing in my vision.

Chasing the Boogeyman is the perfect combination between fear and thrilling. A master of his craft.

From the founder and publisher of Cemetery Dance Magazine, a publication specialising in horror and suspense, comes a spine-chilling story about a serial killer terrorising a small town in the state of Maryland. A meta fictional retelling of events that took place in 1988, Chasing the Boogeyman is tinged with Stephen King-style horror, and indeed Richard Chizmar has worked closely with King on a number of projects.

Full review on my blog and Crime Fiction Lover: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2021/09/23/chasing-the-boogeyman-richard-chizmar/

I'm not sure what more I can say about this than what has already been said by countless others before me. Yes, this is a fantastic concept, and yes, the execution is really very good too. The writing is deftly done, and I enjoyed even the parts that ramble on about the author's childhood and memories of the town, seeing how they are integral to creating the setting and laying the groundwork for the horrors that happen there.

I guess my reason for not rating this higher is that while I was cognizant of and impressed by the true crime-esque writing of this novel, for me, it was always that - a novel - and as a novel, the resolution didn't really work for me. I get that this can be seen as a moot point - what true crime ever really works out in a satisfying, novel-like way? - but I just couldn't shake that feeling of being bummed by how it all turned out, especially given how much I enjoyed reading everything leading up to it.

Fantastic.
I was so hopeful about this one- I am a huge thriller and true crime fan, and this promised to be an excellent blend of the two genres.
It reminded me a lot of True Crime Story by Joseph Knox (also a fantastic read and an excellent audiobook!), where I had to Google the book several times to see if it was based on a true story. That's what I did with Chizmar's too. Amazingly, it reads just like a true crime book and comes together with photographs to add to it's authenticity.
There was a period of slightly slower pace (but I am starting to think this is me as a reader as this is a regular occurrence with the books I read) but I can't bring myself to deduct stars.
Thriller and true crime fans, this one is for you.

This must be one of the best stand out thrillers I’ve read this year! Even though I received an arc of this novel from NetGalley, I had the premonition that I would love „Chasing the Boogeyman“ and so I went ahead and bought the hardcover. Trust me, you should buy it too, like immediately. Don’t waste your time waiting for the paperback to come out. It’s seriously worth every single penny.
This is such a unique gem part true crime and part fiction 💎. I couldn’t stop turning the pages and drifting through this massively fascinating and canny novel - wish it never ended. I loved the anecdotes and insights of Richard Chizmar‘s early and current life and how perfectly they were woven into the whole plot. I felt for the victims, families and friends and didn’t guess who the serial killer was.
I also really liked his collaboration with Stephen King for the novella „Gwendy‘s Button Box“ so it’s a no brainer, that I will definitely read every upcoming book by the author 🖤. I‘m craving for more.

Chasing The Boogeyman has a unique premise – blending fictional serial killer true crime with a real-life memoir. We don’t know what’s real and what’s not until the author’s note at the end. I found the writing to be engaging and the fictional true crime aspect convincing. There are tons of details about the gruesome murders, crime scenes, witnesses, and police investigations. I liked the photographs included which made the people seem real. The small-town setting at night provided some chilling scenes that will make you double check your door locks!

However, since the author is not connected to the victims, there’s a lack of emotional depth to the retelling. We don’t learn much about the victims and their families. It’s jarring to read about a murder then the next page is him doing something mundane, like going fishing. While I was surprised at the killer’s identity, the motive is unfortunately all too obvious. The book doesn't address the underlying misogyny with these women killers that are often portrayed in true crime. It also left the creepiest part of the mystery unexplained. Overall, the book is not an absolute hit for me but I think it’ll be perfect for fans of true crime.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. What a read, so engrossing! Great mix of thriller and true crime with really good writing. Held my attention from beginning to end. Highly recommend!

I loved this book and read it as fast I could. A fascinating, terrifying and gripping mix of fiction and facts, a story written as a true crime that kept me turning pages.
It's highly entertaining and riveting, a very original concept that i loved.
The author is a talented storyteller and I hope he will write other books as good as this.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Great novel! So atmospheric and totally engaging. I love the plot and the way the author tell his story. Read it early but it would be perfect for a fall/October read!!

‘Chasing the Boogeyman’ draws on fiction and real-life in a way I’ve never read before due to the authors biopic account of the most harrowing of stories.
The murders of five young girls and reign of terror that has beseeched his quiet little town.
Richard Chizmar tells the most intriguing and heart wrenching tale that will keep readers up all night. This a book of the highest standards. The writing is highly emotive and the ending is off the charts.
I can truly say this book blew me away. Just sensational.