Chasing the Boogeyman: A Novel by Richard Chizmar

4.9 (11)
$17.99

Product Details

Web ID: 15058580

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). In the summer of 1988, the mutilated bodies of several missing girls begin to turn up in a small Maryland town. The grisly evidence leads police to the terrifying assumption that a serial killer is on the loose in the quiet suburb. But soon a rumor begins to spread that the evil stalking local teens is not entirely human. Law enforcement, as well as members of the FBI, are certain that the killer is a living, breathing madman - and he's playing games with them. For a once peaceful community trapped in the depths of paranoia and suspicion, it feels like a nightmare that will never end. Recent college graduate Richard Chizmar returns to his hometown just as a curfew is enacted and a neighborhood watch is formed. Amid preparing for his wedding and embarking on a writing career, he soon finds himself thrust into a real-life horror story. Inspired by the terrifying events, Richard writes a personal account of the serial killer's reign of terror, unaware that these events will continue to haunt him for years to come. A clever, terrifying, and heartrending work of metafiction, Chasing the Boogeyman is the ultimate marriage between horror fiction and true crime.

  • Product Features

    • Author - Richard Chizmar
    • Publisher - Gallery Books
    • Publication Date - 07-12-2022
    • Page Count - 336
    • Paperback
    • Age Range - Adult
    • Horror
    • Product Dimensions - 5.3 W x 8.2 H x 1 D
    • ISBN-13 - 9781982175177
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9/5

11 star ratings & reviews

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7 months ago

Hooked!

I absolutely love Chizmar's unique style of writing. He creates a story that grips your attention and makes you question fiction and reality. I found myself, at times, literally saying, "Oh my gosh! What! " aloud, which resulted in a few odd looks. If you read this book, follow up with Becoming the Boogeyman (another amazing read)!

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Plainfield Illinois

Awesome

Awesome story. Reads like a true crime story but better.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Grayson Georgia

Absorbing

Definitely did not know where the book was going. Similar to Stephen King’s way of letting you think you might have an idea of where the clues were leading only to be completely blindsided. Very entertaining.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Staffordshire, England

One of the years best books!

I’ve been struggling this year with my reading, going from 50+ books to 10, many were started and left unfinished. That all changed with Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman. I know it’s a cliche to say a book is hard to put aside, but there is a reason why this is often used. Some books just click with you, and this tale of a serial killer's terrorization of small-town America is one of them. What starts as a nostalgic look back to the late 80s gradually descends into paranoia, fear and terror. A masterful blend of meta-fiction, true crime and horror. It is highly recommended!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from New England

A suspenseful read, perfect for fans of true crime

A fictional "true crime" memoir set in small town America, Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is a great read. It provides a unique and interesting spin told from the author's point of view, initially as an observer and then as an active participant in the events surrounding a series of gruesome murders in his hometown. The story is filled with many nostalgic references about growing up in a close-knit community, and plenty of tension, twists and chills that draw you in and make it difficult to put the book down... A perfect read for a chilly Fall evening by the fire.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from UK

Refreshing take on true crime fiction

Loved this novel, it really draws you into a true crime feel. Binge read it in a couple sittings.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago
from Hartford, CT

Drop Whatever You’re Doing and Read This Book

Ho-ly s**t. This book is something spectacular. Chizmar will have you drawn into every word, and will leave you wanting to know more when you’re done. Do NOT skim. Sink in every detail from the forward to the author’s note and acknowledgement at the very end. You will be rendered speechless. Richard Chizmar takes you to him hometown for Chasing the Boogeyman and makes you feel all his personal memories with the same childlike wonderment you would look back on your own, of course with the twisted addition of a serial killer on the loose. If you like true crime, horror, and thriller - this is it. This is the book for you. Go read it. Now.

Recommends this product

  • Photo from DarkDeckMama

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago

Fiction or Non-Fiction, that's the question

I started reading this book months ago, but put it down because I was in the mood for a fictional story. The writing, however, made it seem like this was a non-fiction true crime book. I put it down in favor of other books first. This week I wanted a nice, spooky Halloween read so I tried CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN again. I had to Google the title to see if it was fiction, because once again, I felt surely this must be a non-fiction book. All that to say the writing by Richard Chizmar was so realistic and the way the story was presented as if Richard, himself, had grown up in the small town where grisly murders of teenage girls kept happening. It felt that real and that's a true credit to his style of writing. There were also pictures scattered in the book. These photographs looked real and turns out they were taken by Richard with actors from a company. Once I got into the story itself, ahhhhh, it all made sense. All of it. I thought this was such a unique style of telling a thriller/horror story. It really was perfect for Halloween reading. Stories involving murdered children or teens are always tricky and I felt Richard's descriptions weren't disrespectful to the fictional characters. I know, I know. But, that's the way his writing was so realistic you felt like the cast of characters were living, breathing (or not breathing) real people in a small town. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for an e-copy of CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN to review. Because of my confusion of the whole "is it fiction or non-fiction" thing, I rate CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN four out of five stars. It's really more along a 5-star rating, but I admit, it was confusing because of the author's note, preface and other clues to throw you off.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com