Chasing the Boogeyman (The Boogeyman Series)

Product Information

Like all true crime books, Chasing the Boogeyman includes photographs of the crime scenes, evidence and profiles of persons of interest, which add both weight and realism. As you read, these artefacts may trigger questions of your own. The authenticity of Richard’s retelling makes our commitment to the truth of the story effortless, but it also sets us up for a gut-wrenching blow in the finale. Combine all these things with a permeating sense of dread and a sinister undercurrent and you are left with a unique blend of horror, memoir and true crime. I loved the uniqueness of this book and the idea of bringing together fiction and non-fiction into the same book. I’ve never seen anything quite like that and it was innovative to say the least! The photos throughout were also a great touch and added more personality to the already individualistic book.

Chasing the Boogeyman – Richard Chizmar

I was the youngest of five children—following in the footsteps of three sisters (Rita, Mary, and Nancy) and the eldest of the bunch, my brother (John)—by a margin of nearly eight years. In other words, I was probably a mistake. I’ve never actually asked my parents if that was the case, but I’ve heard it enough times from my siblings to mostly believe it to be true. Regardless, it never really mattered. Told from the first-person point of view of fictional Richard Chizmar, the reader gets to intimately get to know Edgewood, the serene neighborhood setting, and its residents. Chizmar's personal relationship with the town and some of the victims adds another layer, as his first-person account blurs the line between reality and fiction. The inclusion of photographs of Edgewood and the victims added to this dichotomy.Wonderful…a knotty mystery with an elegant resolution at its heart....It feels so original, dizzy-making in its expert layering of fact and fiction....A hymn to both innocence and to growing up.” This isn’t an easy read - there are plenty of gruesome and highly uncomfortable scenes. I was hanging on every single word even if I found myself cringing and holding my breath at times. I should also mention that I don't believe for a minute that the detective in charge of this case would have spilled so much confidential information to a curious 22 year old writer that just happens to be interested. A lot of "If I tell you this you can't say anything, okay?" type of bullshit. THAT. WOULD. NEVER. HAPPEN.

Chasing the Boogeyman Is Genre-Bending Genius Chasing the Boogeyman Is Genre-Bending Genius

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... The first solo novel by Cemetery Danceeditor Richard Chizmar was this unique account of crime and detection, which blends autobiography and crime fiction. Fictionalized memoirs certainly aren’t new, but what distinguishes this one is that Chizmar is upfront about his inventions (unlike the others, such as CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND and A MILLION LITTLE PIECES, whose authors waited until after their books were published to confess that not everything in them was truthful). The author cleverly adds himself as the protagonist and tells the story from his perspective. This along with the fact that he also includes actually memories from his childhood since he grew up in Edgewood blurs the line between fact and fiction even more which I thought was a brilliant way to write the story. 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.I read one of the author’s 100 published short stories last year, “The Girl on the Porch” and even commented that I would have loved to see that story fleshed out into a full length mystery so, I was excited to see this full length book being offered and it did NOT disappoint!! Chasing the Boogeyman’s cover . . . I could stare at all day—but the book itself is even more mesmerizing.” — shereads You’re going to *love* this. Chizmar’s enchanting abilities will hook you and draw you under the surface until he decides to let you go, and then you’ll realize you’ve just been comfortably on the beach the whole time with a book in your hand.” — Horror Bound Chasing the Boogeyman does what true crime so often cannot — it offers both chills and a satisfying conclusion.”

On the Cover: Richard Chizmar - THE BIG THRILL On the Cover: Richard Chizmar - THE BIG THRILL

Richard is not involved in catching the killer in any way. Nothing happens to him that is scary or tense, and the tone is light. The final revelation of the murderer was surprising, but only because there were no clues that would have led to that conclusion. Worse yet, during an interview with the “murderer” certain things were never explained. More than one plot thread was dropped or fizzled. I wasn’t convinced by the staged (fake) photographs either. The girls looked older than teens with nothing about their appearance to indicate the 1980s. If you like unshakably unsettling, striking original storytelling, and crimes that are almost true, this story is for you.” — The Lineup

Subscribe to The Big Thrill

Whilst my editors have advised me that it is not proper etiquette to accuse an author of murder, I think it is noteworthy to state that Richard Chizmar himself was at the top of my suspect list while reading this novel. After spending several months binge-watching Criminal Minds, I feel I can safely add “FBI investigator” to my resume. Speaking as an expert in the “who-done-it” field, this reviewer found Chizmar’s fascination with the crime to be highly suspect. With Chizmar clipping newspaper articles, listening to a police scanner, and questioning local news outlets and even the sheriff himself for more information, I feel the crew at the BAU [the Behavior Analysis Unit of the FBI , made notorious from Criminal Minds]would have scooped him up early on. Finding Chizmar’s alibis for the nights of the murders shaky at best, I wondered if Richard Chizmar himself was The Boogeyman. What did not work? This 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

Chasing the Boogeyman Book Review — Confetti Bookshelf Chasing the Boogeyman Book Review — Confetti Bookshelf

I see a lot of other reviewers saying this is a 5 star idea and a 2 star plot and I’d have to agree. The concept of this book sounds really cool, but the execution wasn’t my favorite. If I didn’t have the audiobook to help me get through it I might have stopped reading it. Most of the book was so boring and the author just dragged on about these stories from his childhood (which may or may not be true?? Like who knows lol 😅) I highly truly extremely recommend you to read this freaking fantastic gem if you are addicted to true crime nonfictions, podcasts, perfectly written thriller books! You get all of your needs in one read! What makes this novel standout is the format; this is not your average suspense/horror novel as it is written in the style of a true-crime book. The Boogeyman was released on digital formats on August 29, 2023, followed by the release of the DVD and Blu-ray on October 10, 2023. [16] Reception [ edit ] Box office [ edit ] He is the co-author (with Stephen King) of the bestselling novella, Gwendy’s Button Box and the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint. He has edited more than 35 anthologies and his short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including multiple editions of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA’s Board of Trustee’s award.a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 1, 2021). "20th/Hulu Conjure The Boogeyman From Stephen King Short; Rob Savage Directs & 21 Laps Produces". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021 . Retrieved November 1, 2021. Before I get to the Boogeyman and his reign of terror during the summer and fall of 1988, I want to tell you about the town where I grew up. It’s important that you carry with you a clear picture of the place—and the people who live there—as you read the story that follows, so you can understand exactly what it is we all lost. There is a John Milton quote that I think of often while driving the streets of my hometown: “Innocence, once lost, can never be regained. Darkness, once gazed upon, can never be lost.”