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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Interesting enough that I finished it and enjoyed continuing, but ultimately very unsatisfying. The main character “investigates” a serial killer in his hometown, but even with the story being fictional, he doesn’t actually do any of the work at all. He doesn’t report anything, he doesn’t find any clues, he’s just a guy also curious about the killings, and yet the killer antagonizes him by calling his house and stalking him occasionally. Why? Not even the author knows. The most interesting thing about the murders were a few clues left behind by the killer relating to numbers. Did it affect anything? No. What was the reason? The author doesn’t know that either. That and the half of the book was a memoir about the authors childhood, which no offense, isn’t worthy of a memoir.
I really liked this story but I genuinely couldn’t get past written as a true crime but not actually a true crime. I think I got so hung up on what was real and what wasn’t
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I really enjoyed how this was written. I love that it reads like a true crime novel from his perspective and I think it gives the book a lot of heart. If you're a fan of true crime and fiction this is definitely a good option. I would consider this real world horror due to how its written. It was the first Richard Chizmar novel I read and will for sure be looking more into his work.
3.5 stars, dropped to 3 because I’m not convinced by the ending for a few reasons. Solid book, ending could have been better written, IMO.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading true crime for the first time is definitely different. This book overall is very well thought out, and just the right amount of complex. The first chapter you can tell is more for the author than the reader which will make sense once you get to the concluding Author's Note. Around 200 pages in is when I got a little worried since it started to feel possibly too repetitive and not enough questions answered, but the Afterword definitely saved it and brought everything together. There are technically 2 or 3 small things about the killer that are left unanswered, but to me, I can see how that adds a realistic feel to how true crime ends most times. There are evil people out there that the everyday person just will never entirely understand.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Chasing the Boogeyman is a book that starts off slow but builds up to a great finale.
To be honest, I almost put this one down before the 50 page mark.
The writing was good but I didn’t care about the history of Edgewood, the small town that Richard Chizmar grows up in when the deaths of young women start happening.
I knew it was fiction but written like true crime, so I kept pressing on.
I liked the idea of this, kept turning those pages, and then it finally clicks for me.
Once the book progresses to the homicides and fear that’s gripping the town of Edgewood, I had a hard time putting this down.
Chizmar’s writing is suspenseful, dark, and the pacing is excellent. The small town feels like a character in itself and the atmosphere is tense and foreboding.
Chasing the Boogeyman blends elements of horror, true crime and history together and makes the reader question what is really truth or imagination.
The fact that I had to often tell myself that this is “fiction” and not true crime is a testament to Chizmar’s writing.
I can see that this blending of fact and fiction might challenge readers, especially if they prefer a more straightforward approach to a plot.
If you like the true crime and horror genres, give this one a chance. Just don't be fooled on whether the Boogeyman existed, or did he?
To be honest, I almost put this one down before the 50 page mark.
The writing was good but I didn’t care about the history of Edgewood, the small town that Richard Chizmar grows up in when the deaths of young women start happening.
I knew it was fiction but written like true crime, so I kept pressing on.
I liked the idea of this, kept turning those pages, and then it finally clicks for me.
Once the book progresses to the homicides and fear that’s gripping the town of Edgewood, I had a hard time putting this down.
Chizmar’s writing is suspenseful, dark, and the pacing is excellent. The small town feels like a character in itself and the atmosphere is tense and foreboding.
Chasing the Boogeyman blends elements of horror, true crime and history together and makes the reader question what is really truth or imagination.
The fact that I had to often tell myself that this is “fiction” and not true crime is a testament to Chizmar’s writing.
I can see that this blending of fact and fiction might challenge readers, especially if they prefer a more straightforward approach to a plot.
If you like the true crime and horror genres, give this one a chance. Just don't be fooled on whether the Boogeyman existed, or did he?
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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