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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
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Narration and living through the fictional Chizmar was exciting and thrilling
medium-paced
I’m sorry but I had to DNF this book. I’m irritated that this book was promised to be full of suspense, horror, etc. Imagine listening to a stranger talk about their childhood along with what they’re currently doing while sprinkling in a few random things about some murders that are happening in their town. That’s what this book is. It’s not exciting and the whole time I was really hoping that the story would shift and actually focus more of the murdered girls than the main character but it never did. I just found myself saying “I literally couldn’t care” and skimming pages way too many times. Also, Shame on all the authors who left their little reviews in the front of this book promising that this book was compelling and full of horror and mystery.
Chasing The Boogeyman
Author: Richard Chiznar
Pages: 336
Genre: horror fiction, thriller, crime fiction
Rating: ★★★
A fictional serial killer story meant to read like a true crime, pictures and all, and partly a memoir.
Unfortunately, for me this read more as a memoir than as a serial killer story or a true crime re-telling. There are parts of the book that I enjoyed, actually loved, but the other parts bored me to tears.
All the chapters that focused on the four murdered teenage girls, I loved them! It hooked you.
All the rest, boring.
There were a handful of pages that I skimmed because it felt like he was going on and on and on with very little excitement or suspense. Again, it felt like a memoir, and even though he was obsessed with the murders they still seemed to take a back seat to his reminiscing about his youth.
The revelation of the killer was surprising as I never once suspected this person. I did like that he got to interview the killer in the end but even that left me wanting more.
The concept of the book sounds really cool, but the execution was not there. A 3 star story with a 5 star idea.
Author: Richard Chiznar
Pages: 336
Genre: horror fiction, thriller, crime fiction
Rating: ★★★
A fictional serial killer story meant to read like a true crime, pictures and all, and partly a memoir.
Unfortunately, for me this read more as a memoir than as a serial killer story or a true crime re-telling. There are parts of the book that I enjoyed, actually loved, but the other parts bored me to tears.
All the chapters that focused on the four murdered teenage girls, I loved them! It hooked you.
All the rest, boring.
There were a handful of pages that I skimmed because it felt like he was going on and on and on with very little excitement or suspense. Again, it felt like a memoir, and even though he was obsessed with the murders they still seemed to take a back seat to his reminiscing about his youth.
The revelation of the killer was surprising as I never once suspected this person. I did like that he got to interview the killer in the end but even that left me wanting more.
The concept of the book sounds really cool, but the execution was not there. A 3 star story with a 5 star idea.
Generally meh. I was intrigued mostly by the metafiction aspect, but besides the author making himself the main character in a novel, it avoided some of the more interesting potential facets of metafiction. In the end, my main feeling about this book was that I have read TRUE true-crime books that are a good bit more interesting than this one was, and if you're writing a novel pretending to be a true-crime book, then there's really no excuse to have it feel as unsatisfying as this one did. Also, while the photographs were a neat idea, there were too many of them and too many of them were pointless. If you're going to reference photographs that are key to the plot, maybe include those in the photos you put in the book rather than "This is a picture of a house. Take my word for it that it was the house a victim lived in."
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
I loved this book. Not my usual genre, but it hit just right. Couldn’t put it down.
3.5 stars for this one. I have seen reviews that state that this is a bit boring reading very similar to a true crime novel, which I happen to enjoy. I can certainly see where those folks are coming from, the book is a bit dry and lacks a bit of action. It does however create this unsettling atmosphere for much of the book, which kept me engaged.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending, as I felt it was missing a twist.
Overall I did enjoy this novel and would recommend as an interesting fiction take on the true crime genre. Especially for true crime fans looking for a work of fiction.
At this point I’m unsure if I will read the follow up, even though it is higher rated currently.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending, as I felt it was missing a twist.
Overall I did enjoy this novel and would recommend as an interesting fiction take on the true crime genre. Especially for true crime fans looking for a work of fiction.
At this point I’m unsure if I will read the follow up, even though it is higher rated currently.
I discovered Richard Chizmar by way of Stephen King (who appears frequently throughout this book). The two co-wrote a novella titled Gwendy’s Button Box.
The concept of the book is interesting. While being a work of fiction it is written in the style of true crime and told from the author’s perspective. Chizmar places himself square in the middle of this story by putting the setting as his hometown. He is a recent college graduate, moving back home to his parents’ house while starting a new magazine business - Cemetery Dance magazine no less. So, it’s a fictionalized true crime memoir which makes for a rather enjoyable and unique reading experience.
The concept works really well, the writing is good, the story line is interesting. Would I call it horror? As a long time “Constant Reader”, I would have to say no. I wouldn’t take that as criticism, however. Books, like all other forms of art, are subjective.
Apparently, this is book one of a proposed trilogy. I’m looking forward to reading more about the Boogeyman.
The concept of the book is interesting. While being a work of fiction it is written in the style of true crime and told from the author’s perspective. Chizmar places himself square in the middle of this story by putting the setting as his hometown. He is a recent college graduate, moving back home to his parents’ house while starting a new magazine business - Cemetery Dance magazine no less. So, it’s a fictionalized true crime memoir which makes for a rather enjoyable and unique reading experience.
The concept works really well, the writing is good, the story line is interesting. Would I call it horror? As a long time “Constant Reader”, I would have to say no. I wouldn’t take that as criticism, however. Books, like all other forms of art, are subjective.
Apparently, this is book one of a proposed trilogy. I’m looking forward to reading more about the Boogeyman.
It took me a minute to get into this book because the opening was fairly dry. I didn’t try harder bc I know that I usually struggle to get through nonfiction, so this was par for the course. But soon I noticed I was taking this book everywhere with me and never wanted to put it down.
The ending blew my mind. Every part of it. Can’t recommend it enough.
The ending blew my mind. Every part of it. Can’t recommend it enough.