Reviews - Becoming the Boogeyman

409 reviews for:

Becoming the Boogeyman

Richard Chizmar

4.03 AVERAGE

ladycatlady's review

4.0

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

moonkissedtiger's review

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

djgroupi's review

4.0

challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a solid follow-up to Chasing the Boogeyman which I loved. I enjoyed the format but it wasn't the same type of reading experience for me. The first book was filled with magic, innocence and childhood nostalgia all with a murder mystery at it's center. It was perfection. This was more like a police procedural type book which is fine but it didn't have me dying to turn the pages. Curious to see how the story will continue.

murdalannd's review

4.75

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

molsreads's review

3.75

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

I liked the first one better. This one had a little too much going on and it made it a little disjointed. The first book also had really strong nostalgia vibes that this book lacked. That said it was still enjoyable and I like the fictionalized true crime style he employs.

dietervonkhan's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Loved Chasing the Boogeyman, so was eagerly awaiting this one.

While it was a great read it didn't quite reach the heights of this first book. There is something about the historical setting of the first book that lends the story that much more authenticity.

Obviously we all know that this is a work of fiction after reading the first book, but the "true crime" conceit is carried forward, understandably as this is the hook. However the modern setting and the centering of Chizmar in the story again just doesn't quite work.

This alternate reality where a random true crime based serial killer movie becomes a huge craze just does not ring true. All the references to Boogeyman message boards, TMZ, Tiktok and other pop culture paraphernalia felt inauthentic like someone who's too old to know how internet culture works was being explained it by their son or daughter.

The reveal of the killer feels like a rushed aside, while this worked so well in the first book, it feels like this should have been approached as a whodunnit, where the reader can speculate about who it might be. Of course this would work against the true crime conceit of the novel. So I feel for Chizmar, this was a tough nut to crack.

All this said, I will certainly be turning up for the next book in the series.