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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Becoming the Boogeyman is a sequel to Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman. Like his previous book, this one is a unique mashup of ‘true’ crime, meta-fiction and small-town serial killer story reminiscent of Gregg Olsen if his books were written by Bret Easton Ellis. I loved how the author masterfully inserts himself into the story and keeps us guessing as to what is fiction and what is real. I started this book almost immediately after finishing the first book and was curious to see where the author would take this one after the events of the first book. This follow-up features a similar use of mediums including interview transcripts, photographs and articles. These elements create a unique narrative experience and add to the authenticity of the true crime elements.
While in my opinion not as strong as the first book, I still thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful and chilling sequel. In particular I enjoyed the relationship and interactions between Richard and the killer from the previous book. I’m looking forward to future installments featuring these characters. I intend to continue to explore and read more of Richard Chizmar’s works in the future. His talent for crafting suspenseful and chilling tales makes this author one to keep on your reading list.
While in my opinion not as strong as the first book, I still thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful and chilling sequel. In particular I enjoyed the relationship and interactions between Richard and the killer from the previous book. I’m looking forward to future installments featuring these characters. I intend to continue to explore and read more of Richard Chizmar’s works in the future. His talent for crafting suspenseful and chilling tales makes this author one to keep on your reading list.
adventurous
dark
funny
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
The author kindly provided me an ARC to review. Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar, sequel to 2021’s Chasing the Boogeyman, is an excellent meta-fiction horror follow-up. Again taking the format of a true crime novel, this book blends elements of Chizmar’s real life with a thrilling narrative following the author-as-character’s life years after the events of the first book. The Boogeyman might have been caught in the prior installment, but when similar murders start up again Richard Chizmar finds himself asking who and how once again. If you enjoyed the first book I think you’ll find a lot to love in this one too. In the author’s note, Chizmar acknowledges that he originally intended for Chasing the Boogeyman to stand alone, and honestly my feelings about this sequel are similar to my thoughts on Stephen Graham Jones’ Don’t Fear the Reaper: we don’t really need it, but I’m glad we have it. In both instances we get to see the protagonist years after the initial story, and they basically do more of the same things but with a different prospective. Becoming the Boogeyman has loads of creepy and tense moments, it made me Google what a window well was (iykyk), and I certainly didn’t see many events of the plot coming. Chizmar got even more ambitious in weaving this story together across multiple formats or “sources”, and I think he was largely successful. I had a lot of fun reading this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“True stories rarely behave like novels. True stories are often messy and frustrating and filled with the kind of maddening minutiae that doesn't necessarily lend itself to breathless page turning. Sometimes, true stories are even boring...until they're not."
I loved Chasing the Boogeyman, so I was thrilled when I learned there would be a sequel. BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN picks up where its predecessor left off, delving deeper into Richard (the author and MC) Chizmar’s decades long obsession with the serial killer responsible for the murders of several young girls in his hometown.
This book is outstanding. It’s unsettling and it kept me guessing, but the real scares come from Chizmar’s ability to effortlessly blur the line between fact and fiction. It’s the kind of story that keeps you up at night because all of it could really happen.
This is a must read for true crime fans, thriller lovers, and anyone who wants to read a uniquely chilling story this Halloween.
Huge thank you to Gallery Books for the arc!
I loved Chasing the Boogeyman, so I was thrilled when I learned there would be a sequel. BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN picks up where its predecessor left off, delving deeper into Richard (the author and MC) Chizmar’s decades long obsession with the serial killer responsible for the murders of several young girls in his hometown.
This book is outstanding. It’s unsettling and it kept me guessing, but the real scares come from Chizmar’s ability to effortlessly blur the line between fact and fiction. It’s the kind of story that keeps you up at night because all of it could really happen.
This is a must read for true crime fans, thriller lovers, and anyone who wants to read a uniquely chilling story this Halloween.
Huge thank you to Gallery Books for the arc!
challenging
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let me start this review by saying that I cannot say enough good things about this book and this series! While I went into this book fully knowing that it was fiction, I can't help but feel that its real! I find myself wanting to google the characters and the locations and feeling like I need to go down a true-crime-reddit-rabbit-hole. The writing is impeccable and Chizmar is masterful at making us feel like we are a part of his world. The characters are well-written and flushed out (whether based on real people or entirely fictional) and each have their own unique voices. While this story is horrifying and scary, its also touching and beautiful - which is something that is really hard to accomplish. After finishing this second book in the series, I truly feel like a part of the Chizmar family, and books like this always have a long lasting effect on me. This series is one of my favorite that I've ever read and I cant wait for the next installment!
I want to say a huge thank you to Richard Chizmar, Net Galley, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy of BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN. You all will never know how much it mean to me to be a part of this experience! I cannot wait until release day when my physical copy comes!
I want to say a huge thank you to Richard Chizmar, Net Galley, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy of BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN. You all will never know how much it mean to me to be a part of this experience! I cannot wait until release day when my physical copy comes!
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
I highly recommend adding both Chasing The Boogeyman and its sequel, Becoming The Boogeyman by @richard_chizmar to your spooky season TBR list! Both books are works of fiction that are written as true crime. The realistic narrative is what makes these books so scary. In Becoming The Boogeyman, Chizmar explores the fallout of true crime celebrity and the nightmare scenarios that come with it.
Both books are so well written and create a creepy atmosphere in which you will wonder if a serial killer is currently watching your own house while you read these books! I ended up reading these books back to back and could not put them down. Definitely go ahead and read Chasing The Boogeyman so you are ready to read it’s sequel when it publishes on 10 October 2023.
Thank you @gallerybooks for allowing me to read Becoming The Boogeyman ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
Both books are so well written and create a creepy atmosphere in which you will wonder if a serial killer is currently watching your own house while you read these books! I ended up reading these books back to back and could not put them down. Definitely go ahead and read Chasing The Boogeyman so you are ready to read it’s sequel when it publishes on 10 October 2023.
Thank you @gallerybooks for allowing me to read Becoming The Boogeyman ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.