Curious by nature and interested in true crime, Richard fully immerses himself in the case, much to the frustration of the real detective, Lyle Harper. Richard starts asking questions around town with the assistance of Carly Albright, a local reporter and friend of his fiancée. Through her he gains invaluable inside information, a trusted friend and a partner in the investigation. The story of the chasing of the Boogey Man becomes Richard’s own quest to make sense of the events. JJ: I finished reading your newest release, Chasing the Boogeyman, and flipping loved it. Can you briefly describe what it’s about for our readers?

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar | Crime Fiction Lover Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar | Crime Fiction Lover

Absolutely riveting… Richard Chizmar’s keen ability to tell the small-town-tale, investigative insight, and captivating eye for detail, come together in this perfect storm of true crime horror.”Let’s say you’re a Stephen King Constant Reader, and you’ve gone through his entire catalogue. What to do, what to do??? May I offer Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman for your consideration?

Chasing the Boogeyman - SST Publications Chasing the Boogeyman - SST Publications

JJ: The Phantom Fondler was never caught. Do you believe the Fondler’s crimes escalated to violence? Do the police have a suspect, but no evidence? (Sorry, true crime fan here). Janelle Janson: Hello Rich, thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. Before we get into your career, can you please briefly tell us about yourself and your family?

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drawn by his horror writer sensibilities to investigate the actual horror unfolding, chizmar and carly likewise seem to be drawing the killer to themselves, experiencing creepy phone calls, acts of vandalism, and the feeling of being watched, hunted, in their most private spaces. 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.”

Chasing the Boogeyman: A Novel - Richard Chizmar - Google Books Chasing the Boogeyman: A Novel - Richard Chizmar - Google Books

Richard teams up with Carly, a fellow journalist, to try and solve the case, and is given details of the case from a detective (if I didn’t already know it was fiction, this would have been my first clue). Richard spends much time reminiscing about his small-town upbringing, including the minutiae of life in Edgewood. Those who are nostalgic about the 1980s may find these parts engaging. However, they didn’t contribute to the plot development at all, and the story dragged in places. JJ: I read that you are a two-time cancer survivor. How did going through such an ordeal affect your writing? Are you doing well now? I have no complaints or issues with this book. Chasing the Boogeyman had me on the edge of my seat for the entire length of the book. Speaking as someone who has their nose in book at all times, there are not many novels that draw you in like this one does. Where can I buy it? Young Rich can't leave it alone. He and his friend, Carly Allbright start investigating the case. He knows the culprit has to be near. But it is safe? Someone is calling his home and hanging up. Then, he feels like someone is following him. Lastly, he believes the murderer is seeking him out. But why? in New Releases, Film Festivals, Supernatural Horror Fantastic Fest 2023: Pet Sematary: Bloodlines Digs Up the Untold Story of Jud Crandall

Fictionalized memoirs certainly aren’t new, but what distinguishes this one is that Chizmar is upfront about his inventions… Chizmar, who has always had a fascination with horror and true crime, finds himself getting involved in the case. He becomes friends with a local reporter, Carly Albright, who happens to be a childhood friend of his fiancee, Kara. Carly provides Chizmar with some information left out of the press. She tells him about some odd clues that the killer left behind. Much to the dismay of local police, Richard and Carly begin their investigation. He evens takes part in a search party for one of the victims. He finds himself passing by the victims’ houses and memorials that are set up in town for each girl. He and Carly feel that they’re being stalked. Richard receives mysterious phone calls. The entire town is thrown into panic mode with neighbors accusing each other, supposed sightings of the killer, and other theories including satanic cults and even supernatural creatures. 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. Chasing the Boogeyman” by Richard Chizmar is truly a unique reading experience for readers that love horror with an authentic true crime twist. I originally wanted to read this book because of the fact that Chizmar has co-written a book with the legendary Stephen King and even King himself said this was “genuinely chilling” and that’s all I needed to know.

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

I’m ending my review with John Milton quote Rich Chizmar chose to add which quote fits with the entire soul of this intense, dark story: “Innocence, once lost, can never be regained. Darkness, once gaze upon, can never be lost.” Domestic 2023 Weekend 22". BoxOfficeMojo. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023 . Retrieved June 7, 2023. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Available: 8/17/21.I expected to love this book, but honestly I’m not sure how I feel about it. I am struggling to verbalize what I didn’t like about this book. I just find it so strange that it’s a fictional story that reads like true crime and the author is the main character. I guess I just expected more? I was really engaged with the first half, and I was especially enjoying the supernatural elements of the book, but then I feel like it just never went anywhere? Until the murders, crime in Edgewood was limited to assault and battery, drug-related offences or theft. Never before has it experienced anything as violent and unsettling. Yet the police can find no evidence at the crime scenes. It’s as if the crimes have been perpetrated with superhuman precision. Curfews are enforced, a neighbourhood watch is formed, and teenage girls cut their hair in fear of being targeted by the faceless killer who is now being called The Ghost in the media. 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.