Memorials by Richard Chizmar

Memorials Reviews

• 
  LIsa Noell "Rocking the Chutzpah!

  My thanks to Gallery Books, Richard Chizmar and Netgalley.
  Short review.
  Loved it.
  Up until the end.
  Sadly, Chizmar is still at a loss of how to end a book.
  Doesn't matter if he can't, we are the losers when he ends anything.
  Mr. Chizmar sometimes writes decent stories. What Chizmar doesn't do is good stories. Think otherwise? Where would he be without the Stephen King stories? You know....the ones that King decided was crap and instead gave to Chizmar? The suck up!
  No recommendations. Its Chizmar! VOID.
• 
  Erin

  ARC for review. To be published October 22, 2024.
  
  I have absolutely adored Chizmar’s “Boogeyman” books so I was hoping for great things from this standalone and he mostly delivered…mostly. It’s 1983 and I have feathered hair and a spiral perm (and I DO look gorgeous, thanks so much!)
  
  Oh, and also, in this book, three students, Billy Anderson, Troy Carpenter and Melody Wise from York College in Pennsylvania are taking an American Studies class together. Their assignment is to film a documentary and they have decided to frame theirs around the roadside memorials placed after vehicle accidents. They plan to make a week long road trip to film the memorials and to find loved ones of the deceased to interview. They will film in the Pennsylvania Appalachians, Billy’s home. This is personal to him; he lost both parents in a car accident and they have one of the memorials the trio will cover.
  
  As they go deeper into the mountains they start to notice a symbol on some of the memorials. What does it mean? Paranoia sets in. They feel the locals are treating them oddly. Strange things begin to happen. What is the mystery surrounding the memorials?
  
  The book starts off with a great first sentence, “Later, when the trip went bad, I would remember the bleeding man on the bicycle and wonder if he was a sign of things to come.” I hope Chizmar doesn’t feel it’s an insult to say this is very reminiscent of Stephen King for me, in a good way. And I’m guessing Chizmar would not be miffed in the least, for there are little shout outs and Easter eggs to King throughout the book…I won’t spoil them as they are fun to find for King fans.
  
  The three man characters, narrator Billy, Troy and Melody are all richly drawn. I love that Troy reminds us of the casual racism that was still very much present in the early 1980s (well, OK, is likely still present, but less obvious, now).
  
  The horror aspects of the book are well done. I wasn’t exactly surprised by what went on, as I had called it (to myself) early on, but it was still very strong throughout, and if it dropped off a bit at the end, I can honestly say that probably only speaks well to the tension Chizmar maintains throughout. There were a few things I thought just didn’t make much sense, but, hey, it’s a horror novel, so expecting people to act rationally is probably a little much.
  
  My one problem, and this takes the book to four stars for me instead of five….I have lived in the mountains all my life, not Pennsylvania, but Virginia and West Virginia, so we’re likely considered even more backward than your hoity-toity Pennsylvania hillbillies. The Appalachian stereotypes were a little much. Chizmar plays it as if every mountain town is filled with backwoods lunatics, howling at the moon. Only Billy’s aunt, and the police office escape his glare. There are actual doctors and lawyers and such, even in some of the small towns. Allegedly. I live in a city. You think I go to those small towns? People are crazy there.
  
  That was a joke. Well, I do live in a city, but I just wasn’t crazy about the Appalachian stereotypes. We get a hard enough time.
  
  Other than that, really loved the book. Chizmar is rapidly becoming a “must read” author for me. Now pick on somebody else next time!
• 
  thevampireslibrary

  GIVE IT TO ME
  
  *just for clarification I haven't read this yet (I thought I made that clear don't want to MISLEAD ANYONE) but I rated it 5 stars because, I know it's gonna be 5 stars, love this author, love this book already, how dya know im not a psychic, a regular old mystic meg, apparently that upset someone, I'm a criminal what can I say, lock me up , throw away the key I deserve to be banished from society for my heinous act*
  
  Still 5 stars though
• 
  Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee

  I first became familiar with Chizmar when I read his book CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN and I really liked it. I thought the premise of this new one sounded so good and creepy. It takes place in the 80’s which I loved because back then there was no cell phones or social media. So you just weren't connected like you are now. A group of college friends decide to do a documentary about roadside memorials for a project. They travel in their van through the Appalachian backroads stopping at various Memorials. Then strange things start to happen. They notice things appearing at each memorial. And these Memorials aren't even connected to each other in any way. They feel like they are being watched. This was really intense in parts and although it took me awhile to get into it, it was super creepy and dark. It's very well written and the characters were well done too. You'll really not know who to trust. A great read for spooky season for sure.
  
  Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
  
• 
  Kay Oliver

  "Later, when the trip went bad, I would remember the bleeding man on the bicycle and wonder if he was a sign of things to come."
  
  I had no idea where this story was headed until about 37 percent. It was solely Chizmar's nostalgic and captivating writing that kept me reading. Even the characters weren't bond-worthy until 30 percent or so. But man, oh, man, when things picked up and the plot became clear, I was hooked.
  
  "Whoever was playing this twisted game had just raised the stakes . . ."
  
  This novel blew me away. Melody was my lady, and I was with her and her theories of what was going on to the end. And, christ, what an ending. Satisfying and heartbreaking and full of suspense and frightening and mysterious. I applaud you Chizmar, you did it again--a winner!
• 
  Shiloh Johnson

  LETS GOOOO! Can't wait to read Chizmars next book!
• 
  Cynthia

  Do you ever read a scary book in bed late at night and then suddenly hear a noise that tricks your brain into thinking the horror is coming to life? As I was immersed in the most intense part of Memorials, our box fan shifted unexpectedly on its unstable foundation, and I was briefly terrified.
  
  I have learned nothing from this and I will continue to read scary books in bed late at night.
  
  Anyway…
  
  I’ve been emotionally impacted by roadside memorials. This isn’t the only reason I was excited to read Richard Chizmar’s new book, but it contributed. I love that he blended in this element of grief, and mixing such a sensitive topic with the slow itch of terror was undeniably effective. Chizmar’s creativity impressed me in Chasing the Boogeyman, but Memorials showed me that he is capable of so much more.
  
  This book is close to 500 pages, and the heart of horror takes some time to find its beat, but the progression toward it contains more than enough foreshadowing, creepy inserts, and complicated character development to keep it interesting. The most terrifying elements don’t truly come alive until the final quarter, but it’s safe to say that I was in love by the time I’d finished reading the first page. That being said, I do wish the pacing had been a bit better. I’ve flown through some books that were just as long, but this one felt weighed down in places.
  
  I appreciate that Chizmar included diverse characters while writing from a white character’s perspective, rather than trying to get into the head of someone whose experiences he couldn’t fully comprehend. I also appreciated that he attempted to illustrate certain prejudices the other characters faced, although I do think it was quite tame in this story (in comparison to a more complicated and harrowing reality).
  
  In what felt like a nod to Stephen King, there was one odd sex scene in Memorials. While it added to the creepy element of the story, it seemed out of place to me. I, personally, perceived it as an unnecessary addition. Nothing else in this story revolved around sexual elements, and it didn’t quite support the rest of what was revealed supernaturally.
  
  Chizmar provided us with characters we can care about in Memorials, which I think is very important in horror. He succeeds in evoking more than just fear as we wait to discover their fates, and we know that anything bad that might happen to them will be even more impactful because they’ve become our companions over the 475 page journey. On this turbulent ride, he refused to give us comfort or tidy up the conclusion, leaving readers all the more unsettled as they consume the final page.
  
  I am immensely grateful to Gallery Books for my copy. All opinions are my own.
  
  Memorials will be out on October 22, 2024.
  
  
• 
  Mandy White (mandylovestoread)

  What a dark and creepy book this was, perfect for spooky season. Be warned though, it is very long. It took me a little to get into this story and 5 days to read which is a long time for me. Once I got into the story I was hooked and wondering what direction it would take us. It did not disappoint.
  
  I loved the 1980s setting, no social media, no internet, no mobile phones. Research was done at the library, you had to use the home phone or a phone box to call people. It was a different time and I loved the step back.
  
  This is a story of 3 college kids who embark on a road trip to visit roadside memorials and film them for a documentary for their American studies class. All. 3 of them have lost someone close to them and they bond over their grief. They learn more about each other as the days go on, and really they learn a lot about themselves. None of them will be the same after this trip. As their journey through the back roads continues, they start to feel they are. Being watched, and notice strange symbols appearing at the sites.
  
  It is eerie and very much a book that will give you nightmares. It is very well,written and has characters that you will have strong feelings about one way or another.
  
  Thank you to Gallery Books for my early copy of this book to read. Out on October 22, it would be the perfect Halloween read.
• 
  AndiReads

  A fascinating horror story that includes a time capsule of the 80's.
  
  It's 1983 and three college kids leave on a road trip to document the memorials that are seen on roadsides. It's their thinking that this is an iconic piece of. culture that should be recorded - complete with testimonials from loved ones and others in the community of the memorials. The hero of the story, Billy, is still battling his own feelings about the sudden death of his parents in a roadway accident and as they drive, he considers if he can face going home to include the memorial.
  
  As the three move through their mapped locations, they start to feel that they may be followed or that a nefarious person or thing is nearby. About halfway through the book the real horror starts and it's a great story! I loved the nostalgia but could have loved it more with a different ending. All the same, it's a great book for any horror fan, or nostalgic adult. It was clearly a labor of love for Chizmar and the care he took in telling it makes all the difference.
  Thank you Netgalley!
  #gallerybooks #richardchizmar #memorials
• 
  Gyalten Lekden

  A road trip story is the perfect vehicle for the combination of folk horror and Americana, and this novel does a splendid job of highlighting so many of the celebrated aspects of both those story-telling modalities while keeping some tricks of the contemporary horror genre up his sleeve. The collision of the modern and the traditional is explored in an interesting way. There is the stereotypical clearing in the woods that almost every folk horror story employs, the clearly delineated boundary between the civilized and the unknown, but that boundary keeps moving, following the backroads as we move from one roadside memorial to another, which asks interesting questions about the in-between spaces, and how to avoid them. Our trio of central characters feel genuine and interesting, each feeling rounded in their own way, and they complement each other well. They make sense together in ways that doesn't always happen when assembling a dynamic group of personalities, letting them all develop as more than just a collection of their quirks. There are a few supporting characters that were memorable as well, and while some of them felt a little more expected and stereotypical than our primary cast they were still fun, and they fit into the narrative well. The overall story itself is a fun take on a pretty traditional story, playing with tropes and expectations to come to a mostly satisfying conclusion.
  
  I have to admit, though, this novel was long, and it really felt it. There is almost no spooky action until 40% of the way into the story, and everything before that point drags. I suppose that time is supposed to be deepening our understanding or appreciation of the characters while also setting tone and setting, but it really felt like a good amount of wheel spinning. Even when the scary things start happening it still feels like a far more languid pacing than I would want in this kind of story, where a more frantic and unsettled pacing would match the characters’ anxieties and growing dread… a hundred pages could be cut out and the story would be stronger for it. The writing style was saturated in an intimate nostalgia that can only come with a first-person narration. I liked that entry way into the story, I liked it feeling personal, but the whole story was framed as a recollection of past events. We get a foreboding line as the first sentence, the narrator saying he should have seen the warning signs from the start. Similar things are sprinkled throughout, just throwaway lines at the end of paragraphs, “little did we know we wouldn’t be smiling again any time soon” kind of lines. This is one of the parts of Chizmar’s style that wears the heavy influence of King, to be honest, and I was torn on it here. When those kinds of lines are used in a close third-person or omniscient narration they create a sense of foreboding and doom, with a little wink to the audience while you’re at it. But when it is used in first-person narration it is telling the audience not only that our narrator has survived whatever events are about to happen but also that they are in control of the narrative in a way that often lessens the tension, I find. Of course, it is a common literary trope within folk horror for the narrative to be presented as a story told by one of the characters, giving the feel of a campfire story, an urban legend, the tumultuous veracity of folklore. With that in mind I understand why this framing was employed, it fits with the mood of the folk horror mode, but it just didn’t work for me here.
  
  The unapologetic saturation with nostalgia feels like another King influence, and it didn’t do a lot for me here, especially the halcyon descriptions of his hometown that feel like they take up endless pages somewhere around 2/3 of the way through the story. The writing itself was strong, it felt competent and curious in ways that I enjoyed. Disregarding the knowing asides, I thought the first-person intimacy was used to great effect. The dialogue felt genuine and real, never falling into the uncanny valley of stilted dialogue that can plague authors reminiscing on how young people speak. Sometimes the dialogue did feel a little juvenile given the characters’ ages and experiences, but for the most part it added to my appreciation for the depth of the characters. This is all to say the writing was strong, but it felt too stretched out and burdened by nostalgia to be entirely effective. I don’t think there was anything bad about the writing, it just didn’t seem to fit the story being told here, or at the least, it didn’t elevate it. Every scene where we interacted with a supporting character, be they a one and done character or a repeat supporting character, felt like a breath of fresh air. I don’t think this is because I didn’t like our main trio, as I did like them, I just think it points to what I felt was a pacing problem.
  I have really enjoyed Chizmar’s Boogeyman novels, which did raise my expectations for this novel. Some of the writing and narrative techniques that contributed to the strengths of those novels are used here, but since the tone and subgenre is so wildly different they weren’t as effective, that’s what it comes down to. I still had fun with this story, I thought it was a clever take on a common story. Road trip stories have their own unique potential, a special type of energy, and it was genius to combine that with the folk horror mode or genre. I certainly recommend this novel, it was fun, especially if you’re interested in contemporary folk horror stories. If you go in expecting the story itself to take its time, and you enjoy luxuriating in that nostalgia, are happy to sit with a story that takes its time, then you will find even more enjoyment here.
  
  I want to thank the author, the publisher Gallery Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
• 
  Stella

  Picture this: you are a college-student filming a documentary with your two best friends. The subject? The memorials on the side of roads, you know the ones. The white cross in the middle of nowhere, decorated with balloons and flowers? They are all over the area that you grew up, and your own parents have one after their horrific accident.
  
  Richard Chizmar is a must-read for me, simply because of his Boogeyman books. He is able to capture nostalgia in a way that I've never read before. It's a pull at your heart, but not in a cheesy way. There is a warm feeling when his characters talk about home, and the entire idea of home.
  
  Memorials is the story of three college students working on a documentary on roadside memorials for their American Studies class. The three encounter sexism, racism and just general hate at every town they stop in. Strange looks, hostile waitresses, and questionable answers follow each memorial they try and investigate. When they start getting threats...through notes and photos, they understand that the memorials as well as themselves are part of a much larger story.
  
  This is a terrifying story. It's 80's horror, mixed with a coming of age, in a universe where The Blair Witch is just a fun little campfire tale. This gave me nightmares....but in the way that the best horror movies and books that I love.
  
  While I did find there were some loose threads (the angel tattoo, Troy, the American Studies class..afterwards), I still loved how this ended. I almost hope that Chizmar writes a sequel. I need more of this horror, more of the little stick figures, more of Billy and Aunt Helen.
  
  As always, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, as well as my new horror king Richard Chizmar, for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book.
  
  
• 
  Leisa

  4.5 stars
  
  ✨I am a huge fan of @richard_chizmar’s writing and have basically demanded everyone I know read his BOOGEYMAN books. So it goes without saying that I was over the moon to receive an advance copy for his latest. So much so that I didn’t pay much attention to the synopsis and went in mostly blind. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE LEVEL OF FRIGHT I EXPERIENCED! Do you hear me? I did not know! (I’m glad I didn’t, or I would have skipped it and missed an incredible read despite the serious level of horror.)
  
  ✨The book begins with a wholesome 80s coming of age vibe complete with college friendships and road trip adventures and builds slowly into an absolute nightmare of dread, terror and impending doom that had me peeking over my shoulder as I read late into the night.
  
  ✨Days after turning the last page, I was still pondering this book, uncovering new layers and discussing with friends. When a book lingers in this way, that’s when you know it’s a good one.
  
  ✨I’m not sure how Richard Chizmar writes books that simultaneously make me think deeply, warm my heart and leave me absolutely terrified – but he does it every time.
  
  🌿Read if you like:
  ✨Serious horror
  ✨Blair Witch vibes
  ✨Stephen King
  ✨Coming-of-age stories
  ✨Appalachian folklore
  ✨80s nostalgia
  ✨Road trip tales
  
• 
  John Brown

  I liked this book at first because it reminded me of the Blair Witch Project. This book is entirely too slow. It’s arguably more slow than the slowest Stephen King books. The only parts that were good were the last 2 pages of each chapter which there are very little of those. The rest of the chapters wouldn’t even really be a build up of ominousness. It was just conversations that I absolutely didn’t care about. This is my first Chizmar novel and it by no means made me a fan.
• 
  Sydney Kalucki

  Chizmar does it again with this scary roadtrip story. The first half of the book I found to be very slow, though I could almost feel myself in every single scene. Upon finishing the story, I realized how important every single line was in the beginning to create the full picture and give hints of what was to come; however, it was exhausting to read. As I neared the end, I was ripping through every page at the speed of light because I could not wait to see what was next. I appreciate that it was not a happy ending but what made sense for the plot. My only displeasure with the end portion was how the sexually graphic scenes felt so forced and unnecessary; I believe the goal of those scenes could have been achieved without that. As always, I will continue to purchase every single book Richard Chizmar puts out.
• 
  J Spencer

  Richard Chizmar outdid himself with this one! I blew thru this book in 2 days and loved every moment spent with Billy, Troy, and Melody. 
  
  Memorials is my favorite type of horror: slow build with well developed characters who I feel deeply invested in and an insidious story that quietly establishes a sense of unease and dread while leaving me unbalanced and not knowing exactly what unknown thing I'm dreading.
  
  The story has a strong sense of nostalgia, which I loved. It felt like a glimpse back into that shadowy area between adolescence and adulthood when our friendships were a defining part of our lives, and we were still growing into who we'd one day be. While I was caught up  with the early 1980s road trip with friends vibes, the author was sprinkling spooky breadcrumbs and putting things in place for later. The horror crept up on me, and the story showed its teeth when I least expected it. 
  
  Richard Chizmar has moved up to a new level of storytelling with Memorials. The story is compelling from the beginning, and the atmosphere is slow burn horror at its finest. Memorials is an eerie journey down country roads into a time and place full of folklore, ancient practices, endless possibilities, and unforgettable friendships.
  
  Thank you, Gallery Books and Netgalley for providing an early copy for me to read and review.
• 
  Sara Planz

  In 1983, three students from York College headed out on a road trip in Appalachia, Pennsylvania, to film a documentary about roadside memorials that were popping up nationwide. What they hope will be a fun and educational experience starts to turn towards darkness when they see a pattern at the memorials. A strange symbol is found at each memorial, memorials that have no other link to one another. Even more strangely, it feels like they are being followed from location to location, even having their vehicle vandalized to stop them from investigating further. As they dig deeper into Appalachian folklore and the area's past, the trio begins to believe something more evil is happening.
  
  This book is a master class in story (and tension) building. Richard Chizmar can take nostalgia, the lore of Pennsylvania, and friendship and blend it all to create one of the best horror stories I have read in a very long time. As a native Pennsylvanian (from Pittsburgh specifically), I loved being put into a setting I know well. The three main characters were perfectly developed and immediately drew me into the story. I loved all the 1980s references, the folklore, and the friendship that was set at the heart of the story, which brought me back to the popular horror properties of that time. I cannot recommend this book more as we head into spooky season. This book hits shelves on October 22, 2024, and I received an advance copy of this in exchange for a fair review.
  
  
• 
  Jeff

  Three college classmates travel through Pennsylvania Appalachia to film a documentary for a project. The subject of the film are roadside memorials, erected to commemorate the death of a loved one that occurred on that spot. What starts off as an innocent road trip soon turns into a nightmarish adventure when the classmates experience several bizarre events and find mysterious symbols at several of the roadside locations. Memorials makes for an interesting plot for a horror book. The memorial sites are unfortunately, ubiquitous, and every reader can relate to seeing them. Sadly, the chills are few and far between for a horror novel, and only at the very ending do we get some spine-tingling, creepy scenes. Most of the book (except the climatic final scenes) read like a YA novel, as the dialogue between the college-age friends are middle-school deep and juvenile, and that just throws off the whole ghost story vibe that you’re expecting and totally diminishes the reading experience. This was a disappointment, as the plot totally grabbed my attention, but I just couldn’t overcome the childishness of the characters. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Shawna S

  ARC REVIEW **release date is 10/22
  
  I have been a big fan of Chizmars style since reading Chasing the Boogeyman.
  
  The way the setting is laid out is my favorite part of the story,he sets the scene beautifully.
  Three students set out on a documentary style assignment to document roadside memorials and the families and communities that place them. Let the lost speak, and as the three wind their way thru back roads, they find several stories, the Appalachian community they are driving thru is tight-knit. They soon find a common theme at these memorials, and it takes them on a very different path than originally intended.
  This story has elements of horror, urban legend feels, and lots of bumps in the night moments. When it starts to conclude, hang on tight it gets intense and wild.
  Fantastic read!
• 
  Amanda Eskelson

  The depth of the characters on this book is astounding. Billy the main POV in the book is created so well it’s almost as if you’ve known him your life. The story line is awesome- road trip to road side memorials for a school project, with three best friends and throw in some creepy and crazy off the wall encounters?? Count me in! Fans of all things that go bump in the night and Stephen King will really enjoy this book.
• 
  Amanda ~lilacsandliterature

  If you’re looking for a total slow burn with creep factor but culminates in horror insanity; this one is for you. It was definitely a really slow burn with a huge payoff at the end and as someone who doesn’t read much horror I still enjoyed it and was sufficiently terrified.
• 
  Lane Werth

  ARC thanks to NetGalley.
  
  Chizmar’s scariest, hands down.
  
  I have always loved Chizmar’s work. This book is no exception. The eeriness of the Boogeyman novels is amplified x10 in Memorials.
  
  Three college students, Billy, Melody, and Troy, go on a roadtrip to document the histories of roadside memorials. Along the way, they encounter a spiritual force far greater than their own imaginations can conceive. No one can be trusted.
  
  This story takes the joy of a coming of age novel and blurs it with the horror of The Blair Witch Project. I found myself interrupting daily routines to get a page or two in.
  
  The special thing about Chizmar is that he can touch on certain universal feelings in such a way that the reader feels genuinely seen. The ability to mix these feelings into a horror novel is just impressive.
  
  Special thanks to Chizmar and NetGalley for an advanced read of the novel. Memorials is out on October 22, 2024!
• 
  John J Questore

  First, I need to thank Edelweiss, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of Richard Chizmar’s forthcoming book.
  
  Second, I need to thank Richard for writing this fantastic tale. If you haven’t read anything by Richard, you are truly missing out on some of the best writing, and storytelling, that’s out there. One of Richard’s best talent - in this reader/reviewer’s humble opinion - is to write characters that are not only believable, but highly relatable. They’re people you grew up with; many times probably your best friend. While he may put them in outrageous situations (I mean, it is horror fiction, after all), they don’t act in ways contrary to how you and I might act if presented with the same. For me, that’s what makes a decent story, a great story. Not everyone - in fact, very few - are “superheroes” that always find the right way out of a situation.
  
  But enough of my “Annie Wilkes” praise of my friend (and yes, I consider Richard a friend, if you haven’t figured that out yet), let me get to my review of Richard’s longest novel to date - close to 500 pages! I think his collaboration with Stephen King has rubbed off on him - LOL! Be that as it may, not once did I find the story drag, or get bogged down by needless “side-quests”. It was a constant flow, that kept me anxiously turning the next page (at times, keeping me up way past my bedtime).
  
  Briefly, MEMORIALS follows the story of three random college students thrown together for a class project. They decide to make a documentary of roadside memorials - you know, the ones you see on highways, where someone died. They want to photograph, and video the memorial, and then see if they can find family members that could shed some more light on the deceased’s story. That’s the premise in a nutshell.
  
  However, what occurs during the trip is a gripping story of true friendship, loss, folklore, cults, and culminates with a horror you have to experience to imagine. As I told Richard, he took a little Blair Witch Project, mixed in some Stand By Me, and stirred the whole thing with HP Lovecraft - all the while keeping that Richard Chizmar seasoning.
  
  Could I just be “fan-guying” since I absolutely love all four of those things? Quite possible, but doubtful - this tale was truly that good.
  
  I do have one negative, however - and it’s one Richard writes about in the afterward (to which he agrees with me on). But, to put it here would be a spoiler, and I don’t like adding those to my reviews. Suffice to say, I completely understand why he did what he did, I just wish he didn’t. Curious now? Well, in October, when the book comes out, you’ll just have to read it and let me know if you agree.
• 
  Alan

  This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
  Set in 1983, Memorials features three students from a small college planning a week-long road trip to document a class project based on roadside memorials left at the places of tragic accidents. As they trek into the Pennsylvania Appalachians, home to Billy, the proposer of the project, they initially have success locating a number of memorials and finding friends, family members or just locals who can give them background on the memorials. But soon they also encounter unexpected hostility to their filming and get the eerie sense that they're being followed. As they go further along, Billy not only trying to film his project but find some personal answers to the loss of his parents, the trio discovers something may tie all the sites together. The more they dig into the memorials, the deeper the danger they find may be right around the corner.
  This is a massive novel that feels like it could have been written in its early 80s time period. It absolutely captures the atmosphere and culture of the time, and has a plot that reads very much like the popular horror of the 70s and 80s. You would not be remiss in finding some similarities to The Blair Witch Project, as the plot does feel more than a bit Blair Witch-y, but instead of traipsing through the woods in search of a mythical witch, Memorial feature an unlikely trio driving through the back roads of Pennsylvania and encountering their residents and a possible deeply ingrained Appalachian set of beliefs. The story is somewhat of a slow burn, but once the kids get on the road creepy things begin happening more and more, with increasing ominous and spooky occurrences. My only contention with the book is where the story ultimately goes. For most of the story, it's more horror literature, reminiscent of the early and best works of Peter Straub, Stephen King and the more literary works of that era. However, as sometimes happens in a novel like this, the set up is so spectacular that the resolution just won't ever quite match up. As the book finally starts revealing what's really going on, it takes somewhat of a turn into the more lurid and fantastical types of stories of that time period. While some of the turns in the narrative are fairly predictable there do remain a few surprises, keeping it from going downhill. Where everything ultimately goes isn't that far fetched for the type of story and time period in which it's set, but the first 3/4 of the book just didn't lead me to think it would go where it ultimately did. 4.5/5*
• 
  Richard Quist

  Memorials may be Richard Chizmar's best, scariest book yet. It follows the journey of a trio of college students, Billy Anderson, Melody Wise and Troy Carpenter, as they embark on a trip to create a documentary telling the stories behind roadside memorials in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania for a class project. Along the way they encounter both friendly support and encouragement, as well as antagonism from members of the communities they visit. They also begin to suspect that someone who doesn't want the documentary made is following them, and their growing sense of paranoia isn't eased when they experience disturbing dreams and odd encounters.
  
  Fair warning: some readers may be bothered by scenes of graphic physical violence, including some that involve sexual encounters, along with brief mentions of a drug overdose, drug use and gang violence. For the most part these serve to move the story forward but may be uncomfortable for some.
  
  Chizmar provides the necessary background about the earlier lives of the 3 unlikely college friends, each of whom has suffered a personal loss. This background helps to explain their willingness (compulsion?) to continue the trip even as they face mounting opposition to their undertaking as they find odd similarities and connections between many of the roadside memorials. The trio begin to wonder who they can and cannot trust as they go deeper into the hill country and on their return, as they try to unravel the mystery surrounding the memorials and the strange events they experience.
  
  Written from the perspective of Billy Anderson, Chizmar builds suspense and then lets it taper off for just a bit before ratcheting up to an even higher level. The climactic scene is satisfyingly horrific and leads to further revelations that help life return to normal. Almost.
  
  Fans of suspenseful thrillers and horror blended with a touch of the occult will enjoy this.
  Highly recommended.
• 
  Heidi

  2.5 stars, rounded up
  
  I was super excited to get an ARC of Richard Chizmar's Memorials since his Boogeyman series were among my favorites last year. The premise - a college road trip to film a documentary about roadside memorials - seemed like the perfect way to kick off Spooky Season. I was also looking forward to another dose of Chizmar's well-crafted nostalgia since this book takes place in the ‘80s.
  
  Unfortunately, Memorials didn't quite live up to my expectations and is shaping up to be one of my biggest book disappointments of 2024.
  
  The pacing of this novel felt off, and the first half of the nearly 500 pages felt incredibly slow as the story unfolded in painstaking (and somewhat repetitive) detail; however, I was invested in the characters and their journey, and as I had hoped, there were lots of wistful bits of nostalgia coupled with plenty of unsettling and creepy moments. Even though it was a slow burn, I was sucked in, and I thought for sure that this book was going to be a solid 4+ stars…until I hit the 75% mark, and it wasn’t.
  
  The ending spiraled into chaos with a climax that seemed disconnected and shallow - the “bad guys” were underdeveloped and their motivations unclear, which made the dramatic scene fall flat. This confusion was followed by over thirteen chapters of backstory that, instead of being integrated throughout the narrative, were dumped on the reader post-climax. If the elements of the backstory had been better woven into the main story - for example, if Billy had stumbled across this history during one of his many library visits - it would have been a much more immersive and enjoyable experience. As it stands, it felt jarring and disjointed, and I was left feeling disappointed with the way things wrapped up.
  
  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
  
• 
  Chessa

  This is a tricky one to rate! This book has sort of solidified for me that perhaps folk horror is not actually my jam most of the time. Between HATING The Ritual by Adam Neville (I’m wrong, I know I’m wrong, but sorry not sorry I hated that book) and then this one - it’s just not a trope that speaks to me that much, it turns out. So it’s a little hard to rate my level of enjoyment because of that. I liked it? But it was long, and it took me a long time to read.
  
  Ok. What I liked:
  -early 1980’s setting in PA - very good nostalgiacore
  -MCs are in college, giving it a kind of coming of age, going home and knowing yourself better vibes
  -The dynamics of the three main characters is great - having three peoples’ personalities to bounce off each other made it fun and playful a lot of the time, which was a nice break from the heavier subject matter
  -Road-trips in a Vanagon? Sign me up, Scooby-Doo.
  -The paranoia levels creeping up over the course of the book was spot-on
  
  What could’ve been better for me as a reader:
  -MORE EDITING. This book is LONG, and I’m just not super convinced it needed to be quite that long. Did we really need each and every single memorial spot, or could we have cut a bit of that filler out? I’m convinced we could have kept allllll the key emotional and plot points while also losing a bit of the trek. It started getting pretty repetitive in the middle-2/3rds mark.
  -The reveal was both kind of meh and just not super believable. And I don’t mean in a “blah blah blah creatures aren’t real” way, I mean in a “there is no way on earth, in the time before the internet, that a group this large and spread out geographically could carry on this level of organization and conspiracy.” Old gods? Sure, that part was creepy and weird. That many people all being organized AND keeping that many secrets? Absolutely fucking not. Get the hell out of here. This author has clearly NEVER had to organize a group of volunteers to complete any task, large or small.
  
  
  I never dreaded picking this book up to read it, but it did drag on for me. However, I enjoyed it on the whole, it was creepy!
• 
  Debra

  The synopsis of this book piqued my attention: 3 college students on a road trip through Appalachia to document roadside memorials encounter something supernatural! Yes please! This was right up my alley. Then there are the 80's vibes which also provided a great nostalgic feel. I loved the atmosphere, the sense of something not being quite right, and the eerie vibe in this book.
  
  
  I can see this being made into a movie! I enjoyed the imagery of them traveling along the county roads, the nightly camp outs, sitting around a campfire bonding and talking about what they saw that day. One thing that they could not help but see was the symbols that were at the memorials. None of them have seen the symbol before and they find it unsettling, creepy, and odd. As they continue their weeklong guest, they encounter interesting and often unwelcoming people, learn about the memorials, and begin to feel more and more unsettled.
  
  I enjoy the vibe in this book. The stick figures that pop up gave me Blair Witch vibes. From the campsites to the memorials, to the odd interactions with others, the tension slowly mounts, and the eerie and creepy vibe emanates from the book.
  
  I had no idea where this book was going, and I enjoyed the ride! I was fully invested in the plight of the characters. I enjoyed their relationships with each other and their banter. I also enjoyed the unsettling feeling in the book, and I had some suspicions about some characters.
  
  Dark, unsettling, tense, and gripping.
  
  Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
  Read more of my reviews at
  www.openbookposts.com 📖
  
  
• 
  Melanie Gordon

  𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
  Chizmar’s books never disappoint! His writing plays out like a movie in my head, and I could seriously see this book being adapted into a movie or tv series🙌🏻 The book follows three friends who are students, Billy Troy and Melody, as they set off to film a documentary centered around roadside memorials in the Appalachians. They have a plan to interview loved ones of the deceased to feature in their film documentary. This is personal to Billy, as he lost his parents in a car accident-and their roadside memorial is one that will be featured in their film documentary. They set out on what they think will be a fun and exciting road trip, only to soon realize that this may have been the biggest mistake of their life. As they stop at different memorials and different campsites, eerie things start to occur, they have strange encounters with people, and a strange symbol is present at the memorials. Billy tries to figure out what the symbol could mean, the question is-can he do it before it is too late?
  Chizmar’s writing is atmospheric, full of suspense and intensity. I had no idea where this story was headed until almost half way in, but that is what kept me on the edge of my seat, flipping through the pages, needing to know what would happen next. Reading this book alone before bed left me with an unsettling and eerie feeling, but I absolutely LOVED every minute of it! The short chapters were a plus as well🙌🏻 Yet again, Chizmar absolutely blew me away with this book.
  
  
  𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
  ✦Horror books
  ✦Books that are creepy, unsettling, and disturbing
  ✦A book that plays out like a movie in your mind
  ✦Atmospheric writing that is full of suspense and intensity
  ✦Cult-ish vibes
  
  𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5/5