This is such a cool series! This is the second in the Boogeyman series, which is fictionalized true crime. It takes inspiration from Chizmar's real life and adds different elements to fully tell a tale. This novel picks up in 2019 after the Boogeyman is finally caught and Chizmar catapults to fame with his previously written book about the crimes.

Like the first book, it's written in such an immersive, atmospheric style. As the plot advances and we’re given more clues, I found I could not stop reading this one. Chizmar does a wonderful job of building tension and intrigue. Another fascinating foray into an untrue crime story.

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Richard Chizmar gives a master class, on how to insert a fictional serial killer, into his otherwise true recollections of his childhood neighborhood and memories, and his current life as a family man and best-selling author. I'm actually from this area and went to Mr. Chizmar's high school, so I can vouch for all the places mentioned as very real.
This story picks up a few years after the other book ends, when a copycat killer picks up the killing spree of “The Boogeyman” right where he left off, and the crimes are more gruesome than ever. Suddenly, Chizmar has gone from “hometown boy makes good" to "what kind of monster has he invited into our community?” as his neighbors and social media turn against him.
I love the way this is written. At first I thought it was to be a prequel to Chasing the Boogeyman, but this is an even better and more interesting story.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this e-arc.*

{4.5 stars}

“The stories are true. I am the Darkness. I am the
Boogeyman.”

—————

When I read the first book of the Boogeyman series, I was amazed at how convincing the true crime aspects were, something Chizmar alludes to in his author’s note. I was blown away that the story was not real. Chizmar placing a very real version of himself into this made up serial killer story was masterful. I was super intrigued at where the story could go now that (I guess this is a first book spoiler alert…) Boogeyman was in prison. I shouldn’t have doubted how easily this story could be picked up and carried forward. Within no time I was drawn back in wondering exactly what was happening. Like the book blurb, I don’t want to give any spoilers but like book one Chizmar is front and center as bodies start piling up again. He and his family are stressed, the media is closing in and the threat is rising.

I am not easily spooked but I found myself reading this one in small snippets because I was so overwhelmed. The creepiness and anxiety was at an all time high as the book progressed. I rarely feel that from a novel but this one elicited a real visceral response from me. Perhaps because we are in Chizmar and each victims shoes as they face their fates? The writing was so compelling and the reveals are stunning. I loved how this one turned out… except for the fact that there is 100% a cliffhanger. Our case is solved, but…

Thanks to Gallery Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Becoming the Boogeyman is the highly anticipated sequel to Chizmar's bestseller Chasing the Boogeyman. The book picks up after the events of the first book, with the Boogeyman behind bars. But when new murders begin to occur in the same small town, the community is once again gripped by fear and paranoia.

Richard Chizmar is a master of suspense and dread, and Becoming the Boogeyman is no exception. The book is atmospheric and chilling, with a creeping sense of menace that builds throughout. Chizmar does a masterful job of creating characters that readers care about, and the stakes feel real and immediate.

One of the things that makes Becoming the Boogeyman so effective is its blurring of the lines between reality and fiction. The book is written in the style of a true crime novel, with Chizmar inserting himself into the story as a character. This creates a sense of verisimilitude that makes the book all the more terrifying.

Chizmar also does a great job of exploring the themes of obsession, fame, and the nature of evil in Becoming the Boogeyman. The book is a meditation on the way that true crime stories can consume us, and the dangers of becoming too obsessed with the darkness. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the chance to review this advance copy.

I really loved the first book, and so I was excited when I got this book sent to me by the publisher and NetGalley.

I think the angle this book is going down is one hat has me scratching my head a bit. From what I observed, the 'killer' might not be the real killer and that the author is ... well, becoming the killer or on his way of becoming the killer.

I was into the book, and then hit the dreaded 20% point - this is usually where books go to die for me, where my interest begins to wane - and sure enough, this has sat on my currently reading shelf for a god six months.

Others may enjoy it, but in terms of this one? I think the author kind of ruined a good thing he had going with the first book.

Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is one of my favorite reads this year. It is the perfect story for spooky season but also for those that like feeling that eerie sensation while they read year round.

I knew going in that this was a sequel and I have not yet read Chasing the Boogeyman. I just couldn’t pass up on requesting the arc on NetGalley. This can be read as a stand-alone but I think you will want to run out and read Chasing the Boogeyman like I do.

I also knew this was a fictional story but it is so believable as a true crime novel that I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t real. I loved the way that the story includes photos and interviews to feel authentic. I also loved the truth that was mixed in (ie. comments about working with Stephen King and names of family). It reminded me of The Dark Tower series when Stephen King wrote himself into the story. That was one of my favorite parts of the series and I feel the same about it in this book.

I loved the uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach that the story gives you. I felt like I was watching the security footage with Richard, running from Henry with a young Richard and sitting around the bonfire at Chizapalooza. The writing is so captivating and I could not put this book down.

I have posted this review on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5898317164

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyO-jQwrZxf/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And Amazon.

BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN (5⭐️)

You know what’s not the best idea? Reading this late at night and then having to take my dog outside for a walk 🫣

If you enjoyed CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN you’ll love this one as well.
In book one, a killer is murdering teenage girls during the late 80’s. Book two takes place over thirty years later. The original killer is in jail but a copy cat killer is on the loose.

following the format of book one, this reads as true crime but is actually fiction. The story is so well written and comes across so realistic and creepy. You can tell me all you want that this isn’t real, but I swear this killer exists lol. This is perhaps even more gruesome and haunting than the first book..so for me, that’s a winner.

My favorite parts were the crime scene/victim photos and interviews included throughout the chapters. I truly felt like I was in the neighborhood watching these crimes unfold. I loved the ending and I cannot wait for book 3..and praying for 4,5,6 because I never want this series to end 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

huge thanks to @netgalley for letting me read this one early! I loved it so much.

Richard Chizmar is back and even better with his much anticipated newest novel Becoming The Boogeyman, which is the sequel to his phenomenally, acclaimed novel Chasing The Boogeyman. A huge thank you to Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, the author and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of the book. Becoming The Boogeyman takes the readers back into the gripping metafictional world of part true crime and part fiction. The book examines the deep lifelong obsession that the author has had with a serial killer who abducted and brutally murdered young girls back in the late eighties and early nineties.

Now fast-forward decades later Richard is married with a wonderful family, pets and a successful writing career. But once more he finds himself along with his family and whole community living in terror when young girls start to go missing again. Even though the DNA evidence proved that the killer of those young girls many years ago was Josh Gallagher. He was found guilty and has been serving a life sentence in prison. So who is abducting the young girls this time? Is there a copycat killer?

Becoming The Boogeyman is a masterfully written, pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat, unnerving sequel that fuses the real and fictitious elements of a story so well that it will definitely have you questioning whether it is true or not. This totally enthralling, suspenseful story had me up turning page after page and did not shake me loose until the very end. If you are looking for a book to read during spooky season or any other time, then I highly recommend you grab a copy of Becoming The Boogeyman.

Becoming the Boogeyman (The Boogeyman #2) by Richard Chizmar

Expected publication date: October 10, 2023

Date read: September 18, 2023



A riveting, haunting sequel to the thriller Chasing the Boogeyman—a tale of obsession and the adulation of evil, exploring modern society’s true-crime obsession with unflinching honesty, sparing no one from the glare of the spotlight. Will those involved walk away from the story of a lifetime in order to keep their loved ones safe? Or will they once again be drawn into a killer’s web? As the story draws to its shattering conclusion, only one person holds all the answers—and he just may be the most terrifying monster of them all.

Chasing the Boogeyman was one of my favorite books of 2021. I loved the way that Chizmar chose to write it as if it was nonfiction, including himself as the protagonist of the story. It was one of the best uses of this format that I have come across. So when I saw that Chizmar was releasing a sequel, I jumped on it.

While there were a few unanswered questions in the original story, it didn’t necessarily need a sequel, and I wasn’t expecting there to be one. (Chizmar even states in the Author’s Note that he wasn’t planning a sequel when he finished Chasing the Boogeyman). Sometimes when a sequel is unplanned and not absolutely needed, it just seems like a cash grab and can’t hold up to the original. I’m happy to say that this book can stand on its own as an excellent psychological thriller and brings just as many thrills and chills as the original.

To avoid spoilers for the first book, I’m not going to mention who the “Boogeyman” actually is. But the fun of this book was not only trying to figure out whodunnit, but whether the original killer was somehow involved as well. I’m happy to say that I was not able to guess the ending.

In addition to the murder mystery, one of my favorite things about these books is how human the protagonist is. He’s not a mastermind, or even a detective. He’s an Everyman who makes believable mistakes along the way. He’s not always likable - he makes a few pretty stupid decisions - but he’s a great character.

As with the original, I loved the blurring of lines between fact and fiction in this story. While I knew from the start that this is a work of fiction, I often found myself reading the book as though it was nonfiction true crime. Chizmar’s ability to make the reader forget that they’re reading fiction is incredible.

Highly recommended to any horror/thriller fan, but I strongly suggest reading Chasing the Boogeyman first. You can follow this book without reading the first one, but the entire plot of that one will be spoiled if you read out of order. But pick up both books now (and the third to come), because this has been one of my favorite books of 2023.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Trigger warnings: murder, torture, sexual abuse (mentioned), gruesome death, cannibalism (mentioned), gore (some involving animals), child abuse

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Becoming the Boogeyman is the follow up to Chasing the Boogeyman, a book I loved for it’s incredibly ambitious structure and style. I wasn’t sure he could do it twice, but Richard Chizmar somehow pulled it off. The structure for both books is that it’s formatted like a true crime novel, centering Richard the author as the main character and featuring photographs of the other characters like a nonfiction crime book would include. I really thought it was well executed in his first book, but it was also a book focusing quite a bit on his childhood and looking back at the crimes that shook his small town. This one takes place firmly in the present, and has Richard dealing with a copycat killer that seems to be stalking him after the success of his first book. It’s kind of a brilliant idea, and continues the weird fact vs. fiction world that these books take place in. I really enjoyed this one. It’s really creative and has some really creepy moments. I was so pleasantly surprised that this format worked for me twice. I kind of wish I brushed up on the first book a little before I dove into this one, since it’s been a while since I read the first book and my brain is swiss cheese, but I still had a good time with this book without doing so.

Becoming the Boogeyman is the sequel to Richard Chizmar’s “fake true crime novel” Chasing the Boogeyman. I stumbled across this book in January 2022 and ever since then I have recommended it on all my platforms and frequently discussed it for its fresh take on a thriller novel: the story takes inspiration from Chizmar’s real childhood town and memories, including friends and family and several slice-of-life moments that give the story such a credibility that you find yourself thinking you are in fact reading a memoir or a true crime novel. The pictures featured (all featuring actors or friends portraying the characters in the novel) also work together to create a sense that you are reading a factual account of a crime. When I read Chasing the Boogeyman back in 2022 I found myself Googling things because even though I knew I was reading a fictional novel my mind kept being fooled by the writing, atmosphere, and format of the novel into thinking it was actually real.

That is a commendable job on the author’s part, and ever since then, I have been looking to find a book that gave me the same feeling I got reading Chasing the Boogeyman. There were a few additions to the list, and when I became aware that a sequel to the novel was actually coming out in late 2023 I couldn’t believe it. In the spirit of honesty, I didn’t think a sequel was necessary from the way that things wrapped up in the first book, there are no cliffhangers and no unresolved plots. I was a bit skeptical because unplanned sequels are sometimes only ever written for the commercial aspect, if the first book sold more than people imagine it would they want to try and push a sequel out to not miss the hype. However, a lot of time had passed. Two years in fact. I was curious and intrigued and needed to check for myself what this sequel, Becoming the Boogeyman, was going to be about. Lucky for me, Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster was kind enough to send me a review copy, and I could sate my curiosity.

This time we follow our main character/author Richard Chizmar in the year 2022. After the arrest of Joshua Gallaghere a.k.a The Boogeyman, the sales of his book spiked, and he even got a movie deal. Everything seems to be going great, except when a string of murders start to happen that seem to be linked with the original Boogeyman killer.

I must admit that this novel even more than the first one, reminded me so much of Stephen King’s writing, in the best way possible. I felt like there was less slice-of-life in this sequel and more of introducing new characters and fleshing them out in a way that reminds me so much of King’s work. The writing is fast-paced and immersive, I devoured whole chunks of this book in just two days. I wouldn’t say it was as chilling as the first book, because I read that one late at night and felt genuinely scared, so this time I read in plain daylight and with the curtains wide open, hahaha. I admit, maybe if I read this in the dark of night it would have been chilling as well, but what I thought was that it was much darker and gruesome in a different way. Perhaps because it was set during our present time, the treatment of the press, social media, and everything is as we currently have, for the good and the bad.

I also felt for Richard, even though I know he is a fictionalized version of the real author and none of this ever happened, I was just very sorry for him and for his life to be so disrupted only because he wrote a book and wanted to get the truth. I feel like characters like him are easy to sympathize with, because he is one of the good guys, just doing his job, and ends up getting caught up in things much larger and darker than he expected.

Both the narration style, in first person recounting the events, and the flow of the narrative, intercalating the gruesome aspects with more lighter elements make the story move quickly. I was engaged and interested at all times, and for me, that is a feat in itself for any novel I read, but especially when it comes to thrillers. Keeping your readers engaged and intrigued through the whole course of the novel is no easy feat.

As for the reveal, it was good but if you compare it with the first book it pales in comparison, however, it’s kind of hard not to. After all, with the original Boogeyman case, back in the 80’s the case was never solved, so it is satisfying to read the conclusion of Chizmar finding the culprit years after in 2019. With this sequel things moved so much quicker, however, I felt like the revelations fit with the story and apart from a certain element, I was satisfied.

Overall, this book was a great reading experience. The first book is still my favorite, but this was a worthy sequel and I recommend it to all readers who loved the first book. I feel like this “fake true crime novel” trope is one of my favorites in the thriller genre, and I wish more writers would have the guts to write something like this.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Galley Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC before publication. I loved Chasing the Boogeyman and could hardly wait to learn more about him.

Becoming the Boogeyman is told by the author who is actually the main character of the book. He has had a lifelong obsession with the Boogeyman ever since the murders in his small town in the late 80's. He alternates between the past (from his childhood forward) to the present which is 30 years after the murders of the teenaged girls in his home town of Edgewood, Maryland.

His goal in this book is to help us understand what was going on in the Boogeyman's head from his childhood forward. Chizmar tells us about childhood events and also shares snippets of his interviews with the Boogeyman; who is serving time in the Cumberland Maximum Security Prison. As the book progresses we learn more and more about events over the course of many years.

I guess I would say this book is written as if it was part memoir and part fiction, although Chizmar has loosely based these two books on true crime.

Murders have once again begun to occur in the area of Edgewood, Maryland once again that seem to be done by a copycat of the Boogeyman and Chizmar is pulled into the situation immediately as the first victim is dumped near his home. He had been seen as a hometown hero after his first book of this series Chasing the Boogeyman had been published, but because of his continued obsession with the Boogeyman social media and the news are not treating him so well this time around.

Chizmars way of telling a story will hook you and keep you wanting more. Publication date is October 10th!

Oh. My. Goodness. Chizmar can’t write a bad book! Woah! I’m speechless!
This sequel to Chasing the Boogeyman was

Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is an outstanding horror with an authentic true crime twist.
No one can write metafiction like this man here!
A gripping and compelling story that’s as poignant as it is timely.
These books are so different and well written. They are insanely brilliant.
He has written another unique tale. A story that is so gripping that the pages seemingly turn themselves.
The writing is so detailed and descriptive. And our characters and setting were vividly written and I could easily picture everything.
The reader becomes entranced by his prose and entangled in his circular narrative of horror.
Basically, Becoming the Boogeyman is a masterpiece of fiction and proof that a horror novel with authentic true crime can be met. And Richard Chizmar does it with such ease. It’s fucking fascinating!
Richard Chizmar certainly has a gift for spinning a tale.
He is seriously giving Stephen King a run for his money!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Gallery Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I was a huge fan of Chasing the Boogeyman and the sequel did not disappoint. A mix of real life and fiction, and sometimes I forgot, which was which.
The author’s words pulled me in once again. I love how he manages to mix truth with fiction and the twists once again grabbed me repeatedly. It definitely reads like a can’t put it down true crime book and while I didn’t love it as much as the first book, it was still a very good read. If there is a third book, I’ll be looking forward to it.

Absolutely fantastic read!!! I enjoyed everything about this book. The first book Chasing the Boogeyman was my favorite book of 2023 and now Becoming the Boogeyman is too! These two books are great for anyone who is a fan of true crime. I loved the way Richard continued on the story of The Boogeyman. The writing in this book left me feeling scared, thrilled and nostalgic. I loved the way Richard brought his adventures growing up into this story and gave me “The Sandlot” vibes. I also really enjoyed how real the story felt. I still have a hard time believing this all didn’t really happen. The interviews with Gallagher and others along with all the photos gave the story even more life. This story duo is going to be my favorite of the year and I look forward to gifting and recommending it to many of my fellow readers!

Sequels are always hard when the first book is such an exceptional read. For me, this holds true with this one.

I have to ask myself the following:
Was this one as creepy as the first? Well, no, not really. It had its own creep factor, but it wasn't quite the same as its predecessor.
Was it as engaging as the first? Again, not really. While I found myself engaged with the story, I didn't find myself as enthralled with it as I did the first one.
Did it shock and awe me as much as the first? Well, honestly, I wasn't shocked. And I definitely wasn't in awe.

It may seem like I didn't like this book, but I did. It was just very different from the first book. This one is more like a second folk story picking up ahead in time from the first. It was definitely worth the read!

I've read all the masters and I gotta say nobody creeps me out like Chizmar. There's many books trying to cash in on the modern true crime boom, but this is one of the finest. Not only that, it's a timeless tale.

It's tense, well planned, and keeps your guessing. I don't know if I really need to say more because you just need to read it.

Doing a sequel to a horror book rarely works, heck even look at Chizmar's frequent collaborator Stephen King who struggles with that. This one is a worthy follow-up and perhaps even better with the additional world building. I can't think of another horror book that I'd say is better this year. I don't even know if I'd say I read a better fiction book period.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Richard Chizmar for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
@richard_chizmar
@netgalley
@gallerybooks

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 billion stars!)

This book was absolutely one of my favorites this year! This is the Sequel to Chasing The Boogeyman. It was terrifying, heart pounding unlike anything I’ve read. It was written in the format of a true crime fiction. His writing style is incredibly chilling. I read this book all at once!! I highly recommend this book if you love true crime, thrillers, fast paced books!

#fivestarbooks #becomingtheboogeyman #richardchizmar #netgalley #horror #read #readmore #bookstagram #bookworms #booksbooksbooks #booknerds #boogeyman #frightnight #fear #run #scream #murder

This was another outstanding book by this author! It starts out slow and slowly builds to an exciting conclusion. It’s full of twists and turns. It’s creepy good! Definitely want this one on your spooky TBR stack.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Richard Chizmar is just f-ing brilliant! After reading and loving Chasing the Boogeyman last year, I was cautiously excited about reading the follow-up to that mind-blowing novel--I needn't have been concerned. Chizmar's second novel about happenings in Edgewood, Maryland is even better than the first.

While Becoming the Boogeyman can be read as a standalone, I do not recommend beginning with this novel. It takes place 35 years after the first, with Chizmar a family man, a successful author, and a copycat murderer on the loose. Like the first novel, readers will find themselves checking the author's notes and acknowledgements repeatedly, to reassure themselves that this is really fiction, not true-crime. Complete with photos of crime scenes and yearbook photos of victims, and a narrator who is the actual author of the book, the line between fact and fiction becomes extremely blurred.

Unique style aside, the murder mystery is terrifying, as well, with multiple creepy killers weaving in and out of the story and mixed up with the probability that some of the occurrences are pranks. I actually gasped several times during my reading, when particularly chilling things happened.

Happily, Chizmar leads cleanly into what I am certain will be a third Boogeyman novel to come, with a not unexpected cliff-hanger. I am looking forward to it, without reservation this time! Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the digital ARC of Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar. The opinions in this review are my own.