Eddie and four of his friends were 12 years old that summer. It was quite an exciting time for them all. It was the summer Eddie and Mr. Haloran, a teacher, saved a girl's life. Eddie and his friends found a dead body. One of them loses a brother. One of them loses a dog. One of them was abused by the reverend.

It was a summer that would seem to last a lifetime.

Slightly reminiscent of Stand By Me, this story is told in the present and bounces back and forth to 30 years ago. Four boys and a girl who started a summer in innocence and ended with something else.

Some things last forever ... the mystery of the dead girl, the death of Mr. Haloran, who taught Eddie about The Chalk Man. What really happened that summer? And how does that affect these childhood friends now they are adults?

This is story-telling at its very best, well written, with characters the reader won't soon forget. It has everything, the purity of childhood, a look at life from a child's wondering mind... the angst of growing up and away... the losses that can never be replaced ... the trust that may have been misplaced along the way. The conclusion is astounding, a surprise I never saw coming.

Makes me want to go back and read it again.

Many thanks to the author / Crown Publishing / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of THE CHALK MAN. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own. Book will be available 1/9/18.

Anderbury in Southern England was a small picturesque town with cobbled streets. Its accessibility to beaches and forest life created seasonal festivities. How awesome to be allowed at age twelve to go to the fair without a parental unit, thought Eddie Adams. Eddie's fun ended when he witnessed an horrific accident. A carriage on the Waltzer ride uncoupled, whether through overuse or lack of maintenance. The impact disfigured a beautiful girl. Normalcy never returned to the lives of Eddie and his gang of four friends.

Eddie had a chaotic home life living with a mum who was a doctor in an abortion clinic and a dad, a writer who worked from home. Eddie was a collector, occasionally stealing small items to add to his stash. His collection was hidden from view which gave him a feeling of control. Fat Gav was the loud, obnoxious, heart-of-gold, son of a pub owner. Metal Mickey was so called because he wore braces on his teeth, He seemed to have a cold, ugly demeanor. Hoppo was easy going but was not the brightest bulb in the room. Rounding out the group was one girl, Nicky, the red haired, freckle faced, cursing and swearing daughter of the town vicar. When the Waltzer Carriage accident occurred, Eddie was supported and befriended by Mr. Halloran, a new teacher in Anderbury. Mr. Halloran was a very tall, very pale, albino man.

Fat Gav was the last group member to turn twelve. His parents created a "happening", a birthday bash with invitations extended to both children and adults. Eddie noticed that one wrapped present had escaped notice and brought it to Gav's attention. Gav unwrapped a large tub of chalk. Mr. Halloran told of his childhood use of chalk to render secret symbols that only he and his friends understood. A fun code could be created by Eddie and Co. Each friend would have a different color chalk to use to leave messages for the others. These stick figure messages, if manipulated, could lead to mystery and murder.

"The Chalk Man" is a debut novel written by C.J.Tudor. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed the fleshed out characters created. There was humor, mystery, blood and gore. A fast paced read that hooked me from the get-go. The twists and turns spiraled to a surprise ending! I anxiously await C.J. Tudor's sophomore tome.

Thank you Crown Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Chalk Man".

5 HUGE STARS!!! What a fantastic psychological thriller!!! The storyline was completely original and the writing was nothing short of brilliant! I LOVE a novel that truly has me guessing until the end, I honestly had NO CLUE what the outcome would be!! This novel is perfectly paced and once I started reading, I didn't put my kindle down for an entire day until I finished--unputdownable. The well-timed twists and turns had my jaw dropping constantly and now that I finished I'm in awe of the magnificent tangled web C.J. Tudor spun for us. I was shocked to learn The Chalk Man is C.L. Tudor's first novel, she writes like a seasoned pro!! The Chalk Man is 2018 favorite for me and I think it's must, must, must read for EVERYONE!! Winter is the best time to cozy up with a great book and The Chalk Man needs be on the top of your reading list!!

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