This book is one of my favorite books of the year. I could not put it down. Its exactly what i was craving. Thank you netgalley,

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.

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.

Woahh this book was so fucking good. S0oo well written. I didn't wanna put it down. I read it all and ended it in bed before I went to sleep and it gave me nightmares.

Thank you NetGalley and GalleryBooks for the advanced copy of Memorials by Richard Chizmar!

I love 80’s horror and this did not disappoint! It was long (480 pages) and I feel like it could have been shorter and still had the same effect.

This was a good nod the the 80s , nostalgic creepy novel. It was a bit slow to start, but after the half way mark, the pacing was well. The story line was just a bit confusing. I didn't understand for awhile and had to read parts over as to why they were putting the symbol on memorials to begin with. It was just a little all over the place, but still I would recommend. I loved Troy, he was my favorite. And this just goes to show that good books don't have to have a happy ending. I'm assuming this is maybe going to be a trilogy or at least have another book. The ending seemed like it

***A BIG THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER FOR PROVIDING ME WITH AN ARC OF THIS UPCOMING BOOK***
This is the tale of 3 college friends in the 80's that embark on a road trip to film a documentary about a very interesting topic: roadside memorials. I did not read the synopsis of this before going into it so I was not expecting the creepy directions that this one took. I should have known better, this is Rich Chizmar baybeeeeeee!

This is a very engaging, if just a wee bit too long, thriller that goes in some truly dark directions. The ultimate mystery unravels nicely with plenty of fake outs, twists and turns. The main characters are all likeable and Chizmar writes in a comforting style that goes down like your favorite refreshing beverage. I classify him in the group of authors that I consider the true disciples and heirs to the GOAT, Mr. Stephen King himself.

You may be a little put off by the length, but don't let that put you off of this one when it hits shelves. You'd be hard pressed to find a better spooky story than the ones that come from the mind of Richie Rich Chizmar!

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.

As a fan of Chizmar’s recent Boogeyman series, I was excited to get into this one too as the premise, and the 1980s time period, appealed to what I like about his other work. Chizmar is perhaps one of the best authors today in establishing context, mood, and vibes. He establishes the context of time and place better than most authors without relying on “remember this” referential crutches. Also, “Memorials” has a well-developed underlying sense of paranoia and distrust. Like in his Boogeyman books, Chizmar proves he is adept at building this tension and suspension throughout his work.

He also writes and develops his main characters well. Each of his three main characters feel like real people, avoiding stereotypes and common archetypes. By the end, you will definitely care about Billy, Troy, and Melody. To me, he was less successful at developing the depth of his secondary characters, especially Naomi, but the villains of this particular work seem particularly underdeveloped. So if there was one letdown in this book, it is not only that the motivations and lore behind the villains was a bit convoluted, but also that there is an expository section that explains them only after the main action has concluded that causes the book to drag a bit by the end. Despite that, the suspenseful and mysterious ride that gets you to that endpoint is certainly one worth taking.

3.5 stars

I was super impressed by Richard Chizmar's CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN, but his latest MEMORIALS (publishing October 22, 2024) didn't land as successfully with me.

The premise of this novel was so interesting. Three college students (Billy the narrator, Melody, and Troy) embark on a week-long trip in western Pennsylvania in May of 1983 documenting roadside memorials, including a memorial dedicated to one of the filmmaker's own parents, for a class project. They see strange symbols on these memorials, and people act oddly toward them during their travels, creating an unsettled feeling throughout most of the novel.

PROs
1. Great premise
2. Feeling slightly unsettled (what's going on?) throughout most of the novel
3. Lots of dialogue - allows the reader to be in the novel
4. Documentary filming set apart in different font
5. Would be a good movie

PRO and CON
1. Liked how it incorporated racism toward Troy but it had a 2020s sensibility to it that pulls you out of the 1983 setting.

CONs
1. Reads young adult instead of as an older narrator reflecting on 1983 self
2. A lot of repetition in the middle with different roadside memorial scenes, dragged down the pacing A LOT
3. Didn't buy into one of the big scenes at the end
4. Not as many 1983 vibes as I wanted

I found this to be a decent read due to its premise and some more novel inclusions into the narrative, but I didn't find this to be as compelling as other works by this author.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this thanks to @netgalley @gallerybooks @simonbooks The book takes place in 1983 and follows 3 college students who go out to film a documentary on makeshift memorials on the sides of the road where people have died. The book is told from the point of Billy, who lost his parents to a car crash and their memorial is the first one on their journey. All 3 characters have death with the death of a loved one and they bond over it as they drive over the course of a week. Then things start to get creepy. Strangers staring them down, weird dreams, a symbol that starts popping up everywhere and the legends of Appalachian cults. The book has some great twists I didn’t see coming and debunked my guesses along the way. Part "Stand By Me", part "The Blair Witch Project". Great read for people who liked his previous books, coming out this Fall.

#memorials #richardchizmar #fiction #novel #scary #horror #mystery #gallerybooks #netgalley #simonandschuster #books #bookstagram #pennsylvania #appallachians #folklore #occult #shareddreams #creepy #readingisfundamental📚

This is the third book I have read by Richard Chizmar. I absolutely loved Memorials just as much as I loved the previous two. I was instantly intrigued after seeing the book was about college students; Billy, Troy, and Melody going on a roadtrip to film a documentary. Their documentary is set to be about roadside memorials that at first seem like were unfortunate accidents. As they make their way through Appalachia things take a darker turn and at a closer look the trio begin noticing a symbol on the memorials. We begin to see fear take over between the three while they try to figure out what it is they’ve stumbled upon. Chizmar had me guessing throughout the whole book. I didn’t know who to trust or which side I should be on! I was forced to stay awake longer than I cared for because his story throughly creeped me out! The relationship between the three main characters didn’t feel forced or that it lacked in any way, I loved their dynamic. I thought I had the ending figured out but I was very wrong and I couldn’t have been more pleased by it! A definite must read for anyone who loves a good thriller!

I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! I love this terrifying book I believe it’s Chizmar at his best (which is saying something because he never misses) I am going to read it again.

Memorials is a great road trip book that follows three college students who, in 1983, drive across Pennsylvania to complete a documentary for an American Studies course. Billy, Troy, and Melody travel through Appalachia back county to film roadside memorials and research the back stories of the people who died. As they delve into the information the trio finds themselves being trailed by satanic worshippers who demand they end the project. Memorials is an entertaining novel with great appeal as a regional history and thriller.

Terrific book -- in addition to scaring the living daylights out of me, it took me back to my own college years in the 1980's (oh, to be young, when the road ahead is still misty and unclear). I have already pre-ordered several copies as Christmas gifts. Great piece of storytelling!

So good! Reminiscent of Becoming the Boogyman but still its own unique story. Certain parts actually gave me the chills. Cannot recommend enough to horror/thriller fans. This is the best book I’ve read this year.

Chizmar did it again and I loved every minute of this book. This is definitely on the longer side but worth every page.

This story follows a trio of college students in the 80s who are traveling in the Appalachia region to make a documentary for their American Studies class. Most of the book has a found footage feel perspective which I loved. I loved all the characters and found myself being so creeped out by what they were going through that I even scared myself to the point I couldn't fall asleep in my dark room. Woops.

Chizmar is one of my favorite horror writers and so happy that this one did not disappoint in the least!

I am a big fan of Chizmar, this book didn't let me down at all. I was a bit worried when the start was very slow but the second half ended up making up for it, I can honestly say I didn't see a lot of that coming even though there was one twist that I thought was going to happen involving a certain sheriff but thankfully it didn't happen, instead more surprises came from there.

Richard Chizmar’s spooky novel Memorials is a well written, very long tale. Once I reached the thrilling ending of the story, I could see where all the pieces fit together. While in the midst of reading, I had no clue why so many rotten things were happening to the three main characters.

This was another hit from the author. It is a book filled with the authors signature horror and supernatural. The suspense keeps the reader interested and page turning. This is a book which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.