When you get old and start falling apart, there are changes in your reading habits. When you are young, you have the stamina to stay up all night and read a good book then go to work. I am now at the age where I don’t have to do that! Instead, I spend the lost hours sitting in a doctor’s waiting room reading. I’ve been saving The Chalk Man for just this kind of moment; and I wasn’t disappointed in my decision when the opportunity showed itself this week.

PROLOGUE
The girl’s head rested on a small pile of orange-and-brown leaves. Her almond eyes stared up at the canopy of sycamore, beech and oak, but they didn’t see. . . A short distance away, a pale hand stretched out from its own small shroud of leaves, as if searching for help, or reassurance that it as not alone. . .

The Chalk Man will disappoint readers that are looking for a hair-raising blood curdling serial murder read. The story reminded me more of Stand By Me or Lord of the Flies. There are mysterious deaths that seem linked, and a myriad number of unexplained and aberrant events between the children, town bullies and adults with serious personality defects. Twists, squirms, and turns more than sordid and graphic murder scenes.

The story is told by Edward “Eddie Munster” as an adult in 2016 and flashes back and forth to 1986. Hence, the lives of the town’s residents and Eddie’s friends are slanted by his view and opinions. We learn more about Eddie simply because he shares more about himself than he does the others. Through him, we experience the hormonal throes of early adolescence and budding sexuality, observe his proclivity for shoplifting and collecting souvenirs and oddball items, and sense the anguish of a child/man slightly out of tune with world.

The relevance of the title, Chalk Man begins with Mr. Halloran, an albino teacher who attends “Fat Gav’s” birthday party and gifts him with a box of chalk sticks. Learning that Mr. Halloran used chalk messages to secretly communicate with others, the children devise their own secret code – until one day – someone outside their group discovers their code.

I am reluctant to discuss the story in deeper detail; it will spoil the read. But I will toss in a few thoughts and prose that have stayed with me.

If you see something, say something. If you know something and keep it to yourself, you will be haunted by the outcome of your cowardice. Every action has a consequence; for good or for bad. No one is who they seem. No one is perfect. Everyone has character flaws. Life is not fair.

Eddie’s father, dying early of Alzheimer’s, left him with an important thought and I will share it with you. You will need to take this tidbit of wisdom with you into the read:

Never assume, my dad once told me. To assume makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.

Recommended reading for those that like a murder mystery without stomach churning violence. There’s just enough tough stuff to wince but keep going.

A letdown! The beginning is creepy and atmospheric, but the story largely peters out from there. Given the amount of hype around this book, I was expecting so much more. There was a delicious whiff of Stephen King style horror - dual 1980s/present day timelines, stupid kids doing stupid things that their adult selves had to live with - but there was no magic here. The action crawls along, and I kept expecting something to happen that would engage me, but I felt utterly indifferent towards the characters and the central murder plot, and ultimately, the entire book.

The Chalk Man was one of those books that I kept hearing about from everyone. When I was given the opportunity to read it, I was so excited. Unfortunately, for me, the book did not live up to its hype. The story felt quite slow to me, I had a hard time getting into it since it just seemed to drag along. I just never felt like the writing lived up to the premise.

There is a certain style of UK mystery, and other novels for that matter, that dives deep into the psyche of young men, sometimes gay, often not. The story gets darker and darker until it is more like a fever dream than a realistic story. I have long thought that this kind of writing is in a direct line from from "Lord of the Flies" and some of the better 1960s horror.

"The Chalk Man" is one of these books. Childhood crime leads to adult retribution. Retribution coming from an unknown place, not supernatural, but almost as ghastly in its inexplicable and inexorable progress.

I don't much like these books, no matter how well they are written. This one is a bit long too.

I received a review copy of "The Chalk Man" by C. J. Tudor (Crown) through NetGalley.com.

Four stars: An entertaining, suspenseful, creepy little read.

It is 2016, thirty years since Eddie and his friends followed the chalk stick figures into the woods and uncovered a body. The past comes crawling back when Eddie and his friends receive letters in the mail with a single chalk stick figure. It all seems like a harmless prank, until one of them dies. Is the killer back? Will they be next?
What I Liked:
*The Chalk Man is a thrilling read with a touch of horror. This one isn’t too gruesome or scary so don’t hesitate. It will keep you up past your bedtime because every chapter is a cliffhanger.
*I liked the way the story moved forward and back in time. Each chapter alternates between 1986 when the kids were 12 to 2016 finding them as grown adults. I thought the author pulled off the time shifts perfectly and it added suspense to the story.
*This is one of the books that grabs you with its creepy story line, and then it keeps you hooked with its cliffhanger chapter endings. Practically every chapter ends with a hook that will keep you reading well past bedtime. Loved the suspense.
*The climax was fantastic. Everything starts to fall in place and the secrets explode. I won’t say too much, but I thought the way it all came out was brilliant. Everything doesn’t end nice and neat. There are all these little fingers that spread out. Some big surprises for sure. You won’t ever be able to piece it all together!
*The ending is great. Almost everything is answered with a few little niggles to ponder upon.
And The Not So Much:
*My biggest complaint is I felt no connection with any of the characters. They are all a bit neurotic and rather unlikeable. I really wanted to like Eddy, the main character, but he is a hopeless drunk with kleptomaniac tendencies. As the story goes along, he becomes creepier. The rest of the characters aren’t warm or likeable either. I just didn’t care about any of them, so I was not emotionally invested in the story.
*There are several scenes with strange dreams that are not explained. Was there sleep walking involved or what?
*The other thing that really bothered me was that it wasn’t explained whether one character was faking it all the time or whether he had only times where he was cognizant. What was up with that?
*That final reveal was a bit too much. Why would anyone keep something like that? Ugh!

The Chalk Man is a suspenseful story that is a bit scary. I enjoyed the story, the creepiness and the way it all played out at the end. My big hesitation with this one is that all the characters are unlikeable so I was never emotionally invested in the story. Still if you want a book that will keep you reading well past your bedtime, try this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

3.5 stars. Solid mystery with some great characters and a good ending.

I love thrillers, and The Chalk Man by debut author C.J. Tudor hit all the right notes for me. I thoroughly enjoyed following Eddie, his friends, and their parents back and forth from 1986 to 2016. This thriller has comedic hits, dark humor, characters who are mostly shades of gray, and a protagonist that is far from perfect. I really enjoyed reading about how 12-year-old Eddie and his 42-year-old self see the world so differently. After witnessing so many tragedies as a youth, the now alcoholic seems to barely be holding it together most of the time, and that can be a big problem since he’s a teacher at his old school.

The Chalk Man starts with young Eddie and his friends discovering a dismembered body in the woods. Flashing back and forth between 1986 and 2016, a picture is painted of what Eddie and his friends go through after the discovery, and how it still affects all of them in the present day. As kids, the four boys and one girl would leave each other stick figure drawings in chalk so they would know where to meet up, and who was writing the message since they all had different colors. But when these same stick figures start to appear along with cryptic letters to each of them as adults, Ed is thrown back into the past–the times that he chooses to block out with booze and possible dementia that could run in the family. And then one of their group dies mysteriously, and the remaining members slowly come together to figure out who might be targeting them.

The characters in The Chalk Man are very unique, three dimensional, and mostly likable–and very understandable as you got to know them better through the flashbacks. All of them didn’t have the greatest upbringing, and their twisted family stories were just as gripping as the main mystery of who murdered that girl 30 years ago. Eddie with his fledgling author father and women’s clinic doctor mother. Fat Gav was the wealthiest due to his family running their own pub, Metal Mickey had a very abusive brother that didn’t leave Ed alone, Hoppo’s mother was a cleaning lady who worked all the time to make ends me, and Nicky’s father was the local reverend that has a radical agenda and a bunch of smitten follows to do his bidding. Add in an albino teacher that the kids nickname “The Chalk Man” and a tragic carnival accident that leaves a pretty teenager disfigured, and the cast of mysterious characters take you on one hell of a ride that’s steeped in secrets and tragedy.

I give The Chalkman a five out of five. The drama between Ed’s parents and the reverend was tense, and the way that Ed handles all of the gruesome things he’s witnessed in his childhood–as well as adulthood– is quite appropriate. C.J. Tudor’s writing is steeped in enough description and tension that I felt transported to the easy going 1980s in England, and I felt like I was right there going through every single part of the story with Ed. The way the author went back and forth in time periods was really smooth and each chapter flowed into the next with ease. And the ending did not disappoint with a very big surprise that answers a lot of questions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense, thrillers, small town family dramas, and mysteries that are shrouded in danger.

This book tells the story of a bunch of 12-year-olds in the 80s and of the same characters 30 years later. Back in 1986, a girl had been found murdered and quite a lot of things had happened that no one really had an explanation for. Now, all those things that had been forgotten - or hushed up - suddenly come back to the surface. Will history repeat itself?

I was quite excited to read this book because the blurb really spoke to me. The concept reminded me a little bit of Stephen King's <i>It</i>, which is by no means a bad thing. It was a quite fast-paced and suspenseful read when things slowly started to unravel. I wanted to give this thriller 3 stars because it was okay, but did not really manage to surprise me, but when on the last few pages all my questions that I thought would remain open were answered, I decided that 4 stars are justified.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Crown Publishing Group and C.J. Tudor for the free ebook edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was awesome. It reminded me a lot of Stand By Me. Loved the friendships. Thanks Netgalley

1986: Eddie and his friends were twelve years old the year the Chalk Man came into being. Between the five of them, it started as a way to send secret messages: leaving chalk men and symbols for each other in corresponding colors. And then chalk figures began showing up around town, alongside increasingly brutal crimes. The year, and the crimes, hit a gruesome finale with the discovery of a beheaded girl's body.

2016: Tthe chalk figures are back. Eddie receives a letter at the same time one of their group returns to town to discuss the possibility of writing a book about that terrible year. And then one of the old gang is found dead. It could be an accident, but a letter just like Eddie's is found on the body. Has the past returned to haunt Eddie and his friends? And if it has, will they finally be able to unmask the identity of the Chalk Man?

I quite enjoyed this one. When I started, I thought it was going to be a quick read - and indeed it begins with a scene that seemed to set the tone for a fast-paced and shockingly gory read. And yet, that really wasn't the case. After that scene, an accident at the town fair when Eddie is twelve, the book became a bit more of a slow burn.

Chapter alternate between past and present, with Eddie leading the way on a dark trip down memory lane. See the discovery of the girl's body would seem to be the worst a tween could possibly face, but unfortunately that's not true here. 1986 is a particularly bad year that has long lasting ramifications, not the least of which is Eddie's "collecting" habit.

Eddie also admits to having a bit of a drinking habit in 2016 as well. He's a teacher who's never married and lives in his childhood home with a lodger much younger than he is. He and two of the others remained in their hometown and occasionally meet up even though Eddie doesn't feel they're friends in the true sense of the word. And yet, they are inextricably linked by the happenings of 1986.

Which becomes even more clear as the book progresses.

Though I expected quick and got simmering instead, I found I loved the progressing build and the chance to spend more time with the book than I'd anticipated.

I should also add that this book has been on my radar for well over a year now. A little bird in the publishing industry mentioned it to me after having read it in manuscript form and I immediately added it to my must have list. That much lead time means a whole lot of expectation, so I'm very glad that the book was able to live up to that - of course, the bird in question has great taste, so I never doubted I would love it!

Good and creepy. Nothing is exactly what you expect. "oh, he did it, nevermind it was her, nope it was... what??!" Flashes back from present time to 30 years ago, when the main character was a 12 year old boy hanging with his middle school gang. They get caught up in the middle of a mystery/death and you're wondering the whole time who the perpetrator is. I thought it was well done, if a bit excessive on the "well, we would come to find out...." cue mystery music.

The Chalk Man is a story told on two different timelines: the present and 1986, when the characters were kids. As children, they started drawing chalk stick men with symbols to leave messages for each other. Then someone else starts using the drawings, and things take a more sinister turn. The author kept me guessing up to the last page, and more than once, his explanations for the events in the story were not what I had expected. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to the next book by C. J. Tudor.

I found this to be a fun read, with a host of eerie characters, a quirky setting, and an intriguing plot. I enjoyed reading it, although it is not one of the best thrillers I’ve read (imho). I seem to be in the minority, considering this good, but not great. It could be because I was interrupted several times during the read and struggled to remember details when I returned to it. I do plan to read more from this author as I believe it to be a very promising debut. I recommend reading it and making your own decision.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Published by Crown on January 9, 2018

The Chalk Man mixes elements of horror with a conventional thriller, including the ghost of a kid who just drowned showing up to give a message to the protagonist, who at that point is also a kid. The reader (and the protagonist) might think that’s a dream except that the ghost dissolves into a stick man drawn from chalk on the protagonist’s driveway that’s still there in the morning.

Half of The Chalk Man takes place in 2016. Ed is a teacher. His childhood friend Mickey is back in town, much to the displeasure of his childhood friend Gav who is in a wheelchair because of an accident that occurred while Mickey was driving. Mickey wants to write a book with a possible TV tie-in about a murder and dismemberment that happened 30 years earlier. Ed was at the center of that incident, having found parts of the body. Mickey claims to know the murderer’s identity and wants Ed’s help to renew relationships so that he can develop the story.

Alternating with scenes from 2016 are scenes from Ed’s past, beginning with the day he helped Mr. Halloran save a girl’s life after an amusement park accident. Ed was a kid and Halloran, an albino, was about to start teaching at his school. Halloran, who likes to make drawings in chalk, takes a strong interest in the girl whose life he saved.

Other events in the past revolve around Ed’s group of friends, including Metal Mickey, whose relationship with Ed is altered by the fate of Mickey’s bullying brother. Ed is attracted to a young girl, but her father is a preacher who encourages ugly protests against the town’s abortion clinic, where Ed’s mother happens to work. There are several other surprises associated with the scandalous events of 1986 that C.J. Tudor slowly reveals, culminating with the murder that Mickey wants to write about 30 years later. Stick men drawn from chalk are linked to the murder and to another crime, and of course, the reader wonders whether the obvious suspect is actually guilty.

Back in the present, new murders are occurring, and messages containing stick men are being sent to Ed and his surviving childhood friends. The novel builds tension by asking the reader to guess who will be the next victim. The novel’s mystery naturally centers on the killer’s identity and motivation.

Several characters, including Chloe, the mysterious girl who rents a room from Ed in the present, and Nicky, daughter of the preacher who hates Ed’s parents, help expose the hypocrisy of people who insist on telling others how to live while failing to follow their own advice. The key characters have enough personality to make them seem as real, and even minor characters come across as authentic.

I’m not sure the ending is quite as surprising as Tudor intended it to be. More troubling is that it requires a serious stretch of the reader’s imagination to accept that all the events in both time frames happen as the novel describes. Critical moments at the end of the novel, while adding some exhilaration to the story, seem impossibly contrived. Still, getting to that point is enjoyable, and I can’t say that I felt disappointed by the ending, given that the story as a whole is also a bit contrived, albeit entertaining. At the same time, some details at the end that I feared would be left dangling are wrapped up neatly. In fact, the final details are so creatively creepy that they redeem the novel’s faults.

RECOMMENDED

After seeing all of the hype about The Chalk Man, I knew I needed to add it to my never-ending TBR pile. I really wanted it to live up to the hype, but unfortunately I fell into the minority and was not blown away by this book. Don't hate me! I really wish I enjoyed this one as much as everyone else on Bookstagram! 

I thought The Chalk Man was well-written and I was surprised when I discovered that this was C.J. Tudor's debut novel. I was intrigued by the unique premise and it kept me interested enough to continue reading, but it didn't exactly meet my expectations. When I first started reading this book, I had a hard time getting into it because of the slow-pacing and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I will say that I enjoyed the alternating chapters between the past and present timelines and there were a few twists throughout, but it was lacking the depth I was hoping for. 

Unfortunately I was underwhelmed with this one, but that does not mean I wouldn't recommend it to others. Although I am in the minority, I have seen many reviews that give The Chalk Man high praise. I recommend you find out for yourself which side of the spectrum you fall on. Personally I think this would be a great read for those who are easing their way into this genre. 

Thank you NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and C.J. Tudor for the opportunity to read The Chalk Man. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

I cannot express enough how much I loved this book! At the time I requested it from NetGalley, I was interested because of the blurb and my current obsession with thriller/suspense novels. Once I requested and received it, I started seeing posts everywhere about this book and how great it was.

Books that time swap between past and present always appeal to me in ways that other books don't. I love reading what happened before and then bouncing to the present to see how now is being affected. This book does that beautifully, filling in gaps slowly until the climactic ending when the main story line is revealed. However, there are lots of little tidbits and reveals all throughout the novel, not just at the end. This kept me turning pages and kept me interested in what would happen next.

I also loved the childhood part of the book. The parts that take place in 1986 have the main character, Eddie, as a 12-year-old boy, trying to understand the very adult things that are going on around him, including a murder. His band of buddies reminded me a bit of the kids in IT, riding their bikes around town and just hanging out, getting into all kinds of trouble. I think that was my favorite part about the book, really. I love those relationships and the character development that comes from that time of a child's life.

This novel was crafted extremely well, with tons of different threads for the author to keep up with. However, Tudor does it perfectly, giving the reader just enough to keep reading and stay intrigued. Even to the very end, questions were still being asked and answered, little pieces of the puzzle that could have fallen by the wayside.

I definitely recommend this book!

Man, what a BOOK!!! I just loved this riveting and suspenseful thriller!😍 This story untold by alternating from the 80s to the present and I loved that aspect of this book. I picked this book up because I have always been intrigued by cold cases and I was so glad I received this through NetGalley!
This is a fantastic read that had me on the edge of my seat. From the first chapter you are sucked in with some crazy intensity and the plot continues to hold you throughout. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming especially the ending TWIST! WOW! The characterisation was great all around. I can't sing enough praise for this fast paced and intense thriller! Highly recommended!

This was an excellent book that had me guessing throughout. At one point, maybe twice, I had reason to point a finger at all the boys involved in the book. I just kept going back and forth. It was crazy!

The author did a great job including into this book, suspense; intrigue; much creepiness with a huge thrill factor. It reminded me of "Stand by Me" (the movie) where adolescent boys are trying to grow up and be boys when a murder rocks their town.

Utterly mesmerizing and unputdownable!

Thanks to Crown Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I was super excited to read The Chalk Man. I had seen lot of the hype about it and it made my most anticipated list of 2018. It's been a while since I have found a good thriller/horror novel that freaks me out. This book waffles between the past when the main characters are kids and the present when is seems that the Chalk Man has come back.

So, did I love it? Sadly, no...I liked it, I just didn't love it. Don't get me wrong. For a debut novel, I found it well written and well thought out. I liked that I didn't call all of the twists so I was surprised in the end. As a mystery, it was pretty enjoyable. If not a bit slow at times. I liked the main character, Eddie and the flashbacks to the kids' childhoods was most enjoyable. However, I felt a bit deceived. I was expecting a psychological thriller that would "keep me up at night". It just never lived up to that expectation. I think if you go into it knowing it's a just mystery you will be fine. I am interested in trying out this author again in the future.

Wow. This book! I haven't stayed up till 6am to devour a book in a really long time. Absolutely loved the 80's nostalgia. It was like Stranger Things meets Stephen King's IT. I consider myself to be very good at solving the whodunnit aspect, but this one had me constantly guessing. A truly amazing read and will be added to my best reads of 2018 list!