If you’re at all involved in the book world, especially on social media, I’m sure you haven’t missed the buzz surrounding The Chalk Man. It’s been on my radar for months and after reading it, I can definitely say that I believe the hype and am in awe of Tudor, how is this a debut?! This had that perfect blend of rich characterization, a riveting storyline and enough creepiness to make my blood run cold.

When dual timelines are well done there is something magical that happens for me, a read becomes captivating and Tudor hit that sweet spot for me. Most of the chapters ended on some sort of cliffhanger, then there was an immediate timeline switch which added an unbelievable amount of suspense, it had me on the edge of my seat.

This was so deftly plotted that there was no way I could predict what would happen next and that ending?! MIND BLOWN. I can see why it’s dividing readers but it worked SO well for me, it couldn’t have been more freaky and menacing. Part coming of age, part old school mystery I cannot recommend this one more!

The Chalk Man in three words: Complex, Sinister and Exceptional.

Spanning thirty years between 1986 and 2016 THE CHALK MAN follows the lives of Eddie Adams and his three friends from age twelve into their 40’s as they navigate life in the quiet English village of Anderbury. Narrated by Eddie, the story moves back and forth in time as Eddie recollects his life both then and now and the various individuals who played decisive rolls in both.

Replete with unusual characters, not the least of which are a sadistic bully, an albino teacher named Mr. Halloran who takes Eddie under his wing, and the Rev. Martin a religious zealot whose motives are questionable. Then there are Eddie’s friends Fat Gav, Hoppo and Metal Mickey, and Nicky the girl young Eddie is “crushing” on. The story is liberally peppered with malicious pranks, a murder or two and the chalk figures that haunt Eddie’s life. You can feel the anguish and confusion of young Eddie as he goes through a varied assortment of tragic events.

While the Eddie character is engaging if a little idiosyncratic, his horrific dreams make the reader wonder what untold secrets lie beneath the surface plaguing him both as an adolescent and an adult. Author C.J. Tudor has presented a plethora of eccentric and distinctive individuals from those mentioned above to Chloe, the curious and unusual young woman lodger who shares the adult Eddie’s home.

Tudor has written a novel filled with situations and secrets that confound and bemuse while masterfully drawing the reader into the ubiquitous twists and turns that leave one unable to put the book down…..even if you wanted to.

Book Review: The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
(Crown Publishing; Publication: January 9, 2018)

2016: Ed Adams (42) has lived in his money-pit Victorian home all his life in the small market town of Anderbury, England. Ed teaches at the Anderbury Academy, the same school he attended as a boy. He's single, doesn't have any children, and likes to drink. He recently has taken in a lodger, young Chloe (late 20s), but, other than that, his life remains static. Ed still sees friends from boyhood, Gavin ("Fat Gav") and David ("Hoppo") Hopkins. They were inseparable when they were kids, "meeting up most Saturdays." The group included Fat Gav's best friend "Metal Mickey" Cooper and a single girl, Nicky. (Ed was known as "Eddie Munster.") They liked going into the woods, riding their bicycles or meeting up at an old playground. Each one is slightly different from other children in town. Fat Gav's parents own The Bull, a local pub, and live in a new housing development. They're nouveau riche and garish. Hoppo's mother is single and a cleaner (his father left when he was a baby). Mickey has a brutish older brother Sean. Nicky is being raised by her single father, the local vicar Reverend Martin. And Ed's mother works as a doctor, and is bigger breadwinner than his father, a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers. The kids are all a bit odd.

"Thinking back, I guess one of the reasons our gang all hung out together was that none of our families was exactly 'normal.'"

During their six-week summer school holiday in the summer of 1986, the children are twelve and loving their time off. A new, odd-looking teacher has moved to town. In July a fair comes to the village. Fat Gav's parents throw him a big barbecue in August to celebrate his twelfth birthday. While in the woods building a den, the group is attacked by others. There are other, adult matters, some very ugly and dark, as well as menacing events happening in Anderbury that summer. The adult Ed spends much of the novel trying to recall and make sense of details from the past in order to prevent yet more threats in the present--and to solve a murder.

The Chalk Man clearly draws inspiration from Stephen King's work, such as the novella The Body (the basis for the film Stand By Me) and Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling (the basis for the film Hearts in Atlantis), Stephen Spielberg films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Super 8), and from the television show Stranger Things (which is, itself, inspired by King and Spielberg and the 1980's). The novel explores the scary parts of childhood, and how children experience of the world uniquely. Children see and hear things they "shouldn't," and they recognize older people for who and what they are--even if other adults don't listen or believe them. Kids also have a lot of anxiety for they know if there are problems at home, that they have to deal with bullies, and that they come face-to-face real actual evil, no matter how much parents attempt to keep them safe.



While this novel certainly pays homage to the two great Stephen's, C.J. Tudor's debut is its own phenomenon. Her first-person narrator, Ed Adams, is quite the philosopher, both as a child and as an adult. He allows the reader to reflect on how our childhood may define the rest of our lives. He's as unreliable as the other characters, so there is no one whom we truly can trust to be telling the true version. The plot has hair-pin turns, both in the past and the present, and the reader has barely recovered when something new is revealed. Tudor is a highly skilled storyteller, and her plot, narrative, pacing and characters are carefully, perfectly constructed. The Chalk Man offers readers the chance to go on a terrifying thriller ride. This reviewer is not going give any spoilers, only advice: take the ride!



Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read a digital version of this novel through NetGalley.

"There are some things in life you can alter -- your weight, your appearance, even
your name -- but there are others that wishing and trying and working hard can
never make any difference to. those thingsa re the ones that shape us.
Not the things we can change, but the ones we can't."



It's 1986 and Eddie, Fat Gav, Metal Mickey, Hoppo, and Nicky are reveling in summer nights, creating and embracing childhood memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, not all of these childhood memories will evolve into fond recollections. This lively crew of young friends creates an innocent 'code' using chalk on their driveways to communicate. A code that is eventually adopted by an unknown artist in order to lead the children to body--A dismembered body at the end of a trail lined by stick men drawn in chalk.

Thirty years later, Eddie and his friends receive envelopes--each containing a single drawing of a chalk man and a single stick of chalk. Some of the men believe it to be a prank. Some believe it to be motivated by attempts to stir up media attention. However, when one of their original group turns up dead, they know there is something more ominous looming over them all.

Filled with mystery, gut-wrenching fear, wrong-doings, truths left untold--The Chalk Man takes readers on parallel journeys along two separate timelines that ebb and flow into the depths of a sea of sinister secrets.



First off... The epilogue of this novel is phenomenal. And then the first chapter gob-smacks you with shocking events... and then the second chapter follows suit. The Chalk Man is unapologetically relentless in its ability to produce shock-and-awe scenes that rattle you to your core.

"If our world was a snow globe, it was the day some casual god came along, shook
it hard and set it back down again. Even when the foam and flakes had settled,
things weren't the way they were before. Not exactly. They might have looked
the same through the glass but, on the inside, everything was different."

I was so engrossed in this novel and could not put it down.. My husband actually read the title before me, so after each reading session I had, we would engage in intense conversations about the events that were unfolding before me. This is good readin' folks. 

This story is obviously told in a dual point of view-- Eddie when he is a child in the 80's and Eddie when he is an adult, living in a small home he shares with a house-mate (renter). C.J. Tutor snakes little tidbits of shocking information into each shift in point of view at every turn of the corner, leaving readers on the edge of their seat and satisfyingly clueless--not only to what is going to happen, but also to what has already happened.

The characters in 80's timeline are so enjoyable. These kids are full of personality, have given one another fun nicknames, and frankly came across in my mind as 'the gang' from Stranger Things. I don't know if it was the 80's overtones or the fact that the group was all boys (plus one tough girl)--but I could not help myself.. I pictured them as Will, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and (the new addition) Mad Max.



And not only was the story line super enticing, but there were so many interesting themes and discussion points that could be pulled out of this novel. I am a teacher, so my mind automatically is drawn to pieces of a story that could be fleshed out, pulled apart, and inspected under a microscope of conversational analysis. That's just the reader I am. Here are a few thoughts that loomed over my reading of this novel:

Religion vs. Morals 
Eddies parents exist on the pages of this novel in a form that I could only interpret as being atheist or agnostic. They do not outright say this, which I think is important to the arguments that they make with their inspirational comments to their son. This novel really tests the waters of what really makes you a "good person". Does religion and spirituality ultimately ground people on to a foundation of "goodness"? Or is there something much more simple and pure that goes into the makings of the human soul and its capabilities to do good in the world?

"'No, Eddie. I don't think how you act in this life makes any difference after you die.
Good or bad. But it does make a big difference while you're alive.
To other people. That's why you should always try to treat them well.'"



Actions vs. Consequences
So many of our lovely characters in this novel have secrets that they have hidden far into the depths of their pasts. Most of these secrets have to do with small actions--the insignificant decisions that we make in the "heat of the moment"-- that can have unexpected, undesired, and unbelievable consequences. Just wait until you see some of the pebbles these characters drop into a pond and how those ripples effect so many around them.

Protesters (Current Events)
You learn very early on that young Eddie's mother is a doctor and through quick inferencing skills, you realize that she is a doctor who is administering abortions to women. I never got the sense of the author's personal or political opinions casting a shadow over the novel's events at all--but through the actions of those around Eddie's family, you begin to see some of the same controversial issues and debates that we currently see in our society. There are protesters who are particularly violent, nasty, and insensitive to the humanity that exists within Eddie's own home and you see another relevant theme of 'those screaming for love while simultaneously casting it down with hate' fills the pages.

Mental Illness
This one hit close to home. Not only do I myself, as well as many family members, battle with this on a daily basis--but it's also a cause that I have dedicated my life to. I am a special educator, but my heart lies in the specialization of working with adolescents with emotional behavioral disorders. You will read this novel and be able to pick out many individuals who are struggling with the effects that mental illness has placed upon their lives. And you will also read thought provoking lines that will make you reach down into the depths of your soul and ponder the importance of what you just read. "'There's so much we don't understand about mental illness. But there are still people inside there. Whatever might have happened to this' -- she taps her head -- 'the heart remains the same.'"



**One trigger warning (that I also believe is another great conversational event): There is a sexual assault that occurs in the novel between two young boys--an older boy who is engaging in bullying behaviors, and a younger boy who is at the mercy of his cruel behavior. This scene shook me and required me to step back from the book for a minute to process what had just taken place. I was fuming--so angry and feeling like justice was not provided to that child that was assaulted. But guys... this was such a shining light on current, real issues, no matter how much we want to advert our eyes and attention from them. Most sexual assault scenes in pop culture and literature take place between a man and a woman--typically with the man doing the assaulting actions. However, the statistics do not match what we see portrayed on the pages or screens of our entertainment. Also, as an educator, I receive yearly training on recognizing the signs of sexual abuse in children and a child's abuser is more times than none a family member or someone close to them, and often times is an older sibling, relative, or friend of the family. This scene was raw and all too real for many young people in our society.

You can find more information on statistics of sexual assault in children and what to
do if you suspect a child is being abused in this manner here: Darkness to Light (PDF)





If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers.. I cannot recommend this novel enough. This was such a different read in comparison to other titles I have read recently and I talked about this story line for days.

*I received an advanced reading (digital) copy of this novel through the author and publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my review and all opinions portrayed here are my own. 

**I also purchased a hardback copy of this book on my own through the Book of the Month Club subscription.

Thank you NetGalley for this copy of The Chalk Man by C J Tudor. This book reminded me of King's Stand by Me. A coming of age story of young boys that travels forward and back from their childhood and adulthood. It was so interesting how the story was interwoven between the two time periods and then lead to the twisty ending. I found this book to be a thrill ride from beginning to end.

I found this to be an enjoyable psychological suspense novel. I liked the dual timeline, especially the feel of the one from the 1980s. I read a lot of suspense novels and usually speed through and then quickly forget them. To me, there was nothing outstanding about this one, just an overall enjoyable read.

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor was a good mystery that flowed well and kept me turning the pages, curious what would happen next. I read this quickly thanks to the authors writing style. I like how the reader can draw their own conclusions about the people in the story, never quite sure who is to blame for the mysterious death of a young girl until the very end. And even then, you are left wondering.

Awesome book!

Here is what you need to know:



In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.
In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he’s put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.
That’s when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.

Expertly alternating between flashbacks and the present day, The Chalk Man is the very best kind of suspense novel, one where every character is wonderfully fleshed out and compelling, where every mystery has a satisfying payoff, and where the twists will shock even the savviest reader.

I'm halfway into it and I'm finding it slow. I find myself putting it down more than being motivated to read it. Maybe the second half picks up?

So I'm sure I'm going to have one of the more unpopular opinions about "The Chalk Man" and maybe because I just expected to love it so darn much. I mean, the whole world is raving about it. I'm classifying it as a book suffering from what I now deem "Overhyped Effect or OE for short" (See also my reviews on Final Girls and Little Heaven). In fact. my rating is teetering closer to 2.5 than 3 but since Goodreads refuses to allow us those opinions, I'll round up.

"The Chalk Man" is told in dual timelines of 1986 and 2016 which is actually one of the aspects about the book I really loved. Eddie is the MC and narrator and he lives in a small town with his group of friends - Nicky (the only female), Metal Mickey, Hoppo and Fat Gav. They are spending their summer as most 12 year olds would attending local fairs and looking for dead bodies in the woods, but quickly their summer becomes consumed the "The Chalk Man." Sound familiar? I couldn't get "IT" out of my head, except these kids are unlikable. All of them. And Eddie was possibly the creepiest of them all because people didn't seem to think he was a creep.

Flash forward to 2016 and the gang all receive a mysterious letter with a chalk man and they start to realize the summer of 1986 was not what they originally thought. Suddenly one of Eddie's friends ends up dead and Eddie starts to a new investigation into the murder of 1986. But will what he finds really surprise him?

I did like a few things about this book. I think it's a fairly strong debut. I mean, it must be, because tons of other people are raving about it. And I found it an easy enough read and didn't mind picking it up. Overall it was entertaining enough. Yet when I can't connect to any of the characters, I tend to find a book less enjoyable and that is probably why I was so disappointed with "The Chalk Man." I mean, come on, give me ONE character to root for.

Oh I forgot, there was one, Murphy, the dog. And SPOILER ALERT/TRIGGER WARNING - Murphy dies. Another strike for "The Chalk Man."

Please don't let my review alter your opinion on picking up this book. Lots of bloggers who I admire and trust have loved it. It just wasn't a book for me and the Murphy situation was the icing on the cake. I will keep an eye open for any future works by Tudor because there is quite an imagination there and I am curious about where she might lead us down the road.

I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

the chalk man is a twisty mystery that spans thirty years in the lives of five friends. the author handles the switches between the past (1986) and the present (2016) deftly, with seamless transitions between the two. it's not easy to sustain that kind of storytelling over the course of an entire novel, but cj tudor does it quite well. opening the novel with a brutal find in a forest, tudor manages to keep that level of tension throughout the story while leading you everywhere but the direction of the truth until the absolute end.

This is one creepy book. It was well written and just had a nice creep factor that kept one reading. Really enjoyed the book.

This book was a lot less scary/gorey than I expected and that's ok! It was a mix of It, The Keepers (Netflix series), and there was one more that I kept saying but have since forgot, ugh! Maybe it'll come back to me. I loved the back and forth time frame and this book took a totally different turn than I expected. But to be spoil free I can't go there ahh! Just read this. And know its about an old murder and new creepy things happening but it's not exactly fast-paced. It's more like a slow-moving mystery in the best way.

12/28 4.5/5
12/27 60% done and really enjoying this throwback feel. A lot of the writing from the past is bringing me back to my childhood neighborhood memories. We lived in the country and had to get a bit creative with things. We, of course, had our bullies as well and the dynamic of friendship feels very similar (I was one of the only girls, and once my friend moved away...I was the only girl).

Two quotes I've really enjoyed thus far

"None of it was true, but rumors are like germs. They spread and multiply almost in a breath and, before you know it, everyone is contaminated."

"A feeling of withering and dying seemed to pervade everything. Nothing felt fresh or colorful or innocent anymore. Like the whole town had been temporarily suspended in its own dusty time capsule."

What a treat this read a well-written, creepy thriller. This totally reminded me of the old Stephen King books--an innocent boy's game of chalk drawings become sinister signs of murder. Well-drawn characters, a well-thought out plot with plenty of surprising twists, and just enough info each chapter to keep you reading on. Great book!

4.0 - thrilled to finally see an "unreliable" *male* narrator; fantastic page-turner without too many unnecessary characters

Eddie Adams, known as "Eddie Munster" when he was a child, had four neighborhood friends: Gavin aka "Fat Gav," Mickey aka "Metal Mickey" (as a result of braces), David "Hoppo" Hopkins, and Nicky Martin. Eddie's mother was a doctor and provided abortions, just as controversial in 1986 as it is today, and his father was a freelance writer. Gavin's father owned the local pub and his mother was an Avon lady. Mickey's parents were considered ordinary working parents. David's mother worked as a cleaner and his father was not in the picture. Nicky's father was the local vicar and led the crusade against the local abortion clinic and her mother was reportedly deceased. The story briefly begins with these young friends finding the gruesome remains of a decapitated and mutilated body in the woods. From there we witness Eddie and one of the local school teachers, Mr. Halloran, provide critical medical assistance to a young girl when tragedy strikes at a local fair, a ride flies apart and a girl is seriously injured. After that bonding experience, Eddie learns that Mr. Halloran is a gifted artist and used chalk with his friends to leave secret messages with his own childhood friends. Eddie and his friends begin to use chalk, with each friend using a different color, to leave messages for one another. The chalk messages fade into obscurity when more tragedy strikes, Mickey's older brother drowns, Hoppo's dog dies, the mutilated and dismembered body is found in the forest, and Nicky's father is brutally attacked. Thirty years later, Eddie is still leaving in his childhood home and only Fat Gav and Hoppo are still around. Nicky left town with her biological mother (surprise, not dead) after her father's attack. Mickey is now a big ad executive and lives in the city (presumably a major city, like London). Then chalk messages begin to reappear, Mickey returns to town and tells Eddie he knows the identity of the killer from 1986, and then Mickey turns up dead. It was bad enough when Eddie began to "see" the ghosts of Mickey's dead brother and his teacher-friend, Mr. Halloran, as a child but now he's seeing them again along with chalk messages. What do the messages mean? Is it possible Eddie's next in line to die? If so, why and can he figure out the messages in time to stop the killer?

I initially had difficulties getting into The Chalk Man because I felt the pace was moving a bit slow, but then about halfway through the book it began to pick up and I was entranced. Ms. Tudor had to provide all of the backstory in order for the contemporary story to work and the backstory took time to reveal. Trust me, it's worth the time. Some people have difficulty with stories than vacillate between two timelines. I actually enjoyed getting bits of the story from 1986 and then bits from 2016. I thought I had the story figured out, then it took a nice twist (no, I won't reveal the twist...read the book!). There's a lot of action in this story with the coming-of-age angst of Eddie and his friends compounded by the deaths of a sibling of one friend, the death of a school teacher, and them finding a dismembered body in the 1986 storyline. In the 2016 storyline, there's the return of a childhood friend and his subsequent death, secrets revealed from 1986, possible hallucinations, and more. There are a few minor characters with major impact in this story and that threw me (hint: when reading this story, don't try to figure out whodunit). The Chalk Man is a psychological suspense that provides a boogie man that haunts both the children and adults in the story. The primary character, Eddie is deeply flawed and his flaws seem to take over the story at a time. Told you, there's a lot happening in this book. If you enjoy reading suspense with unexpected twists and turns, then I strongly encourage you to grab a copy of The Chalk Man to read. If you're simply seeking something radically different to read, then I urge you to go out and grab a copy of The Chalk Man to read. (FYI: I suggest that you throw out all pieces of chalk in your home before reading this story.) I enjoyed reading The Chalk Man and look forward to reading more from Ms. Tudor in the future.

This was my first time to pick up a C.J. Tudor novel, and I'm glad I did! The debut novel by this English author, who has quite a colorful biography, has set the bar high in the thrill and mystery factor. Too often a mystery novel is predictable. The plot line is easy to determine, and you know who did it long before you get to the end. Not so with "The Chalk Man." The story about a group of boys and a girl, the passage of time and a handful of chalk had me guessing until the last two or three pages. To tell more might give away the secrets that unfold, often against the characters' wishes, and the consequences of those untold tales.

This was a gripping read. There was so many twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, that you don't want to put the book down because you have to know what's really going on. It such a roller coaster ride that once it's finished, that everything around you feels like it is dull and boring! Great characters, great atmosphere and a real pleasure to read. I can not wait to read the authors next book!

I've been on a mystery/thriller kick lately, so The Chalk Man was right up my alley and it was such a great start to my 2018 reading year.

The story is told with flashbacks - every other chapter is the present and alternates with the past. I enjoyed the way the story was unfolding while switching back and forth. You had glimpses of what happened to Eddie and his friends when they were young all while trying to solve the mystery that has eluded everyone for almost 30 years.

Eddie and his band of misfit friends have the most interesting summer of their lives when an accident happens at the fair, a boy drowns in the river, chalk drawings appear everywhere and a young girl's body is found in the woods. There are quite a few people that instantly make the suspect list, but some seemed too easy to blame and others too far fetched. I loved that you unraveled a little bit here and there while the story flashes back and forth.

At times, I wasn't sure who the murderer would be and who caused some of the other bad things to happen. I wondered if it was the same person, a set of people or completely unrelated. The story really had me thinking and guessing and I love when a book can do that. Many books tend to be easy to figure out, but The Chalk Man really got me. I was constantly changing my mind on what happened and making guesses on what would happen next. You'll have to read for yourself to see if everything was linked, how it all fit together and who actually was the bad guy/guys this time around. I thought it was completely wrapped up at the end, but that last little chapter changed everything!

Who knew a story could evolve from a bucket of chalk? Inspiration can come from the most random of places and I am so glad this one was written. The use of the chalk drawings added an extra creepy element to the story and each time they appeared either past or present I became anxious to know who was drawing them and why.

"NEVER ASSUME. QUESTION EVERYTHING. ALWAYS LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS."

This book feels almost like two experiences to me: one was exciting to read, leading me to want to read the next chapter quickly; the other seemed overwhelming with details, possible suspects and scenarios, just too much happening. While I initially enjoyed the plot and pacing, with the alternating time periods of 1986 and 2016, by the end, I was worn out.

The narrator, Ed/Eddie (2016/1986) introduces us to the story and to the main characters: his group of friends, his family, the school and some townspeople who will figure prominently in future events. He and his friends are 12, about to turn 13, and noticing girls now. There are a series of startling events that happen over the course of many months, summer through winter, that effect, Eddie and all of his friends and, ultimately all of the town. There are injuries. There is death. And who is to blame?

In the alternating chapters, thirty years later, Ed is a teacher, self-effacing, lonely and seemingly a bit lost in the world. He takes in lodgers in his home to make ends meet. He is a bit eccentric too. There are shadows drawn over the past, unanswered questions about past events. How he fits into the puzzle really is unclear since we see only through his eyes. Two of his friends still live in the town and they all remain on friendly terms.

I am purposefully being vague and circumspect in avoiding details about the events involved in this book as any more information would, I believe, give away excessive plot should you wish to read the book. The book's description tells of the basic event, the chalk man drawings leading to the dismembered body. But there is much more happening in both time periods.

My enthusiasm began to slacken just over half way through the book as the list of various possible suspects grew as well as the list of crimes, and as Ed/Eddie's strange role in parts of the story played out. I think it simply became, for me, too much...of suspects, of possible crimes, of shifts in time, of complex and often strange personalities. I became tired of bending with the changes. Yes these changes were possible and conclusions were proven within the story, but almost too smoothly after so much had happened.

In the end, I can't unreservedly recommend this book. The first half may keep your attention glued to the page, but your mind and patience may wander before the book ends (or possibly you may enjoy it more than I did).

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive"
-Sir Walter Scott

The Chalk Man is one of those books where for a few pages you think so-and-so did it, then you switch and start giving the evil eye to another character only to change again a chapter later. I like those and need them because I need the reminder that I'm not so freaking smart and people can still surprise me, writers and characters that I think I've grown to know.

Told mostly by 42-year-old Ed, both dealing with a semi-unfulfilling life today and looking back to his growing up with childhood friends, "Fat Gav", "Metal Mickey", & "Hoppo", he's suddenly questioning everything he thought he knew then about a murder that happened when there were twelve.

It all startled with a rather inappropriate 12th birthday gift from a new and slightly weird teacher, Mr. Halloran, a big jug of chalk. At first, the boys think they are too mature to play with chalk, but they soon figure out it's a great way to send secret messages to the gang. Each person uses a different color to leave each other chalk man messages to tell each other where to meet up and different signs mean soon, emergency, etc. It's actually a great way for them to keep things to themselves, that boys, even tweens, love until it one of the boys obviously has spilled the secret because other chalk men start showing up with false messages or in completely inappropriate places and often with sinister messages.

Before that summer is over, one of the older brothers of the boys is drowned trying to rescue his prized bike that someone has thrown into the river, the reverend is beaten to a pulp, basically catatonic with chalk men drawn everywhere in the church, a young girl is horribly mutilated in an accident at a fair only to be later found in the woods chopped into various pieces, a teacher is fired and later found in his bath after committing suicide. And there is so much more, which is why the line from Walter Scott came into my head, again and again.

Ed's a teacher that has always had a compulsion to collect things and has had to help his mom nurse his dad until he died from early onset Alzheimer's. He still lives in his parent's old house with a young lodger when his mother moves on. Fat Gav is in a wheelchair and runs the only pub left in town after his dad scarpers for better weather and a new bar on the continent. Hoppo is the sort of quiet sidekick that also lives with his mom and after drilling my brain pan, I still can't remember what he does if anything for a living, it's quiet and unimposing though. Metal Mickey has moved out and up in advertising or something.

Under the day-to-day, there still runs the questions of what really happened thirty years ago. Ed has never thought that the teacher that committed suicide committed the horrific murder, and yet, he had an unplanned and unintentional hand in the police pinning it on him after his death. It's safe to say that he feels major guilt for that, since 1. He doesn't think he did it and 2. The teacher saved his bacon once and all though he has never told a soul, he doesn't think that man could also be a murder that cuts a girl into pieces and hides them in the woods and 3. Ed knew that Halloran really loved her and had plans to move away with her soon. On the other hand, how can he suspect any of his friends or other trusted adults?

What's worse, the friends start getting chalk drawings stuffed through their letterbox and "Metal Mikey", now minus the metal of braces, comes back and wants Ed's help to write a book about the case only to fall into the river and drown like his brother so many years ago.

There are some awesome life...truisms scattered throughout that book that I found insightful and very true with experience.

"We think we want answers. But what we really want are the right answers. Human nature. We ask questions that we hope will give us the truth we want to hear. The problem is, you can't choose your truths. Truth has a habit of simply being true. The only real choice you have is whether to believe it or not."

"Being an adult is only an illusion. When it comes down to it I'm not sure any of us ever grow up. We simply grow taller and harrier. Sometimes, I still feel amazed that I am allowed to drive a car, or that I have not been found out for drinking in the pub.

Beneath the veneer of adulthood, beneath the layers of experience, we accrue as the years march stoically onwards, we are all still children, with scraped knees and snotty noses, who need our parents...and our friends."

There are really two finales to this book and both are absolutely shocking. They will warp and wend what you think you know and what you saw coming. That is the ultimate point to a thriller and Tudor nailed it!