Five kids In small town America. Hoppo, Fat Gav, Mickey, Nicky, and the narrator of this story, Eddie. Not quite teenagers yet, they are a tight group. Drawing chalk men with messages in their own colour, they have their own code to communicate to each other.
And then that one day in the woods altered everything. And then nothing is the same anymore and some of the group draws away and forever changed.
Now it is 2016 and something brings them all together. Someone knows something about one of the many mysteries from long ago and is trying to tell them something.
This is a great suspenseful thriller; full of mysteries and unanswered questions that will keep you reading until you turn that last page. It grabs your emotions and is really well written; so visual and descriptive you can see it all as you are reading and it definitely has the creep factor.
I would love to see this made into a movie.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be looking for more. 4 1/2 stars.
Thank You to net galley and for publisher for allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this book by sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Chalk Man is a gripping debut psychological thriller by C.J. Tudor.
This story is told from the perspective of Eddie Adams. Told with alternating chapters of two time periods; 1986 when Eddie is 12 years old and he and his friends discover the body of a teen girl in the woods and 2016 when as adults the mysteries they faced as kids come back to haunt them.
Reminiscent of Stephen King's writing, especially IT, Tudor has a proficient hand when dealing with childhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing Group for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and C. J. Tudor for allowing me to read and review The Chalk Man. I seem to be in the minority, but this book just didn't interest me. I had a hard time starting it, wasn't wowed by the first few chapters, and had to force myself to power through. Maybe I have suspense burn out, but it felt overhyped. The writing is solid. 2/5

The Chalk Man begins with quite a gruesome prologue. A body is discovered in the woods but the head is missing. The novel flips between the years 1986 and 2016. It is in 1986 that the murder takes place and the last summer when Eddie and his friends hang out as a group. Twenty years later Eddie now a teacher is still seeking answers to the murder..
The Chalk Man was well plotted and provided satisfactory and plausible answers to the mystery.
I liked the characters and the pace of the story. The novel was easy to read and kept you engaged to the end.
Great debut. Looking forward to C.J. Tudor’s next book.

he Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor is psychological suspense at its best!

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Penguin Random House Canada, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! This book had me from the first page. Although it seems to have incorporated a few of Stephen King’s ideas (sidewalk codes in chalk, the anticipation of seeing a dead body by a group of kids, even a Mr. Halloran) this book stands alone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In 1986, they were your normal gang of 12-year-olds, Eddie, Fat-Gav, Hoppo, Metal Mickey and Nicky. They all had parent issues, bully issues, normal kid issues, and a few extras.  They played in the park, in the woods, rode their bikes all over town, got into spats, got over them. For Eddie, our narrator, everything changed the day of the fair. This was the day that the Waltzer ride flew apart, taking half of a girls face with it, and almost her whole leg. This is also the day he met Mr. Halloran, the new English teacher at school. Eddie and Mr. Halloran became heroes that day, when they saved the girls’ life. Mr. Halloran became something of a friend as well. He was the one who suggested the chalk game, which the group used to leave coded messages for each other around town. But apparently there is someone else using chalk too, and that message leads to a dead body.

In 2016 at the age of 42, Ed, now a teacher, lives in the house he grew up in, has a new lodger, and drinks more than he should. His world breaks open when he receives a chalk drawing in the mail. Then he receives a visit from one of his old gang, who is in town to get Ed’s help on a project. Mickey wants to re-visit the past. He says he knows who killed the girl in the woods, and wants to write a book about it. Ed is about to find out that the past can truly come back to haunt you, and what you think you knew was wrong.

CJ Tudor created a great bunch of characters. Each of the 12-year-olds came from different backgrounds, with different issues at home, and their actions echoed this. Their unique personalities added to the enjoyment of the tale. Their 42-year-old selves also showed reflections of their past. The characters of Eddie’s Mom and Dad were probably the best, and the most heart-felt. Tudor created Reverend Martin to be the biggest bully of all, and Mr. Halloran to be an enigma. All the characters were deep. Tudor tackled some big issues in this book, from Dementia, to abuse, to bullying, to violence, to abortion, to murder, along with the smaller but important issues of friends, love and loyalty. The author managed to alternate between the two years, incorporating the past with the present, without it feeling like two separate books. Overall, the book was a little creepy at times, but not scary. The plot was great, with many twists and turns, and the ending a bit of a surprise.

Well done CJ Tudor! For a debut novel, you nailed it!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I DNF this book. I tried, but it just didn’t keep me interested. I probably read about 20% of it but I don’t even remember what I read.

Disappointing because the blurb made it sound really interesting and I saw a lot of 5 star reviews.

I really enjoyed the Chalk Man - Wheel-built characters and great plot.

If you're going to pick up only one mystery this year, this is the one! I haven't had to read with the lights on in years but this intricately woven psychological thriller had me jumping at noises and looking over my shoulder. It has inklings of King's Stand By Me, for sure, but it stands on its own as a compelling and expertly crafted novel. To give away too much of the plot would spoil this one so I won't say too much other than: you'll never look at chalk drawings the same way again! If this is the author's debut novel, I simply can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve.

This is the type of book where you sit down and start to reading and don't put it down until you are done . This book is sent in a small town in England but I will tell you this isn't a sweet cozy mystery . This book bounces between 1986 and 2016 following a group of kids and the aftermath of murder in a small town .  Eddie and the gang are hanging out in a small town in England . They have a secret code of chalk man to let them know where to meet and so on . But things aren't so rosy they have their enemies and their bullies . Oh and the creepy new teacher that seems to be showing up wherever they are . Now bounce ahead to 2016 Eddie is all grown up and teaching in a small school. Thinking life is pretty good until the day a letter comes for him with the drawing of a chalk man . His friends have the same letter all thinking its a joke until one of them dies .  Will Eddie be able to figure everything out and save his own life 
    The characters in this book are very well written and complex . Eddie is actually a pretty screwed up he has a lot of insecurities .  His buddies are a mixture of the big funny guy and the loner . They kind of remind of the goonies with a darker twist . The creepy teacher is well just creepy . He is one weird dude . The cast of characters are well written and you will fall in love with them and also hate some of them at the same time . 
      This is a well written book that will keep you on the edge of your seat . Over all I really enjoyed reading but there were times when I felt that it dragged just a little . Especially in the 1986 part of the story. It just seemed to lag a little bit . Overall this book had me on the edge of my seat and the twist at the end had me going WTH  never saw that coming . So if you want a book that will give you a bookhangover and have you going never saw that coming . Check out CHALK MAN you won't be disappointed .

‘’Never assume, Eddie. Question everything. always look beyond the obvious.’’

This book is perfect for fans of Stephen King. Think murder mixed with paranormal, and you have it. It’s brilliant!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Full review here at Murder in Common:
https://murderincommon.com/2018/01/07/c-j-tudor-the-chalk-man/

This book was a page turner ! I wanted to know more and more and more! It was a great ending, with a bit of a traumatic twist in there. The story in the book takes place in the past and in the present, I love books that are told that way, I feel like there is a better chance to have many plot twists in a story. Which there was a lot of. As much as it was a great read, it just wasn't a 5 star read for me. I did anticipate a part of that ending so I think I wasn't that blown away, but the story kept me on my toes and wanting more. Great book !

Lots of intrigue in this book . Spans the growing up to adult lives of five friends and their respective families . Also other characters such as the school teacher , Elisa, Hannah , Chloe add to the mystery of this book that has a surprise ending. Some humour . Great insight on the mindset of youngsters growing up and challenges experienced when bad things happen. Author is able to create an atmospheric thriller. Great read.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, C. J. Tudor, and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After being hooked my the premise of this book and noticing the extensive ARC review activity this novel received, I was drawn in to see if Tudor’s book met the hype. Eddie Adams lives what might be a typical twelve year-old life, with a number of friends who have taken it upon themselves to explore the world around them. During the summer of 1986, they attend a local fair and Eddie is witness to a horrible accident, where he meets a man who will soon become a teacher at their school, Mr. Halloran. For the rest of the summer, Eddie and his friends begin using a new form of communication, leaving messages in coloured chalk. There also seems to be someone who wants to up the ante and draws random chalk figures around town. When a number of other tragedies occur, there is always a chalk man left at the scene, or appearing soon thereafter, leaving Eddie to wonder who might be behind all this. Fast forwarding to 2016, Ed is now a grown man and have become a teacher himself. When one of his friends approaches him to write a book about the summer of ‘86, the memories begin to flood back. Threads left dangling are soon tied off as Ed is able to process some of the activities and seeks to better understand who might have been The Chalk Man. Forced to deal with his past and how the filter of adulthood synthesises events, Ed Adams comes to terms with what has happened, while finding new mysteries to leave him feeling ill at ease. Tudor does a decent job here to entice readers with the alternating chapters from 1986 and 2016, telling a dual narrative that meld together at the most opportune times. Those who like a mix of flashbacks and current day may enjoy this piece, though it did not leave me as spine-tingled as I might have suspected, based on the dust cover summary. That being said, what a great ending!

This being C.J. Tudor’s debut novel, I had little but the aforementioned hype to base my opinion on her work. Tudor has laid the groundwork for something sensational here and has moments of brilliance in the form of a creepy aspect, though I somehow felt the story fell short of being as chilling as it seeks to be. The characters found throughout develop well, using both the current and backstory building blocks that are supported with the alternating timeline chapters. Eddie Adams finds himself in the middle of the action and his coming of age occurs throughout the narrative, complemented by a cast of differentiated friends, all of whom have their own quirks. The looming Mr. Halloran and Reverend Martin characters provide additional chill factors, though the potential for true fear in the form of The Chalk Man is left too diluted or on the wayside. That is not to say the story is poor, for it definitely has some strong aspects and Tudor does her best to draw the reader in, if only to see how that summer shaped Eddie for the long-haul. Additionally, the narrative keeps the reader bouncing around, filling in gaps as the plot thickens. Mysteries left dangling find their resolution and new ones emerge, which keeps the reader on track with enjoying the book to the finish. I suppose I got caught up in the hype and the buzz of Goodreads tossing out so many stellar reviews that I feel slightly deflated. What I sought was a bone-chilling novel to keep me up well into the night. I received a decent story that develops well, though lacks the eerie quality that might have been present, given time and some slight changes to the plot’s path.

Kudos, Madam Tudor, for a great novel. Your debut piece shows me that there is potential there and I will certainly tackle another of your books, when you write your next novel.

3.5 stars. Anticipation is not always a friend. I liked The Chalk Man, but it didn't knock my socks off in the way it did for some of my GR friends. Narrated by Eddy, the story focuses on a series of events leading to the murder of a girl in 1986, and how the murder comes back to the fore in 2016. Eddy was 12 years old when the murder happened and when he and three friends found the girl. Tudor has created good characters, a dark atmosphere and lots of threads that lead in different directions. Through his characters, he does a good job of taking on some tough topics like the religious abuse, abortion, Alzheimer's and bullying. Entertaining and very readable, but I suspect this one won't leave a lasting impression on me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

In 1986, Eddie and his friends Fat Gav, Hoppo, Metal Mickey and Nicky are on the verge of adolescence. They hang out together in their small town, deal with the bullying from Mickey's older brother, and send each other coded messages in coloured chalk. Until one day, the chalk symbols lead them to a dismembered body and leave them with memories they can never forget. As they grow older, the gang slowly drifts apart, and an incident in college leads to a drastic break in their friendship. Fast forward to 2016 and Eddie is still living in the same small town as a teacher, when he receives an email from Mickey, wanting to reconnect about the dead body they found. Long-buried secrets are dredged up, and various bits of truth about that day are slowly unearthed.

The Chalk Man is a taut, atmospheric thriller that I devoured in a single sitting. Part of it was that I really wanted to find out what had happened that day in 1986, but more than that, I found myself drawn to the characters Tudor created, and to their lives. The story switches back and forth between the past and the present, and I love the juxtaposition that shows how much the characters have changed in the interim. The Chalk Man reminded me somewhat of Stranger Things, Riverdale, and maybe some of Stephen King's books -- the 1986 scenes had a similar sense of nostalgia and an idyllic environment tinged with foreboding. 

Tudor does such a great job with the 1986 scenes that the 2016 scenes paled slightly in comparison. There's still a sense of foreboding and the immediate mysterious threat of Eddie and all of his friends receiving a note in the mail with a stick figure sketched in chalk. One of the characters even gets murdered, which raises the question of who is after the gang now, and why they're being targeted. But it lacks the sense of place and time that made the 1986 scenes so strong. It was also kinda sad to see how the lives of Eddie and his friends turned out in adulthood, though to Tudor's credit, it felt all too real. And while part of me felt that the twists and reveals near the end were a bit much, it is also to Tudor's credit that, looking back at the rest of the story, I realize that they fit right in with who the characters were and how they acted.

I finished this book late at night, and would highly recommend to start reading it earlier in the day. It's a dark, creepy tale that'll draw you deep into Eddie's world, and definitely not the type of story you want to read in bed. The final chapter in particular is not the image you want to end the night with.

3.5/5 stars


The Chalk Man is a standalone suspense/thriller.

The narrator is Eddie (1st person POV). The book alternates timelines between 1986 (when he was 12 years old) and 2016 (when he is a 42 year old teacher). The story is set in the UK.

In 1986 Eddie had four best friends: Hoppo, Metal Mickey, Fat Gav, and Nicky (a girl). They used to draw little chalk figures as a way to communicate.

Now in 2016 Eddie is a teacher and lives in his childhood home. He gets a letter with a chalk figure.

I absolutely love suspense/thrillers. But The Chalk Man was just okay for me. The book definitely got much better towards the end (when everything came together). But the mystery was just okay. I found most of the characters to be quite unlikable. Also, I'm not a huge fan of going back and forth in time. I can definitely see why the author chose to tell the story this way. But neither timeline wowed me.

There were some things that were revealed towards the end that I found very fascinating. My favorite character was Chloe, a lodger who lived with Eddie in 2016. The very end was extremely creepy. Overall, this was definitely a different type of suspense book. And the last part of the book was strong.

After hearing so many great things about “The Chalk Man” I decided I had to read it. This book was very hyped up and I hoped I wasn’t expecting too much. I went into it with an open mind and hoped for the best. I am happy to say that I really enjoyed it.

The book has a rather morbid opening, a gruesome discovery in the woods. I was immediately intrigued.

1986 - Eddie and his friends always met up on Saturday but THIS Saturday was different …the FAIR was in town. The fair had always been special but this was even better because it was the first time they were allowed to go on their own. No parents or other adults with them --- in their words… “it was going to be Ace”

“I could already hear the thump, thump of the fairground music, and smell the burgers and candyfloss. Today was going to be perfect”

But what starts as a wonderful day at the fair…ends in tragedy. It was the last normal day for all of them. The terrible day at the fair showed Eddie just how fast life can change.

“I understood how things can change in an instant. All the stuff we take for granted can just be ripped away”

But there was even more horror to come…

Life goes on and everyone does their best to put that day behind them. But it’s always there in the back of Eddie’s mind. When one of Eddie’s friends receives a bucket of chalk for his birthday, the boys are far from impressed. However, they soon find a good use for the chalk. It’s a great way to leave private messages for each other. But then the chalk figures start appearing on their own…

2016 - Eddie (Ed) is now forty-two years old. He’s tried hard to put the past behind him. Then a letter arrives from an unknown sender. When Ed sees what is inside the envelope he hopes it’s a joke or a prank. But it soon becomes clear that it is not a joke. It seems the past doesn’t want to be left behind. For Ed to truly move on it means he somehow has to figure out what really happened all those years before.

So many secrets…

“Everyone has secrets, things they know they shouldn’t do but do anyway. Mine was……

NOPE! I am not going to finish that sentence. You’ll have to read the book if you want to find out.

­­­­­

I find it hard to believe that “The Chalk Man” is C.J. Tudor’s debut novel. She knows how to write a story that pulls the reader in. There was so much going on, alternating between 1986 and 2016, different story-lines almost. But everything comes together. Some parts were a bit gruesome for my taste but I found the rest of the story made up for it.

I thought that this was a well-written read with a unique story-line, compelling situations, and some great twists. I really wanted to find out how everything was going to come together but I had to stop myself from jumping ahead as I found I almost missed a few things that the author strategically slipped in here and there. There were a few things I wished I had answers for but overall, I thought it all came together well. And that ending? I NEVER saw it coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Now that the end of the year is quickly approaching (like really quickly…what in the world is happening??!! How is time moving this fast??!) I have been gearing up to read all of my most anticipated 2018 titles. One of the titles I had been most eagerly awaiting was the highly talked about, psychological suspense novel, The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor.   Now that I have finished this novel, I can understand why there has been so much buzz surrounding it. Fast-paced, completely compelling and bingeable, I sat down and read this book in an entire sitting #sorrynotsorry. From the core mystery to the intricately woven characters, I am calling this one of my favourites of 2018, already!

The novel is told in two alternating time periods in the life of our protagonist, Ed. In the present, the loner high school English teacher lives with a lodger and keeps to himself, but, in the past, Ed, known as Eddie back then, was a part of a gang of kids whose lives changed forever after a summer of chalk men and a dismembered body in the woods. As past and present collide, Ed must confront his past and through several twists and turns, the truth of what happened in 1986 will be revealed.

So, first thing is first, I am shocked that this book is a debut. HOW?? HOW?? I can not get over the perfectly fleshed out characters, the timing of the plot and the sheer genius of the prose. The plot is perfectly rolled out, building suspense and leading the reader to its perfect resolution.   There were no muddled bits or confusing characters; everything felt like it fit and were equally important. This is so rare in any book, let alone a thriller! What. A. Debut.

My favourite thing about this book, by a landslide, was the characterization.  This book, from the opening of the first flashback chapters, had a dark “Goonies’ vibe to it.   I have seen the 80s revival thing done well with popular Netflix shows like Stranger Things but had never seen in accomplished in a novel. Tudor manages to do it expertly. The flashback chapters felt nostalgic and realistic; almost like it could have happened to any kid, in any place, over the course of any summer. This familiarity brought something chilling to the text and I was hooked.   Each character is so perfectly developed, from the protagonist down to the bullies; even the secondary characters had a clear image within the text. I was completely invested in them. Truthfully, the plot became secondary to me because I was so wrapped up in the characters.

This will be a book that I will be thinking about for a long time. If you want a book for the top of your TBR in 2018, make it this one. You won’t regret it.

Can I give a book 6 stars?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free, electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The Chalk Man” by CJ Tudor has many similarities to Stephen King’s “It”. The story starts with four young boys and a girl who stumble across something grotesque, and spend the remainder of their lives haunted by it and searching for answers. But don’t worry folks, there is no clown hiding in sewers in this one. Just a few really odd old men and a plethora of chalk figures.
Eddie and his friends draw chalk figures for each other to convey special, secret messages. One day, these chalk figures lead the friends to a dismembered body. Years later, the friends are still haunted by the discovery even though the presumed killer has long since been dead. When Eddie receives a haunting chalk figure in the mail, and one of his old friends turns up dead, Eddie begins the hunt for the real “chalk” killer.
Tudor tells this story from Eddie’s perspective and alternates time periods- when Eddie was a young adolescent and the body was discovered, and when Eddie is an adult living on his own and scarred by his memories and haunted dreams. I appreciate why Tudor wrote in this fashion and although I am never really a huge fan of novels being written this way, this one was less choppy and confusing than other novels of this format, and I wasn’t off put by the back and forth as much as I usually am.
There were a lot of creepy characters in this novel, but the identity of the “Chalk Man” was easy to guess from the beginning. However, Tudor did throw a lot of extra twists in the plot that were unpredictable and unexpected. The characters were likable and the novel was both addicting and super easy to read, making it really hard to put down.
Overall, the writing, characters and plot earned this novel a 4 star rating. The predictability and resemblance to “It” (during a time when “It” has increased its popularity sevenfold) were its only downfalls. Definitely spooky and gory, this novel has all the markings of a gruesome horror read. Recommended for any and all readers of the creepy, bloody and downright “keep you up at night” genre.