Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
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Title: Memorials
Author: Richard Chizmar
Format: eBook
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Themes: Family, Religion, Cults, Paranormal, Grief
Trigger Warnings: Death of parents, death of children, cults, demons, satanism

Oh how I love Richard Chizmar’s books. This one is no exception. This story follows Billy Anderson and two of his friends as they work on a project for their American Studies class. They’re making a documentary about roadside memorials. What starts out as a fun road trip slowly becomes an ominous task. The friends’ experience hostile small towns, strange footprints surrounding their campsites, and a strange symbol that keeps showing up on the memorials they find.

Richard Chizmar has never disappointed. This story is full of 1980s nostalgia and small town horror. It takes place in the Appalachian area which provides plenty of folklore. Our main protagonists’ dread and residual grief of each of the main characters is used as the vehicle to drive the story forward toward a disturbing end. In addition to the setting and plot being disturbing, the plausibility of the whole book really adds to the creep factor. The characters and their respective grief and collective plight is very believable. I wouldn’t say it’s all plausible but enough to be uncomfortable.

As much fun as this book is, I found myself wishing it was just a little shorter. I feel like it could have been a couple of chapters shorter for the same effect. I’m being nit picky here.

All in all, this is a creepy and enjoyable book. I love Mr. Chizmar’s work and this book is just another example of that. I recommend this to any horror lover.

This was my first Richard Chizmar book, and I have to say I was thoroughly creeped out. It follows three college students making a documentary on roadside memorials in northwestern PA. It gets off to a kind of slow start, with the eeriness building and presenting itself little by little. In the last third or so, things really take off. There's a feeling of urgency, and that kept me hooked. I will say, the main character himself was not nearly as interesting or likable as the supporting cast. I was particularly a fan of Troy, who was funny and easy to root for the more we learned about his past. I also really liked this setting, as someone who lives on the NY/PA border. While the isolated hillbilly thing isn't as intense here, I do know that this culture exists not too far away from me, and the fear/judgement of outsiders mentality exists throughout the small towns in this area. I like that Chizmar brought up discussions of race, although sometimes it didn't feel natural to the story and dialogue. Still. the attempt is appreciated.

Overall, this is a perfect horror book for readers who aren't looking for something that reinvents the wheel. It's scary, the road trip setting keeps it interesting, and while the ending is rush, it still kept me hooked. This is probably a good starting point for readers who are new to genre, or fans of movies like The Blair Witch Project.

Three students set out to research the stories behind memorials established on the roadsides of western PA/Appalachia as a project in their college class. The three of them, Billy, Troy, and Melody, all have a tragic past. Billy will videotape the memorials and together, they will find out the stories of those who died. However, they are met with resistance along the way. Horrific things and eerie events become the norm and the trio doesn't know who to trust.
This novel was creepy from the start, and although I didn't know the full extent of what was going to happen, I definitely knew who was behind the horrors.

3.5/5!

Last year I read and loved Chizmar’s Boogeyman books, so I was immediately excited to see where this book would go. I think I set myself up with too high of expectations on how the story would go. I was expecting something faster and more in your face the way the Boogeyman books are, but Memorials is not that. This book is much slower and more methodically plotted out to tease readers with slow revelations about the truth of what is happening.

Despite my issues with the pacing, I did find myself invested in the story. One of the number one reasons for this is the way that Chizmar crafts our main characters. I loved our friend group of Billy, Melody, and Troy. They were easy to like and root for throughout the story. There are also a handful of interesting secondary characters who help to round out the storyline and drive suspicions forward.

Chizmar makes sure to wrap up and explain everything that happens in a way that makes for a satisfactory ending. I like that he didn’t leave this one with a vague ending as throughout the story readers are trying to guess the why behind all of the creepy happenings.

1 star

If I had to describe this novel in one word, it would be “stale.”

Chizmar attempts to weave a harrowing story of a road trip gone wrong, college students innocently poking their noses into the practices of northern Appalachia and finding horrors beneath the surface of mountain small towns. Unfortunately, the story dragged on too long, the characters were uninteresting stock types, and the threat they deal with is unimaginative.

Appalachia is a beautiful, mind-bendingly ancient landscape populated by hardy, overlooked, and often misunderstood people. Rather than exploring the mysteries of this fascinating land and the hard lives that maintain an uneasy peace with it, Chizmar has retreated into long-dated stereotypes about slack-jawed yokels and backwoods cults. There’s so much <i> potential </i> in a horror story set in Appalachia, but Chizmar’s book reads as though it were written in the ‘80s instead of merely set in that time period.

If you love ‘80s horror and dislike thinking of other human beings as complex individuals with inner lives as rich as your own, you will like this book. If you want horror to refresh, surprise, and terrify you, look elsewhere. Bad enough that this book is distasteful—but frankly, it’s boring.

3.5-4 can't decide....

I'm really struggling with how to rate this one (by a whole .5 star) because this book is SUCH a vibe. It is eerie, dreadful, and written so vividly, I felt like I was along for the ride. The burn was slow, but each piece of the story was needed to bring us to the ending.
I loved the characters and their comradery. They were their own little 'found family' and I found that to be enduring.
I think the reason I'm actually struggling to rate this one is the audio. I am certain I would have enjoyed this more with my eyeballs. The narration was good, but my goodness I don't think he could have talked any slower.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! I love all things Appalachia and this scratched that perfect spot in my brain. Thank you Netgalley for my ARC and Libro for my ALC!

**Memorials** by Richard Chizmar offers a mix of suspense and intrigue, yet it falls short of its full potential. The storyline, while interesting, tends to meander, causing the plot to lose momentum at times. Chizmar's writing is descriptive and atmospheric, but the character development feels somewhat lacking, making it hard to fully connect with the protagonists. The suspense builds up nicely, but the climax doesn't quite deliver the expected punch. However, the book does have its moments of tension and eerie atmosphere, which keeps it from being a total miss. Overall, a mediocre read, deserving a middle-of-the-road 3/5 stars.

Chizmar knows how to build a story and create suspense. His books always deliver, and this one was no different. While I found it to be slow at times, I respect the tension that the author was creating. The ending may not have been exactly what I wanted, but it worked for the story. Reading the author note at the end of the book helped solidify my thoughts. All in all, I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys mystery and suspense.

It's creepy season and what better way to celebrate than devouring a Richard Chizmar book. In Memorials we follow Billy, Troy and Melody in there VW van, dubbed the mystery machine, on a journey through the back roads of America. In their pursuit of acing a school project the gang find more than they had bargained for.

Chizmar has an incredible knack of getting under your skin. He uses his usual, almost conversational, style to draw you into his world and that of the characters; you really feel like an observer in the journey the gang are on. You are routing for them and feel their laughs and fears.

If you are a fan of Chizmar or just want a scare then Memorials will not disappoint.

Melody, Troy, and Billy are working on their college class project on roadside memorials when they come across mysterious symbols at some of the sites. When other scarier things happen, the group decides to solve the mystery of the symbol and who's behind it.

I'm a big fan of Chizmar's work, but I feel like this may have been just a touch too long, causing some uneven pacing along the way to the final part of the book. Once we get there though, let me tell ya, this thing takes off and doesn't let go until the final sentence! I liked a lot of the references to 80s music and the strong friendship among our three main characters. I would definitely recommend to those who like a good horror/mystery.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

The most effective horrors seem to arise out of things that we all see in everyday life. I can’t speak for the entire world here but – I feel like at least here in the States, roadside memorials are a fairly common site. I know they are here in my neck of the woods in the Northeast part of the lower 48.

For the uninitiated – roadside memorials are those little roadside markings – frequently incorporating crosses, stuffed animals, or a bevy of other items to commemorate the place where an accident or some other violent act took someone’s life., They all tell a story – almost certainly a sad one, and in the case of the latest novel by Richard Chizmar – a disturbing and scary one.

Using these roadside remembrances Chizmar constructs a tapestry of terror that he slowly and methodically pieces together through the hefty 480 pages of the novel. His longest and most ambitious book, MEMORIALS is a master class in pacing, tone, and character development. Set in the 80’s we follow a trio of college students who set out on a project to not just find these memorials but to research the stories behind them, talk to the locals, and construct a documentary on their findings.

Our little group of misfits becomes fast friends in a college class, Melody, Troy, and Billy, and before they know it – with some guidance from their professor – have conceived, planned, and are departing on an adventure they will take them into rural Appalachia, ultimately arriving at Billy’s hometown in Pennsylvania where he and his friends will confront feelings and horrors beyond imagination. Chizmar takes his time – the backstories of our three main characters play out in real-time – riddled with encounters with the mountain locals along the way. When they find a memorial they stop, investigate, ask questions, and slowly begin to notice a pattern – a very disturbing pattern that is just the beginning of a very long and strange journey.

After numerous slightly off-putting encounters along the way – they finally make it to the presumed safety of Billy’s Aunt’s house. Aunt Helen raised Billy after an accident left him orphaned. Arriving back home only serves to magnify the mystery of what they found along their way – and after a series of increasingly puzzling situations, begins to fully shine a light on the actual horrors at hand.

All the meticulously placed information early in the journey begins to slowly come into focus and a tale of ancient evil, madness, death, and myth unfolds. It’s a complicated tale – one that takes some time to set up but, the pay off is so worth it.

One thing I have admired in all of Richard Chizmar’s works is his ability to quickly, honestly, and effortlessly build a universe where you instantly fall in love with his characters – and that ability was never more evident than it is in this tale. From the moment we hit the road with our trio of adventure-seekers, we feel every awkward encounter, every staring local, we hear the hushed whispers as they walk the streets, we feel the danger that lurks just beneath the surface.

And when that danger eventually bubbles over into full-blown, mind-numbing horror – it rattles you. That is where the true power of this book lies.

The last 100 pages of this book are some of the most intense moments I’ve spent in a novel in quite some time. Chizmar’s ability to tie it all together – literally taking information from the first few pages you read and bringing it full circle – is a super power. It’s impressive, it’s uncommon, and most importantly – it’s a shit load of fun.

MEMORIALS is a slow burn with a payoff that is more than worth the wait. A novel idea that reminds us that evil lurks everywhere – sometimes you just have to see the signs.

MEMORIALS hits bookshelves on October 22nd and is available as a hardcover, audiobook, or E-book by clicking here.

I am a huge fan of this author and this book further cemented that. The plot was interesting, the characters were well-developed, and the writing itself was very interesting. This is a must read for horror fans, especially those interested in found footage.

In 1983, Billy Anderson and his two classmates begin a journey into northwestern Pennsylvania to complete a project for their American Studies class. They are travelling around looking for roadside memorials and the stories connected to them. Their documentary aims to record the memorials that have been created and interview people who knew those who died on the road. The project is very personal for Billy, having lost his own parents in a car crash. As the trio finds more and more memorials they connect with the grief of their participants and work on dealing with all of their own pasts. Only as they find more memorials, they find people who have a problem with what they are doing and potentially want to put a stop to it.

Richard Chizmar has crafted a solid character study in a historical mystery. It takes a while for the real horror to begin, but the book spends a lot of time exploring Billy and his two friends Melody and Troy. As the trio find more strange sightings at the memorials they stop at the pace of the book gets faster and it builds to a very exciting ending with plenty of twists. The book does a great job playing with why people make roadside memorials and how they grieve before amping up the terror factor with some solid backwoods horror tropes. Chizmar is a great horror author, and his novels have been consistently entertaining and well-written and Memorials is no exception.

Really enjoyed this book by Richard Chizmar. He never disappoints. Kind of a found footage novel, but the plot/story/pacing was very good. And I definitely enjoyed the characters. Can't wait to read more from Richard Chizmar.

I was a big fan of Richard Chizmar's Boogeyman books so I had high hopes for Memorials. While I enjoyed it, I was expecting more. I didn't find it very spooky so if you're looking for a horror book, I wouldn't classify this as one. I also felt that the book was a bit too long and dragged at times. Having said that, I am still a fan of the author and look forward to his future releases.

This book was such a ride! Absolutely one of my top books of the year! When I originally picked it, I had no idea what I was really getting into. Supernatural horror is right up my alley, so it was kind of a gimme. But then I started reading. It definitely had that Stephen King “80s kids on bikes” style horror that I grew up with. And of course, being a product of the 80s, I was instantly hooked. (Yes, I realize they weren’t on bikes. It was the style, and it fit so well). But the further I read, the more interesting it got. Until I realized: this is a @#*$($) satanic panic horror! Friends, I cannot tell you how excited I was when I realized that. Satanic panic is one of my favorite types of horror and I absolutely devoured this book. And although it didn’t quite end how I wanted it to, I think it truly was the only way it could have ended. Even better, it’s set up beautifully for a sequel! So this is me begging you, Richard Chizmar, please can we get a sequel of this?!

Huge thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Losing his parents sent York College student Billy Anderson into a tailspin. Even though he eventually managed to pull himself together, he can’t help still feeling haunted by their senseless deaths. His dad was a cautious driver, but had suddenly veered off the road to crash into a tree near their hometown of Sudbury, Pennsylvania, killing himself and his wife instantly. The entire community, including Billy, mourned.

So when Billy joins an American Studies class and finds himself grouped with Troy Carpenter and Melody Wise, people who’ve also suffered grievous loss in their young lives, the trio quickly bond. Equipped with audio-visual technology considered advanced for 1983, the three of them decide to embark on a class project through central and northwestern Pennsylvania, documenting the makeshift and usually roadside memorials that have spontaneously sprung up to honor the places where people have violently died. Their ostensible goal is to create a documentary focusing not only on those who lost their lives, but also on the people who built the memorials in their honor. Not so secretly, though, it’s a way for each of the students to work on their ongoing grief.

Their progress quickly starts deviating from their plan, even if that’s not necessarily for the worst. Billy, for example, had originally wanted to stay off-screen but soon realizes that that’s not a reasonable option:

QUOTE
He shakes his head emphatically. “No. It’s gotta be me. My aunt’s tough as nails, but you saw her once the camera turned on. She was a mess. If her interview taught me anything, it’s that I have to be willing to put myself in the story.” He gazes up and down the desolate road. “This part of the film is my story. I have to own that. I can’t expect other people to share what they’ve experienced if I’m not willing to do it myself. I owe them that, at the very least.”

“I think we’re just surprised you changed your mind,” Troy says, appearing at Billy’s side. “You were pretty adamant that you didn’t want to be on camera.”

“Well, you can thank Aunt Helen for that.” He gives Troy a nudge on the shoulder. “And besides, it’s only this one time. The other intros are all you and Mel.”
END QUOTE

The students are grounded enough to fully expect to deal with tragedy and grief on their trip, whether their own or that of their subjects. Melody and Troy, both being people of color, are also prepared to face bigotry. But none of them know what to do when truly creepy things start happening to them. At first it’s the strangers who show up and take a little too much interest in what they’re doing. Then it’s a weird symbol that keeps appearing when they least expect it. When their efforts are outright sabotaged though is when they realize that they’re not just being paranoid. Someone really is out to get them.

Answers seem to lie back in Sudbury, as the friends begin to wonder whom they can believe in and whom they can trust. Worst of all is the sneaking suspicion that what’s menacing them isn’t actually from this world and is very much targeting the three of them for a reason:

QUOTE
I pushed those thoughts away, and they were immediately replaced by the memory of our first interview–Jennifer Harper saying that she often felt her late husband’s presence in the room with her–and what I’d experienced firsthand at Chase’s memorial. That unpleasant sensation had only lasted seconds–and then vanished. My oversized imagination again? A surge of adrenaline from initially stumbling upon the memorial? A genuine presence? But if that was the case, why Chase Harper–a complete and total stranger? And why had it felt so damn awful?

“All I can tell you is… we’ve all lost someone close to us,” I finally said, rubbing my forehead with my thumb.
END QUOTE

As the wannabe documentarians struggle to figure out who so badly wants to stop their filmmaking, they’ll encounter monstrous, impossible forces. Will they be able to outwit the very mortal mind behind it all, or will they all fall victim to terrors beyond their imagining?

This horror thriller by famed writer Richard Chizmar pulls no punches as it explores 1980s Pennsylvania, deftly showcasing the emotions and conflicts of three college students on a journey that not all of them may survive. The semi-epistolary format of the novel heightens the immersive nature of the narrative, as Billy, Melody and Troy attempt to piece together their fragmented clues in order to unmask and stop whomever is hunting them. The mystery is solidly constructed – I was surprised and impressed at the big reveal – with a bittersweet ending capping this truly chilling tale of mystery and terror.

Very interesting and creative topic for a book. I liked the writing style and set up of the book. I was looking for more spookiness.’ Halfway through it dragged quite a bit.

I was really craving a great horror story for the Halloween season and thought this would hit the spot. Unfortunately it fell short of my expectations, moving slowly and not holding my attention. There was way too much fluff (additions with no bearing on the story) and not enough suspense. The ending fell flat as well. I will have to keep searching to find my engrossing horror tale. My thanks to Gallery Books for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The New York Times gave Memorials by Richard Chizmar a great review and I am attesting to that, whole heartedly. What a book..I couldn't put it down...For me, it was as frightening as Rosemary's Baby...and that book scared the you know what out of me. This book did as well....The buildup to the end was the most incredible and scary ride..(no spoilers here)...but, the finale was a WHAT? Really?
Yet, as I continued the odyssey of the story of Sudbury, Pennsylvania, and Aunt Helen, Billy, Troy and Melody, I thought..ok...that actually makes sense...again no spoilers, you'll have to read the book, to which I recommend to you, readers, with the very highest accolades..

Bravo on an incredible and indelibly scary story, Mr. Chizmar!!!
It could happen??? Oh, and I will NEVER look at highway memorials the same way, EVER AGAIN!