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Chasing the Boogeyman

By: Richard Chizmar
Narrated by: Chris Andrew Ciulla
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Publisher's summary

The acclaimed New York Times and USA Today best-selling novel of small-town evil that “is genuinely chilling and something brand-new and exciting” (Stephen King) and “unforgettable” (Harlan Coben).

In the summer of 1988, the mutilated bodies of several missing girls begin to turn up in a small Maryland town. The grisly evidence leads police to the terrifying assumption that a serial killer is on the loose in the quiet suburb. But soon a rumor begins to spread that the evil stalking local teens is not entirely human. Law enforcement, as well as members of the FBI, are certain that the killer is a living, breathing madman - and he’s playing games with them. For a once peaceful community trapped in the depths of paranoia and suspicion, it feels like a nightmare that will never end.

Recent college graduate Richard Chizmar returns to his hometown just as a curfew is enacted and a neighborhood watch is formed. Amid preparing for his wedding and embarking on a writing career, he soon finds himself thrust into a real-life horror story. Inspired by the terrifying events, Richard writes a personal account of the serial killer’s reign of terror, unaware that these events will continue to haunt him for years to come.

A clever, terrifying, and heartrending work of metafiction, Chasing the Boogeyman is the ultimate marriage between horror fiction and true crime. Chizmar’s “dazzling work of fresh imagination and psychological insight” (Caroline Kepnes, New York Times best-selling author of You) is on full display in this truly unique novel that will haunt you long after you listen to the final minute.

©2021 Richard Chizmar (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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What listeners say about Chasing the Boogeyman

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Unexpected

This book is definitely not what I expected; I was expecting a more faced paced story, and this is definitely not that. There was enough stuff to keep my interest once they started getting into the actual crimes, but the beginning was a slog,
I know it’s necessary to ground the story, but I don’t care about what his life was like as a kid, the pranks he used to do. Way too many irrelevant details, in my opinion. Also, this narrator is not my favorite, I feel bad but I wish someone else would’ve narrated this book. All this being said, I’ve enjoyed Chizmar’s short story collections, so I hope I like his next book better.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lived on Hanson Road also.

So many good memories. I could see in my mind all the places, and things he did. We lived on the corner of Hanson Road and Cherry Rd. Great story!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely awesome ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I saw an advertisement for this book somewhere other than Audible and thought it sounded good. It was so much better than good. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time. The narration was amazing, and is one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book so much. I cannot more highly recommend this listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

Amazing story. It was like I was there first hand. Excellent job at bringing the characters and town to life

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read!

I am falling in love with Richard Chizmar’s storytelling. Reminds me of my favorite author Stephen King. Fantastic read.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Thoughts

in the beginning, I was bored to tears. I think the initial chapter about the town could've easily been condensed but it's clear it holds a dear place in the authors heart, which I can understand. He certainly liked to point out farts, burps and boogers in the story, which was... interesting. The last quarter of the book was enough to change my rating from a 2 to a 3. I guess the style of the book just wasn't for me but the ending was good.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Had me Hooked!!

This book had me hooked from start to finish. I couldn't put the book down when I sat and began reading it. I would definitely recommend this book, and would re-read it again.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A bit too repetitive

I really wanted to love this, but it was too much of the same set of events—repeatedly— in the exact same order, like clockwork.

The writing itself was enjoyable, I just wanted something more developed, from the characters, and the setting.

The narrator was good in the many parts which involved wry humor, but the more serious segments could’ve been elevated, with a less glib style.

This aside, I recommend Chizmar’s Gwendy series. Just because “Boogeyman” wasn’t a hit with me, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t happily give his next publication a try.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

True Fictional "True Crime"

Story 5+/5
Narration 5+/5

This fictional "true crime" story was soooo good! It was the best of both the true crime and fiction worlds. The author mixed his story with facts by placing himself as the main character, and by incorporating events from his career. This case seemed real, but it’s not in Murderpedia, so... 🤣

The narration was PERFECT! Very small-town, and down-to-earth sounding.

Recommended!!!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

True crime or fiction?

The author creates a crime story that makes you think it all really happened. Maybe because some of the characters are real, such as himself, his parents, and his future wife. The setting was real in the 80s: the town, the streets, the neighborhood, and his family home. The crime part is all fiction, and most excellent. What a great ride!

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