Chasing the Boogeyman (by Richard Chizmar)
When I first read the description for Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman, I was certain it would be a book I’d love. Unfortunately, my desire to like it far outweighed how much I actually enjoyed it.
Chasing the Boogeyman, a metafictional horror novel, blends true-crime elements with fiction. Set in Chizmar’s real hometown of Edgewood, Maryland, during the summer of 1988, it presents a fictional account of brutal killings. Teenage girls go missing and are later found mutilated and posed, causing panic and fear in the quiet suburb. Curfews, neighborhood watches, and rumors circulate, suggesting that the “Boogeyman” might not be entirely human. Amidst preparing for his wedding and launching his writing career, including the magazine Cemetery Dance, Chizmar documents the terror that grips the community.
This was not the book I expected. I anticipated a fast-paced story with a strong true-crime vibe. Instead, I found an extremely slow-moving narrative filled with a great deal of immature minutiae. The beginning felt especially dry, weighed down by extensive history about his hometown and childhood. While I understand that recalling early memories can be nostalgic and help establish a foundation, the sheer length and volume of detail felt largely irrelevant to me.
I also struggled with how thoroughly the book blurs the line between fiction and true crime. Rather than being entertained, I spent much of the novel trying to decipher what was invented and what had actually happened. It wasn’t until the final closing remarks that I fully understood: the only factual elements were details about Chizmar’s own life. All of the crime content was fictional. I wish I had known that going in—it might have helped me approach (and enjoy) the book differently.
That said, the afterword was very well written, and I genuinely liked the ending. Those final pages made finishing the book feel worthwhile. Still, I’m undecided about continuing the series. The next book is Becoming the Boogeyman, and the third installment, Killing the Boogeyman, is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026. Time will tell.
I borrowed the audiobook through Libby. I didn’t particularly care for Chris Andrew Ciulla’s narration—his tone didn’t feel like a strong match for the subject matter. Since he also narrates the subsequent books in the series, I’m especially uncertain about sticking with the audiobook format if I decide to continue.
Overall, it was an interesting experiment that didn’t quite land for me, but I’m still curious enough about the rest of the series to keep an open mind.
This is one of my favorite zinnia blooms this season.
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