Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

​     I realize I don’t know if I’ve ever read Chizmar. Which is ridiculous for a devoted long time genre fan. I know of him, of course, I’m familiar with Cemetery Dance, I even own one of their gorgeous signed editions in my collection and there’s a very good chance I might have read a short story of his at some time in some anthology, but never actually dedicatedly read him as an author. Until now. And boy, does that man know how to make a first impression.
    And at first impression, this is a true crime book. A properly (in fact, overwhelmingly so) steeped in nostalgia throwback to a more innocent (was it?) time some three decades ago when Chizmar as a young man fresh out of college and temporarily staying with his parents back in his picturesque small Maryland town finds himself tangentially involved in investigating the brutal murders of the local girls.
    The small town idyll straight out of any King story, the geehaw aw shucks good naturedness of the, well, almost everybody, and specifically the saintly Chizmars and their son’s fiancé contrasts strikingly with the horrific nature of the crimes and the sinister presence behind them. It makes for a pretty riveting read. There are plenty of photos with each chapter to…take you there, if you will. It’s first rate suspense fiction with a stunning resolution, but wait…it isn’t over yet. You got to read the entire thing, including the author’s note. In fact, it is crucial that you do. And beware, minds might be blown if not properly secured.
     I mean, that ending…that ending made me kind of wild with joy at its sheer cleverness and originality. And the thing is, I can’t talk about it, of course, don’t want to give things away, but it’s so good. It elevated my opinion and rating of the book immediately. And…oh so frustrating not to be able to discuss it…but yeah, you just gonna have to find out for yourself.
    Suffice it to say…wow. Awesome. And this terrific potentially ingenious blend of memoir, true crime and metafiction is perfectly singular it its awesomeness. What a ride. Loved it. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.