THE CHALK MAN BY CJ TUDOR

Although this book didn't deliver on it's promises of an unsettling read, I did find myself drawn to it. Even more, I enjoyed it despite what I felt was missing. 

Rating: ★★★
​Release Date: January 9, 2018
Genre: Thriller and Suspense. 
Series: None. Standalone. 
Pages: 288
​Format: Purchased. Hardcover. 

In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.

In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he's put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.

That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.
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Expertly alternating between flashbacks and the present day, The Chalk Man is the very best kind of suspense novel, one where every character is wonderfully fleshed out and compelling, where every mystery has a satisfying payoff, and where the twists will shock even the savviest reader.

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Read my Book Review

Release Date: January 9, 2018
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Suspense. Crime. 

Well, this one was a bit anticlimactic- especially considering the rave reviews that are posted to on the actual book to get us to read it! One said that they had "sleepless nights" after reading it... Hmm? How so? Because there was NOTHING scary about this book. Another described it as being "nightmarish". Did I miss the memo? Was there something missing from my book? I highly doubt it. But let me tell you, this book is neither nightmarish, or terror inducing. Sigh. I hate to write all this, but come on. Don't promise readers what ISN'T going to be delivered. That's false advertising! 

Coming off my rant, I will say that I LIKED this book. However, I didn't love it. Had it not had promises of delivering a unique and creepy read, I think I WOULD have liked it more. But my expectations were not met and therefore, I couldn't love it because of my preconceived notions. I will say however that I liked the characters, I liked how it was told in alternating times (1986 and 2016), and I loved that one twisted piece in the end. That piece was very unexpected (even though it really shouldn't have been much of a surprise after getting to know the character), and certainly made me gasp (and then let out a little giggle). So it's a good read with enjoyable stuff thrown in. I think others will like it, but I have a feeling that many will also be let down if they go in expecting the next Stephen King- sorry, it's not like his work. 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

This book is told in first person narration- that of Eddie- during alternate periods of his like (his childhood when the "incident" takes place, and when he is an adult, 30 years later). Eddie and his friends are expecting to have the time of their lives during the summer, but their friendships and sense of safety don't last when a young girl is found dead in the woods. And she isn't only dead. Her body has been chopped up and her head is missing. How did they find the body? Through a series of chalk figures on the trees that essentially lead these boys to it. 

Who could have killed this girl? And why would they destroy her body like this? Those are the questions that readers are left to ponder throughout the book. Add in a couple of perverts, a strikingly mad reverend, and some weird family issues and you have yourself THE CHALK MAN. 

OVERALL THOUGHTS OF THE BOOK 

As I mentioned above, I liked this book. But there were several things that held me back from giving it more than three stars. I will list them below:

1. The book is titled The Chalk Man however, there isn't really a lot going on with said chalk man, only small mentions in passing. It's kind of like the book was meant to be focused more on it but they forgot to add it in. Don't get me wrong, the title does (sort of) make sense at the (very) end, but not enough that I feel satisfied with the title and how it fits into the actual story. 

2. The ultimate promise that this book would be creepy and unsettling. NO. It wasn't. At. All. I don't want to repeat myself, but there COULD have been creepier parts had the author went a little further. But she didn't. I wanted something scary. I wanted to feel unsettled. I wanted to look over my shoulders in fear that I too would see chalk figures. But that NEVER happened. Don't promise readers what you CAN'T deliver. 

3. The book felt FORCED. Do you remember being in school and writing a paper that you just wanted to finish quickly to hand in and you didn't give it your best? That's how I felt with this book. I feel like she was forced to just write it without using her imagination to her fullest ability. I can tell it's there, the book does satisfy to an extent, but it would have been GREAT had there been a bit more "fluff" added to it. 

Please be aware, it is not my intention to rip this book apart and tell readers all the horrible things about it. Because honestly, I read the book, I finished it, and I ENJOYED IT. But too many things felt unfinished (to me). That's not to say that all readers will feel the same- I know, many will not. Many readers will LOVE this book. I just didn't. Simple as that. I will however, recommend this one because it has a lot of promise, especially if you are only looking for a thrilling read. Even more, I plan to read the authors next book (whatever that may be) because her writing style is great. So that my review for what it's worth, or don't. You have to be the judge of the book on your own.

★★★