Welcome to Litsy!

I typically really like Chizmar‘s books but this one fell a little flat for me. Maybe it‘s just because I‘ve read some really strong books lately. Maybe it‘s because I didn‘t love the ending. I honestly don‘t know! #aardvark
Book 7 of 2025

Finally finished! I hate that it takes me so long to finish a physical book now. 🙁 Anyway, this book was fantastic! I finished the last half yesterday. I graduated from high school in ‘83 so this brought back some memories. But, OMG! What a story. When I did finally pick it up again, I couldn‘t put it down. This book is sooo creepy. You absolutely have to read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay… this was super creepy. The author describes it as his “midnight campfire tale”, which feels so apt - you‘re settling in for a slow-burning, spine-tingling story that lingers like smoke. It had a palpable atmosphere, fantastic characters who I really cared about, and a great sense of time and place. I wish some things with the ending had been different, but it fit with the narrative. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

I not only liked the novel, but the audiobook is well done and, once things really started to happen it did a phenomenal job at bringing suspense and horror to the story. I liked that there were two narrators, one for Billy and one for the commentary, giving two voices to the events. The pace, inflection and vocal changes drew me into the story, especially the climax, making it an enjoyable audiobook and adding to my experience with Memorials.

I‘m not going to lie. I physically could not finish this, because the story is buried by exposition I feel is needlessly added by Chizmar. A cool concept of roadside memorials for those who got in a car wreck are so personal. It would be phenomenal to have a narrative there, in the setting of the Appalachia. Instead, the reader is distracted (frustrated) by the POV first person annoying narrator. There was potential in plot. Style? Not my jam.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A slow-burning, supernatural, creepy story that takes you back to the 80‘s. I did love the small town horror feel but the only reason it didn‘t get a five star rating was I felt it was a bit drawn out but all in all a great read!!👌🏼

This month, my favorite book was Memorials with an honorable mention for Devil in The White City 💜
#TopRead2024 #ReadingBracket2024

In November, I read eight books. My favorite was Memorials. I didn't get to my #BookSpin book, but Devil In The White City was both #DoubleSpin and #ReadOrDonate. I really enjoyed it, so I will be keeping it 😺

Some college students set off to do a project on roadside graves and end up uncovering some dangerous town secrets.
Loved it 🖤
#WickedWords #Friend @AsYouWish
#Aardvark

A perfectly creepy horror story about roadside memorials that is not for the faint of heart.

I‘ve recently become a fan of Richard Chizmar‘s work and I loved this one. It was eerie and really left me feeling uneasy so many times. I definitely feel like I need a follow up novel after that ending. My jaw dropped so many times and I wanted to throw the book across the room.

4.5 ⭐️

#bookmail!
My #aardvarkbookclub is the tagged book.
And I always like adding to my Coates collection.

A group of students encounter a supernatural terror while on a road trip through Appalachia in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the “unforgettable and scary” (Harlan Coben) Chasing the Boogeyman.

#aardvarkbookclub

I showed restraint for the first time this month for my #aardvarkbookclub 📦 with only one book.
What did you all get this month?

Excited for my #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub box!!

I‘m listening to (and enjoying) the “American Rapture” audiobook right now or I would have gotten that one!

The characters in "Memorials," especially Troy, were super likeable.

I loved how Chizmar kept me guessing with the video transcripts, and that twist ending came out of nowhere!

While the pacing dragged a bit, it kept me hooked. I just wish it got creepier - it started to but never went as dark as I hoped.

Something was missing though. I can't quite pin down and held off writing my review while I thought about it. I still recommend the book.

I am probably going to finish this tonight! I have got to know how it ends!!!

I‘ve been looking forward to this one since I first heard about it! I really enjoy Chizmar‘s writing & this standalone set in 1983 Appalachia has plenty of time period nostalgia, & a creeping tension as three college friends work together on a school project on roadside memorials. When creepy things start happening, it quickly becomes impossible to know who to trust. It opens a little slowly, but the ending certainly keeps the pages flying fast!

Well that took some self control!

I got my copy of Memorials by Richard Chizmar on the release date (this Tuesday). I was up against a bunch of deadlines with my work so I wouldn't let myself start the book. It just sat next to my desk taunting me.

Today after another agonizingly long Zoom meeting I said f@$k it...shut off my computer and grabbed the book.

Here's to an evening or reading!!

A group of students encounter a supernatural terror while on a road trip through Appalachia in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the “unforgettable and scary” (Harlan Coben) Chasing the Boogeyman.

It's shipped! I can't wait to get this book!!

This book is a master class in story (and tension) building. Richard Chizmar can take nostalgia, the lore of Pennsylvania, and friendship and blend it all to create one of the best horror stories I have read in a very long time. As a native Pennsylvanian (from Pittsburgh specifically), I loved being put into a setting I know well. The three main characters were perfectly developed and immediately drew me into the story.