Memorials

By: Richard Chizmar

Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Jonathan Todd Ross

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.

1983: Three students from a small college embark on a week-long road trip to film a documentary on roadside memorials for their American Studies class. The project starts out as a fun adventure with long stretches of empty road and nightly campfires where they begin to open up with one another.

But as they venture deeper into the Appalachian backwoods, the atmosphere begins to darken. They notice more and more of the memorials feature a strange, unsettling symbol hinting at a sinister secret. Paranoia sets in when it appears they are being followed. Their vehicle is tampered with overnight and some of the locals appear to be anything but welcoming. Before long, the students can’t help but wonder if these roadside deaths were really random accidents…or is something terrifying at work here?

©2024 Richard Chizmar (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Different enough…

First off, I liked this book. Taking place in 1983, I was that age at that time and found myself relating to the characters in interesting ways. Growing up in a small Oregon town, there were some similarities to their small town. I liked the characters and the relationship. I thought the racial issues were interesting and well articulated but not overwhelming to the story line. The story is methodically developed and evenly paced. It is carefully crafted and very, very thoughtful. That said, installed near the end because O thought some of my favorite characters - or perhaps the ones I identified most with - were being implicated in a way that felt manipulative or perhaps cliche, but in the end it didn’t go that way. The climax is dark and harsh but gives a full conclusion in a not unsatisfying way.

So, yes, well written and voiced. Not a new theme but delivered in a way that made it fresh and relatable, sad, engaging, etc.

Gripping and addictive. Could not stop listening!!!

This was one of the best books I have ever listened to!!! I highly recommend this for anyone interested!!

Good book

I liked it , good story , likable characters.
Didn’t care much for the sex scene. It took away from the book and after scene the long list of people I wanted to recommend this book to was shortened.

Great Read

Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire read. Before I knew it I was finished wanting more

Love all things Chizmar, Narrator was NOT for me

The story was terrific. A little unexpected with a brief explicit sexual scene, but I do think it was intrical to the horrifying piece de resistance as the book wrapped up. Can't wait for the next installment, but will definitely go back to the physical book next time. The narrator brought a voice to the main character that just didn't match their personality whatsoever in my opinion. He sounded whiny and weak and over dramatized. just my opinion... either way, story was solid!

slow at first but finishes strong

At one point I felt like the character development was more than ample but it kept crawling along. By the end I understood that the author was still weaving things together and II was glad I stuck with it. Fantastic Story.

Very entertaining.

It took me a couple hours to get in synch with the narrator, but then grew to really like his delivery. There is not a ton of action, but the character development was very well done. You care about all the characters by the end. I was also left guessing all the way until the end. I couldn't decide whether the creepy events were the acts of an individual, larger conspiracy, or supernatural.
The ending was mostly well done, but there is one event at the end that seemed unnecessary and took me out of the book for a few moments. It wasn't really the event itself, as I don't get upset about such things in books, but that it did not really belong in this story arc. All in all, very well done and I will seek out more books from this author.

Chizmar did it again and kept me guessing.

Twists and turns you won't see coming. When you think you've figured it out, think again. Go Chiz!

Slow

This has to be the most boring audio book I've had the misfortune to waste a credit on.

Innocent deaths??

Are the road side memorials from accidents, or from something more suspicious? Could there be a connection between seemingly unconnected deaths? Some college students are doing a paper to figure it out.