Cue the Stranger Things music. Replace the Upside Down with a creepy teacher, a gruesome murder, and eerie chalk drawings showing up in suspicious places.
The Chalk Man refers to a mysterious new teacher in town whose gray complexion, eyes and attire earn him the moniker. The title also alludes to a form of communication a group of teenagers use – chalk drawings scattered around town. However, one day this seemingly innocent system of symbols leads the gang into the woods where they find remains of a heinous murder. Thirty years later, those same chalk sketches show up in their mail. Why? From Whom?
The story is told on a dual timeline alternating between 1986 and 2016. I loved this tactic as it illustrated the long lasting effects childhood events had on these characters. There were obvious shocks such as recurring nightmares, but more subtle was the transformation of relationships – some remained best friends, other enemies, some never interacted again.
I was going to be a sucker for this book for the same reason I love Stranger Things – a group of dorky kids cruising around on bikes investigating weird happenings of their small town? Yes, please. Sprinkle in some mystery, death, and sinister chalk drawings? Now, please.
Tudor really set the scene for a sinister novel centered on unintended consequences and assumptions. There are dozens of twists and turns which kept me speeding through the pages to get to the ultimate conclusion. Do some of these coincidences and outcomes seem farfetched? Of course, but I was so engrained in the overall theme and feel of the book, I was able to look past it, and I believe others will as well.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, unnerving, and, at times, graphic novel, definitely give this a try. Even the title, The Chalk Man, gives me the creeps. Stephen King enthusiasts would enjoy this read as well (think Stand By Me and It).
Verdict: Read it (4/5 Stars)
Length: 290 pages
When: On a kindle with the lights off, extra points if you are home alone.
Quote: “But the two were irrevocably intertwined. Chicken and egg. Which came first. The chalk men or the killing?”
Also Read: A Stephen King novel. Your choice. Stephen King on The Chalk Man: “If you like my stuff, you’ll like this.”
Buy The Chalk Man HERE
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