Book Review: Becoming The Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

New York Times bestselling author Richard Chizmar, like his occasional collaborator Stephen King, has transcended the confines of the horror genre to reach a mainstream audience. Look no further than 2021’s Chasing the Boogeyman—the fictional yet highly self-referential tale of a serial killer stalking his real-life hometown—for proof. The book became a phenomenon among readers, who demanded more from the author than Chizmar initially intended to give. Thanks in large part to that response, October sees the publication of a continuation story, Becoming the Boogeyman.

For those who haven’t read the first book (or simply need a refresher), the novel opens with a brief “before” section that utilizes newspaper articles, interview transcripts, and email correspondence to establish backstory; this also introduces the author’s style of melding traditional narrative with epistolary elements (and memoir). Then comes the “now,” in which Chizmar—husband and father to two grown sons, as he is today—has become a cult figure of sorts based on his bestselling Boogeyman book and continued contact with the incarcerated killer. It’s while mowing the lawn of his sedately suburban home that Chizmar makes a horrifying discovery that leads to one inescapable conclusion: It’s happening again. 

With the original Boogeyman behind bars, authorities suspect a copycat—and some people even point the finger of blame at Chizmar himself; after all, there are those who believe he is perpetuating the myth—or maybe even contributing to it—by keeping the story alive. His wife, too, has grown tired of the jailhouse visits (despite their probative value to an ongoing investigation), and their marital discord comes to the forefront as it becomes clear that somebody is finishing what the Boogeyman began—and the entire Chizmar family is at risk. Torn between protecting his loved ones and catching a killer (which are not necessarily mutually exclusive), the author must put it all on the line. Will sacrifice beget salvation?

Chizmar utilizes first person (often autobiographical) narration, which evokes strong feelings of familiarity and nostalgia—particularly for those who know what it’s like to grow up in a small town. The story is interspersed with the aforementioned multimedia components, including assorted crime scene and related photographs, that enhance the book’s realism. Consequently, the line between fact and fiction is (again) a murky one, made more so by the author’s questioning of his obsession with true crime (and thereby our own) and how it may play a part in the sensationalizing of violence, victimization, and the veneration of predators.  

Becoming the Boogeyman is sure to be this season’s macabre must-read, guaranteed to provoke terror even as it inspires thought. Satisfying as a sequel and sufficient as a standalone, it offers a multitude of jump scares and visceral thrills, but not at the expense of deeper engagement. Indeed, for all its creepy charms, Chizmar doesn’t shy away from the big questions: Who is the Boogeyman, really—and what is our role in his (or her) making?