Memorials by
Richard Chizmar
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Memorials may be Richard Chizmar's best, scariest book yet. It follows the journey of a trio of college students, Billy Anderson, Melody Wise and Troy Carpenter, as they embark on a trip to create a documentary telling the stories behind roadside memorials in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania for a class project. Along the way they encounter both friendly support and encouragement, as well as antagonism from members of the communities they visit. They also begin to suspect that someone who doesn't want the documentary made is following them, and their growing sense of paranoia isn't eased when they experience disturbing dreams and odd encounters.
Fair warning: some readers may be bothered by scenes of graphic physical violence, including some that involve sexual encounters, along with brief mentions of a drug overdose, drug use and gang violence. For the most part these serve to move the story forward but may be uncomfortable for some.
Chizmar provides the necessary background about the earlier lives of the 3 unlikely college friends, each of whom has suffered a personal loss. This background helps to explain their willingness (compulsion?) to continue the trip even as they face mounting opposition to their undertaking as they find odd similarities and connections between many of the roadside memorials. The trio begin to wonder who they can and cannot trust as they go deeper into the hill country and on their return, as they try to unravel the mystery surrounding the memorials and the strange events they experience.
Written from the perspective of Billy Anderson, Chizmar builds suspense and then lets it taper off for just a bit before ratcheting up to an even higher level. The climactic scene is satisfyingly horrific and leads to further revelations that help life return to normal. Almost.
Fans of suspenseful thrillers and horror blended with a touch of the occult will enjoy this.
Highly recommended.
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