The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor – A Book Review

Blurb:

It was only meant to be a game . . .

None of us ever agreed on the exact beginning.

Was it when we started drawing the chalk figures, or when they started to appear on their own?

Was it the terrible accident?

Or when they found the first body?

Author: C. J. Tudor
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 342
Release Date (Amazon Kindle UK): 11/01/2018
My Chosen Format: Kindle
My Rating of ‘The Chalk Man’:
Purchase: Amazon UK, Amazon US, Audible UK, Audible US

Review:

I don’t read thrillers that often (something I fully expect to change) and after my last one was a bit of a dud, I was desperate to get stuck into a much better one. The Chalk Man certainly fits the bill.

The Chalk Man is a tale of two times. Half of the story happens in the 80s and the other half in 2016 (usually told via alternating chapters).

One aspect of the writing I really enjoyed was that, for the chapters set in the 80s, where the kids are 12 years old (a fact we are told a painful amount of times, so much so that now I loath the number 12), it’s written with a much more childlike voice, rather than just an adult recounting their youth. The modern day chapters are distinctly more adult in tone.

I feel the author did a great job with the characters, giving off that group of friends vibe with all the highs and lows that come with being a kid. Not only that, but she blended seamlessly into adulthood and, at no point did I feel like the characters were two-dimensional.

The main character, Eddie, is an interesting one. There’s many layers to him that I feel a psychologist might enjoy delving into. Despite that, he’s an enjoyable main voice to follow.

The story itself, one of unexplained, spooky images being left and, obviously a gruesome murder, was intriguing. I was absolutely certain I knew what was going to happen throughout most of it but was pleasantly surprised to find the rug pulled from under my feet on that assumption as things drew to a close.

Speaking of drawing to a close, this is where my main issue came. I felt that the story, up until the end, was pretty damn good and, pretty addictive reading. The ending, however, felt a bit of a let down. It could be that I was just expecting too much but I just felt like I didn’t get the satisfaction I was expecting when all the unknowns were revealed. I also felt a certain person just happening to turn up at a very specific place in the nick of time felt like a bit of a stretch.

The very last part was awesome, however. Really got a good pay-off as far as the family history/fears went.