MEMORIALS
by Richard Chizmar
Gallery Books, 2024
★★★★★
1983: Three students from a small college embark on a weeklong 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?
Dear Readers,
This Memorial Day, I am reflecting on Richard Chizmar's captivating horror novel Memorials, published by Gallery Books in 2024. The novel honors the cult classics of 1980s horror cinema and weaves a narrative rich in nostalgia, firmly establishing itself as a unique literary work rather than merely a cliché screenplay.
Chizmar skillfully navigates the intricate web of horror tropes, crafting a chilling story that feels written with cinematic adaptation in mind. This notion often danced in my thoughts as I immersed myself in the reading experience, as the vivid imagery and suspenseful pacing lend themselves easily to a visual medium.
What sets Memorials apart is its ability to create an eerie atmosphere that feels like a character in its own right. Chizmar’s talent for descriptive writing shines here; he strikes an admirable balance between vivid detail and narrative flow. Unlike much contemporary literature that often skims over the richness of description, Chizmar draws the reader in with clarity and precision, propelling us through the story with a sense of urgency and anticipation.
On a personal note, I was delighted to see one of the protagonists share my name, Billy. There's a certain thrill in witnessing your name in print, which added a special resonance to the story for me. Alongside Billy, the narrative also introduces Troy Carpenter and Melody Wise. At first glance, they may come off as typical college archetypes familiar to many readers; however, Chizmar carefully layers their personalities, revealing deeper complexities and motivations that keep the reader engaged. Each character is well-developed, and I found myself emotionally invested in their respective journeys, rooting for them and fearing for their fates.
While the plot does traverse familiar territory, it excels in execution. Even when engaging with traditional Appalachian stereotypes regarding backwoods individuals, Chizmar breathes life into these characters and their settings. However, some scenes prompted an eye-roll or two from me due to the familiarity. However, these moments did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. Instead, they served as nods to the genre's history, enriching the narrative.
Chizmar skillfully navigates the intricate web of horror tropes, crafting a chilling story that feels written with cinematic adaptation in mind. This notion often danced in my thoughts as I immersed myself in the reading experience, as the vivid imagery and suspenseful pacing lend themselves easily to a visual medium.
What sets Memorials apart is its ability to create an eerie atmosphere that feels like a character in its own right. Chizmar’s talent for descriptive writing shines here; he strikes an admirable balance between vivid detail and narrative flow. Unlike much contemporary literature that often skims over the richness of description, Chizmar draws the reader in with clarity and precision, propelling us through the story with a sense of urgency and anticipation.
On a personal note, I was delighted to see one of the protagonists share my name, Billy. There's a certain thrill in witnessing your name in print, which added a special resonance to the story for me. Alongside Billy, the narrative also introduces Troy Carpenter and Melody Wise. At first glance, they may come off as typical college archetypes familiar to many readers; however, Chizmar carefully layers their personalities, revealing deeper complexities and motivations that keep the reader engaged. Each character is well-developed, and I found myself emotionally invested in their respective journeys, rooting for them and fearing for their fates.
While the plot does traverse familiar territory, it excels in execution. Even when engaging with traditional Appalachian stereotypes regarding backwoods individuals, Chizmar breathes life into these characters and their settings. However, some scenes prompted an eye-roll or two from me due to the familiarity. However, these moments did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. Instead, they served as nods to the genre's history, enriching the narrative.
In the end, Memorials is a heart-pounding thriller that pays homage to past horror books and flicks while forging its own identity within the genre. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a chilling read that encapsulates the essence of classic horror narratives with a modern flair.
⁓B.J. Burgess
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