Becoming the Boogeyman

By: Richard Chizmar

Narrated by: Chris Andrew Ciulla

The “worthy and frightening sequel” (Stephen King) to the acclaimed and “unforgettable” (Harlan Coben) New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling novel Chasing the Boogeyman.

Back in the summer of 1988, a young Richard Chizmar was catapulted into the center of a living nightmare as the serial killer Joshua Gallagher—dubbed by the media as “The Boogeyman”—stalked his tranquil Maryland town. A lot has changed in the intervening years.

These days, Chizmar enjoys a certain level of celebrity and notoriety himself, being the only person that an incarcerated Josh Gallagher will speak to on or off the record. Chizmar likes to believe that he’s doing the world a public service by visiting Gallagher in prison, as there are plenty of other nameless victims out there who Gallagher might finally admit to killing and bring closure to grieving loved ones, and a dark rhythm and routine begin to take hold. But Chizmar eventually finds there’s a price to be paid for dancing with the devil, when a masked figure with all the hallmarks of Gallagher’s reign of terror from thirty years ago now leaves a horrifying calling card in front of Chizmar’s home, and it’s clear there’s a new player on the board in the ongoing game that the Boogeyman controls…

A riveting, haunting sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller Chasing the Boogeyman, this is a tale of obsession and the adulation of evil, exploring modern society’s true crime infatuation with unflinching honesty, sparing no one from the glare of the spotlight. Will those involved walk away from the story of a lifetime in order to keep their loved ones safe? Or will they once again be drawn into a killer’s web? As the story draws to its shattering conclusion, only one person holds all the answers—and he just may be the most terrifying monster of them all.

©2023 Richard Chizmar (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

“Becoming the Boogeyman is a worthy and frightening sequel to Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman. Terrific storytelling. You won’t be disappointed.” —Stephen King

“Becoming the Boogeyman is a compulsive, utterly immersive twist of fact and fiction. Richard Chizmar masterfully blends reality and imagination to deliver something wholly original and totally gripping from start to finish. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, even when I wanted to turn away. Don’t miss this edge-of-your seat chiller that will keep you guessing—and guessing again.” —Lisa Unger

“Becoming the Boogeyman is at times almost unbearably suspenseful and at times incredibly poignant. Richard Chizmar delves deep into our worst fears and touches the darkness that lives there. An amazing book.” —S. A. Cosby

Moderately better than chasing the boogeyman

The story was more entertaining and not such a slog though but the narrator is still just as hard to listen to. Overall I enjoyed this one more than Casing the Boogeyman but I can't say I'll bother to listen to or read it again.

The next chapter of mystery

Becoming the Boogeyman was another delicious romp in the “true” world adventures of Richard Chizmar, a great and entertaining adventure that stills pulls you in and tricks you into believing it is real. Well done. Looking forward to the next one!

Really does feel like a true crime book.

I watch true crime content on YouTube. The BOOGEYMAN series is a must read for fans of Kendall Rae.

Becoming the Boogeyman

What a true thriller. Loved this follow up to Chasing the Boogeyman. Very highly recommended!

It's a fun ride

Let's get this out of the way, Becoming the Boogeyman isn't as good as Chasing the Boogeyman. The storyline is OK, and characters come and go without much development. The best parts of the book are the detail that goes into Chizmar's writing -- the tangents that make the story seem more "real", and the inner dialogue that Chizmar is constantly having with himself. Ultimately, this story is a long setup for the 3rd book that is forthcoming. If you read the first book, temper your expectations.

A good follow up

It’s a good follow up from the original story
Still gives some of the nostalgia if you grew up in the area

Extraordinary!

The author continually maneuvers the reader into a state of wonderfully confused disbelief. An amazing piece of work. Bring on part three!

Creepy… .. in a good way

Kept reminding myself it wasn’t real but knowing some might be. Twisty suspense kept me guessing

Storyline

Totally hooked from the first chapter . Captivating storyline, love the characters. Can’t wait to see what’s next

a masterpiece from a master

A masterpiece from a master!

A flawless continuation of a great story, with the continued skilled writing style feeling like coming home. It's rare to find a combination of skilled writing that also makes it feel conversational, like a story being told around a campfire in a way so vivid that it can play like a movie in your head. It's also always a treat when a dark tale can bring you laughs, as happens throughout this book. Chizmar mixes most of the same recipe as the first book to serve another 5 star dish! He twists in some references to his Gwendy co-author Stephen King's work, too... (some subtle & some more obvious) such Easter eggs are always good for a smile. I couldn't help but smile when the book referred to a release day signing at the Bel Air Barnes & Noble just hours after I saw a social media post from Richard Chizmar about him stopping at that same B&N and that signed copies were available there. It's rare that top selling authors remain so available to those of us that love their work. This is just another reason to appreciate Chizmar's work. With the Boogyman read, I now look forward to the extended Widow's Point!
Also, the book mentions Richard Chizmar's son Billy's Patreon page... I you haven't checked it out already, do yourself a favor and go read his great stuff there!

"The landmarks of our youth were etched in my memory like sacred words upon a gravestone. The winds of time might smooth their edges, but they would never disappear. At least not in my lifetime."
Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar