The Chalk Man A Novel
The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor is a psychological suspense novel published by National Geographic Books on May 25, 2021. This edition spans 384 pages and is presented in English. The story unfolds in two timelines, following Eddie and his friends in 1986 as they engage in a childhood game involving chalk drawings, which leads them to a tragic discovery in the woods. In 2016, Eddie grapples with his past and a drinking problem, only to be drawn back into a web of secrets when he receives a mysterious letter that reignites old memories.
Readers will find a gripping narrative that explores themes of childhood innocence and the darker aspects of human nature. As Eddie delves into the events surrounding the death of a teenage girl, he uncovers unsettling truths about his friends and the town they grew up in. The novel intertwines elements of thrillers, suspense, and horror, keeping readers engaged with its unpredictable twists. The Chalk Man presents a haunting exploration of how the past can resurface in unexpected and dangerous ways.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Want to read something good?. . . If you like my stuff, you’ll like this.”—Stephen King • WINNER OF THE ITW THRILLER AWARD • WINNER OF THE STRAND MAGAZINE AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT NOVEL
A riveting psychological suspense debut that weaves a mystery about a childhood game gone dangerously awry, and will keep readers guessing right up to the shocking ending
In 1986, Eddie and his friends are on the verge of adolescence, spending their days biking in search of adventure. The chalk men are their secret code, stick figures they draw for one another as hidden messages. But one morning the friends find a chalk man leading them to the woods. They follow the message, only to find the dead body of a teenage girl.
In 2016, Eddie is nursing a drinking problem and trying to forget his past, until one day he gets a letter containing a chalk man—the same one he and his friends saw when they found the body. Soon he learns that all his old friends received the same note. When one of them is killed, Eddie realizes that saving himself means figuring out what happened all those years ago. But digging into the past proves more dangerous than he could have known. Because in this town, everyone has secrets, no one is innocent, and some will do anything to bury the truth.
Praise for The Chalk Man
“Wonderfully creepy—like a cold blade on the back of your neck.”—Lee Child
“An assured debut that alternates between 1986 and 2016 with unpredictable twists. The Chalk Man fits well with other stories about troubled childhoods such as Stephen King’s novella Stand by Me. . . . Tudor never misses a beat in showing each character as both a child and an adult while also exploring the foreboding environs of a small town.”—Associated Press
“Utterly hypnotic. The Chalk Man is a dream novel, a book of nightmares: haunted and haunting, shot through with shadow and light—a story to quicken the pulse and freeze the blood. A dark star is born.”—A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
“If you can’t get enough of psychological thrillers with sharp twists and turns, you need to read The Chalk Man”—Hello Giggles
“I haven’t had a sleepless night due to a book for a long time. The Chalk Man changed that.”—Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Widow
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