The Chalk Man

Wonderfully written, with so many clues to keep you guessing and wanting to read more!

OK set in the past and present - the lead character very identifiable to some of my traits with a past in a location much like where i grew up with timely references to what i call my chidhood.

Its not so difficult you can see the plot approach but there is some charm to the pace and tone that i really enjoyed

Very easy to read book which I did enjoy, but it was not a thriller to me in the sense that I just couldn't put it down. There were a couple of nice twists to the story and a surprise at the very end which got me thinking.........

This is an intriguing read, at times a bit far fetched, but mostly it is a good page turner. In a nutshell, it is a story of a childhood game that goes off the rails. The characters in particular are well thought out, individually sculpted, and the author has developed them well. The chalk theme doesn’t really weigh heavily in the story, however there is enough drama to hold the reader. The book is somewhat Stephen King-esque, but this doesn’t detract from it being a good read.

The Chalk Man opens in 1986 when Eddie and his gang of schoolfriends are hanging out together, building treehouses, riding their bikes, going to the fair and inventing secret ways of communicating through chalk drawings. In the midst of this, tragedy strikes. Jump forward 30 years and most of the group are still in touch, albeit sporadically, some even living in the same village. Out of the blue each of them receives a chalk man message, closely followed by another tragedy and this time Eddie is not going to let things rest until he has worked out what really did happen all those years ago. Eddie is the narrator and the chapters alternate between the two timeframes.

This book is a chilling psychological thriller as well as a crime novel and there is a lot to like about it. I started reading it one night in bed on a day when my house had been burgled during daylight hours. I had been in the house at the time so I was a bit spooked anyway and it only took me about three pages to decide that this book was totally unsuitable reading material and was going to have to become a “daytime only book”. The tension starts at the very beginning of the book and it continues throughout. In fact, at the start you could have been forgiven for thinking that it was a horror story, but this soon dissipated somewhat. The storytelling is good and the plot is both complex and mystifying. There are some intriguing, eccentric characters who are developed well and add interest and all the main characters are believable.

There were two issues I had with the book. One was the supernatural element which kept raising its ugly head in the form of dreams. This in itself would be OK if they stayed as dreams but there seemed to be a cross-over into reality. The second thing was that the ending was so convoluted and so full of twists and turns that I was having trouble keeping up. On the whole I enjoy complex solutions to things, but I also like to be able to follow what’s going on even if some effort is required, and at times I was struggling to do this.

Apparently The Chalk Man is a debut novel and a very good one it is too. I will be looking out for more from CJ Tudor.

Crime Reading Group at Leigh Library. Wigan

Meets at on third Thursday, of every month 17:00-18:00

We meet on the on third Thursday, of every month , at Leigh Library. We like to tackle all sorts of literature, but have a particular passion for Crime. We follow it up with discussions of our likes and dislikes about the book and we are friendly and open to new members. Come along and Join us. Our last meeting we read, "The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor." Below are some of our groups thoughts on the chosen book..

“The Book was a real page turner. An excellent plot full of twists and turns! C. J. Tudor created a sense of Unease throughout the story. Excellent Writing, Well drawn characters, a fully enjoyable read! The worst bit is I now have to wait for her next Novel!” C. P.

“Kept me reading well into the early hours, I couldn’t put it down! An exciting storyline that moved between Child hood and Adulthood, reminded me of the Sins of the Father. So Sorry When I finished this novel. I can’t wait for the author’s next one!!” S.L.

“A story with Plenty of Twists, Good Character’s and kept in Suspense throughout! I would definitely recommend this novel to a friend. When is the next???” A.C

“C.J. Tudor is on to a winner! Great Character’s, unusual story, really good style of writing. Couldn’t put it down!!!” L.R.

“A GREAT READ!!” M.J.

“The Suspense was constant. The plot kept the reader guessing right to the end. For a debut novel, this was brilliant!!” J.S

“I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!! The dual narrative and the language helped to portray the young and adult versions of the main characters. I thought the constant twists of the plot kept the reader gripped. The Characters were very relatable and the book flowed well!!” J.W.

Although this book was an easy read, it did not meet my expectations. I was hoping for something with 'the thrill factor' as it had a good start and I was waiting for something exciting to happen but sadly I felt it all went down hill after that and I was left disappointed.

This book held promise of greatness. The chalk men were a good idea but I did not feel that this book lived up to the hype of is glowing cover reviews. I think it should be targeted at the teenage market.

An entertaining story. Clever and in some parts witty, the idea of something as innocent as the chalk stick figures turning up where someone has died is genuinely creepy. Thoroughly enjoyable. MMK

I was completely engrossed and found it impossible to put down. Every twist and turn made my predictions wrong throughout the whole story. When I wasn’t quivering in my boots, I was in detective mode trying to get to the bottom of every creepy scenario. Each chapter left me wanting to read more.I completed The Chalkman in 3 days-my quickest read ever. I’m eager to read The Taking of Annie Thorne next by the same author and one thing’s for sure I can’t ever see myself going on The Waltzer at the local fair anymore!
LC

Great little book. Quite dark in places but took a while to get going
The twists into the past and present were helpful to give depth to the story
Can’t wait for more by this author.
Lisa C

I loved this book. I found it hard to put down because I wanted to know who did what, especially Mr Halloran! I liked the way the author linked the past and the present and found it easy to keep track of the story line, unlike some other books when the author jumps back and forth in time. I found it easy to read, almost like a book for a teenager, but that is what I needed at the end of a busy week.
SJ

This book caught my attention and didn’t let it go! It was a ‘can’t put down’ book that demanded to be read into the small hours of the night. The vibrant, vivid descriptions made the setting and characters come to life so that I felt as if I knew the people involved and had visited their homes and surrounding areas. I couldn’t guess the ending, even when I was nearly there, so it intensified the drama right up to the last page. Can’t wait for the next book!
ST

Although this isn't my usual genre of book I was hooked on the story from the start. Excellent twists and turns which had me not wanting to put it down. The end had me totally fooled. Did not see that outcome!!
JK

An absolutely amazing book that had you gripped from the word go. I couldn’t wait to retire to bed to read the next chapter each night. Loved the way it was written in both past and present. Kept you guessing right up till the end. Can’t wait to read the next one.
SF

The chalk man had me at the edge of my seat throughout every page! I thought I could anticipate who the character was until the last few chapters and it blew my mind. The way in which the author concluded makes me Eager and enthusiastic to read the next book. A captivating and amazing writer who will draw anyone in. Highly recommended!
HC

This was the best book I’ve read in years. I made a point of going to bed a bit earlier at night so I could get it read.
SD