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Readers will undoubtedly be reminded of the kids of Stand by Me and even IT. . . . [The] first-person narration alternates between past and present, taking full advantage of chapter-ending cliffhangers. A swift, cleverly plotted debut novel that ably captures the insular, slightly sinister feel of a small village. Children of the 1980s will enjoy the nostalgia.
— Kirkus Reviews
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[A] promising debut . . . with the nightmarish inevitability of the Grimmest of tales . . . her storytelling prowess is undeniable.
— Publishers Weekly
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CJ Tudor has written an utterly original novel—a thriller in which the suspense comes not simply from what happens, but from that dark place within the human mind from which all the greatest mysteries and terrors emerge. This one will hold you in its grip to the last page.
— Joyce Maynard, New York Times bestselling author of Under the Influence and To Die For
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What a great book. A twisty thriller and downright creepy ending. Five stars.
— Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes
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Imaginative, with an intriguing premise that straddles two fascinating worlds. It’s a frenetic ride that’s deep and alluring, oozing with suspense. A rollicking good time.
— Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The 14th Colony
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A cleverly constructed, artfully told tale of secrets, lies, and warped passions—featuring a troubled protagonist, a terrible murder that wasn’t what it seemed to be, and a raging monster at the heart of it all.
— John Verdon, internationally bestselling author of Think of a Number and the Nero Award-winning Peter Pan Must Die
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C.J. Tudor’s The Chalk Man is a stunning debut, a riveting thriller about the powerful grip of the past and the unbreakable bonds of childhood friendship. The ending of this smasher will completely throw you for a loop. Don’t miss a word of it!
— David Bell, bestselling author of Bring Her Home and Somebody I Used to Know
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The Chalk Man is an intricate and surprising book that will reward the reader who approaches it with the attention it deserves.
— Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of The Old Man
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Tense, skillful storytelling.
— Ali Land, internationally bestselling author of, Good Me Bad Me
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Kept me up until five in the morning. Wonderfully written. I loved it!
— Kimberley Chambers, bestselling author of Backstabber and The Wronged
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It’s been a while since I’ve read such an impressive debut. The pace was perfectly judged, the characters superbly drawn and there’s a creeping sense of unease that starts with the prologue and grows throughout the book. And then that ending! It feels so fresh and deserves to be a huge success.
— James Oswald, bestselling author of the Inspector McLean series
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What an amazing debut! Such an ingenious, original idea. I was engrossed from the very first page. I loved how the 1986 and present day storylines weaved so skillfully together to create that unforgettable and unexpected ending. Compelling, taut and so very, very chilling. This book will haunt you!
— Claire Douglas, bestselling author of Last Seen Alive
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Impossible to put down, cleverly constructed and executed.
— Ragnar Jonasson, author of the bestselling Dark Iceland series
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“In 1986, Eddie Adams, the narrator of British author Tudor’s promising debut, and his four best mates, all early adolescents, become ensnared in a series of ghastly events in the picturesque English town of Anderbury, with the nightmarish inevitability of the Grimmest of tales….[Tudor’s] storytelling prowess is undeniable.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“Euan Morton deftly narrates this psychological thriller as it shifts back and forth in time…Morton portrays young Eddie with soft vulnerability and a measured cadence; in contrast, his adult Eddie carries the weight of years in a hardened, sardonic voice…Morton’s skill lets the listener know where the story is at all times…and captures the pathos of Eddie’s search for answers in his murky past.”
— AudioFile