Memorials - by Richard Chizmar

Book Synopsis

The New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller about a group of college students encountering supernatural terror while on a road trip through Appalachia--an unforgettable, chilling novel that is "scary and hard to put down. You might be advised not to read it at night" (Stephen King).

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?

Review Quotes

"Memorials is a twisty, dark tale with an undeniable sense of place and a creepy atmosphere that pulls you in and never lets go. This story about friendship and youthful adventure quickly spirals into mayhem and paranoia, and the journey is an absolute blast. As heartfelt as it is chilling, this nostalgic, diverse, wildly entertaining novel proves, once again, that Richard Chizmar is one of the best."
--Gabino Iglesias, bestselling and award-winning author of The Devil Takes You Home

"Memorials is destined to be a horror classic--this is broad-shouldered, big-hearted horror written by someone with a distinct mastery of the form. It reaches a grim, unholy crescendo that can't be beat. Chizmar nails it."
--Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Black River Orchard

"Memorials is scary as hell, and it'll redline your fear meter. But it's also as much an ode to that time in our lives where we're no longer children yet not quite adults, when the road ahead of us was just beginning to clarify. Chizmar's writing has the power to take you back to that point in your own life and hold you there awhile, spellbound."
--Nick Cutter, national bestselling author of The Troop and The Queen

"Memorials is such a unique idea and so wonderfully, insidiously creepy. Brilliant storytelling and fantastic small-town horror infused with real heart. I'll never look at a roadside tribute in the same way again!"
--C.J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Gathering

"Creepily arresting." --People

"Chizmar wows in an immersive and über-creepy novel that pays subtle homage to horror classics ranging from the works of H.P. Lovecraft to The Blair Witch Project...gradually ratchets up a palpable feeling of unease through an accumulation of small unsettling moments...Chizmar pulls no punches on the way to a thoroughly satisfying finale...It's a tour de force."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"An immersive and engrossing slow-burn horror feast...Creeping dread and excellent writing will keep readers up past their bedtime as they devour this book...Beyond the skillful writing, [he] weaves a rich tapestry of terror that will keep readers on the edge of their seats...Chizmar is an expert at his craft."
--Library Journal (starred review)


"One of horror's indispensable writers." --Paste

"Richard Chizmar's Memorials is, on the one hand, a showcase for his ability to create warm, insightful characterizations and, on the other, a funhouse ride that grows more and more sinister. It's an all-around terrific piece of storytelling by an author who really knows how to entertain."
--Owen King, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Sleeping Beauties and author of The Curator

"Richard Chizmar is a gifted writer. His books work on a primal level and I look forward to reading whatever he writes."
--Don Winslow

"I loved Memorials so much. It's everything I always wanted from a time machine road trip with Richard Chizmar in a spooky landscape he knows inside out."
--Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You

"Scary and hard to put down. You might be advised not to read it at night."
--Stephen King

"Taut with tension and an increasing sense of doom, Memorials will leave you gasping for breath by the time you reach the final few pages. A pure horrific delight."
--Ronald Malfi, bestselling author of Come with Me and Small Town Horror

"You'll never view a country roadside in the same way once you've finished Memorials. Chizmar knows where both stories of terror and stories of the heart lurk--and best of all, he understands that they're found in the same places. Buckle up for a haunting ride."
--Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of An Honest Man

About the Author

Richard Chizmar is the coauthor (with Stephen King) of the New York Times bestselling novella Gwendy's Button Box and Gwendy's Final Task, and the solo novella Gwendy's Magic Feather. Recent books include the New York Times bestsellers Memorials, Becoming the Boogeyman, and Chasing the Boogeyman; The Girl on the Porch; The Long Way Home; his fourth short story collection, and Widow's Point; a chilling tale about a haunted lighthouse cowritten with his son Billy Chizmar, which was recently made into a feature film. His short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA's Board of Trustees award. Chizmar's work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world, and he has appeared at numerous conferences as a writing instructor, speaker, panelist, and guest of honor. Follow him on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @RichardChizmar, or visit his website at RichardChizmar.com.