Author:Natsuo Kirino
In a suburb on the outskirts of Tokyo, four teenage girls drift through a hot smoggy August and tedious summer school classes. There's dependable Toshi; brainy Terauchi; Yuzan, grief-stricken and confused; and Kirarin, whose late nights and reckless behaviour remain a secret from those around her.
Then Toshi's next-door neighbour is found brutally murdered and the girls suspect Worm, the neighbour's son and a high school misfit. But when he disappears (taking Toshi's bike and cell phone with him) the four girls become irresistibly drawn into a treacherous vortex of brutality and seduction which rises from within themselves as well as the world around them.
Kirino uses her considerable narrative gifts to evoke the tedium, pressure and angst her teenage characters suffer
—— Publishers WeeklyKirino creates a fictional universe in which the normal rules of engagement no longer apply...she chronicles the toxic fall out of an educational system that fosters conformity above individualism
—— Emma Hagestadt , IndependentJapanese crime queen ... a tense, worried book of actions and consequences
—— GuardianShe may be the best crime writer to emerge from Japan in years
—— Independent on SundayThe translation is smooth and invisible... Compelling
—— www.eurocrime.co.ukBonfire is a stone-cold stunner—the writing is dazzling, the suspense is creeping, and the story of a woman returning home to face her past is brimming with emotion and truth. An extraordinary debut from a major talent.
—— Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of DARK MATTERAn increasingly dark debut from the star of Jessica Jones
—— GlamourDark but compulsively readable
—— Image MagazineAbby’s voice captivates from the beginning and sustains throughout…Ritter ramps up the unreliability factor and keeps readers guessing with hairpin twists that shift the blame
—— The Irish TimesA compulsive novel
—— GraziaThis is a dark and gripping book that demands to be read in one sitting
—— Culture FlyA rather splendid legal and psychological thriller debut from an unexpected source… this a debut of note
—— Maxim Jabukowski , Crime TimeA compelling psychological thriller
—— Harper's BazaarImpressive, suspenseful.
—— Choice MagazineTaut, twisty and very creepy, this is a must for anyone who enjoys psycho-thrillers . . . The ending is genius
—— SagaDeliciously creepy with a side order of Eighties nostalgia
—— Thrillers We Love , Good HousekeepingStarted and finished in one day. Absolutely gripping, chilling, and as creepy as that house with dark windows we all knew as kids. Brilliant read and can't wait for the next one!
—— Luca Veste, author of the Murphy & Rossi novelsA well-constructed thriller layered with secrets, suspense, twists, turns and an outcome you may not see coming
—— Choice MagazineIt is hard to believe The Chalk Man is the debut novel from C J Tudor. The writing is sublime, and the ending is spine-tinglingly chilling
—— The SunThis insanely readable chiller has it all - a brilliant, nostalgic flavour, humour and heart . . . A fantastic debut from a major new talent.
—— The Sunday MirrorStrong characterisation, plenty of plot twists and an evocative portrait of small-town life in the 1980s add up to a riveting read
—— The GuardianThe prose is punk, the pace fast and the plot sinewy. There are shades of Stephen King when the reality bends into the sinister, and a deliciously creepy finale . . .
—— Daily MailEven Brexit impact reports made less frightening reading than C. J. Tudor's Stephen King-esque coming-of-age story cum murder mystery The Chalk Man. With tyro crime writers this dark, the future is bright
—— Daily Telegraph Books of the YearThe novel is so well executed . . . Tudor is very good at deploying shocks and surprises that catch you off guard. I jumped so many times while reading I could have been sitting on a chair made of cactus
—— The Sunday ExpressThriller of the Week - an intriguing puzzle with an engaging cast of characters . . . a highly promising debut
—— The Mail on SundayA must-read for all horror fans
—— Daily ExpressThere are enough twists and turns in this dark debut thriller to tie you in knots. The end is fabulously surprising and satisfying . . . creepy
—— The Sunday Post[CJ Tudor] creates a winningly dark atmosphere and serves up a beautifully timed stream of intriguing new plot elements
—— Readers DigestA nail-biting thriller
—— Inside SoapBook of the Month
—— Prizes MagazineA compelling debut
—— Mail OnlineScare yourself silly with this brilliant chiller . . . a spine-tingling read
—— BestOne of the best suspense thrillers i've read. A very easy 5 big fat stars and 100% recommended
—— Compulsivereaders.comIs The Chalk Man one of THE books of 2018? YES, YES YES IT REALLY IS . . . an absolute corker, a spine tingling read
—— PageturnersnookA fantastic debut novel to keep you up late at night
—— BookLiteratiA nail biting thriller
—— Inside SoapIt's a corker that'll give you the willies. Chalk one up to C J Tudor.
—— Sunday SportGenuinely creepy books don't come along very often, but this one can hold its missing head up high
—— HeatThere are shades of Stephen King in this very creepy timeslip, as well as an evocative portrait of small-town life in 1980s Britain
—— Guardian, Books of the YearMy favourite crime book of 2018 would have to be The Chalk Man. It initially brought to mind twisted tales of suburban Americana such as Stand by Me and Carrie. However, by weaving in authentic and evocative period detail C. J. Tudor manages to create a story that tells of the darkness at the heart of small-town life that is, like the rotten pastoral in a M. R. James ghost story, uniquely English. Unsettling, taut and skillfully plotted, The Chalk Man grabbed me by the throat from the very first sentence and didn't let go until the final, heart-stopping page
—— Nuala Ellwood, author of The Day of the Accident[I] haven't had a sleepless night due to a book for a long time. The Chalk Man changed that. Many congrats C. J. Tudor
—— Fiona Barton , bestselling author of The WidowWhat a great book. A twisty thriller and downright creepy ending. 5 stars.
—— Sarah Pinborough, the number 1 bestselling author of , Behind Her EyesTense, skillful storytelling
—— Ali Land, bestselling author of , Good Me Bad MeAbsolutely brilliant. I was expecting a creepy horror story that I'd have to read with all the lights on but this book is so much more than that - it's witty, insightful, clever, thoughtful, mysterious, gripping, nostalgic and utterly compelling. Publishers often talk about "an exciting new voice in fiction" and I genuinely think C. J. Tudor is going to be huge. This book has bestseller written all over it and if it doesn't go to number one I will eat my crime writing hat
—— C. L. Taylor , author of The MissingWhat 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 skilfully together to create that unforgettable and unexpected ending. Compelling, taut and so very, very chilling. This book will haunt you!
—— Claire Douglas , Sunday Times bestselling author of Last Seen AliveIt'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 , Sunday Times bestselling author of the Inspector McLean seriesUtterly 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
—— Mr A. J. FinnImpossible to put down, cleverly constructed and executed
—— Ragnar Jonasson , author of the bestselling Dark Iceland seriesKept me up until five in the morning. Wonderfully written. I loved it!
—— Kimberley Chambers , bestselling author of BackstabberI absolutely loved The Chalk Man . . . It's a dark, mesmerising thriller with an ending that left me with goosebumps!
—— Nuala Elwood , author of My Sister’s BonesOne of the best books I've read since I first read Stephen King's IT when I was 14. Go get it!
—— Rachel Burton , author of The Many Colours of UsI've just finished The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor. WOW! I could not put it down. If you like Stephen King, you'll LOVE this!
—— Hayley Barker , author of ShowstopperAt the heart of this accomplished debut lies a shocking crime stumbled upon by a group of teenage friends. It is a discovery that shatters their innocence and haunts the whole community. Now, twenty years later, someone is sending anonymous letters - chalk drawings of a stick figure with a noose around its neck - someone who hasn't forgotten what happened in the woods all those years ago. The past is very much alive in this book where memory is unreliable and old secrets fester, threatening to turn as odorous as a rotting corpse. Tudor's sharp eye for detail and ear for dialogue lend the childhood scenes an immediacy and authenticity that completely convince. With its driving plot and sensitive evocation of friendship and loneliness, The Chalk Man is an utterly gripping read, with an ending that will make the hairs on the back of your neck bristle
—— Karen Perry , bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?Just finished The Chalk Man. Dark and addictive. This page-turner is more twisty than a rollercoaster. And one hell of a ride.
—— Will Dean , Dark PinesThe 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
—— David Bell, bestselling author , Bring Her HomeThe 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 ManAbsolutely loved it! Creepy, brilliant and tense, I could not put it down!
—— Karen Hamilton , The Perfect GirlfriendBlasted through this beauty in one intense and thrilling sitting
—— S R Masters , The Killer You KnowThe Chalk Man stole my weekend! Wow. Just wow. The tension just builds and builds. And what a final page . . .
—— Simon Lelic , The HouseFinished reading The Chalk Man by C.J Tudor last night. What a book! Enjoyed every minute of it. A total banger!
—— Amy Lloyd , author of The Innocent WifeC.J. Tudor brilliantly weaves past and present into a haunting, vividly imagined tale. Much more than a murder mystery, it is a sharp, terrifying exploration of the bonds and limitations of childhood friendships and of secrets that refuse to remain buried. I fell in love with the guiding voice of this novel, the thoughtful and solitary Eddie. Prepare to be surprised again and again, even until the final page
—— Michelle Richmond, author of , The Marriage PactThe Chalk Man is an unpredictable and engaging thriller: sinister, tragic, and with a beautifully rendered sense of time and place. That final page still haunts me
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of , Dear AmyThe grip the past has on the present reveals itself in ever more sinister and macabre ways in this utterly original and relentlessly compelling psychological thriller. The Chalk Man kept me guessing all the way to the end
—— Fiona Neil , bestselling author of The BetrayalsAs well as being unputdownable, it was emotionally intelligent, touching and credible
—— Emma Curtis , author of One Little MistakeEasy, gripping and enjoyable
—— Cecelia Ahern , bestselling author of P.S. I Love You