Description

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?

About the author(s)

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 MemorialsBecoming the Boogeyman, and Chasing the BoogeymanThe Girl on the PorchThe 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.

Reviews

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

“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)
 

“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

“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

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