Memorials

Richard Chizmar presents a chilling narrative in Memorials, following three college students on a documentary project about roadside memorials. Set in 1983, the story begins as an academic assignment for an American Studies class. The group travels through Appalachia to film their subject matter. What starts as a fun adventure with campfires and open roads soon turns dark. The atmosphere shifts as they encounter unsettling symbols on the memorials. These markings hint at a sinister secret lurking in the backwoods. Paranoia grows when the students feel followed. Their vehicle is tampered with overnight, and local residents prove unwelcoming. They begin to question whether the deaths marked by these monuments were random accidents or the work of something terrifying. The novel captures the isolation of long stretches of empty road and the dread of being watched. It draws on the tradition of Appalachian folklore and the horror of small-town secrets. Stephen King notes the book is scary and hard to put down, advising readers not to read it at night. This story suits fans of supernatural terror and road trip thrillers. It may not appeal to those who prefer lighthearted academic adventures or stories with clear resolutions.