Back in the summer of 1988, a young Richard Chizmar was catapulted into the center of a living nightmare as the serial killer Joshua Gallagher—dubbed by the media as “The Boogeyman”—stalked his tranquil Maryland town. A lot has changed in the intervening years.
These days, Chizmar enjoys a certain level of celebrity and notoriety himself, being the only person that an incarcerated Josh Gallagher will speak to on or off the record. Chizmar likes to believe that he’s doing the world a public service by visiting Gallagher in prison, as there are plenty of other nameless victims out there who Gallagher might finally admit to killing and bring closure to grieving loved ones, and a dark rhythm and routine begin to take hold. But Chizmar eventually finds there’s a price to be paid for dancing with the devil, when a masked figure with all the hallmarks of Gallagher’s reign of terror from thirty years ago now leaves a horrifying calling card in front of Chizmar’s home, and it’s clear there’s a new player on the board in the ongoing game that the Boogeyman controls…
Becoming the Boogeyman is the 2nd book in Richard Chizmar’s Boogeyman series. Although you could read it as a standalone, as there’s enough backstory to understand what happened in book 1, I recommend reading these books in order—especially with the third and final book, Killing the Boogeyman, coming on October 6. And you should know right off the bat that this is a work of fiction. Even though Richard Chizmar himself is the protagonist, and the story includes his wife, sons, friends, neighbors, and places inspired by his real life, the events of this story, the serial killers, and the police investigation are fictional. If listening on audio, in “Note to Listeners” before starting, Richard explains this and more to make the book more interesting.
I was immersed from the first chapter. Because it’s written in Richard’s first-person POV and has a memoir-like feel, so many of the details felt so realistic that I kept forgetting I was reading fiction. I found myself wondering whether some details of the story actually happened and looking them up online! 😂
The story has a gripping start by taking us back to the murders of teen girls in Edgewood, Maryland, in 1988, killed by a serial killer who became known as the Boogeyman because he killed his victims close to their homes and disappeared without a trace. One girl, Amy Riggs, survived an attack and escaped, and her connection to those original crimes is key to the story. Richard grew up in Edgewood, and after DNA evidence identified Joshua Gallagher as the killer and he was arrested in 2019, Richard wrote Chasing the Boogeyman, the first book in this series. Within the world of this novel, that book is a huge success and is adapted into a movie. And this is where Chizmar had me questioning reality again because I stopped reading and looked up whether the movie existed. I’ll save you the time—it doesn’t. All of that sets the stage for what happens next when a mysterious industrial bag appears outside Richard’s home and is found to contain human remains. Even more disturbing, the victim appears to have been killed in a way that echoes Joshua Gallagher’s original murders, despite the fact that he’s behind bars and has only been communicating with Richard.
From there, the book becomes part police procedural, with Lieutenant McLaren and Detective Gonzalez becoming increasingly involved with Richard and his family. Richard doesn’t stand on the sidelines, and with his history with Gallagher and other serial killers, he does his own investigation, while putting himself and his family in more danger.
There are other serial killers and disturbing encounters woven in, including a dangerous man Richard worked with as a teen. I was initially a bit confused about why there were different serial killers and historical stories woven in—I recommend being patient with those sections because some of those threads connect back to the main mystery. The story loses a bit of momentum when it moves away from the present day to Richard’s flashbacks, historical serial-killer stories, or other details, but those sections also added to the memoir/true-crime vibe for me.
I also enjoyed the structure of this book. There are interview transcripts, correspondence, and other documentary-style pieces woven in. A creepy interview with a correctional officer at the start almost gives a supernatural possibility, or at least that’s where my mind went. Richard’s conversations with Joshua Gallagher were some of my favourite scenes. There’s so much tension between them, and Gallagher often speaks in riddles and seems to know far more about what’s happening outside the prison than he should.
The climax is thrilling, with everything Richard’s been trying to understand finally coming together, and I couldn’t put the book down. But just when you think the mystery is over, Chizmar pulls the rug out from underneath you and leaves the story on a major cliffhanger with unanswered questions. I can’t wait to read book 3 now because I need to know what happens next!!
I highly recommend listening on audio. Chris Andrew Ciulla does a fantastic job portraying Richard and making you feel like you’re right there in his world. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing him narrate the third book.
If you enjoy serial-killer thrillers, psychological horror, copycat killers, true-crime fiction, metafiction, and stories that blur the line between fact and fiction, I think you’ll love this book and series—but start with Chasing the Boogeyman, and you’ll be able to binge all three books very soon!
Narrator Performance
Becoming the Boogeyman is read by award-winning narrator Chris Andrew Ciulla, who also narrated book 1 and returns for the upcoming 3rd book coming October 6, 2026!
Chris’s narration grabbed me right away in the Before timeline, when the 1988 murders are described and the history of Joshua Gallagher, the serial killer known as the Boogeyman, is introduced. His narrator was so atmospheric, & I felt a growing sense of dread. When the story jumps to present day with a phone transcript between Richard and correctional officer Atkins, Chris shifts his performance. It sounds like an actual telephone conversation, and the bewilderment in Atkins’s voice as he described what he saw in Gallagher’s cell had me intrigued.
I loved the dynamic personality Chris gives to protagonist Richard Chizmar. Early on, when Richard is reflecting on Gallagher’s original arrest, his relationship with the serial killer, and how writing Chasing the Boogeyman changed his life, Chris gives him a natural, conversational voice that made all the events feel so real. I honestly felt like I was listening to Richard Chizmar himself. Chris’s delivery allows you to hear how the weight of social media backlash and public scrutiny started affecting Richard’s life.
Chris also does an excellent job giving distinct voices to all the characters, including Richard’s wife, Cara, their sons, and the officers (Detective Gonzalez and Lieutenant McLaren) on the case. The conversations between Richard and Cara were convincing, as you can hear the trust between them. Cara’s concern for Richard, her frustration with his decisions, and the fact that she still trusts him despite everything happening around them were all conveyed well.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the dialogue between Richard and Joshua Gallagher. Whether they’re speaking face-to-face or on the phone, Chris makes every exchange feel loaded with tension. You can hear Richard becoming frustrated and even triggered by Gallagher’s refusal to give him answers, especially when Gallagher speaks in riddles. Chris gives an unsettling vibe to Gallagher’s voice even when he’s speaking calmly.
I also really enjoyed the exchanges between Richard and his longtime friend Carly Albright, especially when Carly helps Richard investigate what’s happening in town. You can hear the genuine affection and trust in their friendship & how Carly understands Richard in a way not everyone around him does.
And the last chapter is 🔥. Chris nails the sudden suspense, and you can hear Richard’s shock! I immediately wanted to pick up the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. Thankfully, Killing the Boogeyman is coming very soon, so I’m counting down the days.
I recommend listening to this series rather than reading it, especially because Chris gives such a dynamic, immersive performance and makes you wonder how much of what you are hearing is actually fictitious. Don’t hesitate on this entire series!
Narrator Performance
Becoming the Boogeyman is read by award-winning narrator Chris Andrew Ciulla, who also narrated book 1 and returns for the upcoming 3rd book coming October 6, 2026!
Chris’s narration grabbed me right away in the Before timeline, when the 1988 murders are described and the history of Joshua Gallagher, the serial killer known as the Boogeyman, is introduced. His narrator was so atmospheric, & I felt a growing sense of dread. When the story jumps to present day with a phone transcript between Richard and correctional officer Atkins, Chris shifts his performance. It sounds like an actual telephone conversation, and the bewilderment in Atkins’s voice as he described what he saw in Gallagher’s cell had me intrigued.
I loved the dynamic personality Chris gives to protagonist Richard Chizmar. Early on, when Richard is reflecting on Gallagher’s original arrest, his relationship with the serial killer, and how writing Chasing the Boogeyman changed his life, Chris gives him a natural, conversational voice that made all the events feel so real. I honestly felt like I was listening to Richard Chizmar himself. Chris’s delivery allows you to hear how the weight of social media backlash and public scrutiny started affecting Richard’s life.
Chris also does an excellent job giving distinct voices to all the characters, including Richard’s wife, Cara, their sons, and the officers (Detective Gonzalez and Lieutenant McLaren) on the case. The conversations between Richard and Cara were convincing, as you can hear the trust between them. Cara’s concern for Richard, her frustration with his decisions, and the fact that she still trusts him despite everything happening around them were all conveyed well.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the dialogue between Richard and Joshua Gallagher. Whether they’re speaking face-to-face or on the phone, Chris makes every exchange feel loaded with tension. You can hear Richard becoming frustrated and even triggered by Gallagher’s refusal to give him answers, especially when Gallagher speaks in riddles. Chris gives an unsettling vibe to Gallagher’s voice even when he’s speaking calmly.
I also really enjoyed the exchanges between Richard and his longtime friend Carly Albright, especially when Carly helps Richard investigate what’s happening in town. You can hear the genuine affection and trust in their friendship & how Carly understands Richard in a way not everyone around him does.
And the last chapter is 🔥. Chris nails the sudden suspense, and you can hear Richard’s shock! I immediately wanted to pick up the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. Thankfully, Killing the Boogeyman is coming very soon, so I’m counting down the days.
I recommend listening to this series rather than reading it, especially because Chris gives such a dynamic, immersive performance and makes you wonder how much of what you are hearing is actually fictitious. Don’t hesitate on this entire series!
Becoming the Boogeyman is read by award-winning narrator Chris Andrew Ciulla, who also narrated book 1 and returns for the upcoming 3rd book coming October 6, 2026!
Chris’s narration grabbed me right away in the Before timeline, when the 1988 murders are described and the history of Joshua Gallagher, the serial killer known as the Boogeyman, is introduced. His narrator was so atmospheric, & I felt a growing sense of dread. When the story jumps to present day with a phone transcript between Richard and correctional officer Atkins, Chris shifts his performance. It sounds like an actual telephone conversation, and the bewilderment in Atkins’s voice as he described what he saw in Gallagher’s cell had me intrigued.
I loved the dynamic personality Chris gives to protagonist Richard Chizmar. Early on, when Richard is reflecting on Gallagher’s original arrest, his relationship with the serial killer, and how writing Chasing the Boogeyman changed his life, Chris gives him a natural, conversational voice that made all the events feel so real. I honestly felt like I was listening to Richard Chizmar himself. Chris’s delivery allows you to hear how the weight of social media backlash and public scrutiny started affecting Richard’s life.
Chris also does an excellent job giving distinct voices to all the characters, including Richard’s wife, Cara, their sons, and the officers (Detective Gonzalez and Lieutenant McLaren) on the case. The conversations between Richard and Cara were convincing, as you can hear the trust between them. Cara’s concern for Richard, her frustration with his decisions, and the fact that she still trusts him despite everything happening around them were all conveyed well.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the dialogue between Richard and Joshua Gallagher. Whether they’re speaking face-to-face or on the phone, Chris makes every exchange feel loaded with tension. You can hear Richard becoming frustrated and even triggered by Gallagher’s refusal to give him answers, especially when Gallagher speaks in riddles. Chris gives an unsettling vibe to Gallagher’s voice even when he’s speaking calmly.
I also really enjoyed the exchanges between Richard and his longtime friend Carly Albright, especially when Carly helps Richard investigate what’s happening in town. You can hear the genuine affection and trust in their friendship & how Carly understands Richard in a way not everyone around him does.
And the last chapter is 🔥. Chris nails the sudden suspense, and you can hear Richard’s shock! I immediately wanted to pick up the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. Thankfully, Killing the Boogeyman is coming very soon, so I’m counting down the days.
I recommend listening to this series rather than reading it, especially because Chris gives such a dynamic, immersive performance and makes you wonder how much of what you are hearing is actually fictitious. Don’t hesitate on this entire series!
