Memorials starts out as a slow burn and builds menacingly into a raging inferno of dread. The novel, set in 1983, is narrated by Billy, who – along with two friends – embarks on a week-long trip to film and document roadside “memorials” for their American Studies class. However, Billy and his friends, Melody and Troy, have more in common than just a college assignment. Each of the three has lost someone dear to them. Billy, at age sixteen, lost his mother and father in a senseless automobile accident. Melody lost her mother to an accidental overdose. And, Troy lost his little brother to gun violence. Thus, these three diverse individuals have become bonded by shared grief.

The trio borrow Melody’s sisters VW van and set out on the backroads of Pennsylvanian Appalachia, stopping at memorials along the way. Their first real stop will be in Sudbury, Billy’s hometown, where a memorial to his late mom and dad sits by the side of the road. The journey starts out pleasantly, the three comrades joking and teasing each other. But, soon, Billy discovers a strange symbol carved into the memorials and, examining one of his photos, thinks he can see a man watching them. Tension mounts as the three friends become more and more freaked out by events, real or imagined. They begin to believe they are being followed and watched. At one stop, they come back to their vehicle and find a tire flat. Two nails have punctured it. Was it just a random occurrence? Or something more sinister.

Memorials is an enthralling read. Creepy and twisted, it is a novel that is hard to put down. Chizmar has mastered the art of character-drawing, much like Stephen King. The three protagonists, Billy, Melody, and Troy, are real, three-dimensional, and, as the novel progresses, etch their way into your heart. Not only a tale of supernatural suspense, Memorials is also a coming-of-age novel and a tale of overcoming grief. Simply put, it is one of the best occult horror novels I have read this year.

I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a free advanced reader copy of Memorials in exchange for this honest review.