Book Beginnings is a book meme hosted by Rose City Reader where participants share the first sentence (or so) of the book, along with initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice, and the rules are quite simple: Grab a book, any book, and turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader. Find any non-spoilery sentence(s) and post.
This week’s book:
Title: The Chalk Man
Author: C.J. Tudor
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
Summary (from Goodreads): In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.
In 2016, Eddie is fully grown and thinks he’s put his past behind him, but then he gets a letter in the mail containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank–until one of them turns up dead. That’s when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.
This book is a little bit darker than ones that I usually read. I was sent this lovely package from the publisher that included the book and a box of chalk. This definitely piqued my interest and after checking out a few Goodreads reviews, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad that I did because this is one thriller that has had me guessing from the first few pages. I am almost to the end with a hint of an idea, but I am still unsure. The story goes back and forth between 1986 and 2016, which adds a really interesting element to the plot.
Book Beginning:
Start at the beginning.
The problem was none of us ever agreed on the exact beginning. Was it when Fat Gav got the bucket of chalks for his birthday? Was it when we started drawing chalk figures or when they started to appear on their own?
Friday 56:
At the door, Chloe pauses. She has on her concerned face. “Seriously, though, if you need a get-out I can give you a call on your mobile if you like- fake emergency?”
This does sound like an intriguing story. I’ll have to look for a copy. This week I’m reading The English Wife by Lauren Willig. Happy reading!
I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Oh wow…I’m drawn in by this one! I love dark mysteries. Putting this on my TBR for sure! Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing 🙂
It is definitely dark! I hope that you enjoy it if you do pick it up. 🙂
I’m curious for more! 🙂 Happy weekend!
I’m already loving the book and I haven’t even read it yet. 😀
Yay!! It is a little bit out of my element, but if you enjoy dark thrillers, I highly suggest this one. 🙂
I am adding this to my reading list. Sounds very good. I am read nonfiction this week: Dreaming the Beatles
It definitely sounds a bit on the dark side but also a serious page turner! I love that the publisher sent a box of chalk with the book!
Right?! I found myself drawn right into this one.
I was surprised to see that you were reading this… It definitely isn’t what I normally see you read. But I am definitely glad to see this. I hadn’t heard of this before, and now i have another new book to add to my TBR.
I know! I am definitely out of my comfort zone with this one. If you like a dark thriller, this is one that you might like.
Been seeing this a lot and it’s right up my alley! It would be a great movie too.
My Friday 56 from Murder On New Year’s Eve
I think it will be a book that you would love! I can totally see this one going to the screen as well.
This is on my wishlist, too! I was supposed to get a copy from Firsttoread but it wouldn’t download…so sad!
Not too much longer to wait for its release! I hope that you enjoy it when you do get a copy of it. 😉
The premise sounds really interesting! I’m glad it’s not one of those books you can guess the twist right away and instead keeps you guessing. I always love when publishers take the time to create a thematic package, it’s so nice 🙂
Great post, and it’s cool that you liked this despite not being your usual kind of read! Shows how talented the writer is ^^
You definitely hit the nail on the head! The writing is what definitely pulled me out of my reading comfort zone. 🙂
Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
This sounds like it could be good! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me