The Long Way Home

A small Maryland town becomes the hunting ground for a serial killer in the summer of 1996. Police Chief Tom Whitman leads the investigation while navigating pressure from the media, local politicians, and frightened residents. Newspaper columnist Carly Albright documents the crimes and their impact on the community through her articles in the local paper. The investigation intensifies as evidence connects the current murders to unsolved cases from fifteen years prior. The story alternates between multiple perspectives, including the police, journalists, and community members caught in the widening circle of fear. Real newspaper clippings and police reports are incorporated throughout the narrative. The novel examines how violence transforms small communities and tests the bonds between neighbors. Through its focus on both the investigation and the town's response, the book raises questions about trust, justice, and the price of safety in close-knit communities.

Readers describe this memoir as a nostalgic reflection on growing up in 1970s Maryland, with many connecting to Chizmar's depictions of small-town life, childhood friendships, and baseball. Readers appreciated: - The relatable childhood experiences and universal emotions - The author's straightforward, conversational writing style - Details about growing up in a specific time and place - The blend of true crime elements with coming-of-age stories Common criticisms: - Narrative feels disjointed and jumps between timeframes - Some sections drag with excessive detail - Connection between different story elements feels forced - Limited resolution to the true crime aspects Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (900+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Like sitting with an old friend sharing memories" - Goodreads reviewer "Too meandering, needed tighter editing" - Amazon reviewer "Captures perfectly what it was like growing up in that era" - BookBub review

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🏠 Richard Chizmar wrote this book during the COVID-19 lockdown, drawing inspiration from his own hometown of Edgewood, Maryland, which serves as the setting for the story. 📚 The book is a sequel to "Chasing the Boogeyman," which blended true crime, memoir, and fiction in an innovative way that had many readers questioning what was real and what wasn't. 🔍 The author has collaborated with Stephen King on multiple projects, including the novella "Gwendy's Button Box," making him well-versed in small-town horror storytelling. 🏫 Many locations featured in the book are real places in Edgewood, Maryland, including the high school and local landmarks that Chizmar attended and visited in his youth. 📖 The novel uses a unique narrative structure that combines elements of true crime reporting, personal memoir, and supernatural horror, creating what some critics have called "meta-horror."