The Bedmakers

by Chad Lutzke

After two elderly men tire of their homelessness in downtown Chicago 1979, they hop a train in search of work out west. But before their last stop, a traumatic event in an empty train car steers their once-hopeful journey into a path of chaos filled with deceit, murder, grave robbing, and dormant secrets.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Crime, Horror Thriller, Fiction, Thriller, Historical

235 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2024

About the author

Chad has written for Famous Monsters of Filmland, Rue Morgue, Cemetery Dance, and Scream magazine. He's had dozens of short stories published, and some of his books include: OF FOSTER HOMES & FLIES, STIRRING THE SHEETS, SKULLFACE BOY, THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU, THE PALE WHITE, THE NEON OWL and OUT BEHIND THE BARN co-written with John Boden. Lutzke's work has been praised by authors Jack Ketchum, Richard Chizmar, Joe R. Lansdale, Stephen Graham Jones, Tim Waggoner and his own mother.

He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I read anything by Chad Lutzke or John Boden, I know that tears are going to be involved. THE BEDMAKERS was no different.

Eugene and Calvin are two aging and homeless vets trying to get by. They decide to leave the city of Chicago in search of opportunities to the west. They wrangle their way illegally into a boxcar and settle in for the ride. Both of them being completely unaware that the car is already occupied and what's in there is going to change their lives forever. Will Genie and Calvin find their way to new lives? Will they even survive long enough to do so? You'll have to read this to find out!

Chad Lutze and John Boden writing together creates some kind of special magic. I've long been a fan of both writers. Individually, they are both wonderful, but joined together as in this tale, they reach an even higher level of greatness.

This narrative isn't easily categorized, but then again much of their individual work is like that too. It's not a horror story, though some parts are horrific, it's not a mystery or a thriller either. I guess that, once again, it's a story about friendships and how deep they can run. It's about brotherhood and support. It's about a deep sadness that occurs when a combat veteran isn't treated medically and isn't honored or valued by society upon their return. What do you call a story like that? I call it simply phenomenal.

After mulling this tale over in my mind for a few weeks now, I upped my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I keep thinking about these men, their friendship, their secrets-and to me that's a sign of an extraordinary read. As such, THE BEDMAKERS gets my highest recommendation!

*Thank you to Crystal Lake for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a while, I take a break from horror to read something different. It takes a gifted storyteller to pull my attention out of my horror novels so it doesn't happen often. When I saw this collaboration from Chad Lutzke and John Boden there was just no way I was going to be able to concentrate on any other book before reading The Bedmakers,

So who are The Bedmakers? I'm glad you asked.
Calvin and Eugene are former servicemen and homeless best friends facing hard times in 1979 Chicago. They decide to head out west for the warmer climate and possible work.
Even though they share everything, one is keeping a secret from the other, or at least he's trying to... On the way they run across some shocking trouble but that's nothing compared to what they find when they settle in at their destination. A quaint little town they think of as Mayberry has some secrets of its own and a few dangerous residents.

Eugene and Calvin have such a genuine friendship that I couldn't help but fall in love with both of them. They are the kind of gentlemen I'd be happy to sit down and share a conversation with or invite to my table for a meal, and if anyone said a word against them or their too worn out clothes I'd smack them. Although for elderly gentlemen they do quite well at defending themselves and each other when needed.
I still feel a little emotionally hungover from this story. If you are looking for a book with all the feels this is it.

I received an advance copy for review.

[Richard Bankey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from two of my favorite authors. Hopefully they will give us more awesome stories like this one.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In between ARCs, this year I’ve been trying to make it through all of my favorite authors’ books. I started reading Stephen King in the late 80s/early 90s and have never missed a book by the GOAT. I’m almost done with Frieda McFadden and John Marr’s books, but I still have a few Chad Lutzke books to read, so he’s up next. I loved the collaboration between him and John Boden on “Out Behind the Barn”, so when I saw this one, I picked it as my next.

I debated how to write this review. There’s a lot I could say about the plot without totally giving the story away, but I won’t. The synopsis says it all - in 1979, two homeless, elderly World War Two veterans decided to train hop west from Chicago, trying to find something new. They dealt with a traumatic tragedy, then found work and lodging through a pastor. During this time, they dealt with some of the worst of human things: racism, rape, grave robbing, death, murder and illness, just to name a few.

As with all of the author’s work, the characters were written to so well inside of this (longish) novella. Stephen King does “horror with heart” on occasion - Chad Lutzke does it almost every time. The feelings this story provoked were strong, the plot was simple but perfect, and it almost had me in tears at the end (I’m not much of a crier). Just read this one going on with this limited information; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Five perfect and loving stars.

[Dirk A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way to finish the year! When Lutzke and Boden combine their efforts, the reader reaps the reward. The Bedmakers hits on all cylinders, the levels of suspense, despair, and loss make this a quick read. The authors bring everyday overlooked individuals Genie and Calvin, into an adventure that quickly turns dark, with plenty of twist and turns, and enough skeletons to fill a whole house full of closets. You cannot go wrong with Bedmakers or anything these two have written for that matter, highly recommend.

[Well Read Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a ton of Lutzke and Boden. This is actually my second collab by them, having done Out Behind The Barn. This one was another really great read. Lutzke and Boden's styles just really work well together. I am a fan of their stories, but more so their writing style. Definitely recommend.

[Mike Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great read! Calvin and Genie (homeless vets) want to head out of chicago and better themselves, so they jump on a train. on the train, they meet up with some tough situations and find themselves in a worse spot than if they would have stayed in chicago. but they work through it and end up in a great little town and get a nice opportunity falls in their lap. then things really start to unravel. they meet up with some good folks, and some not so good folks while trying to get a new start. loved the characters, and the story is so good. very thrilling and touching in places, i just didnt want it to end. as good as Calvin and Genie are, there are some very evil characters as well which made the story all the better. overall easy five stars.

was given an ebook ARC to read for an honest review, was so easy to review and give positive feedback because the book is written very well and so easy to read. Thanks for the advance read, but ill be buying paper copy for my shelves as soon as its available.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bedmakers is another fine tale from Chad Lutzke. His ability to create characters you quickly love is second to none. My full review can be read here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-22J

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll start by saying I loved the tone of this book. The sickeningly rancid feel at the start worked perfectly for these characters and really dug in brilliantly. It was off to a flyer. I also think, as far as originality goes, this ticks all the boxes, too.
But for me, somehow I just couldn't connect the way I'd hoped. Maybe my expectations were too high. I love these authors. But, as we all know, you can't love all of their work. It happens. It's fine.
I don't think fans of their work will be disappointed. I just think this book wasn't right for me at this time. It happens, too. I'm jumping between genres at the moment because I'm becoming a bit weary of reading the same kind of books.
Yes, I did have a few issues with questionable similes, as mentioned in one of my updates, but it wasn't overwhelmingly bad. Most were fine. Some were actually great. I just feel in general, though, they rarely bring anything to the table. Maybe I'm more perceptive to them these days, but I see a lot of authors favouring them at the moment, and I can't for the life of me understand why.
I know... I'm a grumpy git.

Please don't get me wrong, this is good work. It really is. There is far more to appreciate than not. And I'm sure most horror fans will be calling me an idiot for not absolutely loving this.
But reading is a personal experience and that's all it is.

Rating it, I'd say this is closer to 3.5 stars than 3, but this time I'm not going to round it up to 4.

I blame Goodreads for not having half stars or an easier ten star rating.

[PhattandyPDX · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Two homeless men take the train out of Chicago in search of better lives and find themselves in a Noir version of Deliverance.

[Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a collaboration between two authors that are both instant buys for me. A literary match made in heaven? Hell? Maybe a little bit of both is more like it. At just a tad over 150 pages this tale has an epic feel that books double or triple the size can only dream of obtaining. Certainly one of the best things either of them has put out. That itself is a bold statement. I read it in two sittings only because of that work thing.

[Stephen Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great quick read. Im really enjoying John Boden and will definitely check out more by Chad Lutzke.

[Jerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instead of the coming of age stories that I have grown accustomed to, The Bedmakers is a story of two elderly homeless men. Lutzke again creates characters with Genie and Calvin that the reader connects with. I wanted to welcome these men into my own family and protect them. The story is written in the simplistic style that I love in Lutzke's books. The hope and positivity that the two men cling to is another common thread that I look forward to in his books. There were a few "holes" in the story that I wondered why were even introduced since there seemed to be no closure to those storylines. The biggest would be the church basement and what was happening there. Did I just miss the closure on that or was it just dropped? Also Jimmy - I felt like he was a loose end also. I would have rather these been expanded or left out and that was slightly disappointing to me.

Overall - the story is what a Lutzke fan looks for and you can't go wrong reading it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two older unhoused men, WWII vets, hop on a train heading west in 1979, hoping to find work and something marginally better than living on the streets. They stumble into a kind of Mayberry, but quickly discover that even the most beautiful fruit can harbor sickening rot within.

Lovely characterization, strong writing. One of the subplots didn't really work for me? It felt like a red herring that didn't go much of anywhere, and I'm not sure what the point was. But overall it was an engrossing, interesting read.

[Samantha Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Bedmakers" by Chad Lutzke & John Boden. I was sent my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Best friends Genie and Calvin, ripe with age, have decided to take one last trip. They choose to jump a train with no real destination in mind and soon find themselves in a terrible predicament. Faced with no real choice, the men make a decision that will alter their lives forever.

This story was an incredible story about loss, love, and friendship. Genie and Calvin are the type of friends that you'd consider soul mates. The friendship between them is so pure and protective. Both characters left a special place in my heart, and since finishing this story, I truly miss them both.

The mystery inside this tale was great. I really enjoyed the anticipation and twists inside. This story also made me sob. Straight ugly cry. I knew what was coming, I was fully aware. That ending still crushed me all the same. And Louise! What a plot twist!. I love a story that makes me feel how this one did. I felt so lost when I reached the end. I also loved realizing how the title came to be. I felt it was unique and a great way to showcase our own mortality.

Remember, guys, it's not about the destination. It's one thousand percent about the journey.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Chad Lutzke, John Boden and BookSirens

The story was a real tear jerker in parts. The two main characters were written in such a way the reader really connects with their plight. They decide to hop the train to change locations. Along their way, the trip turns Haywire. They decide to make a stop before their chosen destination. Find out what caused them to change their plans.

I really felt drawn to these two main down on their luck characters. The writing style was smooth and kept my attention.

Crime / Drama
Adventure

[Steve Rufle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. I was very impressed with the storyline and the writing. While reading, I was able to picture the characters as they moved from chapter to chapter.

[Alexis Zhou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice short read, a surprisingly sad story about life-long friendship (and murder).

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure Gold

There's a lot of magic in this one, and the seamless collaboration makes for an amazing reading experience. I'm a huge fan of both Lutzke and Boden, and I look forward to anything either author releases. Highly recommended!

[TawnyManae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord. I didn't think I'd love this story as much as I did. I was expecting horror or maybe a thriller but instead I got a devastatingly beautiful story. I also bawled like a little girl.

[Theresa Berlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So heartwarming so heartbreaking makes you smile and makes you cry I really hope everyone will get a chance to experience the read ❤️

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I am depressed.

[Melanie Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. While it had an incredibly unsettling vibe from the beginning, I was expecting it to have more horror aspects. It was a really good story and I did love the characters.

[Chris Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little trip down the tracks. It is a quick read that was hard to put down once the train got rolling. It is a story about two older men who have seen better days and decide to take one last shot at a better life by hopping on a train and heading out for greener pastures, leaving a troubled, but predictable, life behind. On their way, they are affected by a horrific act that deposits them in a town that on the surface seems idyllic but is tied to the event that shook them and continues to haunt them as they attempt to solve the dark mystery behind what they witnessed and its connections to the small town they hope to make a new home in. I enjoyed the fact that the authors chose two older men as the protagonists, something that is rare but provided an interesting perspective. It is a bit of a bumpy ride at first, but when it gets going the characters and the setting really drive an entertaining and dark read I would recommend.

[ladybreww · Rating 3 out of 5]

For starters, this definitely isn't horror, and probably shouldn't have been in a horror subscription box.

That being said, it was a pretty enjoyable read. It's like a dark historical lit fic novella. Two elderly homeless men who hop a train across the country and take jobs as gravediggers - a fun concept. There were a lot of uncomfortable themes and I felt the ick a lot (which was the intent).

It really read like a book trying to be Of Mice & Men. I happen to like that style and general time period even though I think this was late 70s. I would read more by both authors but readers should change their expectations as to the genre. There were no horror components other than they worked at a graveyard and a few people died during the story.

It's like a coming of age story for two old guys who went to war together.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this!! What an amazing friendship Calvin and Genie had.. such a touching and haunting story.
Lutzke literally never disappoints.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting, it's an easy read, touching on some not so easy themes. It starts right into the middle of things, with a couple of homeless old men who decide to skip town (Chicago) and go find work elsewhere. Both men are veterans and face PTSD. It didn't take me long to get fully invested in the story, and keep reading to see where they'd end up. It takes some time till something really significant happens; till then, we just enjoy the comfort each man feels in the other's presence: their relation is one of genuine friendship and that was good to see. Their age, though, made it a bit hard for me to really relate to them: they kept mentioning it and so reminded me to keep my distance. But then something awful does happen, on the train they're travelling on, and things turn very, very nasty. The story gets suddenly fast-paced and suspenseful: they find themselves in a remote small town, they have to face the local sheriff who acts as an ignorant racist creep - but then... then they get a second chance. And, well, it's no longer just their story that matters any more. There develops a series of situations simultaneously tragic and thought-provoking, involving too many people and their own issues to focus on just one narrative thread. Circumstances quickly escalate, the twists come hard and fast, literally out of nowhere. It all leads to a heartbreaking ending which suits the story like a glove. Definitely worth a read.

[Amanda Bosch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this quick read. A bittersweet tale about real friendship, a small town and the hardship of being human.

Main characters, Eugene and Calvin, were such a breath of fresh air. This story focused on the two men, homeless and wracked with grief, as they walk through life together.

Faced with some strange hiccups, the friends hilariously navigate their misadventure in a seemingly idyllic town.

Great story telling, suspenseful, heartfelt and a nice palette cleanser after a more horrific book.

Thank you Night Worms for including this one!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great slow burn grief horror story.

[Tamara L. Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of depth and detail packed into 159 pages. My first time reading these authors. It won't be my last.