Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 5/8/2021 + 1223 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Stephen King just keeps cranking out very engrossing and compelling stories. This entry in the HARD CASE CRIME series is classic King with many of the elements that make King's novels worth reading. This is a coming-of-age story with a twist, the protagonist of the story, Jamie Conklin, can also see dead people! Jamie is the son of a single mother who is also a literary editor. Jamie learned at an early age that he could see and communicate with recently deceased persons. When Jamie was about six, he and his mother arrived home one day to find that an elderly neighbor had passed away. But lo and behold, Jamie could see and talk to the woman while his mother was comforting the grieving husband. This gift comes in handy later for Jamie and his mother when she needs to find out the plot of an unfinished novel from a renowned author who dies of an unexpected heart attack. But then Jamie's gift is used to the advantage of a disgraced cop who used to be the lover of Jamie's mother and things only get worse from there. Jamie does keep telling the reader that it is a horror story...and it certainly is.

This was a very engaging tale from King. Although it was shorter than his usual lengthy tomes and could be read in an afternoon, it does not lack for character development or good story telling. As usual, King makes the reader want to turn the pages to find out what happens next. Overall I would recommend this one to any King fan.

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