Later

Get busy living or get busy dying.” – Stephen King

Stephen King has done it again!

Jamie Conklin just wants a normal life. He is the son of a struggling single mother trying to pay the bills which includes paying for the care facility his uncle is in. He is a good kid but has a special “gift”. He can see and speak to the recently deceased. Is this a gift or a curse? This is Stephen King after all, and it is as he writes “a horror story”.

Stephen King can spin a yarn and he does so in this paranormal coming of age tale. He shows Jamie using his gift, his mother cautioning his to keep it quiet, and we see what happens when the cat is out of the bag. When a NYPD detective learns of his ability, Jamie is put to the test as is his ability.

I continued to be amazed how King can not only come up with new storylines, but those storylines are full of characters who are so likeable, relatable, and easy to root for. They are flawed, they are doing the best that they can, and sure one might see dead people, but no one is perfect.

There is a sweetness to this book. The relationships forged especially with their neighbor. Characters care for each other, the perform acts of kindness, they feel real and fully formed. But not everyone is being kind in this book. It is King after all. There are also touches of humor and I loved hearing Jamie’s thoughts!

It is going to hit the fan, but it does not hit it quite so hard as it does in his previous books. I think this book will appeal to more readers. Yes, King writes that this is a horror story, but it is also a mystery, a coming of age, and a paranormal story as well.

Did it scare me? No. Give me the creeps? No. But it was enjoyable and all King. Not every horror story needs to be truly horrific, does it? Because this one was a pleasure.

Looking forward to what he comes up with next.