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.
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.
Helpful Score: 2
Compared to some of King's long-winded tomes, Later reads like a novella; one quick ride that doesn't let up. A bit of dry humor; lovable, everyday characters (Jamie and mom Tia against the world); and just the right amount of horror that includes the supernatural and the ugly side of human. Great stuff. Easily one of his best novels. 4.5 stars.
Helpful Score: 1
A well written story about a kid who sees dead people. A saga that tells an interesting without much fanfare. I wouldn't call it much of a thriller.
Helpful Score: 1
It's from the Hard Case Crime line, but it's Stephen King, so more horror and not so much crime although there is a bad cop and a murdered guy Also quite short, at about 250 pages, so a nice fast read. King, as always, writes such interesting characters and believable dialogue. Loved Jamie, loved the Professor, saw the end coming as we are meant to. I did expect more of an ending; but that's fine too, we don't know what's going to happen Later.
Better than the latest King work, maybe because it's short.
