An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories. An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad. As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.
Hardcover, 561 pages
Published May 22nd 2018 by Scribner
Current Goodreads Rating: 4.14 Stars
I feel like Stephen King is a genre in himself. I think this is the first book of his I've ever read and only because my husband wanted to buddy read it with me and he doesn't read so I couldn't pass that opportunity up.
Anyways, I guess I should have figured with the title of the book, that the author wouldn't be shy to introduce the antagonist. I'm used to the mystery being solved as a last huge scene at the end with all the pieces falling into place, so I wasn't expecting answers so early on. It ended up being a nice change in pace. And still they might have been introduced to an idea of who this outsider might be, but any true detectives like those in this book would never settle with just knowing of this mysterious character, but want to get to the bottom of things and know their motives.
I loved how there was really never any build up to this story. It started with a bang and I loved how high of an intensity it held from the beginning, but yet always a feeling that something wasn't quite right. Answers were coming together a little too seamlessly. As you were breaching the peak of one mountain, you'd be getting lead up another, so they were never any dry valleys in between. Great flow and development, disgusting and sinister.
This is a book I might have enjoyed reading, but would never be able to watch if it were adapted to film. It was gruesome and disturbing and for some reason I might be able to handle reading some of the scenes that played out, but I'd have to look away if I were to see it on a screen. Weirdly enough I might have cried while reading this as well. I'm overly emotional though so take that with a heap load of salt, but when a woman cried out in pain then continued trying to resuscitate someone I got goosebumps and choked up. Well done.
BONUS: My husband just informed me this one will be made into a TV show, which I will not be watching! Check out that information HERE
“Reality is thin ice, but most people skate on it their whole lives and never fall through until the very end. We did fall through, but we helped each other out. We’re still helping each other.”
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”