hwaun.blogg.se

Then, Tia can “ghostwrite” (get it ha ha) the novel itself, leaving the public none the wiser. When Regis suddenly dies before completing the final novel of the series, and faced with a momentous tax debt, Tia decides to have her son talk to the writer’s ghost to learn how the story ends. The business only stays afloat due to one particular client, author Regis Thomas, whose historical romance series has been on the bestseller lists for years.

Tia runs the family’s struggling book editing firm. That is, until she needs his talent for herself. Jamie lives with his mother, Tia, who knows about his ability but feels it best to be kept a secret. When people die, their ghosts linger for a few days before moving on, and during that time, Jamie is able to ask them questions and get the truth, because the dead really cannot tell tales. Jamie has a special ability: he can see the newly dead but only for a short time. Later is narrated by Jamie as an adult and is told over a period of about eleven years as he looks back on his unusual life, starting when he’s about four and ending when he’s fifteen. I was pulled in immediately and never let go! As a fan of that genre, let me say that King hits that right balance to deliver another thrilling read. However, he does blend his skill for horror writing into a story that has an old-fashioned noir quality. Despite his repetition of Jamie’s mantra about this being a horror story, I will say that this is far from King’s most frightening story. While he does not intend to use this knowledge for personal gain, the people closest to him do take advantage of his gift.

However, as protagonist Jamie Conklin states and repeats in Later, “This is a horror story.” As a child, Jamie discovers that he can converse with ghosts of the recently deceased through this special ability, he learns that the dead can only speak the truth. I honestly believe that King could be a success in any genre, and he’s proven he is adept at writing crime fiction. Fortunately, King’s latest crime novel is true to everything we expect from the master storyteller. I remember loving Joyland, but I was not so into The Colorado Kid.

Later is the author’s third release for the Hard Case Crime Series. I purchased another new book this year! Also, this review marks the first time I’ve ever reviewed a brand new Stephen King novel.