TITLE/AUTHOR: Later; Stephen King
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Audio
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021
GENRE: Fiction /Supernatural Thriller
FORMAT: audio download /LENGTH: 6 hours and 32 min
SOURCE: Library download
SETTING(s): New York
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A young boy with a special gift and his struggling single mother's efforts to protect him.
BRIEF REVIEW: Jamie Conklin is a nice young boy who's just a bit different. He can see dead people but, it's a secret that Jamie and his single mother hope to keep to themselves. The dead people don't stick around forever, once their spirit fades so do their voices and then they move on.
Mother and son's life has gone from very good living on Park Avenue, NYC to money being tight and having to move. When his literary agent mother asks Jamie for a special favor by using his special ability, it's no longer just their secret as his mothers girlfriend Liz, a NYPD Detective becomes aware of his powers as well. Unfortunately, she is a crooked cop who takes advantage of Jamie's ability for her own evil purposes.
The very end of the book goes to something I hadn't even thought about and wasn't expecting. It's nothing bloody or gory just a OMG moment that made me wonder.
This is one of those shorter Stephen King books, it's a Hard Case Crime release and it was great on audio - very easy to follow with not too many characters. The first person narrative worked really well and there aren't too many supernatural spirt encounters. As always King's writing did not disappoint. The audio is narrated by Seth Numrich who did a great job. Worth Reading if you like this genre.
RATING: 4/5 stars
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
"I don't think the world starts to come into focus until you're fifteen or sixteen; up until then you just take what you've got and roll with it."
I have his Joyland in pulp fiction edition but have yet to read it. I'm curious about this one.
ReplyDeleteThat was a good one too.
DeleteI've heard good things about this one. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was good, I see some negative reviews but, more positive.
DeleteLooking forward to it. I had heard some so-so reviews so then I put it on the back burner but I am pulling it off again once I finish this King read along for The Green Mile.
ReplyDeleteI liked the audio a lot, great narrator and I like the Jamie character.
DeleteWe usually like the creepy King dude.
ReplyDeleteYes, someday this master of creep fiction will be missed.
DeleteI have never read Stephen King and I'm really not sure why. I should remedy that flaw in reading list. This book is getting lots of good reviews and might be a good place for me to start.
ReplyDeleteReally? His more recent books have less horror. 11/22/63 was a good one you might like to try.
DeleteA new one for me. Something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteNot really scary IMO either. I was happy I listened to it.
DeleteThis does sound pretty good.
ReplyDeleteGood read not a horror fest.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed this one, Diane.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun and not scary.
DeleteI'm really curious about this one! It's on my list, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteIt really hooked me and was a fast read as well.
DeleteI tend to avoid King since I am not into horror, but I read Mr Mercedes and Outsider, both of which I really liked.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a good one for you Helen, iy's short and not scary at all IMO.
DeleteStephen King does not get the attention he deserves from me. I will read at least one of his books this year.
ReplyDeleteI think I've read all but maybe 5 of his books. I do like the more mellow ones like this one the older I get.
DeleteMe too Vicki and then over the years missed 5 or so maybe more.
ReplyDeleteSo many people love Stephen King. I've only read one of his books, the one that was post-apocalyptic, The Stand, and I could see that he is a very good writer. I tend to avoid all his books because I'm always afraid he will stand behind a door and pop out and scare me, I think.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I bought The Stand and never read it yet - someday.
DeleteIt's been quite a while since I read a Stephen King book. I think the last one was Mr. Mercedes which was quite good. I really like the sound of this one and will have to add it to the list!
ReplyDeleteI’m going to eventually read my paperback of this, it gets a lot of love!
ReplyDelete