https://stephenking.com/p/later/
Review: Stephen King’s ‘Later’: Mystery, Murder, and the Mother of all Easter Eggs
Stephen King‘s latest novel, Later, just came out this past March. The author has a long and diverse history regarding children with special “gifts” or powers. From Carrie White (Carrie), Danny Torrance (The Shining), and Charlie McGee (Firestarter) to the group of youngsters from the pages of The Institute. Stephen King proves that no one does it better and his most recent novella, Later, might add another name to that legendary list.
Later, his third installment in the Hard Case Crime series, along with The Colorado Kid (2005) and Joyland (2012), is told through the perspective of our lead Jamie Conklin in a shuffling narrative that follows Jamie from eight to fifteen years of age. Jamie can see dead people.
Yes, I too, went directly to Haley Joel Osment lying under the hospital sheets, and there are parallels for sure, but it’s the Sixth Sense told from the mind of Stephen King. There are rules in place for the dead, which sets it apart and adds unique lore to the genre. They usually can be found in places of their death or other significance. They generally only stick around for a little while, “a week or so,” and most of all, they can’t lie when asked a question by Jamie.
Jamie and his mother, Tia, are just trying to live their best life in New York City. Tia, a literary agent and editor, is a successful publisher due to her “golden goose,” author Regis Thomas. Her girlfriend, Liz Dutton, an NYPD detective who has more than a few skeletons in her closet, has been in Jamie’s life for a while too.
When Regis Thomas dies suddenly, Tia, wondering where the next paycheck will come from, decides to test Jamie’s “gift,” which up to this point has been a source of contention between the two. Jamie can see and speak with Mr. Thomas, and with his help, Tia gets the plot of his new book he was in the middle of writing and finishes it herself. An act of desperation that will prove to be both beneficial and detrimental at the same time. Now Liz knows Jamie’s secret as well.
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Adults dismissing or even exploiting Jamie for his abilities is typical throughout the narrative of Later. Loved ones, that wanted to sweep, even talk of communicating with the diseased, under the rug, are all for it when it benefits their agenda, ignoring the toll it might take on the boy. This is most apparent when, now ex-girlfriend, Liz, shows back up and guilts Jamie into helping her find a recently diseased serial bomber by the name of Thumper.
Even though the perpetrator is dead, the note on his shirt lets authorities know he has one last surprise for them. Jamie goes along with the hunt, but when found, Thumper breaks all the rules and decides he, or the “outsider” now living in him, won’t leave. The whole episode leaves Liz with the information she needed to save her job but leaving Jamie literally and figuratively haunted by this decision.
Though we are told by the narrator that “this is a horror story,” King does a masterful job weaving the Supernatural and Crime Mystery genres seamlessly as the story progresses. The human horrors: serial bombings, dirty cops, and murderous gangsters are more of a threat to our protagonist than many ghosts that cross his path. The theme of childhood innocence lost permeates with each passing chapter as the horrors of life and the supernatural take their toll on Jamie. It’s not until a particular ritual (constant readers nerd out) is presented that Jamie has any sense that his waking nightmare can finally come to an end.
Later, is a fun, page turner of a story. A quick read too, coming in around 270 pages, it’s a book I read in two sittings. The story keeps you guessing and hanging on each paragraph as each chapter unfolds. The pace and tensions increase as Jamie is dragged into the depths by damaged adults and darkness from beyond our world. Though not set in the fictional towns of Maine, King loves to revisit, Later hints at a return of one of Derry’s most infamous residents. At 73 years of age, Stephen King shows he has no intentions of stopping or even slowing down as he proves he’s still the Master of the Macabre.
Later by Stephen King is out now, be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror, sci-fi and more.
About Post Author
K.B. O’Neil is an artist, writer and musician living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He loves movies, books, video games, snuggling his two pups and all things Horror. When not working he can be found getting into adventures with his wife and their new daughter.
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