This is one of the Stephen King’s titles from 2018. It is slow moving but the reader will be so entranced as to see how the author will explain the premise that they they will persevere. The story revolves around a Terry Maitland who lives in Flint City. He is a little league coach and respected by many of the town’s citizens. He is also the father of two girls and a loving wife who he loves passionately. A young eleven year old boy is found brutally mutilated and suddenly Terry is grand suspect number one due to a number of a witnesses who have witnessed his double in various situations related to the murder. Terry is arrested at a baseball game in front of the entire town. He also has an alibi in which he was away at a conference with two colleagues and has actually been caught on film on the conference. Is there an evil clone of Terry lurking around? Does he have a long lost twin? Are there supernatural influences involved? Detective Ralph Anderson is tracking Terry. He is torn considerably since he did respect the man but has extreme doubt as to his innocence.
The story is basically a thriller mystery and is pretty much a police procedural throughout the story. The reader will feel immediate empathy for the main character wanting him to be innocent but will also have some doubt as to the man’s innocence. King’s writing is straight forward and descriptive. As mentioned, the main character has such a such a perfect alibi and yet such daunting evidence stacked against him the reader will be stumped as to the author’s intentions. I don’t want to reveal if there are supernatural elements involved but this reader will see that this is not normal Stephen Kind fare. I give the book four out of five stars.
Rating: **** Stars (I really liked it)
- Van, Reference Librarian
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GENRE: Horror THEME: Evil Transformations PACE: Fast-Paced TONE: Gruesome; Menacing; Moody LOCATION: Oklahoma SUBJECT: Alibi; Child Murder Victims; Detectives; Doppelgangers; Innocence; Sexually Abused Children; Small Towns; Violence Against Children
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