Reviews

Billy Summers by Stephen King

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jimbowen0306's review against another edition

4.0

This book is about an assassin with a backstory that allows us to like him (meth-head mother, absent father (seriously I don’t remember him being mentioned at all), murdered sibling, abusive maternal boyfriends). He gets an offer for one last job. When that goes sideways, he decides to “have words with” the people who ordered the hit.

There are a few plot-lines that don’t make sense (for example, how’s he gone from a $70,000 a job guy to $2,000,000 for the final job? I can’t work out if it’s too small or too big a jump, but it still feels… doubtful(?) and while I’m at it, how does the woman at the denouement find him for the final shootout?).

In addition, his sidekick feels a little too… perfect. It’s almost as if King wrote to central casting, gave them the situation, and this what he got back. If that scenario did ever occur in real life, I’d have complained. I’d have wanted my money back, I’d have wanted someone smudgier.

If you can ignore the issues I raised, or they won’t bother you I’d recommend this book. It’s not Dickens or Tolstoy, but it’s an easy breezy read, that the vast majority will enjoy, if you’d like this sort of read.

slerner's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

judoka_larossa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

jphsquared's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

artjoshi's review against another edition

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4.0

I liked this alot! The characters were well developed and likable. I loved the whole book within a book concept too. The ending may have elicited some moderate chest pain but it was a good way to wrap everything up.

Also, the shining references were so fun to read! Those hedge animals were so problematic.

Trigger warnings for graphic depictions of violence, sexual assault, and PTSD.