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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
One of my least-liked SK books, and I am a FAN. I was completely on board for the first third of the book. It was a bit dull, but then he started spinning a story inside a story that really livened things up. I listened to the audio and the narrator was phenomenal. I was like “wow, the big moment just happened and there are still HOURS left of this book so something amazing is getting ready to happen!”
It was not amazing. It was very cringey. Based on comments in the book I think the author was aware that the relationship between the older man and much younger woman (who is naive but also an old soul) was gross. I hated the rest of the story. There were some supernatural glimmers that shone through from the SK universe (all things do serve the beam, after all) but nothing overtly supernatural.
It was not amazing. It was very cringey. Based on comments in the book I think the author was aware that the relationship between the older man and much younger woman (who is naive but also an old soul) was gross. I hated the rest of the story. There were some supernatural glimmers that shone through from the SK universe (all things do serve the beam, after all) but nothing overtly supernatural.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
This was a mixed experience for me. It’s not like any other Stephen King book I’ve read before.
The premise is strong: a retiring hitman taking on one last job. Billy isn’t a mindless killer—he only goes after “bad men.” But whether that makes him good or bad is a question left for the reader to wrestle with. The first part of the book was fantastic—deeply character-driven, exploring Billy’s past, his childhood, and his present thoughts. I was completely hooked.
Around the halfway point, I found myself wondering what could possibly fill all those remaining pages. Then the book took a very unexpected turn. I can’t say I loved where it went. The story was still good, with an interesting ending, but my main struggle was with how sexual assault was handled in the plot. That part didn’t sit right with me and pulled me out of the story.
Overall, Billy Summers is a thoughtful, layered novel with moments of brilliance, but parts of it left me conflicted.
The premise is strong: a retiring hitman taking on one last job. Billy isn’t a mindless killer—he only goes after “bad men.” But whether that makes him good or bad is a question left for the reader to wrestle with. The first part of the book was fantastic—deeply character-driven, exploring Billy’s past, his childhood, and his present thoughts. I was completely hooked.
Around the halfway point, I found myself wondering what could possibly fill all those remaining pages. Then the book took a very unexpected turn. I can’t say I loved where it went. The story was still good, with an interesting ending, but my main struggle was with how sexual assault was handled in the plot. That part didn’t sit right with me and pulled me out of the story.
Overall, Billy Summers is a thoughtful, layered novel with moments of brilliance, but parts of it left me conflicted.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
Stephen king never fails to remind me that he is in fact a man.
Excellent story and very well done audio reading. I always have trouble getting into some of Stephen Kings books, but know that eventually I will get a great read. Essentially the story is about Billy Summers who is a for hire killer. Obviously, we should see his as someone bad and dislike him. But, after you start reading this book you love him, because he is like a Dexter in a sense. He only willing to kill if the person is bad and deserves it. Unfortunately he takes on a last job that he should not have taken.
I really loved how Stephen King inputs pieces of his other books into his new books. In part of the book he mentions Hemingford Homes. I love how almost all of his books can be linked back to other books. You just have to notice the hints.
I do not want to tell you the entire story, so you will have to read it yourself.
I really loved how Stephen King inputs pieces of his other books into his new books. In part of the book he mentions Hemingford Homes. I love how almost all of his books can be linked back to other books. You just have to notice the hints.
I do not want to tell you the entire story, so you will have to read it yourself.