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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BILLY SUMMERS is the first time I have ever read anything by Stephen King, and now it is one of my new favorite books. It may be a crime novel upfront, but it also becomes a road story with elements of a Western set in modern America, featuring a main character you cannot help but root for, as complicated as his background is.
Billy Summers is a hitman who only takes a job if the target is a bad person. He is hired by a mobster he’s worked with before and a mysterious client that wants him to take out a fellow sniper who holds valuable intel. They give Billy a cover story where he will pretend to be a writer named David Lockridge and set him up in a small town and an office nearby with a vantage point of the courthouse where the target will be. Billy intends to make this his last job, but with it being the last, everything that is bound to go wrong does.
I’ve always known Stephen King as a great writer and a celebrated author, but I just never thought to pick up his books until @jesswithbookss recommended we read this for book club. With BILLY SUMMERS, I now understand the acclaim. His writing is engrossing, as are the characters, and this story in particular is so compelling and propulsive that I forgot it’s 500+ pages.
Billy Summers himself is an intriguing character. While pretending to be a writer, he actually does start to write about his life. It’s here through the pages of his book revealing his past, that you begin to see layers to him and what he grapples with in the present.
Without giving too much away, there is a new character introduced later who not only changes the course of the story, but also affects Billy on his own journey to redemption. The relationship that forms and develops is what struck me the most and has still left me reeling. Due to the circumstances of their meeting, I am really with how King handles their bond. It could have easily gone one way, but he keeps it grounded staying true to his characters.
There is still so much to unpack that I haven’t even covered, and maybe more I have yet to discover. After reading BILLY SUMMERS however, I’m already eager to read more books by Stephen King.
Billy Summers is a hitman who only takes a job if the target is a bad person. He is hired by a mobster he’s worked with before and a mysterious client that wants him to take out a fellow sniper who holds valuable intel. They give Billy a cover story where he will pretend to be a writer named David Lockridge and set him up in a small town and an office nearby with a vantage point of the courthouse where the target will be. Billy intends to make this his last job, but with it being the last, everything that is bound to go wrong does.
I’ve always known Stephen King as a great writer and a celebrated author, but I just never thought to pick up his books until @jesswithbookss recommended we read this for book club. With BILLY SUMMERS, I now understand the acclaim. His writing is engrossing, as are the characters, and this story in particular is so compelling and propulsive that I forgot it’s 500+ pages.
Billy Summers himself is an intriguing character. While pretending to be a writer, he actually does start to write about his life. It’s here through the pages of his book revealing his past, that you begin to see layers to him and what he grapples with in the present.
Without giving too much away, there is a new character introduced later who not only changes the course of the story, but also affects Billy on his own journey to redemption. The relationship that forms and develops is what struck me the most and has still left me reeling. Due to the circumstances of their meeting, I am really with how King handles their bond. It could have easily gone one way, but he keeps it grounded staying true to his characters.
There is still so much to unpack that I haven’t even covered, and maybe more I have yet to discover. After reading BILLY SUMMERS however, I’m already eager to read more books by Stephen King.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: War
I wished the book focused on his character as a hired assassin and the aftermath of the last job instead of branching off to a girl who was gang raped, and him trying to get vigilante justice for her. It made no sense that Billy was one of the best assassins who ALWAYS disappeared after a job but this time around, not only did he not disappear but he is still in town under another disguise. The whole book after the assassin got worse and I couldn’t take it any longer.
AUDIOBOOK: A newer novel by King about a hit man’s last job. Of course there’s way more to it than that, and let me just say, as with most of his full length novels, King takes his time with the story and character development, but I liked the payoff. This is not a supernatural horror story although he does reference The Shining’s Overlook Hotel a bit which is cool. He also mentions COVID-19 which is interesting too. As with most of his books, it deals with the ugly side of human nature, so be forewarned. Highly recommend.
Billy Summers is a successful assassin, translating his military training back to the real world. However Billy wants to retire. Stephan King writes his usual excellent story. King is the best author of our time.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sort of slow to start but once it picks up i really enjoyed the dynamic of the characters, the urgent/exciting plot line but also the moral questions it raises
uhh... am i being dramatic or is this book kinda problematic???