A review by lukecuster
Later by Stephen King

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

 Is Later one of Stephen King's all-time best books? No. But is it a fun, fast-paced read that reminds you why King is still the master of horror-infused thrillers? Definitely. At just over 250 pages, it reads more like a novella than a full novel, and I finished it in one sitting. The story centers on Jamie Conklin, a young boy with the unsettling ability to see and speak to the dead. He doesn't know his father, lives with his single mother who works as a literary agent, and finds himself pulled into increasingly dangerous territory when her ex-girlfriend, a cop, uses Jamie’s abilities to help solve crimes. The setup might sound familiar, but King puts his own unique spin on it, blending emotional depth with unsettling tension.

The book weaves in all kinds of elements—ghosts, crime, drug smuggling, and a deep secret from Jamie’s past that gets slowly revealed. There are fun references to horror classics like Final Destination and Saw.. Longtime King readers will also catch a mention of the Ritual of Chüd. But at its heart, Later is really a coming-of-age story that just happens to be wrapped in eerie visions and shady deals. It manages to be creepy, suspenseful, and surprisingly touching all at once. While it may not stand next to It or The Shining, it proves that even when King is still in a class of his own.