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tmgreene63 's review for:
Heart-Shaped Box
by Joe Hill
Semi-retired rocker Judas Coyne has an odd collection. He's drawn to the macabre. Some things he's purchased over the years, others were gifts from adoring fans. Things like a used hangman's noose and a snuff film. When given the opportunity to purchase a ghost at an online auction site Jude launched on the opportunity. A few days later the token of his purchase arrives. A old suit once worn by the deceased. The seller guarantees the ghost will come along with it.
It isn't long after that things begin to get creepy.
Turns out the ghost is well acquainted with Jude and he's not very happy with the aging metal head. A couple of encounters is all it takes for Jude and his young groupie/girlfriend Georgia to want to be rid of the ghost.
By now it's no secret that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. Don't know if it was ever meant to be a secret, however, I can say that I greatly respect Joe for not using his father's name to get somewhere in the publishing world. He obviously wants to stand on his own two literary feet and with this debut novel he accomplishes just that.
Joe's writing is crisp and clean, lean and mean. Never is there a chance to go off on some tangent of flowery prose. Joe gets to the point fast and stays with it. Two people are being hunted down by a ghost who wants them dead and they must do whatever it takes to get away alive and rid themselves of the menace. I also love the Biblical tie-in with the lead character's name. Interesting for such a dark story. And yet, in the end it's not a dark story. It's about the same thing the Bible is. Redemption.
But how? You'll have to read Heart-Shaped Box to find out.
I'm looking forward to the next release by Joe Hill. His dad and others like him need to move over. Joe Hill's star is rising. And he just may be the Stephen King for a new generation.
It isn't long after that things begin to get creepy.
Turns out the ghost is well acquainted with Jude and he's not very happy with the aging metal head. A couple of encounters is all it takes for Jude and his young groupie/girlfriend Georgia to want to be rid of the ghost.
By now it's no secret that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. Don't know if it was ever meant to be a secret, however, I can say that I greatly respect Joe for not using his father's name to get somewhere in the publishing world. He obviously wants to stand on his own two literary feet and with this debut novel he accomplishes just that.
Joe's writing is crisp and clean, lean and mean. Never is there a chance to go off on some tangent of flowery prose. Joe gets to the point fast and stays with it. Two people are being hunted down by a ghost who wants them dead and they must do whatever it takes to get away alive and rid themselves of the menace. I also love the Biblical tie-in with the lead character's name. Interesting for such a dark story. And yet, in the end it's not a dark story. It's about the same thing the Bible is. Redemption.
But how? You'll have to read Heart-Shaped Box to find out.
I'm looking forward to the next release by Joe Hill. His dad and others like him need to move over. Joe Hill's star is rising. And he just may be the Stephen King for a new generation.