Joyland (Hard Case Crime)

By Stephen King

Stephen King is the man, this gentleman knows how to pen down a good story. In his latest offering Joyland, we finally see him return to his old form. Doubts had been circulating after his last few books, and many including myself believed that he had finally lost his edge. However, this new novel proves us all wrong. This is a wonderful return to old school King. It only took the first chapter to be get sucked deep into the story line. If you are able to go through it without being sucked in too, you are unique indeed.
Joyland is not part of a series, it is a one off that was published under the Hard Case Crime house. It will only be available in paperback and at only 288 pages it is way shorter than most of Stephen King’s other publications. This one is set in North Carolina in a small town. The year is 1973, we are introduced to Devin Jones a 21 year old University Of New Hampshire student who is working during summer at the Joyland amusement park. Devin’s life story is cleverly used as the background story of this novel.
The first section of the book is all about sweetness and nostalgia. Devin discovers his carny skills and learns how to fit in with the rest of the amusement park staff. We are also introduced to the ghost story that supposedly haunts the park. As you read you can tell Stephen was having a lot of fun playing around with the carny phrases and terms. In the second section, we start to get a little of the spooky side that is often associated with Stephen. You end up with a complete murder mystery and a cute love story. He even throws in some supernatural elements as he comes full circle and concludes the story.
Joyland is narrated in first person, we experience the story through the eyes of an elderly gentleman who is an ex amusement park staffer. I really enjoyed that is was not as hardcore a thriller as previous releases. The descriptions of the park and the characters are so vivid, you actually feel as if you were present amongst all the fun and craziness. How he managed to tone down the paranormal side is beyond me, but I am very happy that he did in this one.
When you are first introduced to Devin Jones, you will immediately feel a connection to this character. However, it is when you add all the other believable characters that the story really springs out at you. You can tell that a lot of time and effort was taken in developing these different characters as each one possesses a distinct voice. This is a very original story line that kept me guessing right until the very end. The plot twists will keep you curious and searching for more from one chapter to the next.
In conclusion, this book is a classic Stephen King. It will scare you, seduce you and thrill you. Obviously it is well written and full of suspense, most original Stephen King fans will enjoy reading this. Joyland is his number 47 novel, but that did not matter at all. I found myself laughing and crying, I can truly say I thoroughly enjoyed every single page. There is a good reason why this book was an Amazon Best Book for June 2013. It is the perfect book to read this summer or on your next vacation.Read More Reviews Here…