Look Out For … Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King

“For the first time since 1991’s Needful Things King is taking us home, which in itself is cause for celebration before we even consider the premise of the book which practically screams classic King!”

The little town of Castle Rock, Maine has witnessed some strange events and unusual visitors over the years, but there is one story that has never been told… until now.

There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974 twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong (if time-rusted) iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside.

At the top of the stairs, Gwendy catches her breath and listens to the shouts of the kids on the playground. From a bit farther away comes the chink of an aluminum bat hitting a baseball as the Senior League kids practice for the Labor Day charity game.

One day, a stranger calls to Gwendy: “Hey, girl. Come on over here for a bit. We ought to palaver, you and me.”

On a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat like for a suit, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat…

Why We’re Excited About This Book:

In the last two decades or so King has definitely rediscovered his form after the wilderness years that gave us Bag Of Bones and Dreamcatcher, and his stories have always had that extra shine on them when set in or around the town of Castle Rock. For the first time since 1991’s Needful Things King is taking us home, with a little help from Richard Chizmar who runs Cemetery Dance publications and the excellent   Stephen King Revisited website, which in itself is cause for celebration before we even consider the premise of the book which practically screams classic King!

They say you can never go home, but thankfully King is ignoring that advice and taking us along for the ride this May.

Gwendy’s Button Box is out on 30 May 2017 and is available from Amazon.

 

 

RICHARD COSGROVE