Stephen King has terrorised his readers for years, sending them down into the very depths of their psyche where all their hidden fears come true, bringing them face to face with a world they wished never existed. While the world of the supernatural, abundant in ghosts, monsters and aliens, dominate most of his books, his latest Mr Mercedes (Hachette India, Rs 699) is a detective novel that will make you race through the pages, till you read the last sentence and close the book with a satisfied grin.

Something that one anticipates before starting a King novel is how he will begin, because he usually either grips us from the first page or he takes it slow, building up the momentum till we finally get what we want after a few chapters. This time, however, he sticks to the former style.

The book begins in 2009, when recession is at its worst in a midwestern American city. Unemployed people have lined up at a job fair when a Mercedes comes hurtling out of the fog and mows down eight people. A year later, the killer, Mr Mercedes, is still at large.

Meanwhile, retired detective Bill Hodges, who was working on the case, is considering suicide when he receives a letter from Mr Mercedes daring him to find him before he strikes again. The detective, obsessed with the thought of nailing the killer, calls in his friend Jerome to help and thus begins a cat-and-mouse chase.

The plot is nothing extraordinary but what really keeps one hooked are the characters. Sometimes the book itself feels like a character study. Not only are the protagonists fleshed out, the supporting cast is equally fascinating. The most riveting character would be that of the killer who shares a Norman Bates-like relationship with his mother, which is creepy and undeniably disturbing. Moreover, he kills for the sake of killing, which makes him a wholly sinister and interesting personality.

Though not the crux of the story, there is a romantic subplot that is quite average as love is not King’s forte. That apart, this is a pretty compelling read. The background has been sketched well and the plot is well-structured, albeit with a few leaps which can be overlooked. As a whole, this is not one of his best works but it is a brilliant attempt at a genre very new to him and will be enjoyed by those who love to curl up with a good thriller every now and then.

 

Since I was old enough to read and enjoy things paranormal, Stephen King has not only been my favourite author but also my biggest inspiration. His books nurtured my keen interest in the supernatural and strengthened my belief in a world that coexists with ours. Here’s why he’s the best for me...

Fear factor: He has the ability to tap into our most primal and raw fears. As a horror buff, I rarely ever get scared after reading a book, but It and Pet Sematary scared the living daylights out of me and left me sleepless for weeks! In fact, after reading Pet Sematary, I was afraid to even go near a cat for a while because I was unsure if the feline creature was alive or had recently been resurrected!

Storyline: He is an amazing storyteller. He writes with a level of conviction that makes me want to believe everything he pens down, no matter how fantastic. Despite being a dog lover, I was compelled to keep myself away from dogs after reading Cujo.

Perfect portraits: The characters in his stories are portrayed so well! What makes things more interesting is the fact that in his stories bad things happen to good people and most of the time, evil does prevail over good. Doesn’t that happen in real life too? Thus, even though the characters face problems we do not usually encounter, their situation makes them relatable. And that makes the books even more terrifying!

Versatility: I have come across very few authors who excel both at writing short stories as well as novels and King happens to be one of them. Most of his short stories have the potential to be turned into full-blown novels but even as pieces of short fiction, they are super reads. Nightmares & Dreamscapes is one such collection that sent shivers down my spine, not only because the plots were engaging but also because I kept wondering what lurks behind the shadows in my room.

Book savvy: H.P. Lovecraft is one of my favourite authors in this genre and in his non-fiction book, Danse Macabre, King mentioned that finding a Lovecraft in the attic had greatly inspired him. The fact that I can see a glimpse of Lovecraft in his writing is what gets me extra excited each time I pick up King’s books.

Books over films: If a horror novel is adapted into a film, the cinematic experience usually satisfies people more. But I have not come across a single film based on a King book where screen trumps page. Even a film like The Shining, though beautifully directed by Stanley Kubrick, doesn’t match up to the perfection of the book.

Keeping it real: He draws inspiration from the people he knows and creates magnificent tales out of them. The character of Carrie in his eponymous debut novel is a composite of two girls he knew in high school. It is interesting to note that he met such fascinating people in his life and could use those experiences to his advantage.