Before I saw Duma Key by Stephen King on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, I had never heard of it. Reading the back cover intrigued me enough to buy it, and I’m glad I did. It’s one of my favorite modern King stories, a tale that sticks in your mind long after it’s over.
After an accident leaves Edgar Freemantle with one arm and brain damage, he escapes the confines of his past life at a rental home on the shores of Duma Key, Florida. His sudden desire and obsession with drawing and painting interrupt his attempt to find solace among the sand and waves.
The truth in his art makes Edgar realize that things aren’t as they seem and that something sinister may be using his paintings to escape and regain their malevolent power.
Duma Key is less of a horror story and more of a supernatural thriller. It’s a slow burn that occasionally boils over but entrances the reader with its mystery and unfolding secrets. King, as always, expertly delivers a strong narrative, a colorful cast of characters, and twists that are uniquely his.
This was one of King’s books where I had to force myself to put it down so I could go to bed, only to get up a few hours later to keep reading. The other two books of his that caused my reader-induced insomnia to occur were Needful Things and The Institute.
Needless to say, King knows how to grab his readers and keep them fixated in them fixated on the worlds he creates even when things get crazy, spooky, upsetting, and downright nuts.
As I write this, I’m still thinking about the characters and the mystery that enveloped them as Duma Keyunfolded. It may be some time before I revisit Duma Key and its inhabitants, but this novel has earned a spot on my re-read list.
I highly recommend Duma Key by Stephen King. It’s a thrill ride you don’t want to miss!