Day 418, Quasi-Quarantine: "Later" Roller-Coasters Its Way Into King's Noir Catalog

"Even a little kid knows certain basic things if he's not soft in the attic. You said please, you said thank you, you didn't flap your weenie around in public or chew with your mouth open, and you didn't talk to dead folks when they were standing next to living folks who were just starting to miss them."

Stephen King's work in the Hard Case Crime series has been tremendous, highlighted by one of my favorite stories of his, "Joyland." While "Later" doesn't measure up to his best in this genre, the author builds more memorable characters and viable backstories yet again.

Continuing the tradition of incredible Hard Case Crime artwork, this book doesn't take long to start living up to its cover. Sporting a frantic pace, this one forces you to consciously slow down to make it last.

"Looking back on it, I sometimes think my life was like a Dickens novel, only with swearing."

From homosexuality to demonic possession, from incest to dirty cops, "Later" doesn't shy away from weighty issues. Jamie Conklin's extrasensory perception can be used to thwart domestic terrorists, but it can't be used to fend off a lonely, rocky upbringing. He's often burned by authority figures, lending an undertone of depression to his narrative voice and infusing this tale with an extra layer of emotion.

Some of the twists and coincidences become a bit hard to take, but there are moments where King's brilliance shines through. There aren't enough of those to elevate this one in the context of his canon, but for those hanging on his every word -- especially in the midst of a global pandemic -- this unstoppable page-turner will more than suffice.

"Thoughts drowning in blood. I never forgot that."