Review - Duma Key

Duma Key
by Stephen King
2008

Whether you like him or not, Stephen King is one of the giants of American fiction for most of the last thirty years. Your reviewer has found both enjoyment and annoyance in the many works of Stephen King, and has read most of his novels and short stories. The writing career of Stephen King can be split in many different ways, but most would agree that his work has seen rather large changes twice in his career: first after he stopped his substance abuse problems and, more recently, after his near death accident involving a van while he was walking the roads of Maine. Some prefer the earlier Stephen King while others prefer his later works, but anyone who has read several of his works will see many of King's touches, some would call them cliches at this point, throughout Duma Key. While the protagonist is not an author, there is extensive foreshadowing, arguably a weak ending, long stretches without any touch of suspense of horror, unexplained or barely explained supernatural phenomena, and many more trademarks.

While Duma Key is covered in many King trademarks, there is a strength to the novel and it certainly does play as an interesting contrast to Lisey's Story, from 2006. While Lisey's Story was the story of a marriage, Duma Key is the story of the divorce of Edgar Freemantle and his movement into the next part of his life. Freemantle loses an arm and suffers brain damage in an accident and the problems that arise during his recovery drive him and his wife apart. His accident and the divorce are handled quickly in the first few chapters as this is truly the story of his new life on the small island of Duma Key off the western Florida coast. Edgar leaves Minnesota and his previous life as the head of a construction company and stays in a rented house on this small island. Here he begins to paint quickly learns that his paintings start to take on a sort of power on Duma Key. Slowly we learn of the history of the area, the source of the power, and the horror that lies around our protagonist. As with many King novels there are some terrific scenes and King never shies away from killing a character to heighten the emotional impact of his narrative. To discuss the plot any further would ruin it for anyone wishing to read it, but suffice it to say it is thoroughly King-ian but with enough differences to keep it mostly fresh.

Because of King's trademarked foreshadowing this reviewer felt that too many of the major plot points were obvious long before they happened, but this isn't something new to Duma Key as it has plagued many of King's works for years. Also, the novel could have perhaps been a bit tightened as it takes a good amount of time to start to build momentum. Still, Duma Key is King at what he does best and this reader, and many others, are still along for the ride and any more that he has in store.

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5.