Duma Key Book Review

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I could be cliché in so many ways.

• "The Return of The King."
• "The King is Back."
• "King is Still the King."

Duma Key is a great book! It didn't have the gratuitous gory horror scenes which I expected. Instead it was eerie and creepy and gave you that deeply disturbing chill down your spine which the King produces so well. It reminded me of The Shining. King gives you just enough creepy information, and then he lets your imagination do the rest for you. This was one of those books where I would put it down on my bedside table each night and then refuse to turn off the light while I clutched my blankets close to my face.

My Favorite part of Duma Key was the character development. I fell in love with Edgar Freemantle, even thought he lacked one arm. I really did. He has to me my favorite Stephen King protagonist ever. Mr. King did a beautiful job constructing the new life of Mr. Freemantle and bringing the reader along with him for the ride. By the end I felt remarkably attached to our one-armed hero. I didn’t want to let him go.

Edgar Freemantle was a super millionaire in the construction business in Minnesota, happily married with two grown daughters and a committed wife. After a freak accident leaves him less one arm and suffering from brain trauma, his wife leaves him and he is no longer able to conduct business while he goes through rehabilitation. After letting go of the idea of suicide, he opts for environmental therapy and moves to Duma Key to rest, relax and heal. As another form of rehabilitation, he also picks up a new hobby which happens to be painting.

Edgar meets a few new trustworthy friends and actually begins to enjoy life again. His new friends are good companions and painting makes him happy, it allows him to release some of his negative emotions. He is also quite good at painting. So good, in fact, that he gets signed to a major art gallery nearby. Edgar knows his paintings are good, but there seems to be more to it than just raw talent. He gets feelings, images of what he should or needs to paint, and sometimes his paintings tell secrets. Edgar's paintings have become a way for him to see into the future or spy on loved ones. And all the while he painted, the arm which was no longer there would itch.

Now as if poor Edgar has not been through enough, he has now become subjected to the horrors that can only come from the mind of Stephen King. His ability to paint is not only a paranormal extension of Edgar’s senses, but it also caused a connection with an evil presence on Duma Key, one that wants to use poor Edgar to grow stronger. A former resident had once overcome this evil being and she would help Edgar. But the question was, after everything he had been through, would he be strong enough to do another battle for his life?

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