Never buy a ghost on the internet- it comes in a Heart Shaped Box

Really, this is an important pointer for you. If you screw up and treat the whole thing as a big joke, you will be sorry. What follows could be a turbo-charged nonstop fever dream, a trip down the nightroad. But with Joe Hill to guide you there, at least you will never be bored.

"Heart Shaped Box" could be considered a horror novel. It is definitely a ghost story.  And it is something more, a tale of possible redemption and the inner demons of betrayal and regret. Take your pick.  You see, the best horror stories are something more than just horror stories. "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens was a horror novel, a ghost story, and a tale of possible redemption. It's all good, and it goes together like beer and pretzels.

Judas Coyne is a washed up heavy metal rocker, the product of a tortured childhood and a hard road filled with half-remembered groupies and dead band mates.  A stupid mistake- perhaps a set-up job?- unleashes an implacable spirit that seeks to kill him and all those who care for him.  But for every terrifying scene of supernatural menace, there is another that explores his inner nightmares. The plot travels from zero to sixty in ten seconds, and you do need to leave the lights on.  There are wonderful observations on modern life, sorrow, and even the nature of love. My favorite line? "If there is a Hell, it's talk radio- or family."

Joe Hill happens to be the son of novelist Stephen King. It would be a better world if the question would never arise, but you will be wondering, can he write like his father?  Well, he can write. Comparisons are pointless. This story is truly fresh, fights against formula, and is riveting from cover to cover.   I wish I had written it. Do not read it because you enjoy Stephen King, read it because it is a pleasure. And join me in hoping desperately that his next novel will arrive soon!