Summer. Massachusetts.

An old Silver Wraith with a frightening history. A story about one serial killer and his lingering, unfinished business.

Anyone could be next.

We’re going to Christmasland…

NOS4R2 is an old-fashioned horror novel in the best sense. Claustrophobic, gripping and terrifying, this is a story that will have you on the edge of the seat while you read, and leaving the lights on while you sleep. With the horrific tale of Charles Manx and his Silver Wraith, Joe Hill has established himself as the premiere horror and supernatural thriller writer of his generation.

I purchased a copy of this book for my own reading.

I’ve been a long-time fan of Stephen King, often revisiting his works when I’m in a reading lull. I’ve always enjoyed the horror, suspense and the way he uses description to really flesh out his worlds. Obviously some time ago, I discovered his son, Joe Hill, also wrote horror thrillers and must have added some of his books to my Kindle. With the recent hype around his latest novel, King Sorrow, now seemed the perfect time to dive in.

NOS4A2 became the first novel by Joe Hill that I’ve read, largely thanks to it being the first one I found on my Kindle, and it turned out to be an incredible first entry. It follows the story of the twisted Charles Talent Manx on his mission to “rescue poor children from potential future horrors perpetrated by their caregivers”. He punishes the parents before taking the children to a place where they’ll never be anything less than happy again, Christmasland. Manx travels roads not marked on any maps through the Inscape – worlds between worlds, feeding on the joy and living far longer than natural. When Vic McQueen discovers her Raleigh bike can take her places to find lost things, it sets her up for a clash with Manx.

NOS4A2 is an incredible trip filled with black humour, horror and thriller elements with an off-key Christmas vibe. It makes for a dark, unsettling novel that kept me turning the pages wanting to see where things were going to go. While I can see elements of his father in Hill’s work, he stands strong as his own man, writing a story comparable to King himself. I look forward to diving in to my next Joe Hill read.

My rating: