Book Review - Billy Summers - Stephen King
I recently moved and bought two new bookcases, so with lots of space left I thought about who would be the first to be added to the shiny, bare shelves. When I went to the bookshop to see who would receive this honour, there was only one writer I thought worthy, the author I have read more of than any other, and who got me hooked on his books as a teen –good old Stephen King. So Billy Summers became the first book on my shelf.
Billy Summers Synopsis
Billy Summers is a sniper for hire, the best in the business, who decides to do one more job. There’s a big payday at the end of it, one that will set Billy up for life. There’s something about the job that feels off….but against his better judgement and with his eyes on the prize, he goes ahead with the planning for the job.
He tells himself is that he only ‘offs’ the bad guys, and his history a sharpshooting ex marine and his time in Iraq is also part of the story. There is a conflict for the reader as Billy is a killer, but we also see he’s a decent guy as he embeds himself in the local community.
One of things I’ve loved about Stephen King books, especially his recent fiction, is his set ups (11/12/63 and the Bill Hodges trilogy spring to mind). I think there are a number of parallels between 11.12.63, especially in relation to assassination and getting on with the neighbours. It’s almost as if he felt that there was more mileage in that idea - I don’t mind, I enjoyed that book a lot.
The planning is so good, he has great fun creating the world and populating it with distinctive, quirky characters. It’s the same buzz you get from a good heist movie and he’s a master of it at this stage. I always enjoy the snap and crackle of his dialogue, it’s funny and realistic, full of life and colour. He’s one of the few writers that make me laugh out loud when I’m reading.
Constant Reader
King also gives a nod to his constant readers, reminding them that we’re very much in his world – there’s a little easter egg reference to a certain hotel in Colorado at one stage, but I’m sure other readers spotted more. His writing is so familiar by now and I found it easy to lose myself in this pacy thriller, full of action and set pieces.
It’s Stephen King, so you can expect a little gore. Without giving anything away, there is a scene at one stage that King doesn’t describe but suggests enough for the reader to imagine what has happened. To be honest, I was slightly repulsed but I could understand why he included it.
I felt in the first half of the book that I knew where the climax was coming. Of course, King manages to pull the rug from beneath our feet, as only he can. It takes an completely unexpected turn and I think the book became all the better for it. Difficult to say too much without spoiling it. But back to the writing and one of the things I love about Stephen King books most of all - detail, detail, detail. There’s so many up to date cultural references, characters summarised with a couple of absolutely crystal clear spot on details. This is no surprise for any of us who have read his brilliant book ‘On writing.’
I would say that there were times when the book felt a bit slow (watering house plants, playing monopoly with neighbours) but it picked up when Alice appeared. That was an interesting relationship, to say the least.
King as a thriller writer
One of the things I liked about this book the most is that there is no supernatural element to it. That may come as a surprise to many, as King is first and foremost a horror novelist, but I felt his last few books, especially the Bill Hodges trilogy (which did have a slight supernatural element) indicated that he could go in this direction. It works well, because as we all know, monsters walk amongst us.
I’ve read before that critics have felt that King doesn’t always end a story well. I wouldn’t agree with that and felt that this one ended just about right. Anyway, I’m with Emerson on this one - it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.
As I left my teenage years behind and continued to discover new authors, I didn’t stay up to date with Kings prodigious output. But I have rediscovered his work again in recent years and there’s plenty of space on my shelves for those I’ve missed and those yet to come. Maybe this is the direction his books are going, with less of a supernatural/horror element. Personally, those earlier ‘classic’ works such as ‘Salems lot’ ‘The shining’ ‘Carrie’ etc are my favourite type of Stephen King books but the personality that wrote those has changed.
Perhaps it’s important for him as a writer to try new genres, and this might just be a welcome direction at this stage of his career, just to see something different from him. Still one of the best storytellers around and my fondness for him remains. Feels good to add to my shelf of Stephen King books. Long may he write.
Update April 23 - Interesting that Empire have reported that Billy Summers could be the latest Stephen King book to get the Hollywood treatment. Warner brothers are working with JJ Abrams production company on the story of the hitman for hire, and it’s hardly a big surprise as similar films have done well - I’m thinking Leon, Sicario, day of the jackal. It’s also reported that Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company ‘Appian way’ are involved. Do you think Leonardo would play a good Billy Summers? Hmmm.
I can certainly see how this will make a decent action movie - it’s got a good pace, some interesting characters and certainly a few show stopping momments. There’s also the planning of a heist angle, which I think is always satisfying in a movie. Certainly be interested to see how this movie turns out - still no release date. Apparently the original idea was for a ten part tv series, but I think a film is a better option.
Book review - Billy Summers - Stephen King
Hodder & Stoughton; 1st edition (3 Aug. 2021)
448 pages
Stephen King takes pride of place on my recently assembled bookcase.