Bag of Bones

Title: Bag of Bones

Author: Stephen King

Published in: 1998

Date read: 28th May 2020

Score: 5/5

Genre: Supernatural, Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Bag of Bones" by Stephen King is a gothic horror novel that delves into grief, the supernatural, and a small town's dark secrets.

Four years after the sudden death of his pregnant wife, Jo, bestselling novelist Mike Noonan is crippled by writer's block and haunted by vivid nightmares of their summer home, "Sara Laughs," on Dark Score Lake in Maine. Driven by these dreams, Mike returns to the isolated lakeside house, hoping to find closure and perhaps rekindle his creativity.

Upon his arrival, Mike is immediately drawn into a bitter custody battle involving a young, widowed mother, Mattie Devore, and her three-year-old daughter, Kyra. Mattie's immensely wealthy and influential father-in-law, Max Devore, is relentlessly trying to gain custody of Kyra, using his power to manipulate the local community. Mike, feeling an undeniable connection to Mattie and Kyra, steps in to help them.

As Mike becomes embroiled in their struggle, he discovers that Sara Laughs is profoundly haunted. His late wife, Jo, appears to him, seemingly attempting to communicate and guide him toward a hidden truth. Mike's writing ability also mysteriously returns, and he begins to uncover the house's and the town's disturbing history.

He learns about a terrible century-old curse tied to Sara Tidwell, a blues singer who was brutally raped and murdered by a group of prominent townspeople, including ancestors of Max Devore. This curse has led to a pattern of firstborn children with "K" or "C" names in those families mysteriously drowning in the lake, and Kyra is the next intended victim.

Mike faces not only the supernatural manifestations, including menacing apparitions and unsettling psychic events, but also the dangerous machinations of Max Devore and his ruthless assistant, who attempt to silence Mike. The novel culminates in a terrifying showdown where Mike must unravel the full extent of the curse, protect Kyra, and confront the malevolent forces that have long plagued Dark Score Lake. "Bag of Bones" is a story of enduring love, deep-seated prejudice, and the long-reaching consequences of past sins.

Comments:
One of the best so far. Pleased to see ghosts being a well accomplished part of his horror repertoire. Thoroughly enjoyed it and do recommend reading King's books in order.

Books that we've read by Stephen King (68):
Carrie (1974), 'Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (The Shining, #1) (1977), The Stand (1978), Night Shift (1978), The Dead Zone (1979), Firestarter (1980), Cujo (1981), The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) (1982), Different Seasons (1982), Christine (1983), Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), Pet Sematary (1983), The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) (1984), Skeleton Crew (1985), It (1986), The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) (1987), The Eyes of the Dragon (1987), The Tommyknockers (1987), Misery (1987), The Dark Half (1989), Four Past Midnight (1990), The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3) (1991), Needful Things (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1992), Gerald's Game (1992), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Insomnia (1994), Rose Madder (1995), The Green Mile (1996), Desperation (1996), Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) (1997), Bag of Bones (1998), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), Black House (The Talisman, #2) (2001), Dreamcatcher (2001), Everything's Eventual (2002), From a Buick 8 (2002), Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) (2003), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, #6) (2004), The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7) (2004), The Colorado Kid (2005), Cell (2006), Lisey's Story (2006), Duma Key (2008), Just After Sunset (2008), Under the Dome (2009), 11/22/63 (2011), Full Dark, No Stars (2011), The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5) (2012), Dr. Sleep (The Shining, #2) (2013), Joyland (2013), Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) (2014), Revival (2014), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2) (2015), End of Watch (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #3) (2016), Elevation (2018), The Outsider (2018), The Institute (2019), If It Bleeds (2020), Billy Summers (2021), Later (2021), Fairy Tale (2022), Holly (2023), You Like It Darker (2024)