Billy Summers

You may have noticed that I've been working my way through a number of older and not-so-old Stephen King titles lately. Given its popularity, even by the author's standards, and its constant ranking on the NYT bestselling list, I've had my eye on Billy Summers for quite some time. I finally caved in a few weeks back and I'm glad I did, for King's latest is another compelling read!

I was a little surprised that there were no paranormal elements in this one. Other than the weird vibes emanating from the site where the Overlook Hotel from The Shining used to stand, that is. So be advised that it's more of a crime/mystery thriller than King's usual fare. Which doesn't take anything away from the novel, mind you. Just something I wasn't expecting.

Here's the blurb:

Billy Summers is a man in a room with a gun. He’s a killer for hire and the best in the business. But he’ll do the job only if the target is a truly bad guy. And now Billy wants out. But first there is one last hit. Billy is among the best snipers in the world, a decorated Iraq war vet, a Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done. So what could possibly go wrong?

How about everything.

I was surprised when I discovered that SFF author Myke Cole helped King with research for this novel. Given Cole's military background and the fact that he's a security expert, I'm sure his input proved to be invaluable to make Billy Summers' story just right. It certainly added layers to Billy's tale, first as we learn more about his time in Iraq and the culmination of the events that led to the battle of Fallujah, and then as we find out how he managed to "disappear" after leaving the army and live as a ghost ever since. This is important because, no matter how engrossing the book's main plot turned out to be, it's really Billy's story, from his troubled childhood and teenage years to how he became a killer for hire, that makes this such a gripping read.

I had my doubts at the beginning, mainly because I wasn't sure that Billy's cover, that of an aspiring author seeking time away to write his novel, could hold up. And then, as he plays his part and befriends his neighbors and the people working in the building where the hit is being planned, I realized that it worked perfectly well. In many ways, this was the most captivating part of the book. Not only is Billy setting up his last hit, but he plays the role of the author in residence close to perfection. In addition, the fact that Billy elects to write his own story is brilliant. Through this plot device, King allows readers to follow what's taking place in "real time" and it also gives them a chance to find out everything they need to know about the main protagonist's background and story arc.

I loved how Billy plays his "dumb self" for effect, but is in truth a very smart man. As I mentioned, discovering just how deep and thoughtful this hired killer can be was the highlight of the novel for me. The supporting cast featured during his stint in Midwood allowed Billy to shine, what with his relationships with his neighbors, their children, or his attraction for Phyllis. And the more you learn about Billy's past, the more you realize how much depth there is to him. Things don't quite add up, yet Billy is willing to go through with this last assassination. He just needs to find a way to outwit those who have hired him in case something goes wrong.

As a matter of course, it does. When the proverbial shit hits the fan, the novel switches gears and becomes something different. There is a clear shift between the portion of the book leading up to the hit and the part dealing with its aftermath. Personally, I much preferred the setup to what comes after, even though the second part of Billy Summers remains quite good. We knew from the start that Billy's unwilling involvement with Alice would totally change the dynamics of the tale, and it does take the plot down unexpected roads. Which, in the end, isn't a bad thing. Payback's a bitch, as many people are about to find out.

With Stephen King, the question always remains the same. Can he close the show with the same style and aplomb that characterize the earlier portions of his novels? This often makes or breaks a King title. The kicker is that Billy Summers benefits from a very good ending. There is a major twist that I didn't expect, which raised the bar even higher.

Highly recommended.

The final verdict: 8.5/10

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