by Stephen King
First published 2014
Jamie Morton plays with toy soldiers in his New England hometown when Charles Jacobs arrives as the new minister. Jacobs transforms the local church alongside his wife, captivating the entire congregation. Jamie forms a special connection with the Reverend based on a shared secret fascination. When tragedy destroys the Jacobs family, Charles curses God publicly and gets expelled from town. Jamie grows up to become a guitarist, touring with bar bands across America while battling his own losses. Heroin addiction leaves him desperate and stranded in his thirties. Jamie encounters Charles Jacobs again under circumstances that bind their fates together. Their renewed relationship becomes a dangerous pact that reveals the multiple meanings of revival. Jamie learns that some connections transcend death itself, leading to discoveries about what exists beyond life.
Genres: fiction, horror, supernatural, thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: New England
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
405 pages · Hardcover · Scribner
Content warnings: addiction, depression, substance-abuse