Duma Key

Published: 2008

Duma Key (2008) follows Edgar Freemantle, a successful contractor who loses his right arm and suffers brain damage in a construction accident, leading to divorce and suicidal thoughts. On his psychologist's advice, Edgar rents a house on Florida's isolated Duma Key to reconnect with his artistic side. In this new environment, Edgar discovers an extraordinary talent for painting, creating works that seem to predict the future and influence reality itself. He befriends his elderly neighbor Elizabeth Eastlake, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease but recognizes the supernatural power emerging in Edgar's art. As Edgar's paintings grow more powerful, he uncovers the island's dark history and its connection to Elizabeth's family, particularly her twin sisters who drowned decades earlier. The malevolent entity Perse, which has slumbered for years, begins awakening through Edgar's art, threatening everyone he loves. Written during King's winter residencies in Florida, Duma Key represents one of his most autobiographical novels, drawing on his own recovery from near-fatal injuries, exploration of art as therapy, and adjustment to physical limitations. Critics praised the novel's emotional depth, sense of place, and more restrained approach to supernatural horror. The book performed well commercially, spending multiple weeks on bestseller lists. No film or television adaptations have been produced. King has expressed particular satisfaction with the novel's evocation of Florida's Gulf Coast and its exploration of creativity as both healing and potentially dangerous. For readers, Duma Key stands as one of King's most mature works, with its focus on older characters facing loss and rebuilding their lives. The novel's exploration of art as communication with both the self and something beyond connects to King's recurring interest in creativity's mysterious sources. Its portrayal of friendship between damaged people bonding in isolation showcases King's character development skills beyond the horror elements, while the Gulf Coast setting provides a distinctive atmosphere different from his usual New England locales.

Themes

• Art
• Recovery
• Memory
• Isolation
• Family tragedy

Adaptations

Collector Notes

One of King's most autobiographical novels, drawing on his own recovery from his 1999 accident. Notable for its Florida setting, a departure from King's typical New England locales.