Later

Published: 2021

Later (2021) follows Jamie Conklin, who possesses the unwanted ability to see and speak with the recently deceased—spirits who must truthfully answer his questions before they fade away. Raised by single mother Tia, a literary agent struggling financially after her star author's suicide, Jamie's ability remains their secret until Tia's police detective girlfriend Liz discovers it. Liz coerces Jamie into helping her locate a dead bomber's hidden explosives, inadvertently exposing him to a malevolent supernatural entity that continues to haunt him. As Jamie grows up, he must confront this evil while navigating complex relationships with the adults in his life who exploit his ability for their own purposes. Narrated by an older Jamie reflecting on his childhood experiences, the novel uses its crime fiction framework to explore themes of exploitation, grief, and the burdens of unwanted power. Published through Hard Case Crime like Joyland before it, Later continues King's exploration of pulp genres with painted cover art evoking vintage paperbacks. The novel balances coming-of-age elements with supernatural horror, examining how extraordinary abilities can make children vulnerable to manipulation by adults. In Jamie's matter-of-fact voice and moral struggles, King creates a character who connects to his tradition of psychically gifted children while offering a fresh perspective on the responsibilities and dangers such gifts entail. Through its exploration of literary fraud, police corruption, and drug trafficking, the novel also examines how everyday darkness often rivals supernatural threats.

Themes

• Psychic abilities
• Exploitation
• Growing up
• Truth and deception
• Supernatural entities

Adaptations

Collector Notes

King's third novel published through Hard Case Crime, following The Colorado Kid and Joyland. Features the painted pulp-style cover art characteristic of the imprint, though the content blends crime with supernatural elements.