Book Review: Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

 

Author: Joe Hill

Pages: 376

Published: February 13, 2007

Genre: Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller

Stephen King must be proud. Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. I'd say he does a good job of proving that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in this book, his first novel.

Judas Coyne is a semi-retired rock star who has a personal collection of occult items that he has purchased over the years. It's just something of interest to him. He doesn't take any of it seriously until his assistant "happens" upon an old suit on an online auction that promises to contain the ghost of the suit's owner. Thinking, "what the hell, why not?", Judas buys the suit. 

From the moment the suit arrives in a heart-shaped box, strange things begin happening to him and his girlfriend. Without placing anyone in a proverbial box, as rock stars typically go, Judas has had his share of casual girlfriends through the years. One in particular begins to resurface when he calls the woman who sold him the suit to find out if he can send it back. The seller turns out to be the sister of one of Judas' old girlfriends - the one who committed suicide after Judas threw her out.

The step-father of the dead girlfriend is the ghost who came with the suit. His mission is to kill Judas - or rather, make Judas kill himself and anyone else affiliated with him - girlfriend, employees, dogs - makes no matter. The reason: Judas is told is that the ghost holds him responsible for the death of his step-daughter. 

The story throws the reader some curve balls of surprise every now and again. Judas' real name is Justin. He has some old ghosts of his own from his past to confront - and he gets that opportunity.  He suffered abuse at the hands of his father as a child - and the trauma and emotional turmoil that brings must be dealt with. This leaves the reader wondering by the end of the book whether the events of the story were real - or did everything happen in Judas' mind? 

I thought the book would make an 'okay' movie, although it would be predictable at some points. 

Overall, it was a good book. I would rate it 3.75 out of 5 stars. 

Amazon:  Heart-Shaped Box: A Novel