Lisey's Story by Stephen King

The popular and critically acclaimed author Scott Landon died a little over two years ago. His widow, Lisey, has been putting off the task of sorting through his papers and manuscripts, despite the persistent calls of certain academics and obsessive fans who are convinced that they are being denied a lost literary gem. Lisey's sister Amanda begins an obsessive catalog of the large collection of journals and magazines with some mention of Scott Landon in them, and in doing so sets Lisey on a dangerous path to uncovering secrets buried in the past.

This novel is familiar territory for Stephen King - how could it not be with such a comprehensive body of work? In this case though, the story of an author with a hidden past and family secrets is told from the view point of his widow. Lisey is a complex character, on the surface she is just 'Little Lisey' in the shadow of her famous husband and the baby sister of her family, but the story of their marriage told through a series of memories and the events that unfold as a result give her great depth.

Stephen King manages to evoke the inner language of a long marriage, with its secrets and lies, things best forgotten, the treasured possessions and the shared jokes and phrases that are only meaningful to two people. He also captures the relationship of Lisey and her sisters, particularly with her eldest sister Amanda, and they way they respond to a family crisis in their own ways.

This is a fine novel, easily one of King's best in recent years and on a par with Hearts in Atlantis and parts of the Dark Tower cycle, and well worth reading. I can also recommend the unabridged audio book of this story, available from audible.co.uk, as a good way to savour the story.