Three and a half stars (of five)
King wastes no time in ramping up the excitement, which takes the reader on a harrowing adventure. Tess accepts a library speaking engagement to discuss her latest published novel, hoping to be in and out with little fanfare. She’s done so many of these that they’ve lost their lustre, yet the money is worth her while. After tepid coffee and tinned cookies, Tess makes smalltalk with her host and learns of a slightly off the beaten path route home that will save her much time. Tess accepts the advice and, armed with her trusty Tomtom GPS, she heads out, only to run into some car trouble on the way. She flags down a passer-by, who agrees to help, but soon finds herself brutally assaulted and left for dead. Using every shred of wherewithal she has, Tess is able to get home, where she begins plotting her revenge, the identity of her attacker burned into her memory. It is at this point that things take a turn; the GPS and Tess’s cat become integral characters in the revenge plan and play vocalised conscience roles as Tess peels back the mystery behind her attack. A good way to spend a little time entertained by King’s antics, sure to make an interesting television adaptation.
King has ideas that are so ver far reaching and numerous that I often wonder when he has the time to do anything other than put them down on paper. This short story is no different, offering neither a unique idea nor a twist the reader could not see coming, but still proving to be highly intriguing. The story unfolds in a simplistic manner and keeps the reader from checking the clock. That said, it is nothing stellar or highly thought-provoking, which, when it comes to Stephen King, might be a nice change of pace.
Kudos, Mr. King for all your hard work and how well you presented this story to your readers. As always, a delight to see what you have inside your mind.
Book Reviews to Ponder 