Action & Adventure
![Stephen King - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000AQ0842.jpg)
Billy Summers
#1 New York Times Bestseller
From legendary storyteller Stephen King, whose “restless imagination is a power that cannot be contained” (The New York Times Book Review), comes a thrilling new novel about a good guy in a bad job.
Billy Summers is a man in a room with a gun. He’s a killer for hire and the best in the business. But he’ll do the job only if the target is a truly bad guy. And now Billy wants out. But first there is one last hit. Billy is among the best snipers in the world, a decorated Iraq war vet, a Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done. So what could possibly go wrong?
How about everything.
This spectacular can’t-put-it-down novel is part war story, part love letter to small town America and the people who live there, and it features one of the most compelling and surprising duos in King fiction, who set out to avenge the crimes of an extraordinarily evil man. It’s about love, luck, fate, and a complex hero with one last shot at redemption.
You won’t put this story down, and you won’t forget Billy.
From legendary storyteller Stephen King, whose “restless imagination is a power that cannot be contained” (The New York Times Book Review), comes a thrilling new novel about a good guy in a bad job.
Billy Summers is a man in a room with a gun. He’s a killer for hire and the best in the business. But he’ll do the job only if the target is a truly bad guy. And now Billy wants out. But first there is one last hit. Billy is among the best snipers in the world, a decorated Iraq war vet, a Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done. So what could possibly go wrong?
How about everything.
This spectacular can’t-put-it-down novel is part war story, part love letter to small town America and the people who live there, and it features one of the most compelling and surprising duos in King fiction, who set out to avenge the crimes of an extraordinarily evil man. It’s about love, luck, fate, and a complex hero with one last shot at redemption.
You won’t put this story down, and you won’t forget Billy.
Editorial Reviews
Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 1
Billy Summers sits in the hotel lobby, waiting for his ride. It's Friday noon. Although he's reading a digest-sized comic book called Archie's Pals 'n' Gals, he's thinking about Émile Zola, and Zola's third novel, his breakthrough, Thérèse Raquin. He's thinking it's very much a young man's book. He's thinking that Zola was just beginning to mine what would turn out to be a deep and fabulous vein of ore. He's thinking that Zola was-is-the nightmare version of Charles Dickens. He's thinking that would make a good thesis for an essay. Not that he's ever written one.
At two minutes past twelve the door opens and two men come into the lobby. One is tall with black hair combed in a 50s pompadour. The other is short and bespectacled. Both are wearing suits. All of Nick's men wear suits. Billy knows the tall one from out west. He's been with Nick a long time. His name is Frank Macintosh. Because of the pomp, some of Nick's men call him Frankie Elvis, or-now that he has a tiny bald spot in back-Solar Elvis. But not to his face. Billy doesn't know the other one. He must be local.
Macintosh holds out his hand. Billy rises and shakes it.
"Hey, Billy, been awhile. Good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Frank."
"This is Paulie Logan."
"Hi, Paulie." Billy shakes with the short one.
"Pleased to meet you, Billy."
Macintosh takes the Archie digest from Billy's hand. "Still reading the comics, I see."
"Yeah," Billy says. "Yeah. I like them quite a bit. The funny ones. Sometimes the superheroes but I don't like them as much."
Macintosh breezes through the pages and shows something to Paulie Logan. "Look at these chicks. Man, I could jack off to these."
"Betty and Veronica," Billy says, taking the comic back. "Veronica is Archie's girlfriend and Betty wants to be."
"You read books, too?" Logan asks.
"Some, if I'm going on a long trip. And magazines. But mostly comic books."
"Good, good," Logan says, and drops Macintosh a wink. Not very subtle, and Macintosh frowns, but Billy's okay with it.
"You ready to take a ride?" Macintosh asks.
"Sure." Billy tucks his digest into his back pocket. Archie and his bosomy gal pals. There's an essay waiting to be written there, too. About the comfort of haircuts and attitudes that don't change. About Riverdale, and how time stands still there.
"Then let's go," Macintosh says. "Nick's waiting."
2
Macintosh drives. Logan says he'll sit in back because he's short. Billy expects t...
Billy Summers sits in the hotel lobby, waiting for his ride. It's Friday noon. Although he's reading a digest-sized comic book called Archie's Pals 'n' Gals, he's thinking about Émile Zola, and Zola's third novel, his breakthrough, Thérèse Raquin. He's thinking it's very much a young man's book. He's thinking that Zola was just beginning to mine what would turn out to be a deep and fabulous vein of ore. He's thinking that Zola was-is-the nightmare version of Charles Dickens. He's thinking that would make a good thesis for an essay. Not that he's ever written one.
At two minutes past twelve the door opens and two men come into the lobby. One is tall with black hair combed in a 50s pompadour. The other is short and bespectacled. Both are wearing suits. All of Nick's men wear suits. Billy knows the tall one from out west. He's been with Nick a long time. His name is Frank Macintosh. Because of the pomp, some of Nick's men call him Frankie Elvis, or-now that he has a tiny bald spot in back-Solar Elvis. But not to his face. Billy doesn't know the other one. He must be local.
Macintosh holds out his hand. Billy rises and shakes it.
"Hey, Billy, been awhile. Good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Frank."
"This is Paulie Logan."
"Hi, Paulie." Billy shakes with the short one.
"Pleased to meet you, Billy."
Macintosh takes the Archie digest from Billy's hand. "Still reading the comics, I see."
"Yeah," Billy says. "Yeah. I like them quite a bit. The funny ones. Sometimes the superheroes but I don't like them as much."
Macintosh breezes through the pages and shows something to Paulie Logan. "Look at these chicks. Man, I could jack off to these."
"Betty and Veronica," Billy says, taking the comic back. "Veronica is Archie's girlfriend and Betty wants to be."
"You read books, too?" Logan asks.
"Some, if I'm going on a long trip. And magazines. But mostly comic books."
"Good, good," Logan says, and drops Macintosh a wink. Not very subtle, and Macintosh frowns, but Billy's okay with it.
"You ready to take a ride?" Macintosh asks.
"Sure." Billy tucks his digest into his back pocket. Archie and his bosomy gal pals. There's an essay waiting to be written there, too. About the comfort of haircuts and attitudes that don't change. About Riverdale, and how time stands still there.
"Then let's go," Macintosh says. "Nick's waiting."
2
Macintosh drives. Logan says he'll sit in back because he's short. Billy expects t...
Readers Top Reviews
Christopher Stokes
Each year I purchase every one of king's offerings. For the past ten years he has been my favourite go-to author. When I saw that this book was coming out, I pre-ordered it around ten months in advance knowing full well that it was going to be yet another stellar offering from the master story teller. From page one this book had me hooked. The character of Billy Summers really got into my head, and I assume that was the intention of the author. It is unlike any King book I have read before, and although he seems to be veering way from horror in his recent works, it is suiting him well. This book is about the innermost thoughts of an assassin on the spectrum, and the depths to which ones mind will travel when left alone awaiting that 'one last job'. I adored this book, just as I have enjoyed losing myself in his many previous works, of which I have stored on a bookcase with bowing shelves. If you're a fan of King, you won't need further persuasion before considering purchasing his next book. If you are new to King, give this one a try because you won't be disappointed. He has a unique talent for making ordinary people come across as extraordinary, and I cant wait for what is to come. I highly recommend it. 5*
BewBob
Just to even out the reviewers complaining about the state of a book when it arrives and not the story...seriously, just return the damned thing to Amazon if you're that upset about it.
Jordan Mclean
I'll be the first to actually write a review that's not to do with the price of it or how it came in the mail...Those are Amazon's problems and it shouldn't give a bad reputation to Stephen King... The book is great so far, 50 pages into it and can't seem to put it down!
Love Life
This is not your usual Stephen King supernatural or horror novel. This is a stealth bound crime thriller that will tie you in to the characters and never let you go. This book definitely needs trigger warnings about rape, child abuse and war because it isn't often what you see in a SK novel. While the triggers are not too detailed, these are very touchy to some. Billy Summers, an ex-marine sniper is a killer for hire. He's a sort of robin hood because he only kills bad guys. He's on his last hit, but this time isn't like any other. This book is going to take you on a wild adventure that you weren't expecting. This is another amazing Stephen King thriller! I was excited to read Billy Summers from the beginning to the end. Once I received it I found a comfortable chair and read for hours on end. The more I would read, the more I loved the book. The characters are well developed and engage a realness. There's alot of suspense as you get to the middle chapters. Stephen King is such an amazing writer. I always find myself not being able to put down a SK novel until I'm done. Billy Summers is a character with a heart for money and humanity. He's not exactly a good guy, but he's certainly not a heartless human. Billy's story is well developed and shares a character that has had a hard childhood and post trauma from a career as a sniper in the military. Everything from the relationships Billy has to the war stories he carries from Iraq, entangle you in this non-typical King fashion. Alice, a woman that Billy rescues from a horrible gang rape goes along with him in search for vengeance. He becomes entangled in Alice's World and the horrifying ordeal she went through. Billy now has someone he feels he needs to find justice for. Along the way he finds himself in a way he never knew. I absolutely loved this book because of the characters Billy and Alice. I continued reading for days until I could know how Billy's last job turned out. The ending had some bittersweet turns and tied into the real message of this book. I give this book, Billy Summers a 4 out of 5.
C
This latest work from King is another thriller/crime novel. There are 24 chapters, and about 515 pages of story. Billy is a troubled Iraq war vet sniper, who has now become a very professional hitman. He uses several identities as cover, one of which is a writer. The pacing is pretty slow for the first half of the book, as Billy's character is established. We learn about his past traumas, and his skillful, observant, and clever nature. Billy seems to get some cathartic benefit from using his cover as a writer to express his inner thoughts, and some of my favorite parts of the book were his early writing efforts. Halfway through the book, we meet Alice, another troubled character that has suffered through her own brutal traumas. From the point that Billy meets Alice, the book morphs into more of a revenge quest; hunting down the bad guys to make them pay for their crimes. This shift in pace and motivation almost makes it seem like a different story, and I wonder if this part was written after the pandemic? There are also a few cool easter eggs, or references to places from other King books, that I'm sure Constant Readers will appreciate. Overall I enjoyed this book even more than “Later”, King's other crime novel released this year. I thought the pacing was a little slow in the first part of this book, but it did give some depth to the main character; and reading Billy's struggles and development as a writer was entertaining. I enjoyed the ending of the book so much, that I feel like it more than makes up for a slow start to the book. Overall another good book from King, and I think that fans of his that recognize some of the references might enjoy it even more.
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 1
Billy Summers sits in the hotel lobby, waiting for his ride. It's Friday noon. Although he's reading a digest-sized comic book called Archie's Pals 'n' Gals, he's thinking about Émile Zola, and Zola's third novel, his breakthrough, Thérèse Raquin. He's thinking it's very much a young man's book. He's thinking that Zola was just beginning to mine what would turn out to be a deep and fabulous vein of ore. He's thinking that Zola was-is-the nightmare version of Charles Dickens. He's thinking that would make a good thesis for an essay. Not that he's ever written one.
At two minutes past twelve the door opens and two men come into the lobby. One is tall with black hair combed in a 50s pompadour. The other is short and bespectacled. Both are wearing suits. All of Nick's men wear suits. Billy knows the tall one from out west. He's been with Nick a long time. His name is Frank Macintosh. Because of the pomp, some of Nick's men call him Frankie Elvis, or-now that he has a tiny bald spot in back-Solar Elvis. But not to his face. Billy doesn't know the other one. He must be local.
Macintosh holds out his hand. Billy rises and shakes it.
"Hey, Billy, been awhile. Good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Frank."
"This is Paulie Logan."
"Hi, Paulie." Billy shakes with the short one.
"Pleased to meet you, Billy."
Macintosh takes the Archie digest from Billy's hand. "Still reading the comics, I see."
"Yeah," Billy says. "Yeah. I like them quite a bit. The funny ones. Sometimes the superheroes but I don't like them as much."
Macintosh breezes through the pages and shows something to Paulie Logan. "Look at these chicks. Man, I could jack off to these."
"Betty and Veronica," Billy says, taking the comic back. "Veronica is Archie's girlfriend and Betty wants to be."
"You read books, too?" Logan asks.
"Some, if I'm going on a long trip. And magazines. But mostly comic books."
"Good, good," Logan says, and drops Macintosh a wink. Not very subtle, and Macintosh frowns, but Billy's okay with it.
"You ready to take a ride?" Macintosh asks.
"Sure." Billy tucks his digest into his back pocket. Archie and his bosomy gal pals. There's an essay waiting to be written there, too. About the comfort of haircuts and attitudes that don't change. About Riverdale, and how time stands still there.
"Then let's go," Macintosh says. "Nick's waiting."
2
Macintosh drives. Logan says he'll sit in back because he's short. Billy expects them to go west, because that's where the fancy part of this town is, and Nick Majarian likes to live large whether home or away. And he doesn't do hotels. But they go northeast instead.
Two miles from downtown they enter a neighborhood that looks lower middle-class to Billy. Three or four steps better than the trailer park he grew up in, but far from fancy. No big gated houses, not here. This is a neighborhood of ranch houses with lawn sprinklers twirling on small patches of grass. Most are one-story. Most are well maintained, but a few need paint and there's crabgrass taking over some of the lawns. He sees one house with a piece of cardboard blocking a broken window. In front of another, a fat man in Bermuda shorts and a wifebeater sits in a lawn chair from Costco or Sam's Club, drinking a beer and watching them go by. Times have been good in America for awhile now, but maybe that is going to change. Billy knows neighborhoods like this. They are a barometer, and this one has started to go down. The people who live here are working the kind of jobs where you punch a clock.
Macintosh pulls into the driveway of a two-story with a patchy lawn. It's painted a subdued yellow. It's okay, but doesn't look like a place where Nick Majarian would choose to live, even for a few days. It looks like the kind of place a machinist or lower-echelon airport employee would live with his coupon-clipping wife and two kids, making mortgage payments every month and bowling in a beer league on Thursday nights.
Logan opens Billy's door. Billy puts his Archie digest on the dashboard and gets out.
Macintosh leads the way up the porch steps. It's hot outside but inside it's air conditioned. Nick Majarian stands in the short hallway leading down to the kitchen. He's wearing a suit that probably cost almost as much as a monthly mortgage payment on this house. His thinning hair is combed flat, no pompadour for him. His face is round and Vegas tanned. He's h...
Billy Summers sits in the hotel lobby, waiting for his ride. It's Friday noon. Although he's reading a digest-sized comic book called Archie's Pals 'n' Gals, he's thinking about Émile Zola, and Zola's third novel, his breakthrough, Thérèse Raquin. He's thinking it's very much a young man's book. He's thinking that Zola was just beginning to mine what would turn out to be a deep and fabulous vein of ore. He's thinking that Zola was-is-the nightmare version of Charles Dickens. He's thinking that would make a good thesis for an essay. Not that he's ever written one.
At two minutes past twelve the door opens and two men come into the lobby. One is tall with black hair combed in a 50s pompadour. The other is short and bespectacled. Both are wearing suits. All of Nick's men wear suits. Billy knows the tall one from out west. He's been with Nick a long time. His name is Frank Macintosh. Because of the pomp, some of Nick's men call him Frankie Elvis, or-now that he has a tiny bald spot in back-Solar Elvis. But not to his face. Billy doesn't know the other one. He must be local.
Macintosh holds out his hand. Billy rises and shakes it.
"Hey, Billy, been awhile. Good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Frank."
"This is Paulie Logan."
"Hi, Paulie." Billy shakes with the short one.
"Pleased to meet you, Billy."
Macintosh takes the Archie digest from Billy's hand. "Still reading the comics, I see."
"Yeah," Billy says. "Yeah. I like them quite a bit. The funny ones. Sometimes the superheroes but I don't like them as much."
Macintosh breezes through the pages and shows something to Paulie Logan. "Look at these chicks. Man, I could jack off to these."
"Betty and Veronica," Billy says, taking the comic back. "Veronica is Archie's girlfriend and Betty wants to be."
"You read books, too?" Logan asks.
"Some, if I'm going on a long trip. And magazines. But mostly comic books."
"Good, good," Logan says, and drops Macintosh a wink. Not very subtle, and Macintosh frowns, but Billy's okay with it.
"You ready to take a ride?" Macintosh asks.
"Sure." Billy tucks his digest into his back pocket. Archie and his bosomy gal pals. There's an essay waiting to be written there, too. About the comfort of haircuts and attitudes that don't change. About Riverdale, and how time stands still there.
"Then let's go," Macintosh says. "Nick's waiting."
2
Macintosh drives. Logan says he'll sit in back because he's short. Billy expects them to go west, because that's where the fancy part of this town is, and Nick Majarian likes to live large whether home or away. And he doesn't do hotels. But they go northeast instead.
Two miles from downtown they enter a neighborhood that looks lower middle-class to Billy. Three or four steps better than the trailer park he grew up in, but far from fancy. No big gated houses, not here. This is a neighborhood of ranch houses with lawn sprinklers twirling on small patches of grass. Most are one-story. Most are well maintained, but a few need paint and there's crabgrass taking over some of the lawns. He sees one house with a piece of cardboard blocking a broken window. In front of another, a fat man in Bermuda shorts and a wifebeater sits in a lawn chair from Costco or Sam's Club, drinking a beer and watching them go by. Times have been good in America for awhile now, but maybe that is going to change. Billy knows neighborhoods like this. They are a barometer, and this one has started to go down. The people who live here are working the kind of jobs where you punch a clock.
Macintosh pulls into the driveway of a two-story with a patchy lawn. It's painted a subdued yellow. It's okay, but doesn't look like a place where Nick Majarian would choose to live, even for a few days. It looks like the kind of place a machinist or lower-echelon airport employee would live with his coupon-clipping wife and two kids, making mortgage payments every month and bowling in a beer league on Thursday nights.
Logan opens Billy's door. Billy puts his Archie digest on the dashboard and gets out.
Macintosh leads the way up the porch steps. It's hot outside but inside it's air conditioned. Nick Majarian stands in the short hallway leading down to the kitchen. He's wearing a suit that probably cost almost as much as a monthly mortgage payment on this house. His thinning hair is combed flat, no pompadour for him. His face is round and Vegas tanned. He's h...
