With witnesses who have spent time with him. So Billy has a backup ID, wig, false paunch, car and another apartment up his sleeve. Billy's pretty sure they've cloned his laptop, and are watching his movements in the house they've rented for his stay. There's David Lockridge, a writer persona created for him while he is 'embedded' waiting for his mark: insinuating himself into small town life in Red Bluff while his story is written under the pseudonym Billy Compson.Īs if four aren't enough, there's his escape persona, Dalton Smith. He uses his sniper's persona to accept the job: what he calls his dumb self - a guy that has a gift for shooting, but isn't clever like Billy really is. The character of Billy has a complex number of identities.

Hired by the mob to take out a murderer who knows too much, Billy's not sure if he can trust the bad guys he works for: they have too much control over the setup for this hit, and are even trying to control his getaway - a flawless disappearing act that he's known for.ĭutching is what movie people call that kind of tilt, and that's how this job feels: dutched. There's a distinct air of unease in this story of a gunman's fated 'last job'. Billy Summers comes with complications, because he works for bad guys. Where King takes these characters is always interesting. His main character is your generic lone hero with a difficult life backstory maybe he did something bad, but he's essentially a good guy. Stephen King's style in this book is so familiar and comfortable. Reading Billy Summers is like coming home. The slow burn of The Slow Roll by Simon Lendrum.In Her Blood: Nikki Crutchley’s thrilling new book.The Pain Tourist – Paul Cleave’s masterpiece.Jan Medlicott Prize for Fiction finalist: The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey.Powerful and Confronting: Michael Bennett’s Better The Blood.Birnam Wood: Eleanor Catton comes to Burnside.

Stephen king billy summers review