Joyland

Stephen King, a bestselling author, presents Joyland, a novel set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park during 1973. The narrative follows college student Devin Jones as he takes a job at the park, known as Joyland. His duties include maintenance work, dressing up as the park mascot, and entertaining children. While working there, he encounters the unresolved legend of a vicious murder that occurred in the Haunted House. Devin forms an unusual friendship with Mike, a sickly boy who lives near his boarding house. Mike has never visited the park but wishes to see it before he dies. Devin arranges a private visit for Mike toward the end of the season. The day unfolds among roller coasters and terrifying tales concerning the young woman who was killed. Unwelcome visitors and inquisitive questions trigger unpredictable reactions. Devin unknowingly enters a dangerous game from which he may not escape. This story appeals to readers interested in college life, murder mysteries, cold cases, and city or town settings. It suits those who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic atmospheres. Readers seeking fast-paced action or non-fiction accounts of criminal investigations might find the slow burn less engaging.