Joe Hill (1) (1972–)

The Locke family finds another key -- one that allows them to go inside of each other's heads -- and explore the various implications of this, while Luke/Dodge continues with nefarious plans.

This book is the second in a series, and it definitely requires the reader to have picked up volume one first. There's not really any recap and we pick up in medias res with the Locke children learning more about the keys, Dodge up to no good, and hints being dropped about the significance of the keys and the part they played in the past.

As I mentioned in my review of volume one, this series of graphic novels also had a show based on them, which I watched first. I still enjoy the show more (especially with the way the head key worked and how folks' inner worlds looked) but there's enough departures between the two to keep me interested in where the book series is going (even though I know the wide brushstrokes already). So, I plan to continue on with the next book.… (more)

This is the first book I have read written by Joe Hill, and I find it uncanny how similar the format is to Stephen King's. The vehicles play a major role; Raleigh push bikes, Harley Davidsons, & a Rolls Royce Wraith. The horror element is suitably nasty; playing with corpses at a morgue, murderer forcing mothers into sex before killing them, and the main villain seemingly immortal. The background information on his characters asserts them as realistic. And finally, one of the elements I most appreciate, the references to other books; starting with Gerard Manley Hopkins' "inscapes", and going on to David Mitchell 's Cloud Atlas (De Zoet and Frobisher), Stephen King 's Dark Tower, The Stand, Shawshank Redemption, Pennywise, and finally Lovecraft. I read somewhere that he also mentions his own other books, but I have not read these yet (Treehouse of the Mind (from Horns) and Craddock McDermott (from Heart-Shaped Box) Lovecraft, Massachusetts, (from Locke & Key), Orphanhenge and The Crooked Alley. I enjoyed this book so much, that I went on to read "Wraith", his graphic novel.… (more)

After the death of Rendell Locke, his wife and children move cross country to live with his brother Duncan in their family home. But it wasn't any ordinary death -- Rendell was murdered by one of his students and the family is haunted by the ordeal.

I actually watched the Netflix show Locke & Key and was invested in it before realizing it was based on a book series. I know many people like to intone 'the book is always better,' but I think that it's often a case of what medium you were exposed to first. In this case, I think I enjoyed the TV series more. For instance, it could be scarier with less blood and more sound cues (creepy voices, music, etc.).

The book certainly does touch on the inner lives of the characters, but I felt the show explored this more (although of course I watched multiple seasons compared to having read just one volume of the book series so far). I had a lot more sympathy for killer Sam in the show who was manipulated into doing what he didn't want versus killer Sam in the series who is also manipulated but much more gleeful about spewing violence wherever he goes.

That being said, there are some differences like that between the book and the show that make me interested enough to check out the next volume of the series to see where things go next (even if I do have a sense of the bigger picture already).… (more)