43.13: Horns, by Joe Hill (paperback 2010)

I've been on a Joe Hill kick lately--reading all three of his novels in the last month. Horn's is his second novel, and it's actually my favorite of the bunch. It tells the story of Iggy Perrish, a young man who is the prime suspect in the murder/rape of his girlfriend. Without enough evidence to find him guilty, he is released to live his life under suspicion. One morning, however, he wakes up with the power to touch people and know about their past transgressions--and folks are compelled to share their darkest secrets with him. The results are both enlightening and horrifying, leading Iggy to the truth about what happened to his love. It's a compelling read, and one that kept me up reading well past my bed time.

41.13: Locke and Key (Volume 5): Clockworks, by Joe Hill (author) and Gabriel Rodriguez (artist) (2012 Trade hardcover, issues 1-6)

This is one of the most unsettling comics I read. The Walking Dead has zombies and The House of Mystery has surreal and dangerous characters, but the seemingly normal backdrop on which the magical premise of this series--a Keyhouse, with keys that unlock magical powers only for for children--is set, can prove both comforting and disturbing. Volume 5 takes readers further into the world accessible through the keys, as the Locke children confront their nemesis by venturing into the past with the Timeshift Key. This key allows them to see the history of the keys, including the role they played in their  father (deceased) and uncle's lives. Since all memory of such magic is erased once children leave the house and enter adulthood, these stories have been lost between generations, and Tyler and Kinsey's knowledge of their past use may offer the best hope for their own futures, and that of their little brother Bode.

When I picked up this trade, the clerk at the comic shop said something about the end of the series. I truly hope he was mistaken--or that we have at least one more story arc to come--as it's hard to imagine this world concluding at this point of the narrative. Stay tuned... 

39.13: Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill (paperback 2007)

This is Hill's first book, and for an author's debut novel, it's not bad. Truthfully, though, if this was the first Hill book I had read--if I wasn't already a fan of Locke and Key comics and hadn't read his most recent novel--I may not have picked up another of his works. The book is average in development, although it gains momentum as it continues. I felt that the writing even improved within this one novel; at the beginning, I skimmed whole pages or sections I found extraneous, but later in the book things seemed more focused and relevant. I'm looking forward to reading his second novel, Horns, and watching him grow into the skilled author he becomes by NOS482.

34.13: NOS4A2, by Joe Hill (2013 hardcover)

I'm a huge fan of Joe Hill's Locke and Key comics, so I picked up his latest novel. Like his father (Stephen King), Hill is a remarkable storyteller--even of stories that are hard to engage in at first contact. I struggled to connect in the first 50 pages, but after that I couldn't stop: creepy but compelling, with great characters and surreal plot. (I'm catching up on my neglected blog, so these are short entries. Post a comment if you read the book--or are interested in doing so--and I'll share more!)

9-12.13: Welcome to Lovecraft, Head Games, Crown of Shadows, and Keys to the Kingdom (Locke & Key Volumes 1-4), by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 trade hardcovers)

I picked up the first trade of Locke & Key at one of the first two Comic Cons I attended. Like a lot of my early comics, I started it because my sister Sarah recommended it. I remember finding the series interesting, and I read the first two volumes relatively quickly, but as I picked up more and more comics of my own, this one got side tracked a bit. However, at Comic Con 2012 I encountered Joe Hill, author of the series, when I attended a panel he sat on with Margaret Atwood (my favorite author of all time). I found him funny and interesting, so I decided to attend the panel he and Gabriel Rodroguez were holding and reacquaint myself with Locke and Key. Seeing the dynamic relationship and enthusiasm the pair had for the series--as well as how much the attendees admired the series--resparked my interest in reading it. Just after Christmas, I received a big box of comics I had ordered from Amazon, and volumes 3 and 4 were among them. Since it has been some time since I read the first two volumes, I decided to begin anew and read the series from the beginning.

Locke & Key is a horror comic that tells the story of a family beset by tragedy, beginning with the death of the male head of household. The first volume of the comic sets the premise, wherein a mother and her three children move to the east coast to live in a huge old house, full of mysteries. The mysteries relate to a collection of keys hidden throughout the house that open doors in unexpected ways. For instance, the first key young Bode finds and uses opens the Ghost Door: pass through it, and your ghost leaves your body and can travel unseen just about anywhere; return through the door and into your body. Each volume of the series focuses on a different key, woven within an overall story of magic, horror, violence, intrigue, and everyday life. The tale is extremely well told, and the premise that adults are unable to see and/or accept as real any of the magic created by the keys raises questions about imagination, age, and the line between real and imagined. Rodrigiez's art is beautifully detailed, providing a believable setting for improbable events. I'm happy I reconnected with Locke and Key, and I recommend it to mystery and horror enthusiasts.