The Wind Through the Keyhole

Starred review from March 26, 2012
King returns to the Mid-World of his Dark Tower series in this gory but hopeful set of nested tales. As gunslinger Roland Deschain and his companions quest toward the Dark Tower, Roland tells a story of his early days as a gunslinger, hunting down a murderous shape-shifter on a rampage. Within that tale is a fairy tale Roland tells to a young boy about Tim, a very brave boy tricked into a dangerous quest by an evil man. Tim’s adventure is pitch-perfect, capturing both the feel of Mid-World and the perilous nature of a fairy story. Its placement within the quest works beautifully, and it propels the story of the shape-shifter and the child who holds the key to its identity. Even those who aren’t familiar with the series will find the conclusion both satisfying and moving. This gripping novel is sure to put King back on the bestseller lists. Agent: Chuck Verrill, Darhansoff & Verrill.

Stephen King knows how to write great prose. With his in-depth descriptions, the listener sees, feels, and tastes every detail he describes. However, the Dark Tower series is exceptionally robust, and the print version may be a better choice for keeping up with this story. King reads his own work with confidence and does a thorough job with the characters' accents. However, his vocal timbre is not a good match for the protagonist, Roland Deschain. While King does a commendable job navigating the listener through some important and interesting details in this adventure, sometimes reading a book in print works better than having it read aloud--even when the narrator is the author. P.S.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine