A construction accident takes Edgar's arm. When his rage makes him dangerous and he loses his marriage, he relocates to a beach house on an island off the Florida coast. He rekindles his sketching hobby.
The paintings show things he shouldn't know.
Wireman befriends Edgar. When the things Edgar paints start to actually happen, the two decide to push his gift, and find the cost. As Edgar becomes famous, the ominous ship paintings are bought by satisfied admirers, and it becomes clear this was the plan of something old on the island.
The Vibe
I thought I would sleep no more that night, but eventually I did. In the end we always wear out our worries. That's what Wireman says.
Duma Key is not a horrifying book. Sure, occasional passages send chills down your spine, but the journey itself is one of learning to move on. The Florida location is atypical of horror novels, and gives the book a warmth that counteracts the horror. It's a 2 candler.
Wireman is one of my favorite Stephen King characters, bursting with quotes and personality, and he steals the show. Their trauma bonding, and way of shooting the shit, is the highlight of the book. Unfortunately, the story is at its weakest as it delves further into the horror, which feels tacked on to this story of moving on. It never reaches the same heights.
It's a 3 star.