Book Review: Cell

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Cell     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Stephen King
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Horror   Thriller
Scribner, Jan 2006, $26.95

Civilization as we know it ended when the pulse came through everyone’s cell phone. Any one on the line at that critical moment has turned into "phoners", zombie killers; those fortunate to not have been on the line remained "normies."

Kent Pond, Maine illustrator Clayton Riddell is in Boston agreeing to a comic book deal when the pulse strikes. Having not done the knee jerk reaction of most people to reach for his cell phone, Clay is stunned by what has happened in Boston. He fears for his estranged wife Sharon, and their young son John with his red cell phone back in Maine. Clay is fixated on returning home to keep them safe that is if they did not reach for the phone. He meets Tom McCourt in town and soon afterward Alice Maxwell; the three hope to escape Beantown though chances look bleak.

CELL is why this author is the king of suspense as readers will enjoy this somewhat bloodthirsty "buddy" trek through New England, mostly the Boston area, hell on earth. Clay and his companions are fabulous as they initially are shocked with what is going on as some phoners commit suicide while others viciously attack and the normies cops shoot to kill. Soon Clay and company become immunized to death as they wan t to live. Stephen King provides a wonderful technological end of the world thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner