Duma KeyDuma Key
Score Modern
What it's about
Edgar Freemantle, a successful Minnesota contractor, loses his arm and nearly his life in an accident, and his marriage falls apart. He moves to Duma Key, a quiet island off the Florida coast, to recover, and starts painting, discovering a startling talent. But his paintings have power, and something old on the island is using it.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's one of King's most admired later novels, about art, recovery and friendship.
You'll love it if you liked
The Dead Zone
Fairy Tale
The OutsiderGood to know
It's long and slow-building before the horror arrives. There's the death of a child.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #53 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #1071 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1982 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
More by Stephen King
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
The Stand
11/22/63
ItIf you like this, read next
The Road
Acheron
Silver Borne
The Truth
Empire of the Vampire
Dark SlayerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Duma Key worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,982 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Duma Key about?
Edgar Freemantle, a successful Minnesota contractor, loses his arm and nearly his life in an accident, and his marriage falls apart. He moves to Duma Key, a quiet island off the Florida coast, to recover, and starts painting, discovering a startling talent. But his paintings have power, and something old on the island is using it.
How long does it take to read Duma Key?
About 18 hours (704 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Duma Key?
If you liked it, try The Dead Zone by Stephen King, Fairy Tale by Stephen King or The Outsider by Stephen King.