The Dark HalfThe Dark Half
Score Classic
What it's about
For years, Thad Beaumont, a serious literary novelist, secretly wrote violent bestselling crime novels under the pen name George Stark. When he's exposed, he holds a mock funeral for Stark. Then people connected with the exposure start being murdered, and the fingerprints at the scenes are Thad's. George Stark doesn't want to stay dead.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. King wrote it after his own pen name, Richard Bachman, was revealed.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's violent, with gruesome murders.
By the numbers
- Readers12 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller61 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
- #70 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #669 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2348 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
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Exorcist
Blood Meridian
Swan Song
Watchers
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All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Dark Half worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,348 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 60.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Dark Half about?
For years, Thad Beaumont, a serious literary novelist, secretly wrote violent bestselling crime novels under the pen name George Stark. When he's exposed, he holds a mock funeral for Stark. Then people connected with the exposure start being murdered, and the fingerprints at the scenes are Thad's. George Stark doesn't want to stay dead.
How long does it take to read The Dark Half?
About 12 hours (460 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Dark Half?
If you liked it, try Misery by Stephen King, The Dead Zone by Stephen King or Duma Key by Stephen King.