Rattlesnakes (novella)
In 1980, advertising executive Vic Trenton's four-year-old son Tad died from dehydration after he and his mother Donna were trapped in a broken-down car in Castle Rock, Maine, by Cujo, a rabid St. Bernard dog.Pelley provides more information on the destruction of the snakes; the majority were burned alive on the beach, while others drowned in a whirlpool while trying to swim to a neighboring island, Duma Key (which was submerged by a massive tropical storm in the 2000s).Alita's autopsy and toxicology screening found no evidence of foul play, exonerating Vic, though Pelley continues to harbor suspicions against him.As the story ends, a consortium of real estate agents is exploring plans to reclaim Duma Key via dredging; Vic believes that this will lead to the stroller being found, and fears that the ghosts of the twins might once again pursue him."[13] Matthew Jackson (writing for Paste) described Rattlesnakes as "a heady mix of emotional turmoil, vivid terror, and pure visceral power".[15] Justin Hamelin described Rattlesnakes as "damn near the perfect King ghost story, with the supernatural meeting grief and paranoia halfway.Think Duma Key meets Bag of Bones if they strolled through Pet Sematary", adding "King has an uncanny talent to catch us up with characters as if we bumped into them on a walk in the park."[16] Writing for USA Today, Brandon Truitt stated that Rattlesnakes "...brings a little healing catharsis to a traumatizing read ("Cujo" definitely sticks with you) and opens up a new wound with unnerving bite.
Stephen KingHorror fictionScribnerHardcoverYou Like It DarkerVic TrentondehydrationCastle RockSt. Bernard dogCOVID-19 pandemicMcMansionFloridaGulf CoaststrollerrattlesnakeswhirlpoolDuma Keytropical stormtelepathicallyNewburyportMassachusettsautopsytoxicologyfood bankSarasotareclaimdredgingLaurieJeff Healey BandJohn D. MacDonaldWill PattonBloody DisgustingVultureghost storyBag of BonesPet SemataryUSA TodayStephen King short fiction bibliographyKing, StephenHodder & StoughtonTampa Bay TimesIrish ExaminerStephenKing.comRockland, MaineYahoo.comPressReaderInternet Speculative Fiction DatabaseBibliographyShort fictionUnpublished and uncollectedAwards and nominationsCarrie'Salem's LotThe ShiningThe StandThe Dead ZoneFirestarterChristineCycle of the WerewolfThe TalismanThe Eyes of the DragonMiseryThe TommyknockersThe Dark HalfNeedful ThingsGerald's GameDolores ClaiborneInsomniaRose MadderThe Green MileDesperationThe Girl Who Loved Tom GordonThe PlantDreamcatcherBlack HouseFrom a Buick 8The Colorado KidLisey's StoryUnder the Dome11/22/63JoylandDoctor SleepMr. MercedesRevivalFinders KeepersEnd of WatchGwendy's Button BoxSleeping BeautiesThe OutsiderElevationThe InstituteBilly SummersGwendy's Final TaskFairy TaleNever FlinchTalisman 3The Dark TowerRichard BachmanThe Long WalkRoadworkThe Running ManThinnerThe Bachman BooksThe RegulatorsNight ShiftDifferent SeasonsSkeleton CrewFour Past MidnightNightmares & DreamscapesHearts in AtlantisEverything's EventualJust After SunsetFull Dark, No StarsThe Bazaar of Bad DreamsIf It BleedsDanse MacabreNightmares in the SkySecret WindowsFaithfulCreepshowCat's EyeSilver BulletMaximum OverdriveSleepwalkersA Good MarriageSorry, Right Number