Book Review: In the Tall Grass by Stephen King & Joe Hill

This is the first teamwork between father (Stephen King) and son (Joe Hill).

And rather predictably, it is creepy! Probably, I will say that this just might be the most disturbing thing that I have ever read from Stephen King, and I have read almost everything that he has written, so that's saying something. But the further you get in this one, the more disturbing the story grows.

It starts off feeling rather similar to Children of the Corn, the old Stephen King short story where a couple stumble into some creepy farm town in the middle of nowhere, and little by little, find signs indicating that things just are not right here. You get that same feeling in this short piece, at least initially.

This time, it is not a couple, but a brother and sister, Cal and Becky DeMuth, who are headed from New England to San Diego. Becky has gotten herself pregnant, and Cal has effectively dropped out of college to help support, and be with, his sister.

Along the way to San Diego, they make a point of seeing anything and everything that piques their interest, and so, perhaps, it is fair to say that nobody will know precisely where to expect them, which means that nobody will necessarily expect to find them in some out of the way, local Kansas community.

The two are driving along I-40, when they hear a cry for help. It came from a huge field of tall grass, and the brother (who is driving) decides to pull over and help (it is a child's voice that has requested help. Both of them heard something, but they do not yet believe they heard what they think they heard.

Immediately they notice some things that just seem a little off. Not totally off, but just a bit off. Enough to be disconcerting. There is something wrong with the church, for starters, which has the odd name of  the "Black Rock of the Redeemer". They notice something strange about the other cars parked here, as well, which seem to have been there for a while. They will remember these later, and put it all together. But for now, their focus is on trying to save the little boy who is apparently lost in the tall grass.

Of course, they go in after the little boy, into the tall grass. Right away, they find out that he is not alone in there, that his mother is apparently somewhere in there with him. It always sounds like the little boy is right there, just another step or two away. But then he gets further, and they go in deeper and deeper into the tall grass.

Before they know it, they can barely see the road, and the parked cars and the tiny little village. The little boy seems further away than ever. Worse, the mother warns them to leave, to save themselves, before they get stuck, too. Even worse, they lose sight of one another, and are both alone, left to fend themselves in the tall grass.

They hear things, such as odd, sinister laughing. Before too long, they both understand that something here is really, really wrong. They no longer are trying to save the little boy. Now, they are just trying to save themselves, and save each other.

Now, that might sound creepy enough, and it is really captivating. But then, it gets really, really dark, and with very frightening implications, without ever outright stating what exactly is going on (but it is implied so strongly, that there really are no other possibilities).

Yes, this is a creepy short story, and since reading it earlier this evening, I have not been able to get it out of my head. I have long enjoyed Stephen King and his works, but this one disturbed me enough to almost regret having read it (almost).

It is a short read, and if you are a fan of either Stephen King or Joe Hill, it's a must, nonetheless. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself in a sleepless state for a while. Also, if you never look at tall grass in quite the same passive manner again!