BLAZE by Stephen King

A deeply moving and suspenseful noir thriller, Blaze is a forgotten treasure from the early career of a master storyteller. Blending a fast-paced crime plot with a heartbreakingly human portrait of a tragic protagonist, this New York Times bestseller holds readers in suspense from the very first page. Step into a world of desperate schemes, lingering ghosts, and hard-fought survival in BLAZE: A Novel.

Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell, Jr. is a giant of a young man, but a brutal childhood has left him intellectually slow and deeply damaged. Always a small-time delinquent, Blaze’s life changes forever when he crosses paths with George Rackley, a seasoned con artist with a hundred ideas and one grand, final scheme: the kidnapping of a wealthy family's baby. George is the brains of the operation, guiding Blaze through every meticulous detail. But by the time the plan is set in motion, George is dead—leaving the slow-witted Blaze to pull off the massive heist entirely on his own. Or is he? Haunted by his partner's voice and driven by a desperate need for connection, Blaze embarks on a dangerous path where the stakes are life and death.

This taut, emotional crime story is written by Stephen King under his famous pseudonym, Richard Bachman. Hidden away for decades before resurfacing, the novel highlights the author’s legendary versatility, showcasing his ability to craft tight, hard-boiled suspense that is deeply tinged with sadness and empathy. Sitting prominently in the best selling crime and suspense thriller categories, the novel pairs the gritty realism of a classic heist story with the unparalleled character depth that only a master storyteller can deliver. The razor-sharp writing and profound emotional core of Stephen King make BLAZE: A Novel an absolutely unforgettable read for crime fiction enthusiasts.