Book Review: GWENDY’S BUTTON BOX By Stephen King And Richard Chizmar

Stephen King teams with Richard Chizmar to deliver Gwendy’s Button Box, a compelling novella set in King’s Maine town, Castle Rock. It’s a Twilight Zone-y tale, with a selection of twists and turns to keep the reader thoroughly entertained.

The book opens in the summer of 1974, when 12 year-old Gwendy Peterson meets the mysterious Mr. Farris. He bestows on her a button box, a chest filled with tasty chocolates and rare silver dollar coins. We follow Gwendy as she grows-up, charmed by the good luck inherent in the box. However, the tiny chest also has a dark-side, the power to cause death and anguish at the push of a button.

Gwendy’s Button Box is a breezy read, with the tale clocking in at a little over 150 pages. It’s a morality tale and coming of age story that sees Gwendy grow up in the small Maine town, with her mind constantly preoccupied by the mysterious gift. The book features impressive artwork by Keith Minnion and Ben Baldwin, which adds an old-fashioned quality to the classy publication.

Richard Chizmar may be a co-author on this tale of the unexpected, but it feels very much like a Stephen King story. Gwendy’s Button Box is filled with King’s trademark mastery of humour, heart and horror. It’s a must for mystery fans.

Gwendy’s Button Box is out now from Cemetery Dance Publications.