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Later (novel)Later is a crime novel written by American author Stephen King, published on March 2, 2021 by Hard Case Crime. The book is available in paperback format with a limited hardcover release. The paperback edition features cover art by Paul Mann, and the limited hardcover features cover art by Gregory Manchess. The 7 hour audiobook is read by Seth Numrich. This is King's third published work with Hard Case Crime, following the release of The Colorado Kid and Joyland.

The story is told in first person perspective using Jamie Conklin as the protagonist, who has the ability to see dead people.

The novel entered The New York Times fiction best-seller list at number two, in the week ending March 6, 2021.

Plot
Set in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Later is narrated by its main character, Jamie Conklin, a young boy living with his single mother, Tia, in New York City. Jamie has the ability to see and talk to the dead. The dead people he can talk to must answer all his questions truthfully. When he is very young, Jamie is traumatized after a man who is killed in a car accident near Central Park waves at him, despite being dead. When he is a few years older, he also talks to Mona, the late wife of Professor Martin Burkett, a neighbor and friend of the Conklins. The only one who knows about Jamie's power is his mother. Jamie also has an uncle named Harry who lives in a care home due to having early onset Alzheimer's disease.

Tia is a literary agent. Her star client, Regis Thomas, writes best-selling romance novels novels set in the Roanoke Colony. After the Great Recession, Jamie and his mother lose much of their money, but are still able to get by thanks to Thomas's work. Around this time, Tia begins dating Elizabeth "Liz" Dutton, a New York City Police Department detective. When Regis suddenly drops dead before finishing the final book in his Roanoke series, Tia fears her literary agency will face bankruptcy. She and Liz drive Jamie out to Regis's house, where he talks to the deceased author and tells his mother the plot of the final book. Tia writes the final book herself and publishes it. The book is a massive success and the Conklins earn much of their lost money back. Soon after, Tia finds drugs in the pocket of Liz's jacket. Outraged that she would bring drugs into her home, Tia breaks up with her and kicks Liz out of their apartment.

Many years later, when Jamie is in middle school, Liz, who is at risk of losing her job with the NYPD, picks up Jamie after school one day and, out of desperation, has him use his powers to talk the dead to thwart the plot of a serial bomber known as "Thumper". "Thumper" (real name Kenneth Therriault) committed suicide after planting one final bomb somewhere in the city. Liz has Jamie talk to the deceased Therriault, who reveals the bomb's location. After the incident, Jamie is haunted by Therriault, who does not vanish after a few days, unlike all the other dead spirits Jamie has talked with. Therriault follows Jamie and makes false prophecies about how his mother will die from cancer and how Jamie will develop Alzheimer's like his Uncle Harry. Jamie talks with his former neighbor, Professor Martin Burkett, who tells Jamie about an ancient Tibetan ritual he could use to combat the demon possessing Therriault. Later, when Jamie sees Therriault again, he lunges at the dead man and refuses to let go. Therriault, terrified, promises to leave Jamie alone. Jamie also makes the mysterious force that is possessing Therriault (what Jamie calls the "dead light") promise to come to him if he whistles for it. Soon after, Professor Burkett dies. Before departing, Burkett speaks to Jamie and warns him not to ever summon the Dead Light.

After some more time passes, Jamie is kidnapped by Liz, whom he has not seen in years. Liz, now a drug addict, admits she used her position as a cop to participate in drug trafficking. Liz forcibly takes Jamie to the mansion of her boss, a drug kingpin, who is hiding what Liz believes to be a giant supply of Oxycontin pills. Liz wants to find the pills to sell them and then use the money to move to the West Coast and change her identity. After murdering the drug kingpin, Donald Marsden, Liz forces Jamie to ask him where he hid the drugs. Donald leads them to a panic room in his library. Liz is enraged when she finds the pill supply is much smaller than she expected. Fearing for his life, Jamie whistles and summons the Dead Light, which kills Liz. The Dead Light, now stronger, tries to break free of Jamie's control over it and make Jamie its slave. Jamie, refusing to give in, retains control of the Dead Light before forcing it to leave again. After the Dead Light vanishes, Jamie calls the police and is returned home safely.

Years later, when Jamie is in high school, Tia calls him and tells him that Uncle Harry has died of pneumonia. Jamie travels to the care home and talks to his dead uncle. He asks Harry who his father is. Harry says that he is Jamie's father. Jamie refuses to ask for the details of his incestuous conception and does not say anything to his mother. He grows up, troubled by the fact that he might develop early onset Alzheimer's like his uncle, but tries to remain hopeful about the future.

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