60 pages • 2 hours read
Needful Things
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Book Brief
790
Novel • Fiction
Castle Rock, Maine • 1990s
1991
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Needful Things by Stephen King explores the mysterious arrival of a shop and its enigmatic owner in a small town. Townspeople purchase items that fulfill their desires but come at a sinister cost, leading to escalating chaos and conflict. The novel depicts the influence of greed and the consequences of human actions.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Unnerving
Gritty
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Stephen King's Needful Things impressively explores the darker facets of human nature through a gripping narrative. Critics praise its masterful suspense and complex characters. However, some find the plot overly dense with subplots, which may deter less patient readers. Overall, it's a compelling but demanding read.
Who Should Read Needful Things?
Fans of Needful Things by Stephen King typically enjoy dark, psychological horror with small-town dynamics. Ideal for those who appreciate works like King’s own It or Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, these readers relish intricate plots blending supernatural and human malevolence.
Leland Gaunt
Leland Gaunt
The enigmatic and sinister owner of the store Needful Things, known for his ability to identify people's deepest desires and exploit them through seemingly innocuous items.
Polly Chalmers
Polly Chalmers
A middle-aged woman struggling with arthritis, who owns a sewing shop and is in a romantic relationship with Alan Pangborn while wrestling with secrets from her past.
Alan Pangborn
Alan Pangborn
A compassionate and resilient law enforcement officer in Castle Rock, navigating personal grief while investigating the disturbances connected to Leland Gaunt’s arrival.
790
Novel • Fiction
Castle Rock, Maine • 1990s
1991
Adult
18+ years
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