Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (2007, Hardcover)

This book was a lot of scary suspenseful fun.
The characters were fleshed out and very real, and much as
I might not have liked them at first, I grew to know them
as family. Heart-shaped box is about families, really, and
how the pain and love families give each other make us who we are.
An excellent ghost story.

This was my first read from this author and I was not disappointed. The story line held my attention, the characters - flawed as ever, became important to me. I would recommend this particular book but, be warned, there is some gore. If you are a fan of Stephen King, this is close but not quite as bizarre as some of King's work. Based on my first experience with Joe Hill, I will definitely read another novel by him.

Joe Hill has definitely proven himself worthy of the horror genre with this one. This is the first book in a LONG time I've read that actually gave me chills from start to finish; it was almost impossible to put this one down! Read it in less than two days time!

In a day and age where all kinds of crazy items are sold on internet auctions, the story line was believeable. Certainly got the old brain cells responsible for imagination firing!

Reading the synopsis on the book jacket captured my attention first, but, I have to admit that when I found out Joe Hill is actually the Great Stephen King's son, my curiousity level was peaked. Joe is living proof that writing can be an inhereted talent, and I look forward to more of his work.

If you're considering purchasing this one, I say "Go for it." You won't be disappointed. Just remember to fasten your seat belt and hang on for the ride!

This is an awesome book. It's one of those books that you just don't want to put down. Can't wait for another one from Joe Hill!!!! Highly recommend.

If you enjoy the works of Stephen King, you will also enjoy his son, Joe Hill. His writing style is very similar and has his father's knack of the unexpected when it's unexpected. His story can stand on its own as original and the intriguing characters are the "everyman style" heroes and villains his dad has used with great success. Get this book and you will be looking forward to his next work just like I am.

A recluse rock star with a dark past buys a GHOST on eBay-like internet auction site and gets much more than he bargained for when he receives the black HEART-SHAPED BOX...

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals . . . a used hangman's noose . . . a snuff film. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unnatural is as widely known to his legions of fans as the notorious excesses of his youth. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, an item for sale on the Internet, a thing so terribly strange, Jude can't help but reach for his wallet. I will "sell" my stepfather's ghost to the highest bidder. . . . For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn't afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts—of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned, of the bandmates he betrayed. What's one more?

But what UPS delivers to his door in a black heart-shaped box is no imaginary or metaphorical ghost, no benign conversation piece. It's the real thing.

And suddenly the suit's previous owner is everywhere: behind the bedroom door . . . seated in Jude's restored vintage Mustang . . . standing outside his window . . . staring out from his widescreen TV. Waiting—with a gleaming razor blade on a chain dangling from one bony hand. .

A multiple-award winner for his short fiction, author Joe Hill immediately vaults into the top echelon of dark fantasists with a blood-chilling roller-coaster ride of a novel, a masterwork brimming with relentless thrills and acid terror.

A very good & solid novel by James Hill.
I have read that he is Stephen King's son; if so, his dad should be very proud.
The book has Stephen King's no holds barred storytelling and has a fast pace from beginning to end.
It is a ghost story about an aging rock star who bids on a haunted suit on an "Ebay like" on-line auction and wins the suit. However, when the suit is delivered home, the rock star finds out it is haunted and the story blasts off.
The hero & heroine of the book are very likeable in spite of all their faults and seedy pasts.
This book falls in a hard-to-put-down category. I recommend Heart-shaped Box to all suspense/horror genre lovers. There is more suspense than gore, which makes for excellent reading.

THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK RIGHT FROM THE START. READ IT!!! KEPT ME WANTING MORE. CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE BOOKS BY JOE HILL

I usually finish all of the books I start, and I read a lot. I bought this book after reading the "rave" reviews it got in the newspaper. I was also intriged about the author since he is Stephen King's son, and I have enjoyed many of his father's books over the years. However, after reading the first 100 pages of this novel, I found that finishing it was becoming a chore, not a pleasure. On analyzing my lack of interest in this book, I would say it stemmed from the fact that I did not like or care about Joe Hill's characters. They were not people to whom I could relate, and therefore I really didn't care whether they survived or not. Also, the action in the story was predictable. At no point was I surprised at what was occurring in the story. There was no real suspense factor. When I finally found myself rooting for the ghost and thinking that if anyone deserved to be terrorized it was the self-centered, egocentric main character who was a real,human monster, I knew it was time to stop reading this book move onto something more enjoyable like cleaning my house or doing the laundry.

This was a real page turner! It's one of those books that you can barely wait to find out what happens next. Yet, you hate it as possession of the pages goes from your right hand to your left!
I found myself caring about the unlikely heroes, when, in the beginning, I sort of thought they had just gotten what they deserved. As the story unfolds, this Jude Coyne guy ain't so bad, just human.
Mr. Hill had me believing it all; not wondering WTH and trying to make sense of things.
I love this book enough to read it over and over. I didn't want it to end even though I "needed" to know the ending. If you love a good horror story, one that you can easily fall into, you'll probably love this one.

I love Stephen King and have always collected his works. I was thrilled to find that his son is following in his father's footsteps and this book is a GREAT start. I am looking forward to more work from him.

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I came across this book while browsing through Stephen King articles. What got my attention was the mention of the fact that it is the first book by Stephen King's son, Joseph Hillstrom King. It stated that he appears to be quite a good writer and even has some of his Dad's writing techniques/qualities. I figured that if he does as well with his writing career as his Dad, then this book may very well be a collectible some day. If not, then maybe it will be good reading. I have not read it yet.

Joe Hill (King) knows how to weave a story. Though you don't have to have liked 80's metal music at all to enjoy this well written thriller, but if you did, you will be treated to extra tongue in cheek references that you will easily get. The story of Judas Coyne purchasing a "haunted" suit is well structured in culminates into a deeper story with a sordid past. I don't read "horror" books that often as a genre, but after reading this offering from Joe Hill I will be sure to check out whatever he writes. This book has those subtle, hair stand up on the back of your neck, moments in a crafty way. An intelligently written thriller that I couldn't put down.

I heard very good things about this book, and was excited to get it in the mail. However, it was kind of "blah" in my opinion. There were a couple of characters that had they been developed more, would have made for a better read. Overall, there was minimal charachter development, leaving me feeling after I finished the last page that I didn't really know them at all. A great story, always leaves you feeling as though you know the characters, you know? Still, it was worth what I spent, and not a complete waste of a day and a half...

the book is a christmas present for my son who is a big stephen king fan. will let you know how he liked it at a later date.

I bought it to see what all the hype was about. I wasn't that impressed with the book. I'd like to read something else by the author so I can decide if it was his writing, or it was just the plot that left me unsatisfied.

Not the best of Joe Hill's work in my opinion, simply because there was very little that surprised me as I read the book, and very few turns or twists that interested me. The rock-star-bad-boy-becomes-hero, or almost hero, had little new that has not been done by numerous other previous authors who tackled this subject, and in some cases those previous authors did a much better job of leading the reader to the conclusion that all of us can overcome more than everyday horror. There were few instances where I looked up from the book and thought I was reading a masterful work. It was much more of a 'could be hollywood' fiction than it was a book that I will remember fondly, or wish to read again. Fine for passing the time. Nothing special.

Of course the son of Stephen King can be as long-winded as his father, but all in all, it is a very good book. Not terribly spooky, but it did give me a creepy feeling when I sat up late at night reading. Held my interest.

I read a lot of scary novels in fact Horror fiction is my genre. So when I tell you that Joe Hill’s “Heart-Shaped Box” is one of the best books to come out in a long while, you'd better believe it!

It is the story of an aging heavy metal superstar named Judas Coyne who, owing to his carefully crafted public image, has developed a habit for acquiring morbid things. This includes a procession of pale Goth girlfriends, groupies who become lovers and think they’re the one who will tame the beastly Judas.

Then Judas buys a ghost online. A woman says she’s selling the suit that belonged to her stepfather, and that the man’s ghost is now “attached” to it so that whoever buys the suit will get the ghost, too. Stupid, of course, but hey, it’s only a thousand bucks, and Judas is rich, and the public eats it up when he does morbid things like buy ghosts. So why not?

Well, I’ll tell you why not. BECAUSE THE GHOST IS EVIL AND MEAN AND HE WANTS TO MAKE JUDAS KILL HIS CURRENT GOTH GIRLFRIEND AND HIMSELF!!

This book is a true "one nighter", meaning you won't be able to put it down until you have finished it! The first half, in particular, is fiendishly creepy and spooky, the kind of chilly ghost story you read only during the daytime and in public. The second half gets bloody and is more horrifying than terrifying (if you catch the difference), but no less thrilling.

It is the first novel from Joe Hill, who had previously written a collection of short stories. I just discovered that Joe Hill’s real name is Joe King, as in son of Stephen King. It’s good that he keeps that fact hidden. It would create unfair expectations of him. Also, it might make some people think that the glowing reviews heaped on “Heart-Shaped Box” are occurring automatically because of his pedigree. Think again.

In my opinion, Joe Hill has all the best from his Dad, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice all bundled into one superman!

Right now I am reading Joe Hill's other title: 20th Century Ghosts, I will report on that one next!

Altho I've only read 15 chapters, what I've read so far is GREAT! My oldest daughter's fiance knows I'm a huge Stephen King fan, so he let me borrow his copy of Heart Shaped Box. I told him that if I liked the first few chapters, I would buy my own copy and return his. After only a couple, I ordered one and read whenever I get a chance. Joe Hill seems to have inherited his father's talent for horror. I highly recommend this book if you like King-type stories.

Ebay was my last resort. I'm a slow reader so every time I checked Heart-Shaped Box out at the library, it was soon needed to be returned. I could not renew it because someone else had placed a hold on it. Went to bookstore after bookstore and it was always $25 or over. So, I tried ebay and found it, I'm an ebay junkie anyway.....lol. The bid price and shipping total, I think I paid a little over $11 for it. Awesome find, and an great read....Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. Joe has a touch all his own. I would greatly recommend Heart-Shaped Box to anyone.

Very well packaged...quick delivery...we could not have asked for more. Thank you very much...it was a pleasure doing business with you.