By Stephen King

Hodder, out now

Scott Carey has an unusual problem – he’s constantly losing weight. But he’s not getting any thinner…

Stephen King’s latest book is a beautifully told tale from Castle Rock, the town where weird things happen (and this is firmly set in the book version, not the Hulu TV series one – although the timing of its arrival is handy). It focuses on a small group of people: Scott, whose weight loss continues dramatically throughout the story; his friend, retired doctor Bob Ellis; and the new owners of a restaurant in town, Deirdre McComb and her wife Missy Donaldson – whose sexuality and marital status has led to their being regarded with everything from suspicion to downright bigotry.

It’s not a story about a huge threat, and nor, sensibly given its length, does King try to explain everything that’s going on to Scott. Instead, while mainly staying with Scott as his viewpoint, it’s a dissection of a small town community, and how one person standing up for what’s right can have a cascade effect.

Elevation is a bittersweet tale – I defy you not to be affected by the closing pages – and demonstrates, as if further demonstration were needed, that King has lost none of his storytelling prowess.

Verdict: An enjoyable excursion back to Castle Rock. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order Elevation from Amazon.co.uk