It doesn't quite live up to the classic "Boy's Life", but it's awfully good.

While there is some epic and straightforward evil presented, even most of the rotten characters have their sympathetic moments. This adds a layer of complexity to the story that makes it more engaging.

It's a King-esque good vs. evil tale that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The two boys, who possess some supernatural abilities they don't fully understand, are doing their best to fit in and do good for the world. However, it's not that simple when powerful evil forces are constantly trying to thwart their efforts.

I do not recommend this book to Nadeen because of the gruesome and scary parts. It might give her nightmares. Sleep well, my friend.

Overall, I would rate this book 4.5 stars. It has its flaws, but it's a great read for those who enjoy a good supernatural thriller with a touch of heart.

Like all the other McCammon books that I have read up to this point, "Mystery Walk" makes use of a genre convention. It presents a medium who is pitted against ghosts and demons. However, it doesn't stop there. It also delves into a sociocultural issue, which in this instance is racism and the corruption within megachurches.

Moreover, this book reads extremely fast. McCammon has a remarkable gift for seamlessly combining a brisk pace with beautiful poetry. The words seem to flow effortlessly, pulling the reader along.

Now, it's important to note that "Mystery Walk" is not the absolute best McCammon novel. The ending, in fact, is almost a touch too neatly resolved. But upon reflection, one can understand the reasons behind those choices.

So, if you're new to this unique horror and thriller writer, I wouldn't recommend making "Mystery Walk" the first book you pick up. Instead, you might want to start with "Gone South" or "Swan Song". Nevertheless, "Mystery Walk" still holds value and is well worth a read. It offers a captivating story that explores important themes within the framework of a thrilling genre.

**Expanded Article**

Stephen King introduced me to the world of fiction about four years ago. After devouring most of his works, I set out to find similar authors. I discovered Robert McCammon early on through YouTube videos. After starting with the magnificent "Boy’s Life", I knew he was the author for me. His prose was smooth, and his voice unique, even better than King's in some aspects.

"Mystery Walk" is my fourth book in my chronological read of McCammon's bibliography. Published in 1983, it's the first book he feels is up to par. The story is a coming-of-age tale and a battle between good and evil. We follow Billy Creekmore from his childhood in the 1950s through the 60s and into adulthood in the 70s. Billy discovers he has the ability to communicate with the dead, which sets him apart from the other children in town and leads to prejudice. We're also introduced to Wayne Falconer, who has a different but equally remarkable ability.
McCammon's writing in "Mystery Walk" is excellent. He uses his home state of Alabama as the location, and his vivid descriptions bring the southern atmosphere to life. The plot, pacing, and description are all on point, creating an immersive environment. His use of Native American mythology adds depth to the story. The characters are well-developed, especially Billy and Ramona. The only character I wanted to see more of was Wayne Falconer.
Overall, "Mystery Walk" is a fantastic novel that marks the start of a golden era for McCammon. The ending is a bit lackluster, but the final confrontation is exciting. There's a lot going on in the story, and some parts could have been expanded. However, these are minor flaws in an otherwise fine story. I highly recommend "Mystery Walk" to anyone looking for a great read. It's a step up from his previous works and a great place to start your journey into his work. 4.5 well-deserved stars.

"he wanted to help others understand that Death wasn’t an ending, and that Life itself was a wonderful mystery full of chances and challenges."

4.5⭐'s

Initial Thoughts

Stephen King is the author that really got me into reading fiction about four years ago and, after swiftly polishing off the vast majority of his bibliography, I went on a scavenger hunt for similar authors. I watched a lot of YouTube vids and got switched on to Robert McCammon very early. After starting my journey into his work with the magnificent Boy’s Life I knew from the get-go that he was the author for me as I immediately connected with his fabulously smooth prose and unique voice that in certain aspects was even better than King. Did I really just say that?

Mystery Walk is my fourth book in my chronological read through of Robert R McCammon’s bibliography as I had previously read They Thirst. It’s been a fascinating look so far into his development as an author of some excellent pulp horror fiction. As I’ve already discussed in my previous reviews, he took his first four books out of print for a while as he felt they weren’t a good reflection of his writing ability, due to him learning the craft during this stage. So, it’s worth noting that this book, published in 1983, is the first that McCammon feels is up to scratch.

The Story

What you get with Mystery Walk is a fantastic coming of age tale and a pretty epic battle between good and evil, as we follow the life and trials of Billy Creekmore from his childhood in the 1950’s through the 60’s and into his life as an adult in the 1970’s.

The story begins in McCammon's home state of Alabama, with Billy's mother Ramona Creekmore, who's part-Choctaw native American, speaking with two men who are in need of her special talent. A talent that allows her to communicate with the spirits of the dead. It's a brilliant opening that had me immediately hooked.

Her young son Billy then discovers that he too is in possession of the same extraordinary supernatural ability that allows him to speak to the dead, which marks him as different from all the other children in the town. There's a great deal of prejudice directed toward him as he struggles to fit in while finding his purpose in life. Something his mother Ramona calls his'mystery walk.'

"Everybody’s on their own kind of Mystery Walk, following the trail of their days and doing the best with what life throws at them. Sometimes its mighty hard to figure out what’s right and wrong in this mixed-up world. What looks black can sometimes really be white, and what appears like chalk can sometimes be pure ebony."

We're then introduced to another extraordinary boy in Wayne Falconer, who's the gifted son of charismatic tent-revivalist Jimmy Jed. He has a very different but equally remarkable ability and there's something there that links the two boys from the start and sees them on a collision course in the future. And that's the initial setup for this fantastic and entertaining tale.



The Writing

Robert McCammon is the best author you've never heard of. He's developed into a sensational writer and there's certain aspect of the craft he really excels in and these were evident right at the start. But I've got to say that Mystery Walk is the novel where you can really see that he was getting it together. The plot, pacing and description are all on the money in this one as McCammon provides an extremely immersive environment for you to submerge yourself in.

This is the first of his novels were McCammon decided to use his home state of Alabama as the location and it was definitely the right move. It really shows in his vivid description that portrays a splendid southern atmosphere from the sweaty barber shop to the dusty creek beds.

"Wind moved like a living thing through the rooms of the dark Booker house, where brown blood stained the floors and walls, and in the profound silence there might have been a footstep and a soft, yearning sob."

My favourite point in the book involves a carnival and this is certainly where the author does his best writing. I'm a big fan of this type of setting and he absolutely nails the description and atmosphere, putting you there amongst the sounds and the smells. Exactly where you want to be.



As always, there's some really intense scenes with Robert R McCammon, Bobby Mac to his friends. This author knows exactly how to crank up the gas and write some really intense scenes and some which are genuinely horrifying. There's a scene in the local sawmill that really had me gripping the pages with white knuckles. In my opinion he's up there with the best when it comes to this.

His use of Native American mythology was also great and brought an extra element to the story. You can tell McCammon did his research and he utilises this to add extra depth to the central characters and location. Nice work Mac!

The Characters

Some great character work in this one. The best so far from McCammon. The mother and son pairing of Billy and Ramona was particularly captivating, and I couldn’t help but start to genuinely care for them. The level of detail the author invested into fleshing out the Creakmore family was really well done and you could feel the different levels of emotion that existed between them. The father was a bit of an asshole to be honest but you could also see the love that they held for each other.

As I've already discussed, McCammon nails the location of Hawthorne, Alabama, and a big part of that is the characters that inhabit it. The town is a living breathing place and you really start to get immersed in it. Not all the characters are pleasant but they each bring something to the table.

The only character I would have liked to have seen a bit more from was Wayne Falconer. I think the author could have invested a little bit more time getting into his head and make this fascinating character a bit more complex. But that's just personal.

Final Thoughts

So all things considered this is a fantastic novel that for me marks the start of a golden era for Robert R McCammon. Its well written and plotted, particularly for the first two thirds of the book. The ending itself is a little bit lackluster as a new character is introduced that doesn't really click with the rest of the narrative for me. However the final confrontation is played out in exciting fashion. I don't think McCammon could pen a boring action scene if he tried!

There's also a lot of stuff going on here and it potentially could have been twice as long. Because of that some parts are skated over, particularly the part where Billy arrives at an institute in Chicago. But these are minor nitpicks and do not take away from a fine story.

So that's the first five novels written by Robert R McCammon smashed and for me Mystery Walk is the pick of the bunch. Definitely a good place to start your journey into his work as it gives you a flavour of what the guy can do at an early stage in his career. It's definitely a step up from Baal and the Night Boat.


A young and cheeky looking Robert R McCammon

Do yourself a favour and skip watching the sixth sense and spend some time with a guy who knows how to hang with the dead!

4.5 well deserved stars. Thanks for reading. Cheers!

Mystery Walk was truly an excellent read. It was so intriguing and immersive that I quickly found myself completely pulled into Ramona and Billy's world.

However, this would have been a solid 5 stars for me if it weren't for the length of the book. The conclusion felt rather rushed and a bit too convenient. At the same time, there were certain events and characters throughout the story that just seemed to...disappear? It was quite strange.

Nevertheless, this was my first McMammon book and it most definitely will not be my last! I was still thoroughly entertained despite the few drawbacks.

For my friends who are wondering, Mystery Walk does contain language, sex, and violence. So, if you're not a fan of those elements, you might want to approach this book with caution. But if you can handle a bit of edge, it's definitely worth a read.

Anyone who has read Boy's Life is bound to be on the hunt for another remarkable work in McCammon's catalog. If one delves into the reviews of his other books, it won't be difficult to come across mentions of it. This is because it's the kind of story that truly resonates within you, making you eager to discuss it and recommend it to others.

Although Mystery Walk may not necessarily be of the exact same caliber as Boy's Life, it is written with the same passion and spirit, albeit with a talent that is still in the process of being refined. It shares the same meticulous attention to detail and the high quality of character development in its narrative. You can't help but care deeply about all of the people in the story. His common theme of the struggle between good and evil seems to unfold effortlessly in his books, and in Mystery Walk, this is balanced with a coming-of-age plight that weaves the two themes together so seamlessly that it feels as if it were a battle that we all have endured. I truly adored this story and feel that it has been unjustly overlooked. It is severely underrated.

There will undoubtedly be those who will want to pick apart this book with a fine-toothed comb and point out any flaws or less-than-perfect writing methods. However, I am of the mindset that if a piece of art has the ability to evoke emotions within you, then it has accomplished its purpose. This is a great book that is well worth reading if you're seeking another coming-of-age masterpiece from McCammon or a high-quality coming-of-age story that will truly touch your heart.

This is a truly great book penned by a fantastic author.

I find myself completely engrossed and I'm determined to read more of his works. You should do the same!

He is often regarded as the closest one can get to the legendary Stephen King. In fact, in some aspects, he even outshines the mighty Stephen King himself.

The description in the book is so vivid that it makes you feel as if you are right there in the scene.

For example, the line "Each scream was seemingly louder than the one before, each one freezing his spine a little harder" creates a spine-chilling atmosphere that lingers in your mind long after you've read it.

This author has a remarkable talent for captivating the reader's imagination and taking them on a thrilling journey.

I highly recommend this book to all those who love a good read that keeps them on the edge of their seats.

You won't be disappointed!

McCammon's books for me always end up being much more than I expect.

He has an amazing talent for packing a wealth of content into a relatively small(ish) book.

Take this particular one for example. With just 400 pages, it feels like embarking on a long and arduous journey.

The story unfolds gradually, revealing layer upon layer of complexity and depth.

McCammon's writing is so vivid and engaging that it draws the reader in from the very first page and doesn't let go until the very end.

Each character is well-developed and has their own unique personality and backstory.

The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, never quite sure what's going to happen next.

In conclusion, McCammon's books are a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

Very original and imaginative!

This book indeed has its imperfections. In the early part, events occur that seemingly lead nowhere. It was a bit sluggish and challenging to engage with initially. However, the latter half more than makes up for it!

The story didn't unfold in the way I anticipated. It truly caught me off guard. There are several extremely imaginative and spine-chilling scenes. I don't believe I've come across anything quite like this before.

The author demonstrates great proficiency in描绘 the corruption within his characters. I read his book Swan Song approximately ten years ago, and the manner in which he dealt with corruption in that book still lingers in my mind today. I firmly believe that Mystery Walk will be yet another one of his books that leaves a lasting impression on me.

4.6 stars!

Underated McCammon. His works are truly a gem. The prose he crafts is resplendent, like a beautiful tapestry of words. And this particular Native American horror tale is richly evocative.

“His hair was thick and curly and reddish-brown, his eyes a clear ice blue; Ramona had told him many times that she could see the sky in them, clouds when he was angry and rain when he was sad. Now, if she had looked into his eyes closely enough, she might've seen the approaching storm.” This description by Robert R. McCammon is so vivid that it makes you feel as if you can actually see the character.

“It seemed to Billy that no matter how far you walked, you never really got to the end of things.” This thought-provoking line makes you wonder about the nature of life and our never-ending journey.

Far off the McCammon beaten path, this story awaits. And it is totally worth the candle. It will take you on a thrilling and spine-chilling adventure that you won't soon forget.

I could not put this book down.

Robert McCammon is truly one of the most underrated horror writers in the literary world.

The way he crafts his characters is simply remarkable. Each one is so vivid and well-developed that they seem to jump off the page and come to life.

And the plot! Oh, the plot! It races along at breakneck speed, much like a land rocket hurtling across the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The story unfolds with such intensity and excitement that it feels like you're watching a great movie unfold in your mind's eye.

If you're a fan of horror, then I highly recommend this book to you. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and leave you craving more of McCammon's masterful storytelling.

Don't miss out on this hidden gem of a horror novel.

I have just finished reading a great book, which I would recommend to all those who, like me, love Stephen King.

I discovered McCammon because I finished watching the first season of "Teacup" (and by the way, I just found out that it was cancelled, which is a pity), which is based on the novel "Stinger" by Robert McCammon.

This is the first time I have read this author, and I will very surely continue to read his works. His writing style is captivating and engaging, and he has a talent for creating vivid and memorable characters. The story in "Stinger" was full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I can't wait to explore more of his novels and see what other amazing stories he has to tell.

Overall, I highly recommend giving Robert McCammon's books a try, especially if you are a fan of the horror or thriller genre. You won't be disappointed!

I truly relished this one! It brought to mind the early works of Stephen King and reminded me of the very reason why I became enamored with this genre. I firmly believe that RM portrays small town folks every bit as adeptly as SK himself.

There are two boys, each endowed with distinct abilities, and their so-called “mystery walk.” They are both plagued and tormented by an insidious and malevolent entity known as the shape changer, who seems to be the very embodiment of evil.

What I found particularly fascinating was the way in which the author utilized religion as a means for evil to divide and manipulate people. This aspect really struck a chord with me as it has always been my personal experience with religion. It added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the story, making it all the more engaging and thought-provoking.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing what else RM has in store for us in the future.