This book was originally written in 1973, but wasn't published until much later, in 2006 when it was "rediscovered in the attic" by Stephen King. It is also credited as being the last book that King published under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman.

It's a simple crime story of a conman wanting to make his last big money score by kidnapping a baby for a million dollar ransom. It's fast-paced, suspenseful and not your typical King fare. What makes this such a good story is King's ability to create such "real" characters. Blaze is a massively tragic figure and you can't help but feel sorry for him. Considering how old the book is, it retains its readability and isn't really dated. I'd recommend as a very good King starter book.