61 pages 2 hours read

Stephen King

Gerald's Game

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Gerald's Game by Stephen King, Jessie Burlingame must escape from handcuffs after her husband Gerald dies of a heart attack during a failed sexual game, leaving her trapped and vulnerable. The situation forces her to confront past traumas, including childhood abuse by her father, while facing the immediate threat of a mysterious figure and a dog consuming Gerald's corpse. This work contains detailed descriptions and discussions of sexual assault, child sexual abuse, mutilation, and the desecration of dead bodies.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Stephen King's Gerald's Game is both lauded for its intense psychological depth and criticized for its disturbing themes. The narrative grips readers with its suspenseful and claustrophobic atmosphere, though some find the content too unsettling. King's talent for character development is evident, but the dark subject matter may not appeal to all.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Gerald's Game?

Readers who crave psychological thrillers with a blend of horror and suspense will find Gerald's Game by Stephen King captivating. Fans of Misery by King or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn will appreciate its intense, character-driven narrative and exploration of human resilience in terrifying situations.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Fantasy

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Psychological Fiction

Topics

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Themes

Relationships: Fathers

Relationships: Marriage

Self Discovery