Rattlesnakes (novella)

In 1980, advertising executive Vic Trenton's four-year-old son Tad died from dehydration after he and his mother Donna were trapped in a broken-down car in Castle Rock, Maine, by Cujo, a rabid St. Bernard dog.

Over 40 years later, the now-retired Vic is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic in his friend Greg's McMansion on Rattlesnake Key along Florida's Gulf Coast.

While walking he encounters Alita Bell, an elderly woman pushing a large, squeaky-wheeled stroller with children's t-shirts on its seats.

Alita introduces Vic to her four-year-old twin sons, Jacob and Joseph, who she seemingly believes are seated in the empty stroller.

Pelley provides more information on the destruction of the snakes; the majority were burned alive on the beach, while others drowned in a whirlpool while trying to swim to a neighboring island, Duma Key (which was submerged by a massive tropical storm in the 2000s).

Alita's autopsy and toxicology screening found no evidence of foul play, exonerating Vic, though Pelley continues to harbor suspicions against him.

As the story ends, a consortium of real estate agents is exploring plans to reclaim Duma Key via dredging; Vic believes that this will lead to the stroller being found, and fears that the ghosts of the twins might once again pursue him.

"[13] Matthew Jackson (writing for Paste) described Rattlesnakes as "a heady mix of emotional turmoil, vivid terror, and pure visceral power".

[15] Justin Hamelin described Rattlesnakes as "damn near the perfect King ghost story, with the supernatural meeting grief and paranoia halfway.

Think Duma Key meets Bag of Bones if they strolled through Pet Sematary", adding "King has an uncanny talent to catch us up with characters as if we bumped into them on a walk in the park.

"[16] Writing for USA Today, Brandon Truitt stated that Rattlesnakes "...brings a little healing catharsis to a traumatizing read ("Cujo" definitely sticks with you) and opens up a new wound with unnerving bite.