I just finished Duma Key; knocked it off by reading over 400 pages of it yesterday, finishing at about 12:30 AM.  It was a fast read for a book as long as it is.  It has it's slow areas in the first half of the book, but once all the basic elements are in play, it becomes a compulsive read.  You really, really want to know what happens next!  The one technique I take issue with is his revealing a future event at the end of several of the chapters.  If someone's going to die, I want to have it happen when it happens.  I don't like the narrator to end a chapter with. " I didn't know then I'd never see them alive again."   The effect is not to enhance suspense, but to introduce a foreboding, gloomy tone to the proceedings.  Probably King's intent, but I didn't like it.  All in all, a good read.  Not up to his best work like The Stand, but worthy and entertaining. Recommended.

Phil

 I'm glad you pointed that out, Phil.  I really hate it when authors predict future events like that.  Like you, I prefer the suspense of the build up as events roll along and I'm carried with them.

Also, I don't mind if I guess what's going to happen before it does, but to be told by the author... makes me think the author is treating me like a bit of an idiot.

I'll remember this when I'm writing.

Md