Joyland, set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, tells the story of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever.

Stephen King combines elements of crime, mystery, and ghosts, creating a compelling story that explores love, loss, and the transition from youth to adulthood. The novel is a testament to King's prowess as a master storyteller, weaving a narrative that captures the essence of human emotions and the inexorable passage of time.