When The Gunslinger, Roland, caught The Man In Black, he told him that he would have to bring three other individuals into his quest for the Dark Tower. This second book in the series tells the stories of each one brought and how Roland handles it.
The first of the three is Eddie. Eddie is a young man in his early twenties and a heroin addict. He spent his life looking up to his big brother who spent his time as an addict and breaking down Eddie's opinion of himself. Eddie and Roland meet on an airplane where Eddie is attempting to bring in drugs for a mob boss and Roland helps him evade the law. When a battle erupts between the boss and others in his gang, Roland is there to help Eddie and bring him back to his land.
The second person is really two people in one. Odetta Holmes has had a difficult life. When she was five, a brick fell on her head as she was walking on the sidewalk with her parents. Odetta was put in a coma and while there, Detta came to being. Odetta lived a double life; she is refined while Detta is coarse, Odetta is pleasant while Detta is ready to kill anyone she sees. Later Odetta has another tragedy when she is pushed in front of a subway train and loses her legs. Roland brings her over as well although Detta is determined to kill both he and Eddie.
The third person is a psychopath. He is a man who has killed and maimed people for years without being caught or even having suspicions brought his way. An accountant with a mild look, he is the person who victimized Odetta twice as well as the person who pushed Jake from the first book into traffic where he was killed. Roland inhabits his mind and eventually pays him back once he knows what part the man plays in the Dark Tower saga.
This was a great book. I'm being drawn more and more into this story. There are monsters who are horrendous, and love affairs and the continuing mystery of Roland and his quest for the Dark Tower. This book is recommended for fantasy readers.