Stephen King's novel Joyland takes place in 1973 and tells the story of college student Devin Jones who gets a job working at an amusement park in North Carolina called Joyland. While there, he uncovers the legacy of a vicious murder that occurred at the park and bonds with a dying child, both of which profoundly change his life. The 296-page novel was published by Hard Case Crime in 2013 and explores themes of murder, death, and how pivotal summer experiences can shape people.