Author:Stephen King
Stephen King certainly seems to like the character he created in Holly Gibney. After a bit part appearance in the first novel in the Mr Mercedes trilogy, the private investigator has appeared now in a further six books including this new title. A serial killer is on a revenge mission to atone for the murder in prison of a wrongly convicted man. Meanwhile a controversial feminist and women’s rights activist on a speaking tour is being targeted by a vigilante stalker. As the stalker becomes bolder, Holly is hired as a bodyguard, alongside assisting police in the serial killer case. The propulsive plot of this ambitious mystery certainly grips the reader as the author cleverly intertwines the two threads of the tale, but this is King shorn of the supernatural and horror elements that usually feature in his work. The plot is well executed nonetheless, with the action well paced and the settings vividly drawn, while Holly is as quirky and likeable as ever with the evocative prose bringing all the characters, new and old, to life. I would say though that this is one of his most ‘American’ novels with the themes it develops and explores, and while it’s certainly an enjoyable and exciting read, which you’re pretty much always guaranteed to get with King, it’s one that perhaps will be most appreciated by the devoted fan rather than the more casual reader. Nevertheless, it’s still an engrossing page-turner of a book, one that proved all too difficult to put down, but while it can be read as a standalone novel it works best if you’re familiar with the earlier Holly stories.
Length of Read:Long
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Previous Holly novels, police procedurals, King’s other works.
One thing you’ve learned
In the afterword, King notes that the book went through multiple rewrites after his wife told him he ‘could do better’ after reading the first draft, and ultimately he feels the final version still doesn’t quite achieve the high expectations he initially had, although after also going through three title changes he was eventually ‘happy enough’ with it to let it be published.
Author in “happy enough with end result” bombshell. Steady there, Stephen.
I think he is most effective and scary writing about human evil rather than some Dreamcatcher bollocks. The last one “Holly” was top drawer King. I’m on holiday today so this will be perfect reading.
nail head, there, (except maybe in 11.23.63 where the ‘monster’ is the Obdurate Past)
His ear for dialog and deftness in drawing characters is second to none. Now, if he could stop quoting second rate AM radio 70s rock bands he’d be sorted.
He’s my favourite author by a long way, and I’m just as happy with his more fantastical stories as I am with the more “realistic” evil-human tales.
I’m probably not as in love with Holly Gibney as SK is, though I can’t put my finger on what’s wrong with her. However, the last book was particularly good. One scene, where (no spoilers) a prisoner discovers what her captors have in mind for her, really gave me the fear.
My to-read pile is far too long, but this will be going in it.
I’m in the supernatural camp, but even in those novels I agree that his strength is in building believable characters and relationships (partly through great dialogue).
I don’t mind Holly Gibney, although it’s telling that my preferred Holly novel is The Outsider. Not a fan of serial killers, so Holly, as well-written as it was, wasn’t my cup of tea, and this plot sounds like it comes from the same teapot. I will probably read it; I’ve read everything else by King, but I’m not rushing to the store to get it.
Just as a side issue, a book I really like but is often overlooked is his 2021 novella Later which is well worth a read .
Thanks for another great review. Like the Captain above, King is also my favourite author by a country mile. I’ve read nearly all his stuff, some a few times, and I always come away from finishing one of his novels, in a far better place than when I started. He makes me smile, laugh, cry, and also scares me to death sometimes. Can’t wait to read it!