When it comes to Stephen King, I go through cycles. Some years, I don't miss a thing he writes; others, I don't pay much attention. I will say that my experience with his 'Salem's Lot is one of my favorite reading memories, however.
One thing I have been enjoying is his recent mysteries like Mr. Mercedes, and when I found out that his newest book was going to be about one of my favorite characters from that book-- Holly Gibney-- I knew that this was a book that I would be reading. Let me share more about it!
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| Available September 5, 2023! |
Synopsis:
"Stephen King’s Holly
marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney.
Readers have witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but
also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective in The Outsider.
In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of
unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries.
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down.
Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.
Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.
'I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.' —STEPHEN KING "
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down.
Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.
Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.
'I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.' —STEPHEN KING "
It's always nice when an author feels the same way about a character as you do, isn't it? (And I like how "old folks" are showing up more in fiction.)
I know that not everyone is a Stephen King fan, but did I manage to tempt one or two of you? Inquiring minds would love to know!
I haven't read everything King's written, Cathy, but this one - this one really appeals to me. Holly is a great character, and it'll be really interesting to see what he's done with her here. I give King a lot of credit for writing across genres the way he does; that's not easy.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not.
DeleteI admit I have long had an unreasoning prejudice against Stephen King, but I overcame it to read "Billy Summers" a couple of years ago and I found the experience quite enjoyable. I think I might find this one enjoyable, too.
ReplyDeleteYou just might, Dorothy.
DeleteI read and enjoyed a whole lot of early-to-mid King but finally just burned out - more like fizzled out, really. Don't know why, just started to notice the repetition of plot and a writing style that never seemed to much evolved over the decades. It obviously works for the man, and more power to him because he's on top for a reason. Lots and lots of people are still rabid fans, and I imagine he adds a sizable hunk of readers from each new generation. Admittedly, I haven't tried him in a while.
ReplyDeleteI went for years without reading a single one of his books, so I know where you're coming from. I think the only reason why I started reading him again was when he tried his hand at writing a mystery. I had to check that out.
DeleteI have not read his books as I don't like scary books or horror. But I loved the movie Shawshank Redemption and liked Dolores Claiborne. But if a book evokes fear or dread, count me out.
ReplyDeleteShawshank Redemption is one of my favorite movies.
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