Audible Book Review of Stephen King’s “holly” — Derek Barton – 2023

Holly

by Stephen King — a psychological thriller

Released on September 5, 2023

464 pages

Synopsis:

Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King’s most compelling and ingeniously resourceful characters, returns in this thrilling novel to solve the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances in a midwestern town.

“Sometimes the universe throws you a rope.” —BILL HODGES

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

The Review:

Like Stephen King who professes his love for this character, I too find her to be an intriguing and endearing character. Holly Gibney has certainly gone the “hero’s journey” from a mousy, obsessive woman, easily controlled and beaten down by her own mother to a growing powerhouse detective with uncanny instincts and nerve. She attributes most of her growth due to the kindness of the Detective Bill Hodges from the Mr. Mercedes series who took her under his wing and brought her out of her shell.

I can relate a lot to this character and often to many of King’s underdog heroes. Bullying in school and throughout childhood is common with them. I share that experience and I find it hard not to get engaged in their battles.

This particular story is gruesome and dark. King dug deep and plumbed into a very horrific theme in the novel. Cannibalism is not a subject for the faint of heart. Be warned. The mystery and the path Holly must take to uncover what has been happening is well told and realistic. I enjoyed the story, but it’s the character development that steals the spotlight.

The Rating:

It is good to see the master of raw terror work his magic again and dig out another tale to haunt your thoughts with. The ease of how these murders could happen is the most frightening aspect.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! For rating purposes, I score this 4.5 of 5.

By DEREK BARTON — Author of the ELUDE series (Parts I, II & III — a Horror/crime thriller), EVADE Series (Parts I, II & III)  & IN FOUR DAYS: a Horror-Suspense Novella (available on Audible.com!).  Also the Dark Fantasy novel series CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS and THE BLEEDING CROWN (both available on Audible.com!).