Title: HOLLY
Author: Stephen King
ISBN: 978 1399 7129 27
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 433
Source: Private Copy
Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King’s most compelling and ingeniously resourceful characters, returns to investigate the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances in a Midwestern town. In this 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 harbouring 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 out-think and outmanoeuvre the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.
Official Summary
09 October 2023
Like everyone else, I fell in love with Holly who made her first appearance in Mr Mercedes. This character might have started out playing a very small role but she managed to steal the show. It is great that I am not the only person who ended up loving this character. I have read everything except If it Bleeds featuring Holly so when I saw this book released I could not wait to get my hands on a copy. Needless to say, I raced through this book.
Firstly you need to know that Holly can be read as a stand-alone. You do not have to have read the other books, but if you haven’t read the Me Mercedes books you are missing out. This is a fabulous series that should definitely be on your TBR.
When reaching for Holly you can expect a gripping crime read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Do not miss this one!
I have been a King fan since I read IT. That was my first ever King book (that was a long time ago) and I have loved his work ever since. Stephen King’s work has changed over the years and if you are not a fan of his horror and supernatural work you will be glad to hear that Holly does not fall into either of those genres. This book is a fantastic crime/mystery read. I love how Holly’s character has developed since she was first introduced. In this book the is talk about Covid, but it does not overpower the story. Stephen King managed to blend the Covid saga into his story highlighting the effects as well as all the conspiracy theories that flew around, but it is not the central storyline.
Holly has lost her mother to Covid and her partner is at home with it as well. Finders Keepers is meant to be closed while Holly deals with her grief. When Holly receives a message about a missing woman, it seems to be the perfect job to keep her mind off her grief and she dives in. Taking the case despite Pete telling her not to. Work has always been good for Holly. Chances are the missing woman left town. As Holly starts digging into the case, she discovers more than she was hoping for.
This book had me hooked from the very first page. I could not drag myself away. Holly managed to consume me and I found myself loving the time I spent in her world. I loved how much Holly has grown since her first appearance in Mr Mercedes. She is no longer that timid woman, even if she is still insecure, she has a new determination to her that left a smile on my face.
There is no doubt that Holly outshines all the characters in this book. But I enjoyed seeing how Barbara has grown up. Her time with Olivia, the old poet, was a great addition to the story. Olivia is fabulous, I enjoyed this character. I loved that all the old characters found a place in this new story – there is even mention of Bill Hodges. If you have read the Mr Mercedes series you will enjoy everyone finding a little place in Holly’s story.
Yes, you guessed it – I loved this book. This one has officially become my favourite Stephen King book. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Holly. Finishing this book left me sad because I had to leave Holly and her world behind.
If you are looking for a gripping read, with a female character guaranteed to steal your heart while she searches for a missing woman – then you do not want to miss Holly. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. In case you missed the Mr Mercedes series, you should add Mr Mercedes, Finders Keepers and End of Watch to your TBR as well. I love all of them – be warned – Holly will steal your heart.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1971, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, providing him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world’s most successful writers. King is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to the American Letters and the 2014 National Medal of Arts.
Stephen lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. They are regular contributors to a number of charities including many libraries and have been honored locally for their philanthropic activities.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. I love Stephen King’s work, and Holly is one of my all-time favourite characters. Who is your favourite fictional character? Leave a comment below.
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