Reviews with content warning for Gore - Holly

I know that I am biased when it comes to Stephen Kings’ work. The man is one of my favorite authors and yes I’m a constant reader of his. I literally just finished reading Billy Summers right before I read Holly. To say that this is the most anticipated book that King has written in a while is an understatement. Holly is truly one of my favorite literally characters from such an awesome trilogy “The Bill Hodges Trilogy”. She has come a long way as a character. This is the sixth story she’s appeared in and a continuation of the short story entitled If It Bleeds which is the same title as the collection it’s from. A young girl woman goes missing, her mother is desperate to find her and hires Holly Gibney and Finders Keepers to solve the case. A few familiar character always pop up as well.

The idea of two elderly Baby Boomers killing people and consuming them is wild. However, when you learn that they are doing this to make themselves stronger and more vital that is even worse. Did I mention these people are retired college professors? Yes, yes they are.

I always look forward to the release of new Stephen King novels. Holly did not disappoint at all. I am looking forward to the next story that Holly appears in. This is a story which is easy to read and has a few pop culture and current event references that are timely as well. I give it five out of five stars.

Content Warnings

lukerik's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Set during Covid and after the January 6th insurrection. There’s a fair bit of social commentary on the cultural split America having at the moment. It’s not a horror novel, there’s no magic in the plot, rather very much Silence-of-the-Lambs-esque, but it is about magic, the little magical things people do.

The baddies are particularly funny. They have a plan to cheat age involving a bizarre diet that satirizes the supplements industry and this idea that everything will be ok if you just consume more.

King actually says in the afterword that he hopes he’s been fair. I believe he votes Democrat. I think he has been fair. He doesn’t spare Holly. So it’s the height of Covid, but she’s travelling around meeting people but thinks she’s going to be ok because she’s wearing a mask.

This is the best of the Holly novels so far. I probably would have 4 starred it, but have just read Rowling’s latest. These two writers should be served in the opposite order from wine.

Content Warnings

bittie_bee's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

maimy_santiago99's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

chasingpages1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

imstephtacular's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

King has historically been bad at writing female characters and good endings. I’m pleased that this book is a delightful change!

I just love Holly Gibney and I’m glad King finally realized he could give a female character a full life and her own story. This is Holly’s 6th appearance and finally one where she’s the star

King’s storytelling skills are on display here— his crime fiction is always a favorite style for me. This is intense and dark and gnarly (seem out CW for specifics because this has a lot of wild content)

Know going in that this is a DEEPLY pandemic focused book. Covid is hugely a part of the plot and characters and King’s politics are also deeply embedded in the story. Not everyone will like that. I got past it and his author’s note helped.

One thing that nagged at me (that I eventually worked through while reading) was how King characterizes the villains by having them use slurs. This is not new for him, but it comes off heavy handed for me personally. But I know his writing is read by a broad mass of folks so maybe that’s ok in the long run. At least he’s moved on from “the bad guys are all fat” so “the villains are super racist”

Content Warnings

asifsyed's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

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