Some books I rate with 5 stars just because of my pleasure in the story. These aren't always well-written or creative, or something someone else would like. Then there are those books that are so well-crafted, not just with character development or storytelling but in the writing itself. This is one of those books. I've always given Stephen King credit as the "king of the flashback" and here he gives us some of what he does best, but he also shows again his ability to get inside the head of the character in the present. From making up lyrics to songs sung by a fictional boy band and the brand names of fictional ice cream treats, to details of a Midwestern city that make those of us living in Midwestern cities think ours is the one in the story. I wondered in the beginning of the book if King was making a game in paying homage to himself with hints he dropped to reference some of his previous best sellers, but he played this game for just a short while. There are plenty of other pop-culture references in the minds of the various characters that do well to establish their ages and backgrounds.
As the story unwinds after the climactic events, my emotions surprised me. I've cried while reading books before, but not while reading the words of a bureaucratic proclamation!
Buying Options
Digital List Price: | $9.99 |
Print List Price: | $9.99 |
Kindle Price: |
$8.99
Save $1.00 (10%) |
Sold by: |
Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Price set by seller. |
You've subscribed to The Bill Hodges Trilogy!
We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
There was an error.
We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Add to book club
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club?
Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.

![Mr. Mercedes: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 1) by [Stephen King]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61JalBMgiJL._SY346_.jpg)
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
OK
Mr. Mercedes: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition
by
Stephen King
(Author)
Format: Kindle Edition
Stephen King
(Author)
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author?
Learn about Author Central
|
See all formats and editions
Hide other formats and editions
Price
|
New from | Used from |
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry"
|
$0.00
|
Free with your Audible trial |
Mass Market Paperback
"Please retry"
|
$7.83 | $1.62 |
MP3 CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
"Please retry"
|
$8.72 | $3.00 |
-
Kindle
$8.99 Read with Our Free App -
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial -
Hardcover
$17.67 -
Paperback
$11.65 -
Mass Market Paperback
$8.79 -
MP3 CD
$12.73
-
LanguageEnglish
-
PublisherScribner
-
Publication dateJune 3, 2014
-
File size6309 KB
Books In This Series (3 Books)
Complete Series
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Download to your computer
|
Kindle Cloud Reader
|
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
- Finders Keepers: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 2)Kindle Edition
- End of Watch: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 3)Kindle Edition
- The Outsider: A NovelKindle Edition
- Doctor Sleep: A Novel (The Shining Book 2)Kindle Edition
- Revival: A NovelKindle Edition
- ElevationKindle Edition
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
- Finders Keepers: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 2)Kindle Edition
- End of Watch: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 3)Kindle Edition
- The Outsider: A NovelKindle Edition
- ElevationKindle Edition
- Revival: A NovelKindle Edition
- If It BleedsKindle Edition
Amazon Business: Make the most of your Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings. Login nowAmazon Business : For business-only pricing, quantity discounts and FREE Shipping. Register a free business account
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and an AT&T Audience Network original television series). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
From Booklist
King’s interest in crime fiction was evident from his work for the Hard Case Crime imprint—The Colorado Kid (2005) and Joyland (2013)—but this is the most straight-up mystery-thriller of his career. Retired Detective Bill Hodges is overweight, directionless, and toying with the idea of ending it all when he receives a jeering letter from the Mercedes Killer, who ran down 23 people with a stolen car but evaded Hodges’ capture. With the help of a 17-year-old neighbor and one victim’s sister (who, in proper gumshoe style, Hodges quickly beds), Hodges begins to play cat-and-mouse with the killer through a chat site called Under Debbie’s Blue Umbrella. Hodges’ POV alternates with that of the troubled murderer, a Norman Bates–like ice-cream-truck driver named Brady Hartfield. Both Hodges and Hartfield make mistakes, big ones, leaving this a compelling, small-scale slugfest that plays out in cheery suburban settings. This exists outside of the usual Kingverse (Pennywise the Clown is referred to as fictive); add that to the atypical present-tense prose, and this feels pretty darn fresh. Big, smashing climax, too. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: No need to rev the engine here; this baby will rocket itself out of libraries with a loud squeal of the tires. --Daniel Kraus
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Author
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and an AT&T Audience Network original television series). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower and It are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
Will Patton's numerous film credits include Remember the Titans, The Punisher, The Mothman Prophesies, Armageddon, and The Spitfire Grill. He starred in the TNT miniseries Into the West and on the CBS series The Agency, and won Obie Awards in the theater for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Will Patton's numerous film credits include Remember the Titans, The Punisher, The Mothman Prophesies, Armageddon, and The Spitfire Grill. He starred in the TNT miniseries Into the West and on the CBS series The Agency, and won Obie Awards in the theater for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
"Pays off exuberantly . . . Surprising and invigorating." (The New York Times)
"Classic Stephen King. Creepy, yet realistic characters that get under your skin and stay there, a compelling story that twists and turns at breakneck speed, and delightful prose that, once again, proves that one of America’s greatest natural storytellers is also one of its finest writers." (Associated Press)
"On one level, Mr. Mercedes is an expertly crafted example of the classic race-against-the-clock thriller. On another, it is a novel of depth and character enriched throughout by the grace notes King provides in such seemingly effortless profusion. It is a rich, resonant, exceptionally readable accomplishment by a man who can write in whatever genre he chooses." (Washington Post)
“Think of Mr. Mercedes as an AC/DC song: uncluttered, chugging with momentum, and a lot harder to pull off than it looks. . . . King has written a hot rod of a novel,perfect for a few summer days at the pool. Mercedes-Benz commands drivers to demand ‘the best or nothing.’ In pop-fiction terms, that motto still applies to Stephen King, too. With apologies to AC/DC, the highway to hell never felt so fun.” (Christian Science Monitor)
“A taut, suspenseful race-against-time book . . . [King is] in reliably fine form.” (The New York Times)
"A taut, calibrated thriller . . . The majority of the book is merciless and unforgiving, and the scariest thing about it is how plausible the whole scenario is." (Miami Herald)
“The nerve-shredding denouement is vintage King—a pulse-pounding race against time . . .” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
“A full-throttle sprint to the finish; the last 80 pages cannot be doled out over multiple reading sessions. You'll have to swallow them all in a single gulp.” (Sarasota Herald Tribune)
“A literary Van de Graaff generator: tightly paced and parsed with dynamic dialogue and traumatic twists.” (Columbus Dispatch)
“An oh-so-dark mystery that never shuts the door on love, loss and, possibly, redemption.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer) --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
"Classic Stephen King. Creepy, yet realistic characters that get under your skin and stay there, a compelling story that twists and turns at breakneck speed, and delightful prose that, once again, proves that one of America’s greatest natural storytellers is also one of its finest writers." (Associated Press)
"On one level, Mr. Mercedes is an expertly crafted example of the classic race-against-the-clock thriller. On another, it is a novel of depth and character enriched throughout by the grace notes King provides in such seemingly effortless profusion. It is a rich, resonant, exceptionally readable accomplishment by a man who can write in whatever genre he chooses." (Washington Post)
“Think of Mr. Mercedes as an AC/DC song: uncluttered, chugging with momentum, and a lot harder to pull off than it looks. . . . King has written a hot rod of a novel,perfect for a few summer days at the pool. Mercedes-Benz commands drivers to demand ‘the best or nothing.’ In pop-fiction terms, that motto still applies to Stephen King, too. With apologies to AC/DC, the highway to hell never felt so fun.” (Christian Science Monitor)
“A taut, suspenseful race-against-time book . . . [King is] in reliably fine form.” (The New York Times)
"A taut, calibrated thriller . . . The majority of the book is merciless and unforgiving, and the scariest thing about it is how plausible the whole scenario is." (Miami Herald)
“The nerve-shredding denouement is vintage King—a pulse-pounding race against time . . .” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
“A full-throttle sprint to the finish; the last 80 pages cannot be doled out over multiple reading sessions. You'll have to swallow them all in a single gulp.” (Sarasota Herald Tribune)
“A literary Van de Graaff generator: tightly paced and parsed with dynamic dialogue and traumatic twists.” (Columbus Dispatch)
“An oh-so-dark mystery that never shuts the door on love, loss and, possibly, redemption.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer) --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B00GEEB52S
- Publisher : Scribner; Media Tie-In edition (June 3, 2014)
- Publication date : June 3, 2014
- Language : English
- File size : 6309 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 449 pages
- Lending : Not Enabled
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#14,062 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #33 in Movie Tie-In Fiction
- #68 in Horror Suspense
- #74 in U.S. Horror Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
14,041 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2017
Report abuse
Verified Purchase
78 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
Whoa! Why have I waited years to pick up this book???? I have only read a couple of King's past books, and this one was nothing like them--in a great way!
I couldn't get enough of this book. King's writing is superb. It was simple, yet complex. It was fast-paced, yet a slow burn. The characters creative, relatable, and unique. I don't think I can really do the book justice with this review.
The story in itself had me hooked. I was all-in from the very beginning. The book flowed and the characters kept me entertained. The twists and ah-ha moments had my heart racing. I couldn't stop reading. I was eager to see how everything turned out.
I love when characters get killed off in books, but only the ones I don't really care about. There was one character that died in this book that had me shaking my head, wondering why that person. Other times, I was holding my breath. I thought for sure he was going to kill off some of my favorites in this book. There's nothing better than an author being able to suspend the suspense for such a long time in a book.
Overall, this book was a hit. I can't wait to move onto the next book in the series. This book is the perfect example of the things I like in a book.
I couldn't get enough of this book. King's writing is superb. It was simple, yet complex. It was fast-paced, yet a slow burn. The characters creative, relatable, and unique. I don't think I can really do the book justice with this review.
The story in itself had me hooked. I was all-in from the very beginning. The book flowed and the characters kept me entertained. The twists and ah-ha moments had my heart racing. I couldn't stop reading. I was eager to see how everything turned out.
I love when characters get killed off in books, but only the ones I don't really care about. There was one character that died in this book that had me shaking my head, wondering why that person. Other times, I was holding my breath. I thought for sure he was going to kill off some of my favorites in this book. There's nothing better than an author being able to suspend the suspense for such a long time in a book.
Overall, this book was a hit. I can't wait to move onto the next book in the series. This book is the perfect example of the things I like in a book.
24 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
I waited until I read all three books in the Bill Hodges Trilogy before starting my reviews of the individual books, and I'm glad I did. Doing so allowed me to get a broader view of the story as a whole.
The overarching theme of the series, first shown early in "Mr. Mercedes," is suicide, both the tragedy of it and some people's fascination with it.
In this thriller, Det. Ret. (Detective, Retired) K. William Hodges frequently has suicide on his mind. His life doesn't seem to have much purposes since his retirement, he doesn't often see his old friends, and is largely estranged from his daughter. On top of that, several cases, still open when he left the police force, still weigh on him, especially the case of a man who plowed a Mercedes into a job fair crowd, killing eight and wounding many more.
Then, he receives a letter in the mail from the Mercedes Killer, bragging about the mass murder and taunting him. What ensues is as much a psychological battle as a mystery as Hodges pursues the killer, often breaking the law to do so.
This story is filled with well-rounded characters, complex motivations, and action. It's a powerful start to a fantastic trilogy.
Oh, and I also discovered after finishing the trilogy that there is a "Mr. Mercedes" television series I had no idea existed. With the first season out, I need to figure out where to see it, so I can binge watch it as soon as possible. The pictures of the cast even look close to how I imagined the characters.
The overarching theme of the series, first shown early in "Mr. Mercedes," is suicide, both the tragedy of it and some people's fascination with it.
In this thriller, Det. Ret. (Detective, Retired) K. William Hodges frequently has suicide on his mind. His life doesn't seem to have much purposes since his retirement, he doesn't often see his old friends, and is largely estranged from his daughter. On top of that, several cases, still open when he left the police force, still weigh on him, especially the case of a man who plowed a Mercedes into a job fair crowd, killing eight and wounding many more.
Then, he receives a letter in the mail from the Mercedes Killer, bragging about the mass murder and taunting him. What ensues is as much a psychological battle as a mystery as Hodges pursues the killer, often breaking the law to do so.
This story is filled with well-rounded characters, complex motivations, and action. It's a powerful start to a fantastic trilogy.
Oh, and I also discovered after finishing the trilogy that there is a "Mr. Mercedes" television series I had no idea existed. With the first season out, I need to figure out where to see it, so I can binge watch it as soon as possible. The pictures of the cast even look close to how I imagined the characters.
54 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
I have been an on-again, off-again reader of Stephen King’s over the last decade or so (I was more loyal prior to that time) as sometimes I like his stuff and sometimes I don’t. The last one I read was the awful "Under the Dome," which was long, pointless and ultimately just silly, and I wasn’t thinking of reading anything else by him until I read a couple of reviews by Charles de Lint in a recent Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. I trust Mr. de Lint’s tastes, so when he praised "Mr. Mercedes" and its follow-up, I figured I’d give them a try. Mr. Mercedes is the nickname given to a man who stole a car (guess what make) and plowed into a group of job seekers standing outside a building waiting for a job fair, killing 8 and wounding many others. Recently retired cop Bill Hodges has been drifting since his retirement, regretting that he didn’t catch certain bad guys, including Mr. Mercedes, but when he receives a letter purporting to be from the villain, instead of succumbing to depression as the writer intended, he begins to investigate. And, of course, the investigation just becomes more and more dangerous as he continues to delve into the mystery…. The reader knows who the culprit is from early on in the book, so the appeal is following the cat-and-mouse hunt as the suspense builds. King is as good as he ever was with respect to his characters and plotting, and he’s always great with the gross-out scenes (which here are not too many, thankfully). This turns out to be the first book in a trilogy, and I’ve already picked up the second, "Finder’s Keepers," with the third due out in mid-2016. Fast-paced popcorn reading, "Mr. Mercedes" just hits the spot; recommended!
143 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Top reviews from other countries

Elizabeth Brazel
5.0 out of 5 stars
The King of fiction never fails
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2020Verified Purchase
I used to read Stephen King all the time, but for no apparent reason, I stopped reading his books.
I have no idea why, and as a result, there are now many of his books that I haven't read. This something I intend to rectify.
Mr Mercedes is the first book in a trilogy. I saw it recommended in a book group I'm in, so decided to start here!
I loved this book and read it in record time. It is not King's typical horror story. It's a detective thriller focused on retired cop Bill Hodges. I
Retirement isn't suiting Bill, he misses being a cop, and doesn't really feel like his life has much point anymore. Then one day he receives a letter in the mail. The letter is from Me Mercedes, the case he never got to solve.
I loved this book, and cannot wait to read the other two books in this trilogy.
I have no idea why, and as a result, there are now many of his books that I haven't read. This something I intend to rectify.
Mr Mercedes is the first book in a trilogy. I saw it recommended in a book group I'm in, so decided to start here!
I loved this book and read it in record time. It is not King's typical horror story. It's a detective thriller focused on retired cop Bill Hodges. I
Retirement isn't suiting Bill, he misses being a cop, and doesn't really feel like his life has much point anymore. Then one day he receives a letter in the mail. The letter is from Me Mercedes, the case he never got to solve.
I loved this book, and cannot wait to read the other two books in this trilogy.
4 people found this helpful
Report abuse

Mr. P. Labrow
4.0 out of 5 stars
The pace of the book is almost unrelenting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2014Verified Purchase
I seem to remember Stephen King announcing his retirement some years ago. And yet, the books keep coming – and I'm thankful for that.
I saved Mr Mercedes for my annual vacation (sorry to make you jealous, but I'm writing this review on my iPad, on the sundeck of the cruise ship Azura, just off the coast of Italy, while listening to Haydn’s Symphony 103 on my iPod).
I romped through Mr Mercedes in just a couple of days or so, pulled along by King's easy style – the thing I've always most admired about his writing is that it is so immersive; the words fade away in your mind and it becomes like watching a film.
The book is a cat-and-mouse story; one where it's often difficult to tell who is the cat and who is the mouse. Retired detective Kermit William Hodges (thankfully known as Bill to his friends) passes time by watching TV and gaining weight, until a letter arrives from the perpetrator of an unsolved crime, goading him back into life.
Brady Hartsfield is a man without conscience; he takes enjoyment from inflicting misery and has a somewhat unhealthy relationship with his mother. It's often said that believable villains can't be 'all bad' but there's very little to redeem Brady. And Hodges is his latest target – but far from the biggest one in his sights.
As ever, King creates characters which are as believable as the person next to you. The pace of the book is almost unrelenting – there are several natural pauses as characters develop their relationships – and the plot twists in a way that real life does. Only one event I felt was foreshadowed too clearly; I won't spoil it for you but I think you'll know which one I mean, once you reach it.
Hodges becomes our friend; his good nature balanced by the ability to be tough when the going demands it. The insight into his thought processes, as he tracks the letter's writer, is as enjoyable as the plot. Brady's mind works in a different way and he's the counterbalance to Hodge's morality – outwardly so ordinary that he's forgettable, but inwardly as dark as anyone King has created.
I've heard people say that they 'prefer classic King' but I have to say that I really like the way that his writing has evolved. I recently re-read The Shining and found it less satisfying (in terms of writing style) than his later work.
It's true, this is less horror than we're used to with King's earlier works; there's nothing supernatural here – just the perverse nature of the human race. But this book is no poorer for that. There are some enjoyable name-checks of King's other work to look out for along the way, too.
This is yet another great book from Stephen King. Thoroughly enjoyable, it's definitely one that you won't want to put down until you're done – and when you are, you'll wish it wasn't over.
I saved Mr Mercedes for my annual vacation (sorry to make you jealous, but I'm writing this review on my iPad, on the sundeck of the cruise ship Azura, just off the coast of Italy, while listening to Haydn’s Symphony 103 on my iPod).
I romped through Mr Mercedes in just a couple of days or so, pulled along by King's easy style – the thing I've always most admired about his writing is that it is so immersive; the words fade away in your mind and it becomes like watching a film.
The book is a cat-and-mouse story; one where it's often difficult to tell who is the cat and who is the mouse. Retired detective Kermit William Hodges (thankfully known as Bill to his friends) passes time by watching TV and gaining weight, until a letter arrives from the perpetrator of an unsolved crime, goading him back into life.
Brady Hartsfield is a man without conscience; he takes enjoyment from inflicting misery and has a somewhat unhealthy relationship with his mother. It's often said that believable villains can't be 'all bad' but there's very little to redeem Brady. And Hodges is his latest target – but far from the biggest one in his sights.
As ever, King creates characters which are as believable as the person next to you. The pace of the book is almost unrelenting – there are several natural pauses as characters develop their relationships – and the plot twists in a way that real life does. Only one event I felt was foreshadowed too clearly; I won't spoil it for you but I think you'll know which one I mean, once you reach it.
Hodges becomes our friend; his good nature balanced by the ability to be tough when the going demands it. The insight into his thought processes, as he tracks the letter's writer, is as enjoyable as the plot. Brady's mind works in a different way and he's the counterbalance to Hodge's morality – outwardly so ordinary that he's forgettable, but inwardly as dark as anyone King has created.
I've heard people say that they 'prefer classic King' but I have to say that I really like the way that his writing has evolved. I recently re-read The Shining and found it less satisfying (in terms of writing style) than his later work.
It's true, this is less horror than we're used to with King's earlier works; there's nothing supernatural here – just the perverse nature of the human race. But this book is no poorer for that. There are some enjoyable name-checks of King's other work to look out for along the way, too.
This is yet another great book from Stephen King. Thoroughly enjoyable, it's definitely one that you won't want to put down until you're done – and when you are, you'll wish it wasn't over.
20 people found this helpful
Report abuse

M. Leon Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unexpected read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2019Verified Purchase
Having started to avoid reading the blurb on book, I went into this expecting another horror from the excellent King. What I got instead was a fast-paced and enjoyable thriller. The main characters are all charming in their own way and despite a couple of parts of the book which I found a little overdone I would recommend this book and look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
4 people found this helpful
Report abuse

EmmaS
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great SK read ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2015Verified Purchase
Having stepped away from Stephen King for a few years as I felt I'd overdone him a bit (!) I decided to give this one a go. It made me realise just how much I enjoy his books and that I had in fact quite missed him. Stephen King has a brilliant writing style that is immediately identifiable but over the years I think he decided to experiment with different styles which just didn't suit me. Anyway, this is a really good thriller and not what I would class as a horror. This is written in the vein of Misery or Duma Key - plenty of suspense. I loved the characters in this book - Hodges and his side kick Jerome in particular. I thought they had such a lovely relationship.
So yes, I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't say it was 'un-putdownable'. I quite happily read a few chapters, put it down for a week or so then carried on with it again. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. I think it would make an excellent film to be honest. (Tip : Its well worth visiting Debbie's Blue Umbrella and the site that shows the basement set up ... very clever!)
So yes, I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't say it was 'un-putdownable'. I quite happily read a few chapters, put it down for a week or so then carried on with it again. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. I think it would make an excellent film to be honest. (Tip : Its well worth visiting Debbie's Blue Umbrella and the site that shows the basement set up ... very clever!)
8 people found this helpful
Report abuse

perko
5.0 out of 5 stars
The thrill of the chase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2020Verified Purchase
I have read most of Mr King's work over the years and have been engaged by the vast majority of his books. This one is no exception. The characters and their relationships are well-drawn and the build-up to the thrilling climax is effectively thrilling. It amazes me that the style of this book is so different from what we would normally expect from Mr King - but it is, at the same time, clearly the work of the master. I am about to start the second instalment featuring Bill Hodges and I am really looking forward to it....
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
- Finders Keepers: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 2)Kindle Edition
- End of Watch: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy Book 3)Kindle Edition
- LaterKindle Edition
- The Outsider: A NovelKindle Edition