Holly (Unabridged)
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3.8 • 418 Ratings
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
A New York Times Notable Book
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
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
An investigator with an unusual mind digs into a case that nearly buries her alive in this captivating thriller from the legendary Stephen King. The COVID pandemic is still raging when the reclusive but genius Holly Gibney takes on the case of a missing librarian. But the mystery proves more dangerous than Holly could have ever imagined, as the clues lead to the seemingly sweet, mild-mannered couple living nearby. Fans of Holly’s previous appearances in the Bill Hodges trilogy will appreciate seeing her take center stage. Through his brilliant use of dual narratives, King lets us in on many of the story’s gruesome surprises before Holly gets to them, amping up the tension and dread. Actor Justine Lupe—who portrayed Holly in the TV series Mr. Mercedes—showcases her intimate knowledge of the character in her narration. This is a wonderfully creepy listen.
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable
Loved the story… a little creepy (as usual).
My only complaint is ) Holly, as I heard her projected in this book (or by the reader) Holly didn't seem to have the same persona… as in the other books, specifically in the “Outsider”. I missed her expressions of pauses and noticeably being within the high functioning autistic spectrum. Also I missed her ability of deduction as in the Outsider, always reminds me a bit of how Sherlock Holmes would describe his observations and elements of deduction… where the reader, at some point, snaps to the connections.
This was done exceptionally well by Cynthia Erivo, in the Netflix version of the “Outsider”.
Loved her portrayal of Holly, as I saw the series after reading the book…it was as if Holly jumped out of the pages and on to the screen.
WOW WOW WOW!
I’m refreshed! Is there a more interesting plot to this story? Nope. Did the plot occur? Kinda., innocence. Does the rhetorical question have a name? Am I missing anything?
Wasted opportunity
Too bad this was like being in a dark theater, leaning forward in your seat, hardly aware of doing so and some clown lights up a tablet or “dumb” phone, bringing you back to reality and out of the story. This is what preaching to people is like in such a story. If preaching about vaccines and politicians adds to the character, then bring it on. This grates after a while especially after the Billy S novel already did plenty. Dead Zone was amazing. This has flashes of amazing and then virtue signaling tablets being lit in a dark theater feel.