BOOK REVIEW | BOOK RECOMMENDATION
“Holly” by Stephen King
At 76, with nearly 70 novels and story collections, American author Stephen King remains prolific. His latest novel, Holly, showcases his energy and intricate plotting.
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Crafted at the intersection of crime and horror genres, the book presents a captivating amalgamation. Its allure is akin to the allure of cigarettes for the title character, who unwittingly immerses herself in a pursuit to decipher a series of disappearances plaguing a midwestern town.
Holly had quit smoking in previous stories but dealing with her mother’s death and the new case, has her puffing away once again — always telling herself, she’ll quit again when the investigation is over.
Holly offers readers an additional delight as it subtly references previous works in Stephen King’s extensive literary repertoire.
Not only does Holly reflect on past investigations regarding psychos like Brady Hartsfield, with Bill Hodges, her departed mentor, and Barbara Robinson’s run-in with Ondowsky in If It Bleeds, but other King stories as well.
The chilling imprisonment endured by the characters in Holly resembles the harrowing captivity of novelist Paul Sheldon by his deranged self-proclaimed “number one fan Annie Wilkes,” depicted in King’s Misery, published in 1987.
Similarly, the mention of blood cascading over a teenage prom queen evokes memories of Carrie, King’s inaugural novel published back in 1974 — my high school graduation year.
These clever allusions testify to King’s enduring creativity and narrative interconnections throughout his illustrious career.
In this compelling book, King unveils a fresh side, venturing far beyond the confines of his known storytelling style, horror, the supernatural, and the macabre. There’s nothing supernatural going on in Holly, super-creepy? — oh, hell yeah.
Rather than relying on familiar themes from his past works, the author fearlessly explores new territory, pushing the boundaries of his creative abilities.
The book’s theme is far from what we are used to from King and even from Holly’s previous appearances in the Bill Hodges trilogy, Mr. Mercedes, The Outsider, and If It Bleeds.
In addition to demonstrating that vibrant literary prowess knows no age limits, Holly challenges age-based stereotypes in other ways.
The novel could be more aptly described as a “whydunit” rather than the traditional “whodunit.” It unveils two elderly former professors as its antagonists.
Once esteemed scholars at the fictitious Bell College of Arts and Sciences, these characters have long retired from teaching. By centering the villains’ roles as elderly individuals, the story defies assumptions and preconceived notions commonly associated with older adults.
“No one expects old people to be serial killers.” — Holly Gibney.
The theme could very well be “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Readers of this latest book will have the opportunity to delve into the minds of various characters alongside the protagonist, Holly Gibney. The novel seamlessly shifts between perspectives, allowing us a glimpse into the unsettling perspectives of elderly serial killers. Despite this, the central focus of the book remains on Holly herself.
At the start of the narrative, Holly finds herself in a state of bereavement due to her mother’s passing and the uncertainty regarding the future of her private investigation business, Finders Keepers. Her partner has COVID and cannot help her with interviews or pursuing leads.
Nevertheless, she wholeheartedly dedicates herself to unraveling the truth behind the disappearance of Bonnie. Holly heavily relies on her skill of clear and patient thinking.
If you enjoyed Holly in the other stories by Stephen King, you will love her in this epic tale.
Of the 17,102 verified Amazon buyers who rated the book, 88% gave it four or five stars, with an overall rating of 4.5 stars.
Keep in mind that many reviewers gave it one or two-stars due to their political fanaticism with “he who shall not be named,” and I don’t mean Voldemort.
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Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Also, a Top Writer in Bitcoin, Business, Investing, Nutrition, Travel, Fiction, Transportation, VR, NFL, Design, Creativity, and Short Story.