Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Holly

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

eadrianschmitz's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

What a horror! Really enjoyed this and love that Jerome and Barbara are still with us for the ride. Holly didn't seem as neurotic as portrayed in the prior three novels which I kinda miss but it shows her growth which I'm pleased with.

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klosterphobia's review against another edition

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medium-paced

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

3.25

Holly is a novel that undeniably offers a fun ride, yet it falls short in several critical aspects. While Holly herself emerges as a likable character, the predictability of the plot and its fanfiction-like quality, coupled with a tinge of self-indulgence, detract from its potential impact. The handling of COVID-19 and the ensuing political upheavals, although attempted, lack the depth and resonance one would expect. Stephen King's exploration of these themes feels heavy-handed and lacks the necessary nuance, especially concerning the experiences of the working class during the pandemic.

As someone who aligns with King's and Holly's liberal perspective, it's disappointing that the novel misses opportunities to delve into the parallels between the killer's obsession with health and the proliferation of dubious COVID cures, a potential avenue for poignant social commentary that remains unexplored.

A notable issue arises in the portrayal of race and violence against Black men throughout the narrative. The treatment of this sensitive topic by an older white male author feels somewhat off, with the racism exhibited by the main antagonists coming across as a caricature rather than a meaningful exploration that adds depth to the narrative.

Despite these shortcomings, King's ability to captivate readers remains powerful. Even when the "whodunnit" aspect is apparent early on, the looming sense of doom as the story progresses keeps the pages turning. However, the fairy tale-like ending feels formulaic and lacks the excitement or novelty.

Holly entertains but falls short of its potential to engage deeply with complex societal issues and deliver a truly satisfying and thought-provoking narrative.

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mitsyleigh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

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muteoflight's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Read from cover to cover. A classic murder “mystery” with a smart and strong female lead. I have yet to read Mr Mercedes and it’s two sequels so I will be adding those to the list, because like Stephen, I now love Holly too.

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catherine_t's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is a real corker! Positively edge-of-your-seat reading! Holly Gibney, owner of Finders Keepers Investigations, is hired by Penny Dahl to find her missing daughter. Bonnie disappeared three weeks ago. Penny is adamant that Bonnie didn't just leave of her own accord: she had a job she loved, plenty of friends, and her own apartment. True, she'd just broken up with her boyfriend, but he was a loser, so it was all good. Penny admits that she and Bonnie had argued before the girl's disappearance, but it was nothing.

As Holly begins to look into Bonnie's disappearance, she discovers other people have gone missing: 11-year-old Peter "Stinky" Steinman, three years earlier; Cary Dressler, stoner but all-around good guy, three years before that; and Ellen Craslow, a few months before Peter Steinman. It doesn't look like a serial killer--the victims, if that's what they are, are too different, for one thing--but Holly begins to think that the missing persons are connected. As she digs deeper, she'll uncover a horror unlike anything she's ever faced.

I'm a die-hard Stephen King fan, but on top of that, I love Holly Gibney. She started, as King says, as a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes, but she grew to be so much more. I think she's one of the best characters King has ever written; she's definitely in my top five. If you've read any of the previous books with Holly in them, you have to read this one. Even if you haven't, read this book.

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