HOLLY
Author: Stephen King
Year: 2023
Edition: 2023 Hardcover
Pages: 446
Genre: Horror
Additional info: Goodreads Choice Award, Winner for Best Horror (2023)
Summary
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.”
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 Hodge’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 semiretired 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, that 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.
Why I chose to read this book
I’m not a horror fan, so I’ve never been drawn to read any Stephen King books (although I have seen a few of his books’ movie adaptations). However, I had heard great things about Holly. The main character is a private investigator trying to solve a case of mysterious disappearances (right up my alley!), so I eagerly thought this would be a great introduction to King’s writing.
Thoughts & Opinions
I’m not sure what I was expecting exactly, this being my first King novel, but it wasn’t this: very plain and contemporary language, lots of pop culture references, and a clear left-leaning political stance. I understand now why his books are so popular; easy to read and relevant.
“You believe it to your very soul, because you’re a holder-onner, and holder-onners are never able to understand let-goers. There are tribes that just can’t understand each other. Sort of like vaxxers and anti-vaxxers, Trumpers and Never Trumpers.”- Stephen King, Holly
Holly, the main character, has depth and is relatable. In the midst of dealing with her mother’s death and her friend’s illness, she is reluctantly tasked with a missing-person investigation. Everyone deals with grief differently and it was refreshing to witness Holly’s journey. I’m inclined to read previous books with her in them.
The story itself was maliciously fascinating with an intriguing sense of dread. I liked that we the readers are provided with valuable information. We know who the villains are and are along for the ride as Holly slowly but surely catches up to us. I don’t like horror but this was more of a detective-type book and I was okay with the horror aspect involved, it wasn’t too much for me as I’ve read worse in non-horror categorized genres. Goes to show that many books are gender-bending.
This was definitely a good experience for my first King novel, and it makes me want to read his past work, especially the series featuring Holly although it seems like there might be a supernatural element to them – regardless, there’s a plethora to choose from!
Check out my other horror book reviews:
Discussion Points
- Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?
- How does Holly compare to other Stephen King novels?
- I’d love to discuss this book with you in the comments below, looking forward to reading you!
- Which book should I review next?