Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "holly-gibney"

The Outsider by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A gripping cocktail of police procedural and supernatural thriller from master of horror, Stephen King.

Detective Ralph Anderson is investigating a shocking child murder. The solution to the case appears clear-cut – forensic evidence and multiple witnesses point unequivocally to local baseball coach, Terry Maitland. Following a public arrest in front of the entire town, Terry swears his innocence, claiming to have been miles away when the crime took place. Of course, Ralph and DA Bill Samuels are unconvinced, given the evidence against him, making preparations for Terry’s arraignment.

Yet inconsistencies are beginning to worry Ralph. Meanwhile, Terry’s attorney enlists his own investigator to confirm Terry’s alibi. Evidence surfaces that appears to confirm the impossible – Terry was in two places at the same time. Deeply troubled, Ralph’s concerns grow as a large crowd gathers at Terry’s arraignment, baying for blood. Becoming increasingly out of control, it erupts with disastrous consequences – leaving Ralph battling with more questions, to which he is determined to find the answers.

So continues an investigation that will lead Ralph to question everything he believes, becoming part of a small group of people determined to uncover what led to the brutal murder of a child and how the impossible becomes possible.

As always with Stephen King’s novels, the reader is taken on a journey, one that develops at breakneck speed, but that pulls you in so deeply that you are immersed in the rich detail of the story and the lives of the multiple characters you meet along the way.

Holly Gibney, co-star of the Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes; Finders Keepers; End of Watch) makes a return, working alongside Ralph and the group of men to uncover the truth of the horror they face, challenging them all to suspend their disbelief to stop a powerful evil from escaping. Holly is a great character, always endearing, diligent, and still a little uncomfortable in her own skin. Painstakingly, she unpicks the mystery, steeped in recent crimes and folklore, getting them closer and closer to the villain that lurks in the shadows. But the evil is always one step ahead and will do all it can to protect itself.

Building to a tense showdown as the group uncover the truth, ‘The Outsider’ is thrilling and intense, a tale of good versus evil in our conflicted modern world.



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If It Bleeds by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A spine-tingling compendium of supernatural horrors.

'If It Bleeds' is a collection of four horror novellas by Stephen King, each a compelling tale featuring captivating characters, immersive plotting and richly detailed prose, exploring death and the supernatural, love and loss, good and evil.

“Mr. Harrigan's Phone”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In a poignant, creeping tale in the tradition of classic horror concepts with a modern twist, Craig befriends his eccentric and reclusive neighbour, Mr Harrigan, who, despite a successful career, wishes to spend his retirement disconnected from human advancements. Craig gifts him a mobile phone, introducing him to the wonders of modern technology...
The relationship that develops between the two characters is touching, the elderly man's death leading to some emotional moments; before the strange and uncanny begins after Craig leaves his gift in Mr. Harrigan's coffin. As anyone who has ever lost someone knows, the desire to reach out and speak to them one last time is overpowering. But when Craig calls the phone, he of course doesn't really expect it to be answered. But it is...
A moving tale, pondering the relentless power of technology juxtaposed with the ancient question of what exists beyond the grave.

“Life of Chuck”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A three-act tragedy told in reverse, of the significance of one man to the fate of the world...
A beautifully told story on the philosophy of life, beginning with an apocalyptic chapter as the world goes dark and Chuck's face appears to everyone as the end draws near. Travelling back in time, through the magic of music and dance, into Chuck's childhood, we get to know Chuck and the key events of his life from the end to the beginning, in a heart-wrenching obituary examining the true magnitude and potential of just one human life, and how significant they are in their everyday ordinary way because they love and are loved.
When someone dies, an entire world dies with them. But despite this horror, how enchanting it was that they - that we - have lived.

“If It Bleeds”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Holly Gibney returns to hunt another ancient, supernatural entity that feeds on the pain and torment of humanity...
A thrilling piece of paranormal detective fiction, a sequel to the 'Bill Hodges Trilogy' and specifically 'The Outsider', building on the mythology of the latter as Holly identifies a similarly parasitic and sadistic Outsider, who is moving from simply feeding on suffering to causing it. Holly's character has steadily developed throughout her previous four appearances and she now takes centre-stage, considering the philosophy of evil while preparing for a final battle with a predator. Gripping and suspenseful, the novella builds to a brilliantly realised conclusion, a perfect companion and sequel to the novel.
In our world of tragedy, war and suffering, this is a particularly striking story - we often witness these horrors through journalism, while none of us avoid exposure to fellow humans who appear to relish in the suffering of others. Despite its supernatural elements, this is a story of everyday human depravity and what can be glimpsed when the mask slips.

“Rat”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A writer makes a Faustian pact in the hope he can finally finish writing his novel...
King returns to one of his trademark tropes of the tortured writer in isolation slowing losing their mind. Despite his aspirations, Drew has yet to successfully finish the manuscript for a full-length novel. Struck by an idea, he journeys to a remote cabin in the woods, determined to write his book. But the old terrors resurface, until he finds himself faced with an offer that will give him what he most desires - at a price. Toying with themes that have been with us for millennia in our fairy tales and mythology, it concludes the collection with a cautionary note to be careful what you wish for and what sacrifices you are willing to make, how nothing is a replacement for hard work and integrity, and that the cost of one's soul is too high a price to pay.

Overall, 'If It Bleeds' is a thought-provoking and philosophical collection, striking the perfect balance between timely and timeless, exposing the frailty of human life, the shadows of the human mind, the power of the human heart, and the resilience of the human soul. Masterful, sublime storytelling from the King of Horror.



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Holly by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A chilling and poignant crime thriller.

Holly Gibney is enlisted by a distraught mother to find her missing daughter, the police having made no progress in three weeks.

As Holly investigates, she fears the young woman must have been abducted, and is now, more than likely, dead. But the missing woman is only one of multiple missing persons.

Holly has stumbled upon a sinister series of murders, unknowingly now on the trail of a ruthlessly evil killer couple.

'Holly' is a crime thriller novel by Stephen King, featuring private investigator Holly Gibney, who previously appeared in the Bill Hodges trilogy, novel 'The Outsider' and novella 'If It Bleeds'. It follows Holly’s investigation into a series of missing persons, murders perpetrated by a devious elderly couple desperate to cling to health and longevity. We approach the story from multiple perspectives - primarily through Holly’s investigation, but also through flashbacks to each of the victims and their abductions, tangential characters that become entwined in the case, and into the minds of the murderers - intertwined into a suspenseful and character-driven novel; King’s immersive prose immediately captivates, drawing us into a complex investigation.

Holly has always proved an endearing and relatable character, from her first appearance alongside Bill Hodges in ‘Mr. Mercedes’ to finally leading the narrative in ‘If It Bleeds’, and once again she makes for delightful company. This investigation proves to be a deeply emotional one for her – not least due to her own mother having just died of COVID, whose belief the virus was not real and opposition to vaccination gravely endangered her. Set in 2021, the novel is very much cemented in the US socio-political climate of the time, with references to political divisions, the horrific treatment of people of colour by authorities, and the ongoing global pandemic. We experience Holly’s emotional turmoil, both from the many memories her mother’s death brings to the surface, and in response to the unease in the wider world at this time.

Other returning characters include Pete Huntley, now Holly's partner in Finders Keepers after retiring from the police, and Jerome and Barbara Robinson. Barbara's relationship with aged poet Olivia Kingsbury is touching, their mentor-mentee relationship that becomes a close bond exploring the beauty and soul that can be found in art, juxtaposed perfectly with the insane and inhumane interpretations of science as believed by the Professors Harris, both impeccably realised villains, their cannibalistic folie à deux as enthralling as it is disturbing. One of the things I enjoy most about the ongoing series is the switch between supernatural and human threats, allowing us a deep exploration of the nature of evil, and how it's always the human depravity that proves worse than any otherworldly horror.

King has once again crafted an intense and riveting masterpiece, brimming with heartbreaking emotional depth and blood-curdling horror. Exploring themes of loss and grief, of aging, decline and disease, touching on the tragic reality of why serial murderers are able to evade capture – when they defy expected appearance, when their victims go unnoticed by society – and laced with thought-provoking social commentary, ‘Holly’ is a gripping thriller and a welcome return for Holly Gibney, who grows more as a character in each story, much like the character herself learning to come out of her shell.

Holly will return next year in 'Never Flinch'.



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