Two Envelopes And A Phone’s Reviews > Mr. Mercedes > Status Update

Well, I saw a major, emotionally-charged plot development coming, way back when, and figuring out we were going there will affect my rating, a little bit. I did not quite envision the specifics - especially the fedora factor - but that trick has been used before (I’ve seen Eyes of Laura Mars, etc., etc.)…so again, some not totally original angles. And knowing Holly was being positioned to become more significant…

Very happy with this. Sort of a mix of A Slow Death by James Craig, Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano, The Intrusions by Stav Sherez, one of Ed McBain’s Deaf Man novels (maybe most especially Eight Black Horses), with just a dollop of anything Nesbo. And yet uniquely Stephen King, thanks to style. I’m hooked. Oh, and we’ve got some Purloined Paperweight shite going on, human-in-a-truck-style…

This is a spooky season where I am reading a Ramsey Campbell and a Stephen King novel, and having read Think Yourself Lucky already, and being well into Mr. Mercedes now, I can safely say SK gonna kick my fave Horror writer RC’s butt this year. But when I think of why Campbell remains my top Horror scribe…King entertains me, he hypnotizes me, he can scare me; but he does not CHALLENGE me. Too much what it should be.

So looking forward to this. High expectations.

I don't always make time for him in October, but it's one of those years.