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Holly Hardcover – Sept. 5 2023

by Stephen King (Author)
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#1 New York Times Bestseller * New York Times Notable Book * NPR Best Book of the Year

Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King’s most compelling and resourceful characters, returns in this chilling novel to solve the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances in a midwestern town.

“Sometimes the universe throws you a rope.” —BILL HODGES

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 Hodges’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 semi-retired 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, they 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.

“I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.” —STEPHEN KING
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  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Scribner
  4. Publication date
    Sept. 5 2023
  5. Dimensions
    15.56 x 4.06 x 23.5 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1668016133
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1668016138
  8. See all details
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Holly

You Like It Darker

Product description

Review

“Holly demonstrates that one of the last true rock stars of fiction can continue to grow as a writer, and doesn’t define success solely as a continuation of what’s worked for him before.” —The Washington Post

“Stephen King does something amazing in his new novel, HOLLY… King’s storytelling skills are not dimming one bit.” —Tampa Bay Times

“Hugely successful… Holly surely deserves further episodes in the spotlight.” — Portland Press Herald

“Holly has a thrilling finish, in which our heroine looks horror in the face. The outcome is most satisfying.” —St Louis Post-Dispatch

“What makes King’s work so much more frightening than that of most other suspense writers, what elevates it to night-terror levels, isn’t his cruelty to his characters: It’s his kindness.” —Flynn Berry, New York Times Book Review

“Both intimate and sprawling in its ambitions… Holly is the imperfect but determined angel among all those demons...” —Brian Truitt, USA Today

“Holly is the heart of the narrative. Her growth from a shy, muttering mess in Mr. Mercedes to the smart, strong, smoking, slightly better, and much richer woman we see in Holly is tremendous. Please, Mr. King, give us more Holly soon.” —Gabino Iglesias, NPR.org

“In half a century of writing horror novels, Stephen King has created some remarkable villains. Who can forget the sing-song voice of Pennywise the clown, the devil incarnate Randall Flagg, or the drooling jaws of Cujo? The big bads in King’s latest novel, Holly, aren’t quite so memorable, but that’s part of what makes them terrifying.” —Rob Merrill, Associated Press

“A deadly folie a deux… Holly pursues this case to the gates of hell, figuratively—there’s no supernatural element in this powerful exploration of grief and delusion, just pure, undistilled evil.” —New York Magazine

About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner (Sept. 5 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668016133
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668016138
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 672 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.56 x 4.06 x 23.5 cm
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Stephen King

Stephen King

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Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His first crime thriller featuring Bill Hodges, MR MERCEDES, won the Edgar Award for best novel and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Both MR MERCEDES and END OF WATCH received the Goodreads Choice Award for the Best Mystery and Thriller of 2014 and 2016 respectively.

King co-wrote the bestselling novel Sleeping Beauties with his son Owen King, and many of King's books have been turned into celebrated films and television series including The Shawshank Redemption, Gerald's Game and It.

King was the recipient of America's prestigious 2014 National Medal of Arts and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for distinguished contribution to American Letters. In 2007 he also won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife Tabitha King in Maine.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
31,401 global ratings
It's a detective story, not really horror.
4 Stars
It's a detective story, not really horror.
Given that I've always been a Stephen King and Holly fan, I preordered this book back in March (6 months before publication). It's an entertaining book, a solid 4 stars.Unlike the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, this book has no supernatural elements in it. It's basically a detective story where you're aware of who the killer is very early on in the book. Not a lot of action, but that isn't a bad thing. I never found that the book dragged on and it always kept moving.King, through Holly, does get a little preachy about covid - it's all throughout the book. It didn't detract me from the story, but perhaps it may for some people.I'll add that it is a well thought out story.
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Top reviews from Canada

Panchalli
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and well written
Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2023
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Great Story. Stephen was obviously influenced by Covid and the times and included them in this book (much like the facts in 11/22/63). Story flows well, easy to read, interesting characters and definitely LOVE Holly. It's great that he went into her character and she's more amazing than I thought.

Started this in the morning of the 5th, 2 days later and I'm almost finished. Totally worth the price!
8 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage King
Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2023
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This is exactly what I expected for this author and for this particular series - A great story line, interesting characters who are so clear in my mind that I think I'd recognize them if I saw them on the street, plenty of great "zigzags" in the plot, and people who I want to continue to know in my life. I can't get enough of Holly, Jerome and Barbara. I could hardly put it down once I started.
4 people found this helpful
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Big G
4.0 out of 5 stars Stephen king novel…
Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2024
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It’s a typical novel by author . Have to be a fan to enjoy which I am.
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Sour
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in Canada on May 29, 2024
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Was a gift for someone. Loved it
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Dougthepug
5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen King Novel
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2024
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Of course it’s a great book. It’s Stephen King. I buy all his books.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2024
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This man just continues to amaze me with his story telling....
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Mike
3.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared to be beat over the head with politics.
Reviewed in Canada on September 11, 2023
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I love Holly Gibney. I know she has become divisive amongst King fans with portions feeling the character is over used, but I still really like her and as such this was one of my most anticipated books in recent memory.

As such I was disappointed that Mr. King chose this book to go all in on some of his political beliefs and club you over the head with them repeatedly with a cudgel. King is no stranger to adding his politics to his books, but he is usually subtle about, makes his point and moves on with the story. It is rarely intrusive of the story itself – not so in Holly. Usually when it comes to his politics in his writings I am not bothered one way or the other; if I agree, disagree or (most often) don’t care – I move on and so does he.

So a few things about me to know: First, I am Canadian and couldn’t care less about Trump one way or the other; we have our own problems up here. Second, during the pandemic, I wore a mask as required, no complaints, no big deal. Third, I am double vaxxed and despite having a really bad reaction to Pfizer that resulted in severe blood clotting in both my lungs and calf that almost killed me (not hyperbole and I will be on Rivaroxaban for the rest of my life) I am not some sort of anti-vax advocate. I mostly keep to myself about it and only pipe when people call the Vax “perfectly safe” – it is not, no vaccine is.

So this is not about agreeing or disagreeing with someone – it’s about wanted to enjoy a story about a beloved character from one my all time favourite authors. Not an extremely heavy handed message about how you are a terrible person if you don’t subscribe to Mr. King’s politics. I mean Holly’s mom dies because she was a Trump supporting, anti vax, anti masker – and she deserved it. And we keep revisiting this point. I found it a bit much and very off putting. He also takes more shots at law enforcement than I remember in the past. Usually I Find Mr. King’s views on the police fair – most are good, some are bad. In this book we keep getting comments about how police hate black people and shoot them. Again, off putting an not true. And yes, you can share someone’s views or at least not flat out disagree with them and still feel like you are being preached at.

The story itself is tainted by this constant messaging. And while he does back off a little as the book moves along, every so often he reaches out and slaps you in the face with something to remind you he is mad at the world right now (at least that is how it feels).

The story itself - if you are able to remove the politics – is of course great, the mystery set up is gripping from the start. I still found it hard to finish due to the heavy handedness of the messaging, and if not for my love of Holly probably wouldn’t have.
54 people found this helpful
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crystal
4.0 out of 5 stars Get To Know Holly!
Reviewed in Canada on October 2, 2023
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I love Holly, she is definitely top three favourite SK character so I was anxiously awaiting this next chapter in Holly Gibson's meta formation. King (twisted as always) spars Holly with an octogenarian couple with peculiar dietary needs. I enjoyed the book as always - King can do no wrong for me and the fact he chooses to navigate a stony political field as he weaves his tale actually delights me. As do the "I stopped reading when he took Trump's name in vain" reviews. Your loss, people - King knows the value of touching base with reality while creating his oh so entertaining fictions. This would have been a 5 star review except for Holly's acceptance and lack of investigation into the story her mother and uncle spun about the loss of their money/her inheritance - I'm sorry, but that did not ring true. Holly is an investigator. I don't buy that she would accept that at face value and just write off the loss as did her mother and uncle. That notwithstanding, I thoroughly enjoyed this foray into Holly's life and character and hope to see her again soon, ideally in a new struggle with a shapeshifting bad guy only she can track and eliminate! Kudos, Holly!
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Olga Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars King
Reviewed in Mexico on May 3, 2024
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As always perfect
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Mike Green
5.0 out of 5 stars One of King's Best Efforts
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
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_Holly_ is one of the best stories Stephen King has churned out in at least the past 30 years. I bought it as soon as I learned of it, because I had fallen in love with the character of Holly Gibney via the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy. I was delighted to hear (on a podcast) that the author had done the same. He finally felt obligated to give the gal her own book.

And this is a book with real guts. Not many modern writers dare to focus their strongest opinions into their art. Whenever I would hear an uproar over something King "tweeted", or even something that J.K. Rowling posted on social media, that caused a different flavor of outrage, I would think: I love hearing their opinions, but that isn't the right format for people who have their incredible way with words. And while I had enjoyed some of King's recent books (especially _The Institute_ and his most recent short story collection, _The Bazaar of Bad Dreams_), I felt like he had fallen victim to the digital era, like basically all the rest of us, and lacked the heart and the grit that he had back in the 1980's or the 70's, when he got started and was still using a manual typewriter (and a lot of substances that I'm glad he left behind . . . simply because I'm glad he is still with us).

This novel proved me wrong, and I loved every minute of being thus put to shame. For one thing, it's a good horror story. Forget that Netflix special about Jeffrey Dahmer. This is the story of a couple of old fogeys who think cannibalism is the fountain of youth and the key to immortality. I don't care who you are, that's unsettling, right there.

It's also an interesting take on a detective novel, as we, the readers, are often privy to information that the detective Holly and the other major characters are oblivious to. There are some incredible moments of suspense because of that. I also enjoyed the format of the story, how it jumps from time frame to time frame so easily, and how those flashbacks and "jumps" work well, so that the story flows smoothly. I found this to be as much a page-turner as some classics I've recently been delving into by Richard Matheson and Cornell Woolrich.

For those who are often turned off by King’s tendency to overwrite, never fear: His new editor has no time for such nonsense. The writing here is concise and tight. And I enjoyed the change of pace. Even though I’m one of those twisted souls who loves his epic-length efforts. Where a lot of people see tangents, I see subtleties of story that other people could appreciate if they only had attention spans.

Moving right along . . .

The reason this book has been so controversial among Stephen King fans is what the author addresses in an afterword, how Holly Gibney's view of the coronavirus outbreak and associated politics happen to jibe with his. He protests that he was not soapboxing. Frankly, I don't give a damn if he was. Dean Koontz has had some definite "soapbox" moments in several of his novels, not only recently, but going back decades. And I don't hear a lot of bitching and moaning about that. In _The Other Emily_, Koontz reserved the most severe beating of the story for a relatively harmless character who was wearing a "RESIST" T-shirt. If he can promote conservative views with such a vengeance, then Stephen King has every bit as much right to promote his more liberal worldview through what he writes. It's not like he does it all the time, and actually, he has consciously tried to avoid it throughout his career. Even in a book like _The Green Mile_, he largely left the readers to think about the social issues he brought up for themselves.

I love the way King does it here, because it reminds me of some of the classic science fiction and horror, that did more than just provide a few cheap thrills. Once in a while, it served as a splash of cold water in the face that the world desperately needed. I think of Rod Serling's classic teleplay "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street." I'm not sure anyone before or since has lampooned the McCarthy scare as eloquently as that 30-minute story did. And someone really needed to write a book that did justice to what we all went through with "COVID." _Holly_ delivers on that.

And I say that even though I don't fully agree with all of Holly's (or King’s) views. I personally think one vaccine is enough for most people, and I'm skeptical as to whether they are necessary for children. My views are nuanced. But this is the first novel I've read that does justice to what this four-year ordeal felt like. There were times it truly was hellish, both the virus and the social issues that it exacerbated.

My favorite chapter of this book is also one that shook me to the bones. Just when I was feeling like a wimp, I found that the author's wife had to comfort him through the writing of it, as he mentions in the afterword. Let's just say that just as a pandemic virus has its human impacts, so do serial killers. This story is opposite in tone from the sensationalism of the Dahmer series from Netflix. It forces the reader to slow down and think about what it's like for the victims and their families.

Holly is quite a character, and I can see why she eventually had to have her own book. Some have said you should read all the others before reading this one, but I disagree. I read the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy a few years ago, and I did read _The Outsider_. But I still haven't read the story "If It Bleeds", which is referenced several times here. And after only a few months, I've forgotten the details of any "spoilers" that were included. I feel confident that when I get around to the Holly story I skipped, I will still thoroughly enjoy it.

King has said that Holly reminded him of Carrie from his debut novel, except that she was able to have some kind of a life despite dealing with the same sorts of issues. I partly agree with this. Though I did go into reading this novel during one of my more cynical frames of mind. And when I pondered how Holly still didn’t have a man in her life in her 50’s, and had to be content with drooling over hot guys from TV shows, I reflected that maybe Carrie White was the more reasonable of the two characters, going out in a blaze of glory.

The only spoiler I’ll give is a counterfeit one: Jerome and Hollyberry never hook up in this book. Sorry to spoil your day. But on a serious note, she is beloved by Jerome and just about everyone who knows her. And just like Sherlock Holmes had his vice of the cocaine bottle, I found it endearing how Holly can never quite manage to kick her cigarette habit. Even as she says nightly prayers for same.

Perhaps it takes a comically neurotic female detective to bring some humanity back to the forefront. Because even as I rolled my eyes at Holly’s habit of saying her prayers every night, I also loved her for her quirks and her sincere intentions. Even as I groaned in disbelief at Holly’s mother refusing to believe she had the coronavirus, saying that it was only the flu, I also felt the deep tragedy of it. After all, I knew someone who thought this virus was a total hoax until he got it; then, as he told me, he would never wish anyone to have to suffer through it. The last several years have often felt (speaking for myself) like petty cruelty and a complete lack of heart were the new normal. People get so caught up in righteous causes now (more like self-righteous causes) that they forget what makes life worth living in the first place. This book captured that theme in the culture beautifully, in the thinking behind these killers, and the extremes they go to. And as I say, it portrayed the pandemic and other social issues realistically. Show me another novel that has done as good a job, and I’ll be very impressed. That’s why my least favorite chapter of this book became my favorite, after I’d recovered from it. (I didn’t find this book an easy read. It wasn’t just a thriller or shocker, not at all, and a lot of the humanity it brought back, while valuable, was also painful.) It is a brief chapter with no fancy words, that describes a hellish situation with as much decency and tact as possible. And it will bring a tear to anyone’s eye – the good kind, the kind that heals. Bottom line, this is a book with guts and a book with heart. Read it if you dare to rediscover your own.
16 people found this helpful
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Sandhya Kotapati
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in Sweden on June 7, 2024
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My daughter liked it delivered on time.
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Ramon
5.0 out of 5 stars How can he do it?
Reviewed in Spain on May 28, 2024
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Along the years I came to admire Stephen King's narrative. Very often, I have observed that his books are to be found in the HORROR section of the bookstores, a placing that in my view is unfair. Holly struck me as one of his best novels, conjoining the protagonist's personal troubles with her research for a missing girl. The suspense, even if we know the culprits from the start, is nevertheless well kept. King, also, introduces as in Billy Summers some strokes of political and social criticism that are not unwelcome in our troubled times.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Cannot stop reading
Reviewed in France on March 17, 2024
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Amazing plot told in an easy to read language. And you have to go to the end. One wonders how the author developed the plot. Was it based on true events
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