Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King's most compelling and resourceful characters, returns in this new novel. She is reluctant to accept a new case, as her partner is sick with Covid, her mother has just passed away, and she is supposed to be on leave. However, there is something in the desperate voice of Penny Dahl, a woman who is searching for her missing daughter, that makes Holly unable to turn her down. Penny's situation is dire, and Holly feels compelled to help.
Penny calls the Finders Keepers detective agency, hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Bonnie. Holly is told that there have been multiple disappearances in a midwestern town, and she is determined to find out what is behind them. The investigation leads her to the seemingly respectable Professors Rodney and Emily Harris, who live in the same neighborhood as Bonnie. The professors are a married couple in their eighties, who appear to be devoted to each other and living a quiet, respectable life. However, there is something sinister lurking beneath the surface, and Holly soon realizes that they are hiding a shocking secret in their basement.
As Holly digs deeper, she must use all of her skills and talents to outsmart the unimaginably depraved and intelligent adversaries who are hiding in plain sight. She is determined to uncover the truth behind Bonnie's disappearance, no matter what it takes. The novel is a chilling and unforgettable exploration of grief and delusion, a dark and twisted tale of evil that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
I just finished reading this gripping novel, and I'm still reeling from the experience. The story follows one of Stephen King's most remarkable characters, Holly Gibney, a brilliant and resourceful detective who's struggling to come to terms with a personal loss and her own well-being. Despite her reluctance, Holly takes on a new case, driven by the desperation of a woman named Penny, who's searching for her missing daughter. The stakes are high from the very beginning, as Holly delves into a web of sinister events unfolding in a small Midwestern town.
As I turned the pages, I found myself completely immersed in Holly's world. Her sharp instincts and quick thinking are put to the test as she navigates the complex and twisted investigation, which leads her to a seemingly respectable couple, Professor Rodney and Emily Harris. But beneath their façade of normalcy, Holly uncovers a shocking secret, one that threatens to destroy everything she thought she knew about truth and goodness. The authors masterful storytelling weaves a narrative that's both captivating and unsettling, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to piece together the puzzle alongside Holly.
What struck me most about this novel was its empathy and understanding of the human experience. The author has a remarkable ability to delve into the darkest corners of the mind and still, somehow, manage to evoke compassion and understanding for the characters' motivations, no matter how twisted or depraved. As I read, I couldn't help but think of my own experiences with loss and trauma, and how this novel resonated with me on a deeply personal level. The writing is evocative and immersive, drawing the reader into a world that's both terrifying and hauntingly beautiful. If you're a fan of suspenseful, thought-provoking fiction, this one's a must-read – be prepared to sleep with the lights on, though!
Rating: 4.6 / 5.0
I just finished reading a gripping novel that will leave you breathless and shaken. The story follows Holly Gibney, a brilliant and resourceful detective, as she takes on a new case that threatens to destroy everything she thought she knew about truth and goodness. With the help of Penny Dahl, a desperate woman searching for her missing daughter, Holly delves into a web of sinister events unfolding in a small Midwestern town. As she navigates the complex investigation, she uncovers a shocking secret beneath the façade of a seemingly respectable couple. The author's masterful storytelling weaves a narrative that's both captivating and unsettling, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.