Audiobook Review: Holly by Stephen King

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Holly by Stephen King

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: Book 3 of Holly Gibney

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (September 5, 2023)

Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins

Author: Website

Narrator: Justine Lupe

Everyone knows Stephen King is a prolific writer, but I can be quite choosy about which new releases of his to pick up. Still, as someone who was completely enamored with the character of Holly Gibney in her kickass role in The Outsider (despite having skipped the Finders Keepers trilogy), the mere prospect of reading about her again had me eagerly counting the days until I’ll get to join her on another mystery adventure. The moment I caught wind of the novel Holly, I knew I was going to pick it up.

The book begins by dropping readers into the thick of the pandemic, when COVID was still raging and most of the population was tentatively returning to normal with the advent of the new vaccines. Holly Gibney, of the Finders Keepers detective agency, has just been dealt a devastating blow—her mother, with whom she has always had a complicated relationship, has just died from the virus. At the moment, Holly is supposed to be on leave, but struggling with the challenges of handling her grief, she throws herself into work instead.

With her partner out sick, Holly takes a job from Penny Dahl, who is hoping for some help in locating her missing daughter, Bonnie. We learn that the young woman was last seen at a convenience store before leaving on her bike. That same bike was later found abandoned, along with a note stating “I’ve had enough” attached to it, leading the police to believe Bonnie ran away. And yet, Penny doesn’t think so, and after following up on some leads, neither does Holly. Some more digging reveals an unsettling history of disappearances in the area, and at the same time, a series of flashbacks reveal the real culprits behind the missing victims.

After this book, I’ll never trust anyone again, not even sweet little old ladies, and it’s all Stephen King’s fault! Holly unfolds seamlessly, another testament to the masterful storytelling styles of the king of horror, though in truth, the novel reads more like a psychological suspense thriller, and unlike The Outsider, is completely free of paranormal elements. While occasional references are made to the other books, rest assured that this story stands independently, and an immersive narrative allows newcomers to Holly’s world to navigate it with ease.

But of course, the crux of Holly also revolves around its eponymous protagonist’s evolution as a character. I think those who have read Finders Keepers will find it most impactful, but even just having witnessed her quirks in The Outsider, it was a delight for me to see Holly transform into a more confident and resilient individual. I can’t help but think that the pandemic would have sent the old Holly retreating into her reclusive self, but here she shows she is capable of managing her shyness, overcoming her anxieties by asserting herself admirably. King also delicately touches upon her personal struggles, including the profound effects of losing her mother to COVID.

Then there’s the plot, which is a relentless rollercoaster of suspense. This probably goes without saying, but King is adept at setting and sustaining an unrelenting pace, keeping me at the edge of my seat even if, in this case, the perpetrators were identified quite early. Through vivid descriptions of their heinous crimes and deranged beliefs, however, the story forces your mind down some dark paths it doesn’t want to go, and still you can’t help but keep reading because the addictive quality of the narrative’s pull is just that irresistible.

Of course, there were some hiccups. Right away, I sensed the setting of the pandemic would be a double-edged sword, providing an authentic and immersive backdrop for the story, yet posing the risk that it might not stand the test of time. While personally it managed to intensify my feelings of paranoia and caginess, for those experiencing pandemic fatigue, I can also see this book dragging you straight back into a depressing, frustrating place. Admittedly, the ending felt a bit muted to me as well. That said, despite feeling robbed of a punchier conclusion, I was satisfied to see all loose ends tied up.

All told, Holly was a highly entertaining read, filled with all kinds of twists and turns that are quintessentially Stephen King. The audiobook, which was the review format I received, was also a fantastic listen, with narrator Justine Lupe being on point and pitch perfect with regards to her voicework and pacing. A must read for fans.