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klosterphobia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
As someone who aligns with King's and Holly's liberal perspective, it's disappointing that the novel misses opportunities to delve into the parallels between the killer's obsession with health and the proliferation of dubious COVID cures, a potential avenue for poignant social commentary that remains unexplored.
A notable issue arises in the portrayal of race and violence against Black men throughout the narrative. The treatment of this sensitive topic by an older white male author feels somewhat off, with the racism exhibited by the main antagonists coming across as a caricature rather than a meaningful exploration that adds depth to the narrative.
Despite these shortcomings, King's ability to captivate readers remains powerful. Even when the "whodunnit" aspect is apparent early on, the looming sense of doom as the story progresses keeps the pages turning. However, the fairy tale-like ending feels formulaic and lacks the excitement or novelty.
Holly entertains but falls short of its potential to engage deeply with complex societal issues and deliver a truly satisfying and thought-provoking narrative.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mitsyleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
muteoflight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent
catherine_t's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As Holly begins to look into Bonnie's disappearance, she discovers other people have gone missing: 11-year-old Peter "Stinky" Steinman, three years earlier; Cary Dressler, stoner but all-around good guy, three years before that; and Ellen Craslow, a few months before Peter Steinman. It doesn't look like a serial killer--the victims, if that's what they are, are too different, for one thing--but Holly begins to think that the missing persons are connected. As she digs deeper, she'll uncover a horror unlike anything she's ever faced.
I'm a die-hard Stephen King fan, but on top of that, I love Holly Gibney. She started, as King says, as a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes, but she grew to be so much more. I think she's one of the best characters King has ever written; she's definitely in my top five. If you've read any of the previous books with Holly in them, you have to read this one. Even if you haven't, read this book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ashlaid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
kalaser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
tonsu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Cannibalism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, and Death of parent
christine_d11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
alizabethdonalds's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
zara89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Alcohol