memydogandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
SYNOPSIS:
"An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can."
MY THOUGHTS:
🧍🏻♂️ From the very beginning this starts with the brutal discovery of a murdered boy, which is dark and graphic (and thus not for everyone) from the outset. But it gripped me as I am a HUGE fan of dark dark thrillers.
🧍🏻♂️ The first part of this book feels like a disturbing crime thriller and then in true King style takes a twist you may/may not expect pending if you've ever read King before. I mean I never expected the twist per se but the kinda twist wasn't a surprise.
🧍🏻♂️ I LOVED the two main characters Holly* (from Mr. Mercedes/Bill Hodges Trilogy) and the investigating officer, Ralph, they made a great duo in this thriller.
🧍🏻♂️King's writing, I LOVE it, love it, love it. He has an outstanding ability to write about human nature that I connect with whilst often always having social commentary. As well as just his ability to write about normal day-to-day life in a captivating way.
🧍🏻♂️ In this book the social commentary is very much about our quick-to-judge society, and to believe the unbelievable as it's even more believable than... (well I cannot say! that would be a spoiler).
🧍🏻♂️ This book is dark, unsettling, disturbing, and horrifying but utterly gripping, poignant, with amazing characters and I could not put it down.
I highly recommend this book if you love dark thrillers (like Karin Slaughter's dark) but with a twist and have enjoyed books/movies like IT.
I also highly recommend the HBO tv adaptation of this, it's brilliant.
*This book contains spoilers to the Bill Hodges Trilogy due to the fact one of the key characters in this series (Holly) features. Also sooooo excited to know that King's new book this year is all about Holly as she is an awesome character.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Body horror
chloevienna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Animal death
jmg317's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Child death, and Body horror
leligavi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Cursing
lpdx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Pedophilia, Suicide, Violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
kimskankwalker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Death, Cancer, Child death, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Body horror, Grief, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood, Drug use, Animal death, Dementia, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Addiction, and Vomit
alexalily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Terminal illness, Vomit, Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, and Drug use
tristemono's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Excrement, Mental illness, Vomit, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Child death, Classism, Dementia, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Stalking, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Violence
katiewhocanread'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? Yes
Graphic: Child abuse, Police brutality, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Gun violence, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Dementia
zaraha'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Cancer, and Cannibalism