The blurb: Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King’s most compelling and ingeniously resourceful characters, returns to investigate the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances in a Midwestern town. In this thrilling novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries.
The review: When it comes to brand new novels, I’m usually happy to wait until the paperback edition comes out, as that’s my preferred format. But not this time. I love the character of Holly Gibney and I was not prepared to wait any longer than I had to. That doesn’t mean that I’m in love with Holly Gibney. That would just be weird. No, it means that I love being in her company. I love to see how she navigates everything from relationships to life-threatening situations. I love witnessing how her mind works.
Holly Gibney made her debut in King’s first-rate thriller Mr. Mercedes, published in 2014. At that time, she seemed an unlikely candidate for a hero; damaged, insecure and undergoing counselling. But over the course of Finders Keepers, End of Watch and If It Bleeds, she blossomed, and now heads up a private investigations agency.
Said Stephen King of her: “I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes but she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.”
Yes, as one might have surmised from the title, this is the first full-length novel to feature Holly Gibney in the starring role, and finds her hired to look into the mysterious disappearance of a local young woman.
Needless to say, things do not turn out to be quite as straightforward as they seem, and Holly soon suspects that there may be a serial killer on the prowl. But before you roll your eyes and think, Oh great. Yet Another serial killer thriller!, this one comes with a wonderful twist on the genre, which I’m not going to give away here.
When considering lead characters in novels, specifically the ones we’re supposed to be rooting for, I often ask myself if I would want to hang out with this person in real life. And in the case of Holly Gibney, yes I would. Absolutely. And what’s more, she can bring bring her friends along too. And the drinks would be on me!
It’s an awful cliché to say that I couldn’t put this book down, but it’s true. It was exciting, charming, compelling and hugely enjoyable, with crackling dialogue and some great twists and turns. Plus, all your favourite Holly-isms are present and correct. After all these years, it’s reassuring to know that The King hasn’t lost his Midas touch.
The author: Stephen King is the author of more than seventy books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. He is described in the Daily Mail as ‘one of the greatest storytellers of the past century…a master at revealing the horrors that lurk beneath the surface of what looks like ordinary life.’
Holly by Stephen King is published by Hodder & Stoughton and is out now.
RICHARD E. ROCK 
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