End of Watch

A solid ending for a great trilogy. As I have said in the review for the second book of the trilogy, the best thing about the books is that each can be read independently from the others and have anything taken away from what a great book each one is.

In this final chapter, Bill Hodges finds himself face to face with evil incarnate in the person of Brady Hartsfield whom he had apparently taken care of in the trilogy’s first book – Mr. Mercedes. Unlike the first two books which were detective thrillers at its best, this one incorporates a bit of supernatural/fantasy themes that in the hands of Stephen King are pure page turning fun.

Read it as part of the trilogy or in its own, either way you’ll be happy to do so.

I enjoyed this trilogy and I loved “End of Watch”. I started out slow on this book, taking little sips, I think because I was sad to finish the final book. But at some point, I couldn’t stop. I finally had some free time and I binged the second half like a bag of popcorn at the movies. Great big mouthfuls, one after another. It was refreshing to see Mr. King meander outside of the supernatural in Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers. I think they both demonstrated his ability to horrify and thrill within the boundaries of our reality, for he knows that the horrors we create ourselves are just as terrible of those of the paranormal. But I loved the return to the supernatural in “End of Watch”. I loved it because my favorite aspect of Mr. King’s stories is his ability to make ordinary people’s reactions to the impossible, very natural. It’s the honest and believable reactions of his character’s that pulls me and makes his novels stick with me. I read a wide variety of books and I enjoy many of them. But what sets apart an author for me is if the story worms its way into my long-term memory. Not many do, but Mr. King is taking up more than his fair share of my precious long-term memory storage.

As a new Author, I found myself experiencing a new emotion while reading this novel. Jealousy. I’ve been intrigued by the concept of gamification for some time and fascinated that scientific research can show how to manipulate peoples pleasure centers with virtual rewards. I’ve had a few ideas for short stories around this concept, and then Mr. King comes along and nails it. When he combines it with the perils and despair of suicide, it became a fascinating plot that I couldn’t turn away from, even if I wanted to.

I’ve been a devote King fan for a very long time and this just continues to keep him at the top. I highly recommend this book. The next time you reach for your phone to play some addictive little game, you’ll think of it. And you might even find part of yourself craving a game where you try to tap on those elusive little pink fish. Thanks again Mr. King for yet another delightful scare.

Also written in present tense, King’s End of Watch, the Bill Hodges trilogy finale, pays homage to loyal horror fans. Looping backward to the first installment, Brady Hartsfield (Mr. Mercedes) is back to settle the score, and while King’s malevolent villain may now lack motor skills (thanks to Hodges’ partner Holly’s proficiency with a sock filled with ball bearings), he unleashes extraordinary powers (possibly due to experimental drugs his doctor, Felix Babineau, doles out).

Programming a seemingly harmless computer game, Hartsfield an architect of suicide sets out to hypnotize his enemies, gloating once his victims take their own lives. Honing his telepathic skills, Brady soon discovers he can possess others. His pawns in play, the horrors are limited only by King’s unfathomable imagination.

Convinced Hartsfield only pretends a semi-comatose state and because the maniac never leaves his hospital room, Hodges, a retired police detective-turned private investigator, grapples for the accomplice’s identity. Bill’s P.I. days quickly drawing to an unforeseen and physically challenging close, he hopes to postpone the inevitable long enough to end the killer’s rampage permanently.

While Bill is old school and calculating, Brady is high-tech and impulsive. However, they do share a common bond: neither plan to leave this world until the other takes a final breath. In essence, they are one another’s reason for living. Masterfully writing all things multidimensional, King proves, once and for all, he is not genre-restricted. I highly recommend this series to both noir detective fiction and supernatural horror fans.

Confusing. And too long. Mr Mercedes was so good. It seemed like Steven King had to meet a page quota and books 2 and 3 were filled with repetitive stuff

Brady Hartsfield has been in the traumatic brain injury clinic for five years. Detective (Retired) Bill Hodges believes that Brady is more aware than he appears to be. His nurses share rumors of inexplicable events, like doors that slam on their own. Then people with ties to Brady’s past crimes begin committing suicide. Hodges suspects Brady’s behind the suicides. But how could he possibly be creating havoc from his hospital bed?

I haven’t reviewed the earlier books in this trilogy so this will act as more of a series review. I’ve done my best to avoid any spoilers but there may be some small ones.

I wouldn’t classify these books as horror simply because that implies a level of the supernatural and/or gore that this series doesn’t achieve. But Brady’s acts are pretty horrific in a way that feels entirely too real and will disturb some readers. King does include the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) in the book and a positive note at the end, asking that readers who are thinking of hurting themselves reach out for help.

I like these characters a lot. Hodges is a retired police detective who is severely depressed in the first book but finds a reason to live as time passes and he creates a “found family.” Holly’s biological family has made her so miserable for so long that my heart breaks for her. But she starts to come into her own as the series goes by. I feel proud of her growth. Jerome is another main character. He’s a teen in the first book and in college by the time this book rolls around. He’s always had a good head and heart but it’s nice to see him become the young man I always knew he would be.

I listened to all three books and felt that Will Patton did a great job narrating.

I recommend these for Stephen King fans and even those who like thrillers more than horror. They’re quick reads that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

A satisfying end to the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, except for one death. I marvel at Stephen King’s ability to tell a good tale with what I consider to be a “weird” twist. He always has an original perspective.

Great part of 3 piece story line starting with Mr. Mercedes!!

Like many King fans, I read his books for the characters. Despite writing horror, King is an optimist who seems to believe that what will save us in the end is basic human decency, kindness, concern for others, and the willingness to sacrifice ourselves for those we love. The Mr. Mercedes trilogy pits a retired cop, overweight, bored and lonely, the African American teen next door and a young woman with Asperger’s and anxiety against a monster who is simply evil. Over the 3 books( this is the last one) he goes from being a merely human serial killer to something supernatural, powerful, and terrifying because no onevwill.believe what he is capable of. Read tje whole trilogy.

Great conclusion to the series

One of his best.