A cat-and-mouse suspense thriller featuring a retired homicide detective who’s haunted by the few cases he left open, and by one in particular – the pre-dawn slaughter of eight people among hundreds gathered in line for the opening of a jobs fair when the economy was guttering out. Without warning, a lone driver ploughed through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes. The plot is kicked into gear when … Bill Hodges receives a letter in the mail, from a man claiming to be the perpetrator. He taunts Hodges with the notion that he will strike again.
Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing that from happening.
Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. And he’s preparing to kill again.
Only Hodges, with a couple of misfit friends, can apprehend the killer in this high-stakes race against time. Because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim hundreds, even thousands.
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I spent a few years in a job that required being on the road so I listened to many Stephen King audio books from the library and I have actually “read” few of his books. So I decided to try reading this one. King’s stories are always interesting, but what I think makes them great is that he knows human nature so well. As you read his books you might find yourself thinking, “That’s me.” or “I know that guy.” I think that’s one reason I liked this book. Not so much of the fantastic or weird that is in some of his books but a good, well told, well written story with just enough craziness that grabs you so you have to turn to the next page.
Mr. King is the man that first got me interested in reading, having found his book: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon in my Junior High School library, and yet, this is only the third book of his I’ve read. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know, but I am definitely going to be reading more from him. I guess it’s been so long that I’ve forgotten just how incredible he is.
I’m going to start out by saying, I expected this book to be a supernatural horror, as are most of his novels, but this one is actually more of a psychological horror. A sort of game of cat and mouse between Retired Detective Bill Hodges and a man that plowed a stolen Mercedes into a large crowd of unsuspecting victims, killing six of them and injuring so much more.
This man is the one that got away, the case that was still unsolved and cold by the time Hodges retired. Though he never did forget it. How could he? Now that his career is older, Hodges feels like he has nothing to live for. He has no wife, unless you count his ex, and a daughter that hasn’t seen him in years. He’s basically lost all will to live and lives out his days sitting in front of the TV playing with his father’s .38. Then, one day, out of the blue, Mr. Mercedes actually contacts him via letter and the games begin.
Unlike most murder mystery books, you KNOW who the killer is. Mr. King actually takes you inside this guys’ dark and twisted mind and gives you flashbacks of how he came to be the way he is. It may be a bit of a spoiler, but I feel it should be known in case of some triggers, he has a weird, sexual relationship with his mother. It began after a horrific event in his life and continued on through his adulthood.
Now, before I got into this book, I scanned some earlier reviews. A lot of them said that the beginning was slow and hard to muddle through. I disagree. How someone can say that reading about a Mercedes mowing down helpless people, including a 2 month old infant, is slow is far beyond me. I was hooked from page one.
I also read that this book is not like Mr. King’s other novels, from what I understand, that’s true. But to me, that shows just how amazing he really is as a writer, because he can shift between genres so flawlessly. The will always be a special place in my heart for The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and this book was just as good in my opinion.
This is the first book in the Bill Hodges Trilogy and it did sort of leave off on a cliffhanger. I already have the next two books to read and I can’t wait. I just love seeing how Mr. King’s mind works and how he really brings these characters to life. No, this may not be your typical ‘Horror’ genre, but it is a psychological mind game and, to me, those are just as good!
5 out of 5 well deserved stars!
Very unexpected.
I really liked it but it wasn’t my usual diet of phenomenal creep.
Loved this series of 3 books
Love Love Love this trilogy!! I love almost everything SK does but this was exceptional.
The book is a great read, it flows along at a good rate, and delivers a pleasing finale. Stephen King never ceases to amaze me!
The perfect beginning to a great series-ending with the Outsider,
Stephen King never disappoints! You come to care deeply for the characters in his stories, and you will despise the villains as if the are after your family. The absolute best part of Mr. Mercedes is that Bill and Holly may live to fight another day!
This was one of a 3-book series that I enjoyed a lot.
fantastic writing creates characters that propel us into the fantasmagorical world of monsters with human faces and heroes with more than feet of clay who dare and stumble into conflict with forces of evil beyond their imaginings.
A story that could have been taken from the headlines. Brady Hartfield uses a stolen Mercedes to kill eight and maim more in a crowd of desperate unemployed people. Brady was the only one to enjoy the carnage. This is a first in a trilogy.
Just what you would expect from Stephen King if you have been a long-time fan. If this is your first book, it’s a good one to start with. You will love the main character once you get past his crusty exterior.
Couldn’t put the book down, till I was finished with it.
Excellent story line and characters!
Not one of my favorite King books. I like the sequel better and you have to read this book first. .
Have always enjoying Stephen king, especially when he writes realistic style fiction. The Mr. Mercedes trilogy is a great read.
Great book! Or i should say great series! Highly recommend this book
Have read everything he has ever written. Another home run for the king. All hail the King!!!
The novel opens with people lined up for a job fair. Eight innocent bystanders are killed when a Mercedes plows through the crowd. 15 people are injured. The killer gets away with the crime. Bill Hodges was the cop on the case, but has recently retired. Now he fills his days with afternoon TV and dinners for one. He doesn’t feel like he has much to live for until the Mercedes killer reaches out to him and baits him. Hodges decides he isn’t done with this case, and as a private citizen starts to investigate. Hodges knows this killer will strike again if he isn’t stopped, so he wants to catch the guy before that happens.
Typical to my buddy Stephen King – this was a good book. I have read almost all of King’s writings, and I would say 90% of the time I enjoy what he writes. We know who the killer is right from the beginning – even thought Hodges does not – but that does not take away from the story. The book is about the chase to see who is going to come out ahead – the ex-cop or the killer.
This is a trilogy, so I think I will read the next two books. I am anxious to see where the story goes. (yes – this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger).