Now an HBO limited series starring Ben Mendelsohn! Evil has many faces…maybe even yours in this #1 New York Times bestseller from master storyteller Stephen King. An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is discovered in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens–Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, … 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 have DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
As the investigation expands and horrifying details begin to emerge, King’s 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.
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The Master writes such masterful prose! Mostly a mystery / crime novel, this begins with a 100 or so pages of slow-burn, but then the heat’s turned up. The scary stuff comes into play and the reader is thrown back to the early horror of novels involving supernatural evil characters like ‘IT’. Great story and great characters, especially Holly Gibney. I wasn’t aware of King’s ‘Bill Hodges’ novels, but I’ll be looking out for those next.
Loved the first half but felt incredibly let down by the second. I won’t spoil it for others but the mystery set up did not have a satisfying conclusuion
Two words. Holly. Gibney.
SO GOOD!
If you’re a King fan, you won’t want to miss this one!
This book had me turning pages for hours. You forget its a book and actually start believing its true. I had nightmares but overall best book so far.
A young boy is found in a local park of Flint City having been brutally murdered and violated. Everything soon points to one of the town’s favorite people, Terry Maitland, who is a Little League coach and English teacher. A quick and public arrest is ordered by Detective Ralph Anderson and it pretty much seals the case against Terry in the public’s mind. But, as the investigation continues, it takes a turn Ralph never expected. It leads him to others who want to help as well as taking them cross country. Is Terry the nice guy he seems to be or is he really a monster under it all?
Leave it to Stephen King to write a story about the dark while developing relationships. It kept me on the edge of my seat. This book takes horror and mystery and blends them well giving us a story that keeps us guessing. I was drawn in from the beginning and kept hooked throughout. This is a definite win for Stephen King which brings together the supernatural and the deep, inner workings of the human mind. I am one of his Constant Readers and I’m always thrilled to read one of Stephen King’s books. This one did not disappoint. I loved it!
Great plot and characters
Before this book, I had only met one family that tortured their kids with stories of the Coco Monster. Now, I realize it is a widespread legend. Was definitely a learning experience. Loved this book.
I love stephen king this book is phenomenal I would recommend to anyone who likes murder mysteries.
Five suspenseful, bone-chilling, creepy, riveting, horrific Stars!!
Warning: Not for the Faint- Hearted!!
I am at a loss for words, for this book. Stephen King, the king of horror, supernatural fiction has done it again. I can’t take out the experience and afterthoughts of this book out of my head. I am fascinated by the way, King has spun the whole mystery, from a normal crime to a supernatural conclusion.
The things which I liked:
1. The whole plot which slowly twisted but unraveled the dark mystery.
2. The use of forensics science in a supernatural suspense novel.
3. The characters are well explored and well defined. Each character has their own traits. Among them, Ralph Anderson, the detective is determined, hard core fact driven. On the other hand, there is Ms. Holly Gibney from Finders and Keepers, who may look fragile but determined and well informed.
4. Though the conclusion will question the logic of a scientific person, but it is well explained in the face of law, where you may view it as a normal crime!! That’s what makes the story more believable!!
5. One single person can’t be at two places at the same time…. how can that be explained…. but that’s what the story is all about…. it is excellent in the sense, that it trades with the feeling that always lurked within you as you always have wondered, whether the legends you have heard in your childhood is whether true or false? It questions your basic understanding of fear, speculation and beliefs!!
The few aspects which I did not like but it is considered in this case;
1. The gory descriptions, that is the reason, I gave the declaration in the beginning. It is not for the faint hearted.
2. At few points, I felt sick and felt like throwing up.
But considering it to be a supernatural fiction, I gave a full 5 stars for the perfect scenarios and the intensity that the story has in it. You will not keep down this book, unless you finish it in one grip. I highly recommend this one to those, who love crime suspense with supernatural elements in them. For me, this is my first book of Stephen King and I have become his ardent fan. Definitely I will read more of his novels. Not to mention, this book has sparked a new interest for me in supernatural crime fiction novels.
Happy Reading
As a Constant Reader going back to The (original) Stand, I’ll always buy Stephen King. My mom gave me that book and together we backtracked to Carrie, Salem’s Lot, and The Shining and kept up with whatever he put out from then on. She even got me some of the desk calendars the he used to publish (or at least that he consented and contributed to).
Now my mother’s 85 years old and has been fading for the better part of 15 years. The last book she bought me was Duma Key (2008), and at this point I doubt she could even name one of his books.
But I’ve bought every one that he’s published since then, more for what he’s meant to my mother and me than for any other reason. The Outsider was fine, but like Mr. Mercedes and End of Watch, the characters and dialogue were cutesy bordering on precious, and over time I’ve come to realize that’s common to most of his books.
Uncle Steve once said something to the effect that he was the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries, and this book supports that However, I just bought If It Bleeds, and I’ll continue to buy his stuff until I also become too faded to do so
its good
I thought this book was fantastic!! I’m looking forward to seeing the series that was on about it. The story was original and entertaining!
I did not find this book to be as good as many previous books he has written.
Whether you’ve been watching the HBO series or not, if you’re a fan of good stories with a lot of suspense, you’ll love this book.
I started watching this show on HBO and was sucked into the story. I wanted to get all the inside action, so I bought the audiobook. The narrator is amazing. His voices are perfectly balanced and do not distract from the story. The story itself is a masterpiece of tension, lore, and the wonderment of “what if” monsters walk among us. Beautifully written, chilling, and makes you look at people in a different light…
Loved it as I’m a huge Stephen king fan.
Very freaky book. I am hoping the TV series follows the book.
I love Stephen Kings books, all of them!!!
Always love Stephen King. Sad to see the series has already changed the book.