Tag: mystery novel

Book Review: Holly

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By Stephen King

Finished 9/20/25

Holly is a fabulous, very traditional-feeling mystery that shows Stephen King leaning more into detective fiction than outright horror. The story follows private investigator Holly Gibney, who unexpectedly strikes it rich after inheriting money from her deceased mother—someone she openly despised—but chooses to keep working anyway. That decision sets the stage for a case that slowly unfolds into something far darker than it initially appears.

The mystery begins with several missing people and Holly trying to figure out what connects them. As the investigation develops, it becomes clear that the victims are linked in ways that no one initially expects. The trail eventually leads to a pair of professors, Em and Roddy Harris, whose disturbing secret centers around a belief that consuming certain “nutrients”—particularly human organs—can keep them living longer and healthier lives. The idea is grotesque, but King presents it in a way that feels almost clinical, which somehow makes it even creepier.

One of the strongest parts of the novel is Holly herself. She’s a really interesting character you just want to root for. Holly is thoughtful, careful, and often unsure of herself, but she has a persistence that makes her a compelling detective. The relationships around her help give the book its emotional center, especially the dynamic between Holly, Jerome, and Jerome’s sister Barbara, who helps out at the agency.

Barbara’s own storyline ends up becoming surprisingly important. She develops a connection with an older poet professor named Olivia, a character who is warm, funny, and genuinely kind. Through that relationship, Barbara begins uncovering pieces of information that eventually help Holly connect the dots in her investigation. Those smaller character interactions add a lot of depth to the story and keep it from feeling like just a straightforward procedural.

King also does a great job making the villains especially detestable. Em and Roddy Harris are arrogant, snobby, and convinced they are smarter and better than everyone else. Their self-importance and cruelty make it easy to root for their downfall (tied to their unique, ahem, “diet”) as the story builds toward its final confrontation.

In the end, what really carries Holly are the relationships—Holly working through the case, Jerome and Barbara supporting her, and even Holly’s partner Pete helping from a distance while dealing with COVID. Those connections give the book warmth even as the mystery itself becomes darker and more dangerous.

By the final pages, Holly has survived another brutal case and is already looking toward the next one. After finishing the book, it’s easy to feel the same way.

Rating: 8.5/10

Book Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

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By Stuart Turton

Finished 4/11/25

This one is a wild ride. Tons of characters, constant twists, and a really clever central concept—even if the ending left me a little underwhelmed.

The story begins with a man waking up in the woods with no memory of who he is. The only thing he knows is a name: Anna. Soon he realizes he’s inhabiting the body of a man named Sebastian Bell, and things only get stranger from there.

Eventually a mysterious figure in a plague doctor mask appears and explains the situation: he’s trapped in a kind of time loop and must solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. To do that, he’ll live the same day repeatedly through eight different “hosts,” meaning eight different people at the estate where the murder takes place. Each host has different strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and social positions. Some are clever and observant. Others are cowardly, cruel, or just plain unpleasant.

What makes the book so engaging is how those perspectives reshape the story. Information gathered by one host can carry over to the next, but each body comes with its own limitations. Sometimes he’s sharp and capable, other times he’s stuck inside someone physically weak or morally questionable. Watching him piece the mystery together across these different identities is where the book really shines.

The main character eventually learns his own name—Aiden Bishop—and part of the reason he’s in this strange situation starts to come into focus. That revelation is intriguing and adds another moral layer to the story, especially involving his connection to Anna.

The mystery itself keeps twisting and folding back on itself. Everyone at the estate seems to have secrets, grudges, or hidden motives. It’s the kind of book where every time you think you’ve got a handle on things, another piece of the puzzle shifts.

But for me, the ending didn’t quite land as strongly as the setup. The explanation behind Evelyn, the murder, and the people involved is definitely twisty, but it also feels a little messy compared to how tight the concept is earlier on. And the bigger questions about the strange “prison” the characters are trapped in—who built it, how it works, what it really means to be released—are only lightly touched on.

It’s not a bad ending, just one that leaves you wishing the final reveal had the same precision as the premise.

Still, the idea behind the book is fantastic, and the execution for most of the ride is incredibly fun. It’s one of those mysteries where the structure itself becomes part of the intrigue.

Rating: 8/10.

I’d definitely recommend it for the concept alone—just go in knowing the landing might not feel quite as satisfying as the journey.