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klparmley's review against another edition
3.0
The critter in this book is a sociopath. Entirely human and utterly evil. He knows it and is utterly without remorse. The ka-tet that forms to try to stop him is made up of imperfect people who are nonetheless very easy to root for.
This isn't the most complex story King has ever told. It is a good choice for people who like his way of telling a story but don't necessarly care for non-human villains. There are no vampires, aliens, spider demons or Low Men.
This isn't the most complex story King has ever told. It is a good choice for people who like his way of telling a story but don't necessarly care for non-human villains. There are no vampires, aliens, spider demons or Low Men.
ttl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
veganheathen's review
3.0
I wanted to give this book 4 stars because I really enjoyed it. I'm taking off a star because of the racist slurs. It's unnecessary. Hey, we get it. The bad guy is a really bad guy. He has done some horrific things with plans for more. It's getting tired that white guys writing books feel like they need their antagonist to be super racist to make the point that they're bad. Just stop it, already.
Other than that, I enjoyed the unlikely heros of the story and their armchair detective work. It was good fun to go along with them as they try and get Mr. Mercedes. The characters were quite likeable and I really wanted them to succeed and survive.
Other than that, I enjoyed the unlikely heros of the story and their armchair detective work. It was good fun to go along with them as they try and get Mr. Mercedes. The characters were quite likeable and I really wanted them to succeed and survive.
felipemrocha's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
midici's review
4.0
I picked up this book and didn't put it down until I was finished.
A man in a clown mask drives a Mercedes into a crowd, killing eight people, and gets away without a trace. Months later, retired detective Bill Hodges receives a letter from the killer, taunting him for his failure in solving the crime and trying to convince him to commit suicide. The letter causes him to snap out of his depression instead, and begin investigating. What he doesn't realize is that he's on a time limit because the killer has decided to up his game. He has something big planned, something that will kill hundreds he hopes.
King does a good job of setting up reasons that the actual police don't get involved: Janey's mistrust of how they handled her sister's suicide, Bill's pride, the coincidental catch of a separate serial killer that occupies the rest of the police station. He also sets up an interesting cast of characters, because besides Bill there's his neighbour Jerome, a highschooler, and Holly, Janey's cousin who suffers from some unspecified mental problems and has a flair for computers.
Brady comes off as very disturbed. Everything about him is creepy, from his relationship to his mother, to teh murder of his little brother, to the way he vividly imagines killing everyone around him at all times. A terrifying killer and a satisfying ending.
A man in a clown mask drives a Mercedes into a crowd, killing eight people, and gets away without a trace. Months later, retired detective Bill Hodges receives a letter from the killer, taunting him for his failure in solving the crime and trying to convince him to commit suicide. The letter causes him to snap out of his depression instead, and begin investigating. What he doesn't realize is that he's on a time limit because the killer has decided to up his game. He has something big planned, something that will kill hundreds he hopes.
King does a good job of setting up reasons that the actual police don't get involved: Janey's mistrust of how they handled her sister's suicide, Bill's pride, the coincidental catch of a separate serial killer that occupies the rest of the police station. He also sets up an interesting cast of characters, because besides Bill there's his neighbour Jerome, a highschooler, and Holly, Janey's cousin who suffers from some unspecified mental problems and has a flair for computers.
Brady comes off as very disturbed. Everything about him is creepy, from his relationship to his mother, to teh murder of his little brother, to the way he vividly imagines killing everyone around him at all times. A terrifying killer and a satisfying ending.
lillyvannilly's review against another edition
4.0
At this point I’ve read a handful of King’s novels all of which I have enjoyed. Up until this time every King novel that I have read has some sort of supernatural element tied in with it. The same cannot be said about Mr Mercedes. One of the ways Mr Mercedes stands out among other work from King that I have read is that while it still holds its creep factor it also is realistic. Overall I really enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing in the trilogy.