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yeagleyreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lethaldose's review against another edition
4.0
I put this book off for far too long. I ended up liking it way more than I thought I would.
There is no paranormal or supernatural in this Stephen King book, and maybe that is why I avoided it. Stephen King clearly wanted to write a crime thriller in the mold of Michael Connelly, John Sanford, or James Patterson and he has mostly succeeded in that.
I do have two complaints about the book and let me get them out, first and foremost the love story that develops halfway into the book was unnecessary and boring as hell. It did not feel natural and felt tacked on because King thought that a crime thriller was supposed to have a love story in it. Second was that too much of the book focused on the villain, almost as much of this story is told from the perspective of the Mercedes Killer as Bill Hodges. There is nothing particularly wrong with that, but it just killed some of the mystique of the killer and made him feel much less menacing as the book went along.
Bill Hodges was a good solid character though, and even though he feels sort of like some kind of copy of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, I am still looking forward to reading his next book. Jerome felt like a very familiar Stephen King type of character, very clever and self aware, he is clearly meant to be the fan favorite in the tradition of Eddie Dean, Richie Tozier, Henry Leyden, and Jud Crandall. After them though the characters are a bit weak and uninteresting for a King book. The story is solid though and pulls you along nicely, your not trying to figure out who the killer is here, but you are trying to figure out how he is gonna be caught and how it is gonna end.
As a crime thriller it is probably slightly above average, as a Stephen King book it is probably slightly below average to average. Still it is certainly worth reading and a very enjoyable journey and I am excited for the next book in this series.
There is no paranormal or supernatural in this Stephen King book, and maybe that is why I avoided it. Stephen King clearly wanted to write a crime thriller in the mold of Michael Connelly, John Sanford, or James Patterson and he has mostly succeeded in that.
I do have two complaints about the book and let me get them out, first and foremost the love story that develops halfway into the book was unnecessary and boring as hell. It did not feel natural and felt tacked on because King thought that a crime thriller was supposed to have a love story in it. Second was that too much of the book focused on the villain, almost as much of this story is told from the perspective of the Mercedes Killer as Bill Hodges. There is nothing particularly wrong with that, but it just killed some of the mystique of the killer and made him feel much less menacing as the book went along.
Bill Hodges was a good solid character though, and even though he feels sort of like some kind of copy of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, I am still looking forward to reading his next book. Jerome felt like a very familiar Stephen King type of character, very clever and self aware, he is clearly meant to be the fan favorite in the tradition of Eddie Dean, Richie Tozier, Henry Leyden, and Jud Crandall. After them though the characters are a bit weak and uninteresting for a King book. The story is solid though and pulls you along nicely, your not trying to figure out who the killer is here, but you are trying to figure out how he is gonna be caught and how it is gonna end.
As a crime thriller it is probably slightly above average, as a Stephen King book it is probably slightly below average to average. Still it is certainly worth reading and a very enjoyable journey and I am excited for the next book in this series.
jmoney22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you Alisha for gifting me If It Bleeds which led me down a rabbit hole of this trilogy to get the full picture of the world that King has built. King’s writing is so well done and the range of emotion and characters he can weave into his stories is impressive. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book and I can’t wait to pick up the second book in the trilogy.
melaniesreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marjoleinkroket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kimminy's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
worm_talk_book_club's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
plasm4_4's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
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
lambchops814's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Not my favorite Stephen King and I think because I read Holly first, I liked that more. This one is more crime novel than supernatural and the villain felt stereotypical.
jdavis104's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0