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A review by jessica_
Holly by Stephen King
3.0
This, and the short story from If It Bleeds, is my only introduction to Holly Gibney series. It can easily be read as a stand alone (though it will reveal the death of a character from the mr mercedes series- which I also have not read).
Overall a solid book with interesting characters. It starts off really slow but picks up around the halfway point.
I really liked the motives for the villains. Despite the motives having the possibility of leaning into gruesome/mad scientist vibes, it felt more like a cozy mystery.
I especially like the mother of a recent missing girl, I wish more time was spent on their relationship.
That being said the outrageous number of COVID, vaccinations, masks, was exhausting. Every character had to be classified as someone who had the vaccine, or who was anti-vax/covid denier... it was overwhelming the number of references.
The beginning also gave me white saviour vibes. Like the character would point out something racist but not because it plays into the plot or story- but because she wants someone to pat her on the shoulder for being a good person and recognizing that she's aware this social norm is racist (in all fairness they were racist) but it felt performative.
I did like knowing the identity of the killer from the beginning, and seeing Holly slowly circling them as she put the pieces together.
Overall a solid book with interesting characters. It starts off really slow but picks up around the halfway point.
I really liked the motives for the villains. Despite the motives having the possibility of leaning into gruesome/mad scientist vibes, it felt more like a cozy mystery.
I especially like the mother of a recent missing girl, I wish more time was spent on their relationship.
That being said the outrageous number of COVID, vaccinations, masks, was exhausting. Every character had to be classified as someone who had the vaccine, or who was anti-vax/covid denier... it was overwhelming the number of references.
The beginning also gave me white saviour vibes. Like the character would point out something racist but not because it plays into the plot or story- but because she wants someone to pat her on the shoulder for being a good person and recognizing that she's aware this social norm is racist (in all fairness they were racist) but it felt performative.
I did like knowing the identity of the killer from the beginning, and seeing Holly slowly circling them as she put the pieces together.