Finders Keepers: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy)
The second book in Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch)
“Stephen King’s superb stay-up-all-night thriller is a sly tale of literary obsession that recalls the themes of his classic 1987 novel Misery” (The Washington Post)—the #1 New York Times bestseller about the power of storytelling, starring the same trio of unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King introduced in Mr. Mercedes.
“Wake up, genius.” So announces deranged fan Morris Bellamy to iconic author John Rothstein, who once created the famous character Jimmy Gold and hasn’t released anything since. Morris is livid, not just because his favorite writer has stopped publishing, but because Jimmy Gold ended up as a sellout. Morris kills his idol and empties his safe of cash, but the real haul is a collection of notebooks containing John Rothstein’s unpublished work...including at least one more Jimmy Gold novel. Morris hides everything away—the money and the manuscripts no one but Gold ever saw—before being locked up for another horrific crime. But upon Morris’s release thirty-five years later, he’s about to discover that teenager Pete Saubers has already found the stolen treasure—and no one but former police detective Bill Hodges, along with his trusted associates Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson, stands in the way of his vengeance...
Not since Misery has Stephen King played with the notion of a reader and murderous obsession, filled with “nail biting suspense that’s the hallmark of [his] best work” (Publishers Weekly).
“Stephen King’s superb stay-up-all-night thriller is a sly tale of literary obsession that recalls the themes of his classic 1987 novel Misery” (The Washington Post)—the #1 New York Times bestseller about the power of storytelling, starring the same trio of unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King introduced in Mr. Mercedes.
“Wake up, genius.” So announces deranged fan Morris Bellamy to iconic author John Rothstein, who once created the famous character Jimmy Gold and hasn’t released anything since. Morris is livid, not just because his favorite writer has stopped publishing, but because Jimmy Gold ended up as a sellout. Morris kills his idol and empties his safe of cash, but the real haul is a collection of notebooks containing John Rothstein’s unpublished work...including at least one more Jimmy Gold novel. Morris hides everything away—the money and the manuscripts no one but Gold ever saw—before being locked up for another horrific crime. But upon Morris’s release thirty-five years later, he’s about to discover that teenager Pete Saubers has already found the stolen treasure—and no one but former police detective Bill Hodges, along with his trusted associates Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson, stands in the way of his vengeance...
Not since Misery has Stephen King played with the notion of a reader and murderous obsession, filled with “nail biting suspense that’s the hallmark of [his] best work” (Publishers Weekly).
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Community Reviews
Was an amazing book. I have always loved Stephen King, but I love it even more when it’s a series rather than a one off.
The first part is all its own. Introductions and much needed back story. The second part is the meat you need in order to know in your bones something terribly awful is on its way to your doorstep. If you didn’t know this was the second book in a trilogy, it could stand all on its own. You don’t even see Bill until the 3rd part, which is full of the twists and turns you love from King.
The way King brings everyone together for this third act is masterful, as always. I audibly gasped and screamed “No!” a few times. This book is straight to the point. No obvious lead ups, but surprising and quick on the turn.
Would highly recommend, even just on its own.
"For readers, one of life's most electrifying discoveries is that they are readers - not just capable of doing it (which Morris already knew) but in love with it. Hopelessly. Head over heels. The first book that does that is never forgotten, and each page seems to bring a fresh revelation, one that burns and exalts: Yes! That's how it is! Yes! I saw that too! And of course, That's what I think! That's what I FEEL!"
Stephen King with that one quote made me feel all kinds of things: excitement, nostalgia, joy, love. That's what I love most about his writing, usually in regards to his characters. This author is in a class all his own when it comes to writing compelling characters. Not just the main characters either - King manages to write entire towns full of characters that he introduces me to and endears them to me. There are so many places King has created that I would love to live...even when it's the setting of unspeakable horror.
FINDERS KEEPERS, is the second book of the Bill Hodges Trilogy. This installment of the series has much slower pacing than its predecessor, and a more methodical storyline. If you're a big fan of SALEM'S LOT, then you'll really appreciate this one.
I love that King opened up this book by returning to the scene of the crime from the first book - the Mercedes Massacre - except this time we experience the tragedy from the perspective of Tom Saubers. Tom is fortunate to escape with his life, but he doesn't escape unscathed. He is run over by the Mercedes and suffers a broken hip. This book explores the aftermath of the tragedy, what it does to the Saubers family, who were already suffering from the recession with one loss of income. (Which is why Tom was at the job fair that unfortunate morning.)
Another reason why this book was such a hit for me is there is an author who is the centerpiece of this story, John Rothstein. The book begins with Rothstein being a victim of a home invasion that results in his murder and theft of his work, written during his last few decades of his "retirement" from society. The book is told in dual timelines for the first section, which connects this event and later, our Saubers family and ultimately brings in our favorite crime fighting trio, Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson. I know some folks were a little upset that our 3 characters from book one didn't make an appearance until close to the end, but I didn't mind at all. I enjoyed focusing on the Sauber family and watching the past catch up to the present.
Heads up though - Stephen King doesn't seem to be concerned with keeping up with the lingo and slang of the times. The characters of Holly, Morris, Jerome and especially Barbara all say some really dated phrases that make the dialogue a bit awkward at times. There were a couple times I cringed inwardly while reading. Morris I could explain away as he was in prison for 35 years, it stands to reason he'd use old phrases, but not the kids. Ah, well. I guess that will keep him human for me.
I'm already 30% of the way through the final book in the series....and it's promising to be another top tier read!
Another good one! Not enough Hodges though, but it made sense as to why he came in when he did. This story started off a tad rough to follow, but quickly made plenty of sense when it connected a "then" to a "now." Very creative and engaging. I couldn't stop reading/listening to this book once I started (I rented the book and the audio from the library). One to book #3!
Although it was a bit harder for me to initially get into than Mr Mercedes, it picked up really well and was hard for me to put down towards the end! And that ending was so incredible, it made me want to start next one immediately. The only reason I didn't was because I was on a bus and didn't have it with me when I finished it
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