Finders Keepers: A Novel (2) (The Bill Hodges Trilogy)
Now an AT&T Audience Original Series
A masterful, intensely suspenseful novel about a reader whose obsession with a reclusive writer goes far too far—a book about the power of storytelling, starring the same trio of unlikely and winning heroes King introduced in Mr. Mercedes.
“Wake up, genius.” So begins King’s instantly riveting story about a vengeful reader. The genius is John Rothstein, an iconic author who created a famous character, Jimmy Gold, but who hasn’t published a book for decades. Morris Bellamy is livid, not just because Rothstein has stopped providing books, but because the nonconformist Jimmy Gold has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein and empties his safe of cash, yes, but the real treasure is a trove of notebooks containing at least one more Gold novel.
Morris hides the money and the notebooks, and then he is locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete Saubers finds the treasure, and now it is Pete and his family that Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson must rescue from the ever-more deranged and vengeful Morris when he’s released from prison after thirty-five years.
Not since Misery has King played with the notion of a reader whose obsession with a writer gets dangerous. Finders Keepers is spectacular, heart-pounding suspense, but it is also King writing about how literature shapes a life—for good, for bad, forever.
A masterful, intensely suspenseful novel about a reader whose obsession with a reclusive writer goes far too far—a book about the power of storytelling, starring the same trio of unlikely and winning heroes King introduced in Mr. Mercedes.
“Wake up, genius.” So begins King’s instantly riveting story about a vengeful reader. The genius is John Rothstein, an iconic author who created a famous character, Jimmy Gold, but who hasn’t published a book for decades. Morris Bellamy is livid, not just because Rothstein has stopped providing books, but because the nonconformist Jimmy Gold has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein and empties his safe of cash, yes, but the real treasure is a trove of notebooks containing at least one more Gold novel.
Morris hides the money and the notebooks, and then he is locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete Saubers finds the treasure, and now it is Pete and his family that Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson must rescue from the ever-more deranged and vengeful Morris when he’s released from prison after thirty-five years.
Not since Misery has King played with the notion of a reader whose obsession with a writer gets dangerous. Finders Keepers is spectacular, heart-pounding suspense, but it is also King writing about how literature shapes a life—for good, for bad, forever.
BUY THE BOOK
Join a book club that is reading Finders Keepers: A Novel (2) (The Bill Hodges Trilogy)!
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
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.