Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight the next upcoming book from the master of the horror and thriller, Stephen King, with the intriguing read Holly.
Stephen King is an author who needs very little introduction thanks to his epic and extensive collection of thrillers, horror novels and other awesome books that cover a variety of genres. With over 50 years of writing experience and innumerable books under his belt, King is am amazing author who I have been getting into lately. I have had a lot of fun with some of his latest books, including the fun coming of age horror book Later, the intriguing fantasy read Fairy Tale, and the captivating thriller Billy Summers. As such, I am always very keen to see what King writes next, and he has a very interesting book coming out in a couple of months’ time with Holly.
Holly, which is currently set for release in early September 2023, is a pretty fascinating upcoming book that has already grabbed my attention in several different ways, not least because it brings back one of King’s favourite protagonists at the moment, Holly Gibney. Holly was first introduced as a supporting character in Mr. Mercedes before having a major role in the rest of the Bill Hodges trilogy and the more recent novel, The Outsiders. I had actually meant to try and read some of these preceding novels before getting to Holly, although I doubt I am going to have the time at this point. Still, I am very confident that King will ensure that Holly is very accessible to new readers, and I cannot wait to dive into it.
It looks like King has cooked up another excellent plot for Holly and it is one that I am very excited to explore. This time Holly, as the main character and primary detective, is investigating the disappearance of a missing girl in mysterious circumstances. However, as she investigates, she runs afoul of a pair of devious octogenarians who are hiding something very sinister in their basement which may be connected to the missing victim. I love the sound of this plot, especially as I am now exceedingly curious about what is in that damn basement. I am also very keen to see just how dangerous an old married couple can be, as King is painting them out as exceedingly ruthless criminal masterminds.
All this, as well as King’s very well proven track record for writing and the complex protagonist that is Holly Gibney, should make for quite an impressive read and I am very excited to dive into Holly the second I get it. Holly is already one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of 2023, and I have very little doubt that it will end up being a top book of the year. Holly has so much damn potential, and I look forward to getting dragged into another insane and addictive tale from the legend that is Stephen King.
Plot Synopsis:
“Sometimes the universe throws you a rope.” — BILL HODGES
Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective in The Outsider. In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries.
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down.
Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.
Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.
The Unseen Library 
I adore Holly as a character and am glad she is getting her own book finally. I am reading the Bill Hodges trilogy in preparation. I mainly am aware of Holly through the AMC’s Mr. Mercedes series. I think it was AMC. I did read the Outsider though and she played a part in it as well. Beautiful cover.
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I would definitely read If it Bleeds before reading Holly. It it will catch you up and you don’t even have to read The Outsider or finish the Trilogy. It also won’t spill the beans on Trilogy. It’s a short read.
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Sounds like a good idea, will try and grab it soon.
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Agree
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I’m also glad to see that HOLLY is a longer book!
When Mr King writes books that have more than 3 or 4 hundred pages the characters tend to be more well developed!
Very much looking forward to his latest release!
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Its a shame you won’t have time to read the earlier stories featuring Holly first. It’s amazing how far she has come. I’ve been following Mr. King and reading his work since Carrie first came out, and Holly is his most interesting character, IMO.
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Excellent
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I do have a copy of Mr Mercedes at home, so I might try and read that first, especially after all the comments I’m seeing here with this post. I just have to try and fit it into my schedule alongside all the other books I have on my shelf.
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At the very least read If It Bleeds. It’s a novella (collection also titled If It Bleeds) so it’s a quick read and it will give you a good ‘Holly prequel’ going in to a full novel even without reading her other roles. I adore Holly so very much and her novella had me sobbing in my car (audiobook). I am so excited for this novel!!
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Yes! Love Stephen Ki g!
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Perhaps you could listen to the audiobooks of the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, the Outsider, or If It Bleeds (a short story also with Holly in it), if they are available. That way you can “read” them while you’re driving, doing errands, etc… I listen to a lot of books on Libby or Hoopla (both free from the library) in my travels to and from work every day and I get a lot more reading done this way. Once I get home, I get busy with fixing dinner, taking care of bills, etc..that I either don’t have time to read, or when I sit down to read, I fall asleep.
I was looking forward to reading this new book to my dad, just as I had all the other Stephen King books, but he passed away in February of this year.
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I would also recommend “If It Bleeds,” short story by Stephen King. It’s shows her growth as a character from the Mercedes trilogy thru If it Bleeds. She is a force of her own and I appreciate that she can be strong without the crazy undertones.
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I’ll keep that in mind, very keen to read some more of these Stephen King books and short stories.
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I’m so excited that Stephen King is continuing the storyline for the character Holly from The Mr. Mercedes collection! I will definitely be looking for the book Holly come Sept 23 or in early October!! If one hasn’t read all the books or wants a refresher on them before Holly comes out the Mr. Mercedes series is on Peacock. It’s very good 👍
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Stephen King has been my favorite author for decades now. He is always coming up with fresh ideas and interesting characters, and Holly Gibney happens to be one of the best, if not the best one he’s come up with! I’m 67 years old, and been reading King novels since I was in high school. I had a friendly rival in my sister who matched me book for book, but came out way ahead of me in the volumes she read over the years. Lost her a few years back, and I miss that connection we had with King, among the many other endearing qualities she brought to my life! In her honor I will keep up the tradition of being the first in line when this highly anticipated next chapter in the truly amazing career of Stephen King hits the book store shelves!
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I am so happy Holly has not been forgotten! I have come to love this character! I so have something to look forward to this fall when the book drops! Steven King is absolutely a mastermind!
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Thank you for the heads up! Holly is a great character and worthy of her own story! I can’t wait!!
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I’m excited, can’t wait
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