Never Flinch by Stephen King

Plot Summary

Stephen King’s “Never Flinch” is a tense, layered crime novel that features one of my all-time favourite characters, Holly Gibney. The story is both smart and suspenseful. At the start, we are thrown into two seemingly unrelated criminal plots: one is about a woman who has gone missing, and the other is about a very disturbing religious cult. We find out who the bad guys are early on, which might sound like it would ruin the suspense, but it doesn’t. Instead, King focusses on how these two threads slowly and carefully come together and how they affect each other’s minds. And what happens when they meet? Jaw. On the floor.

It’s true that the pacing starts off slow. In the first third, I lost track of what was going on and where it was going. But once the pieces started to fit together, the story sped up and didn’t stop. The last showdown was nerve-wracking, and the reveal of Trig’s true identity? I really didn’t see that coming. I had to stop, read it again, and just sit with the shock for a while.

Threads and Themes

The thread of strong women running through the book really stood out to me. Not just Holly, who is still the quirky, spunky, old-school investigator we love, but a whole cast of women, each with their own strength. Some are quietly strong, while others are very loud, but they all feel real. King doesn’t just write women well; he writes them with depth and respect.

There is also a strong undercurrent of social commentary, especially about women’s rights and the dangers of religious extremism. It’s not too preachy, but it’s there enough to give the story some weight. And as always, King shows how well he can get into the darker parts of human behaviour.

What Worked For Me

• Different Points of View: I liked seeing the story from different points of view. It made things more interesting and kept me guessing.
• Characterisation: Holly is a gem!
• Narrative payoff: The way the two stories came together was satisfying and tense. It was also realistic that characters forgot to pass on important information because of the chaos.
• Mystery elements: I was hooked on the “how” and “why” even though I knew who the bad guys were.

Who Would Like This

You have to read this if you like Holly Gibney. Never Flinch is a crime novel that has a lot of psychological depth, different points of view, and a slow-burn that pays off. If you like those things, you’ll probably like it. It’s not scary in the way that Stephen King books are, so don’t be scared off if you don’t like horror. This is more of a murder mystery than a monster mash.

This story is also for you if you like stories that focus on women without making them a big deal. And if you’re okay with some uneven pacing in exchange for a good idea and a satisfying ending, you’ll get a lot out of it.

Final Thoughts

“Never Flinch” may not be King’s most exciting book, but it’s a smart, character-driven story that shows he’s still a master at what he does. I was entertained, surprised, and emotionally involved, which is all I needed. Holly is still a great character, and I’m excited to see what case she takes on next.

I might have to go back to the beginning and read the whole Holly story again!

Thank you to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book.

 

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Holly by Stephen King