Lord Tyrion's Review of Finders Keepers (Spoilers!)

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Lord Tyrion

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Oct 24, 2013
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I just finished up Finders Keepers on Saturday and it was a satisfying read. The strongest parts were the introduction of new characters and making them interesting. SK's strength is making characters the reader cares about through interesting dialogue and subtle nuance. I was happy that SK developed the new characters before bringing in our three sleuths. The introduction of Bill and Holly was well done. The airport bit was interesting in that SK gave us a glimpse of what was happening, little by little, and it was satisfying. SK has a great knack for introducing characters by throwing them into situations and letting us know about them through their actions and thought process.

I know some folks were not happy that Brady was not the villain of this book, but I think it was the right choice. Having him come back right away would have been forced and the way he was brought back into the story was well done and sets up the final chapter. To be honest, I didn't really want to see Brady become a major part of the series again, but the ending got me curious.

One problem I had with Mr. Mercedes was that it got predictable towards the last act, but it didn't feel that way this time around. The feeling of uncertainty was thick as I didn't know how the killer and Pete would act.

Another problem was how contrived the story was at times. This includes: Tina almost going to the concert, the Saubers living in the killer's old home, the Saubers father was selling Brady's home, and the killer was right by the books in the rec. When it comes to murder stories, there will be a level on contrived plot points in order to get the story flowing, but it was a bit much. Some of it was unnecessary.

Overall, this was a solid read and SK's superior writing shows up as always.

Summary
What I Liked
  • Interesting introduction of new characters
  • Not rushing reintroduction of new characters
  • Short but memorable use of Brady
  • Final act was more interesting this time around
What I didn't like
  • Story was contrived at times when it didn't have to be

Anyone agree? Disagree?
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
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Apr 11, 2006
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spoiler_alert_300_w2.jpg


I just finished up Finders Keepers on Saturday and it was a satisfying read. The strongest parts were the introduction of new characters and making them interesting. SK's strength is making characters the reader cares about through interesting dialogue and subtle nuance. I was happy that SK developed the new characters before bringing in our three sleuths. The introduction of Bill and Holly was well done. The airport bit was interesting in that SK gave us a glimpse of what was happening, little by little, and it was satisfying. SK has a great knack for introducing characters by throwing them into situations and letting us know about them through their actions and thought process.

I know some folks were not happy that Brady was not the villain of this book, but I think it was the right choice. Having him come back right away would have been forced and the way he was brought back into the story was well done and sets up the final chapter. To be honest, I didn't really want to see Brady become a major part of the series again, but the ending got me curious.

One problem I had with Mr. Mercedes was that it got predictable towards the last act, but it didn't feel that way this time around. The feeling of uncertainty was thick as I didn't know how the killer and Pete would act.

Another problem was how contrived the story was at times. This includes: Tina almost going to the concert, the Saubers living in the killer's old home, the Saubers father was selling Brady's home, and the killer was right by the books in the rec. When it comes to murder stories, there will be a level on contrived plot points in order to get the story flowing, but it was a bit much. Some of it was unnecessary.

Overall, this was a solid read and SK's superior writing shows up as always.

Summary
What I Liked
  • Interesting introduction of new characters
  • Not rushing reintroduction of new characters
  • Short but memorable use of Brady
  • Final act was more interesting this time around
What I didn't like
  • Story was contrived at times when it didn't have to be

Anyone agree? Disagree?
I agree with all of that... just the right amount of 'air time' with the old crew and I really enjoyed the new characters. I also felt that some of the coincidences were a little too much and sometimes unnecessary.
The ending was intriguing, I kind of teetered on the edge between liking and not liking the supernatural element introduced in the final pages... I'll wait for the third book before I decide for sure.
I am very much looking forward to the final chapter now though.
 

Lord Tyrion

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Oct 24, 2013
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The ending was intriguing, I kind of teetered on the edge between liking and not liking the supernatural element introduced in the final pages... I'll wait for the third book before I decide for sure.
I am very much looking forward to the final chapter now though.

There was a supernatural element at the end? I don't remember that. What happened?
 

FlakeNoir

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Apr 11, 2006
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There was a supernatural element at the end? I don't remember that. What happened?
Maybe "supernatural" was the wrong word?

The part where Brady seems to be knocking the photo frame down and turning water on and off with his mind? (Possibly... I'm still not completely convinced that this is how it was happening.)
 

Lord Tyrion

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Oct 24, 2013
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Maybe "supernatural" was the wrong word?

The part where Brady seems to be knocking the photo frame down and turning water on and off with his mind? (Possibly... I'm still not completely convinced that this is how it was happening.)

I thought Brady played a video game on a tablet, then used the restroom to wash his hands and then pulled down the photo of him and his mother. I think SK described it like that to make it more eerie.
 

FlakeNoir

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I thought Brady played a video game on a tablet, then used the restroom to wash his hands and then pulled down the photo of him and his mother. I think SK described it like that to make it more eerie.
I'll have to re-read that section... but I suspect Stephen has left it purposefully ambiguous. :biggrin2:
 

Lord Tyrion

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I'll have to re-read that section... but I suspect Stephen has left it purposefully ambiguous. :biggrin2:

The reason I don't think it was supernatural is because it had happened before, and Hodges thought Brady had put the photo down.

I would be surprised in SK goes the supernatural route, but I guess that would explain all the coincidences happening.
 

cat in a bag

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I think it was supernatural, because there is also the nurse who died strangely and everyone on that floor talking about weird goings on. But that is interesting, to think maybe it really isn't supernatural. Will have to reread that part, too!
 
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RichardX

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Sep 26, 2006
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I liked FK but agree about the contrived parts. They are unnecessary and annoying. Maybe authors believe they add drama or make the narrative easier to follow but it becomes a bit ridiculous. For example, I could understand if the notebooks were found in the home. That would be a logical connection between Pete and Morris, but the kid who just happens to live in the same home is also the one who finds them out in the open is pushing it. Two such coincidences seems unlikely. And then Pete choosing to sell the notebooks to the childhood friend of Morris. Long odds. The connection between the father and Brady was not so bad. I kind of enjoy those crossovers in King's books. The original characters from MRM were not particularly interesting or believeable. They are like a PC update of the scooby gang playing the role of Wile E. Coyote chasing after the Roadrunner in this book. Always getting there just a bit late. They could almost have been left out entirely without losing much. I did take the ending to be supernatural as there appeared to be no way for Brady to physically turn on the water or cause folks to commit suicide without that capability.
 
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Lord Tyrion

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The original characters from MRM were not particularly interesting or believeable. They are like a PC update of the scooby gang playing the role of Wile E. Coyote chasing after the Roadrunner in this book. Always getting there just a bit late. They could almost have been left out entirely without losing much.

The part when they were at the airport was pretty good. They did kind of repeat what happened in the first book in that they were trying to stop a bad guy from killing people and trying to get to him in time.
 

GNTLGNT

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...I know of no perfect book, and sure-this one had some unevenness-my comment in another Thread about the prison portions being served up with a big old Shawshank Redemption spoon was my main quibble-but this book in the end, seemed much more balanced than the first and King has even admitted this style of writing is more difficult for him...though he has quickly found his "voice"...
 
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Lord Tyrion

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...I know of no perfect book, and sure-this one had some unevenness-my comment in another Thread about the prison portions being served up with a big old Shawshank Redemption spoon was my main quibble-but this book in the end, seemed much more balanced than the first and King has even admitted this style of writing is more difficult for him...though he has quickly found his "voice"...

I thought the same about the Shawshank comparison, but I didn't think it was overbearing.

From beginning to end, book two seemed more even. The last act of the first book was too formulaic for my taste.
 

skimom2

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Oct 9, 2013
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Mr. King is a fine and experienced writer, so I think he could be a bit of a dab hand at whatever he wants to try; having said that, this is not his milieu (IMHO). Popular mystery is all about formula, and I got the feeling he chafed a bit under that yoke. I did take the ending parts as supernatural, and as a long time fan, I liked it. As an objective reader though (as I have to be when reviewing books), I think it was an overall mistake (I talked about my reasons in another thread, so I won't belabor the point).
 

Lord Tyrion

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Mr. King is a fine and experienced writer, so I think he could be a bit of a dab hand at whatever he wants to try; having said that, this is not his milieu (IMHO). Popular mystery is all about formula, and I got the feeling he chafed a bit under that yoke.

I agree. The strongest parts of this series are the introductions to characters. The first parts of book one is some of the strongest writing I've read of his (I only read four of his books).

I did take the ending parts as supernatural, and as a long time fan, I liked it. As an objective reader though (as I have to be when reviewing books), I think it was an overall mistake (I talked about my reasons in another thread, so I won't belabor the point).

I'll have to read what you wrote, but I was so surprised by the ending that I didn't even notice it until Flake pointed it out. My problem with this is that switching genres like that threw me off. It creates some interesting scenarios down the line, but it might throw people off. Looking back, there wasn't much to suspect that something like that was going to happen.
 

Spideyman

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I agree. The strongest parts of this series are the introductions to characters. The first parts of book one is some of the strongest writing I've read of his (I only read four of his books).



I'll have to read what you wrote, but I was so surprised by the ending that I didn't even notice it until Flake pointed it out. My problem with this is that switching genres like that threw me off. It creates some interesting scenarios down the line, but it might throw people off. Looking back, there wasn't much to suspect that something like that was going to happen.
But did not the end of Mr Mercedes foreshadow something was going on with Brady-- his waking up. The possibilities of what could come in the next book, or final book. He suffered a brain injury thus opening up "what if's" if Brady made some type of recovery.
 

Lord Tyrion

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But did not the end of Mr Mercedes foreshadow something was going on with Brady-- his waking up. The possibilities of what could come in the next book, or final book. He suffered a brain injury thus opening up "what if's" if Brady made some type of recovery.

Brady recovering from his brain trauma is one thing, but Brady having super powers is another. Having that happen at the end is going to throw people off.
 

Spideyman

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Brady recovering from his brain trauma is one thing, but Brady having super powers is another. Having that happen at the end is going to throw people off.
Look at it from the viewpoint that his brain synapse has changed- it's no longer a "normal brain". What are the possibilities for the development of special powers?