Crime novels were my first venture into "adult" novels. I began reading Jeffery Deaver and Patricia Cornwell novels around age 11, as many as I could get my hands on. I loved that kind of stuff then, but I haven't really gone back to the genre much since my teenage years.
I had no doubt Stephen King could write a really good crime novel, and he delivered. Mr. Mercedes was much more character driven than other crime novels I've read. I expected nothing less from SK.
Bill Hodges has many of the stereotypical qualities of a literary detective, but was still fun to read about. I'm curious to see what King has in store for him in the subsequent novels.
Where King really nailed it in Mr. Mercedes was Brady Hartsfield. What a disturbed, creepy villain! In my opinion, villains like Brady are the scariest of all. No supernatural or other-wordly elements, just a deranged, sick individual out to hurt innocent people. The underlying theme of "they walk among us" is truly terrifying, when you think about it.
All in all, a fun read and a really solid crime novel. I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy.
Rating: 7/10
Up Next: Finders Keepers
I had no doubt Stephen King could write a really good crime novel, and he delivered. Mr. Mercedes was much more character driven than other crime novels I've read. I expected nothing less from SK.
Bill Hodges has many of the stereotypical qualities of a literary detective, but was still fun to read about. I'm curious to see what King has in store for him in the subsequent novels.
Where King really nailed it in Mr. Mercedes was Brady Hartsfield. What a disturbed, creepy villain! In my opinion, villains like Brady are the scariest of all. No supernatural or other-wordly elements, just a deranged, sick individual out to hurt innocent people. The underlying theme of "they walk among us" is truly terrifying, when you think about it.
All in all, a fun read and a really solid crime novel. I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy.
Rating: 7/10
Up Next: Finders Keepers