A retired detective, and an unsolved case; A bored serial killer waiting for a fresh new start.
This sets the stage for Mr. Mercedes, book 57 from Stephen King, and the first in Bill Hodges trilogy.
At its core, the novel is a classic crime thriller: a race against time to solve the clues and stop the killer before more lives are lost.
If you haven’t been living under a rock, chances are the name Stephen King already rings a bell. Along with titles like It, Misery, The Shinning, The Dark Towers. King is recognized as one of the greatest living writers, especially in the horror genre.
In fact, he’s one of the most prolific and successful authors of all time. With a career spanning more than five decades, King has published over 90 books and works under his names (not counting those released under pseudonyms). In On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (part autobiography, part master class on the art of writing) King himself explains his method: he writes every single day, weekends and holiday included and doesn’t stop until he hits his 2000-word goal.
With such an impressive career, King has long been a literal king of horror and supernatural. But in Mr. Mercedes, he shifts gear to a thriller atmosphere.
The story is crafted and old-fashioned: a retired detective working off the books, a mentally unstable serial killer, and an unlikely team. The narrative shows an alternating perspective between the detective and the killer, allowing readers this omniscient view creating constant tension.
The reader sees the mistakes, the missed clues, and sometimes even feels like shouting to the detective: no, don’t go there!
Mr. Mercedes has no supernatural forces driving its characters. Instead, it explores the real demons people carry within. What truly happens inside a person’s mind? What do they believe when no one is watching? What hides behind the friendly smile?
King takes the reader deep into the unstable minds, revealing monsters that feel far more terrifying than supernatural events. Mental illness, stigma, poverty, fear, addiction, trauma, bias. All of these are tucked away beneath the surface of ordinary life.
This makes the characters relatable, their choices shocking yet understandable.
Another aspect of Mr. Mercedes is its setting, chronologically speaking.
Published in 2009, the book reflects an era where our relationship with technology was still evolving. Bill Hodges is decidedly old school, relying on paper and instinct with almost no digital literacy. His younger partners, however, navigate technology with ease.
It is interesting to see how it becomes both a powerful tool and a dangerous power throughout the story.
Overall, Mr. Mercedes is a gripping, page-turning read. King’s writing style here is straightforward, making it easy to follow; with fast shifts between characters giving the story urgency, and keeping the reader hooked.
Are you ready to race against time?
