If It Bleeds: a stand-alone sequel to the No. 1 bestseller The Outsider, plus three irresistible novellas

by Stephen King

The No.1 Sunday Times bestseller featuring the story 'The Life of Chuck', adapted for film by Mike Flanagan, starring Tom Hiddleston and winner of the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

News people have a saying: 'If it bleeds, it leads'. And a bomb at Albert Macready Middle School is guaranteed to lead any bulletin.

Holly Gibney of the Finders Keepers detective agency is working on the case of a missing dog - and on her own need to be more assertive - when she sees the footage on TV. But when she tunes in again, to the late-night report, she realises there is something not quite right about the correspondent who was first on the scene. So begins 'If It Bleeds', a stand-alone sequel to the No. 1 bestselling THE OUTSIDER featuring the incomparable Holly on her first solo case - and also the riveting title story in Stephen King's brilliant new collection.

Dancing alongside are three more wonderful long stories from this 'formidably versatile author' (The Sunday Times) - 'Mr Harrigan's Phone', 'The Life of Chuck' and 'Rat'. All four display the richness of King's storytelling with grace, humour, horror and breathtaking suspense. A fascinating Author's Note gives us a wonderful insight into the origin of each story and the writer's unparalleled imagination

• ISBN10: 1529391539
• ISBN13: 9781529391534
• Publish Date: 21 April 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[bearley]

Mr. Harrigan’s phone: 3 stars
The life of chuck: 1 star
If it bleeds: 4 stars
Rat: DNF

[mercurial]

5/10

[kimbacaffeinate]

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone: Narrated by Will Patton. This story is told by Craig, whom we first meet as an adolescent boy. He reads, waters the plants and befriends Mr. Harrigan, a retired businessman who reportedly made millions.

Each holiday or special occasion Mr. Harrigan’s sends young Craig a personal letter and encloses a scratch lottery ticket. One of those tickets won the big cash prize and to thank Mr. Harrigan, Craig buys him one of the first iPhones. Mr. Harrigan is old school, but Craig soon has him using the phone. When Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig slips the phone into his casket and a strange relationship begins from beyond.

First, Will Patton is a favorite narrator, particularly for King’s stories. His voices and tone enhance the stories and pull me in. The tale is atmospheric and has just the right touches of paranormal woo-woo to raise the hair on the back of your neck.

The Life Of Chuck: Narrated by new to me narrator Danny Burstein. Fresh, captivating and chilling. I devoured this with all its creepy connections. The story is told in parts. The first is the end of the world where ads pop up thanking Chuck Krantz for 39 years!! Then we follow Chuck Krantz’s life. Some things are better left unknown…..

The story unfolded brilliantly and the connections to everything happening once again prove King rules. Burstein did a stellar job with the narration and multiple characters. His tone enhanced the tale and I look forward to hearing more of his narrations.

If It Bleeds: Narrated by Will Patton. Eep! This was so good. If you are a fan of the Outsider and the Mr. Merćedes trilogy you are in for a treat. This tale begins when Detective Ralph Anderson from the Outsiders opens an envelope and finds a thumb drive titled If It Bleeds and other goodies. The package contains a note from Holly Gibney. (Outsiders and Mr. Mercedes character) warning him that is she is dead, and he pursues this to be careful. Right away I knew this would be good. I was wrong… it was outstanding!

A tragedy in Pineborough, Pennsylvania, sets Holly on edge. She wonders why the reporter on scene seems off. Holly investigates and ends up experiencing déjà vu. That is all I am saying. It was brilliant.

Will Patton was perfect for the narration from Holly to the reporter. I got goosebumps and couldn’t set this down.

Rat: Narrated by Steven Weber. I’ve enjoyed Weber before and easily slipped into this story about writer Drew Larson, who received some recognition for a short-story but hasn’t been able to write beyond that. He goes off to the family cabin to write when a story forms, leaving his wife and kids at home.

When Drew arrives at the isolated cabin, he comes up with a plan. Things begin well as he writes his western story, but as the sense of foreboding build and a storm moves in and Drew once again finds himself with writer’s block and horrible cold. He soon makes an unthinkable bargain…. Eep!

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer