#37 – Finders Keepers

Plot

As a deadly cat-and-mouse game begins, private detective Bill Hodges, the man who brought down the murderous Mr. Mercedes, is gradually drawn into the mystery of the unknown benefactor who helped the Sauberses through their rough patch. He knows young Pete is hiding something, but he doesn’t know that the missing piece of the puzzle is the answer to the decades-old cold case – John Rothstein’s murder.

Review

Finders Keepers is the sequel to Mr. Mercedes (yet to make an appearance) and the prequel to End of Watch (yet to make an appearance). The second book in a three-piece series is often tough to get right. Usually, they are crafted due to the success of the original and to bridge the gap to the finale. It’s difficult to write a complete story that builds upon the first and sets up the foundation for the second.

Finders Keepers plays in that space and despite a lot working against it, holds its own – for the most part. We are reacquainted with Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson, as they have set up a private detective business. They are effectively roped into the mystery, but never really develop much as characters. Essentially, they serve as window dressing to the rest of the narrative. But that narrative is a good one that keeps your attention throughout.

The opening sequence from the 1970s is a work of art and will have Constant Readers thinking about Misery. The time jump to the present is effective and works because of how well King set everything up.

Once the case is closed we get a sneak peek into the third book as Bill Hodges pays a visit to the Mr. Mercedes main antagonist. And in perfect King fashion, a trilogy grounded in reality gets just a small taste of the supernatural.

Details

Pages: 434

Dates Read: June – July 2015

Quote: “No. I was going to say his work changed my life, but that’s not right. I don’t think a teenager has much of a life to change. I just turned eighteen last month. I guess what I mean is his work changed my heart.”

Best Part: The opening scene – set in 1978 – was absolutely perfect.

Hint for #36: Ryan from The Office never wanted a nickname, but tragically was branded as one of “these” due a toaster-oven incident.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.