Finders Keepers

I wasn't getting on with the most recent Murderbot novella so instead I picked this up. For me, reading King is just comforting. There's only a hint of horror in this book but it intrigued me. The rest was a personal crime novel. The Saubers family is hit with the aftermath of the events in Mr. Mercedes, facing poverty. But then 13 year old Pete finds a trunk in the grounds by his home, full of money and notebooks full of writing, giving him the opportunity to secretly help his family. But then the real owner of the trunk is released from jail and Pete's nightmare begins...

This novel didn't actually have that much Bill Hodges in it. PoVs were mostly split between Pete, Bill, and the villain Morris Bellamy.

It was pretty good. I really hope that the final book returns to Brad as villain because he was far more interesting than Morris. There was a bit of foreshadowing...

First things first. I bought this on a whim to listen to in the car. I have not read Stephen King for years but was a huge fan back in my teens. I didn't realise this was part two of a trilogy (? More?) when I bought it and I haven't read [b:Mr. Mercedes|18775247|Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1)|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468705326s/18775247.jpg|26680281]. However this book could easily stand alone so that's OK. All and any references to the earlier book were clearly explained and felt natural, just as historical references, and made it simple enough to piece together the other story. This story was well told and the plot skipped along nicely. I usually hate books that flip between times or people but Stephen manages this seamlessly and it was enhanced by having a great reader for the audio book (thanks Will) who had great expression and different voices for each of the characters. There were some unpleasant gory bits early on, I guess it wouldn't be Stephen King if there weren't but I must be getting squeamish in my old age, I didn't like reading them and was glad when they passed. The plot has echoes of [b:Misery|10614|Misery|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1270545451s/10614.jpg|3230869]of course but I got past that and got quite into the characters of the story. No spoilers, but there was a moment I actually gasped with surprise! What didn't surprise me however was the ending! SPOILERS The front cover of the audio book shows manuscript notebooks in flames! Thus ruinging any tension that should have existed in the denouement of the tale, from the second that Peter grabbed a lighter in his fathers office, I knew where the notebooks would end up - I was really pretty annoyed about that to be honest. The final conflagration scene with Morris felt as though it were written as screen play for a movie, and all I kept thinking was "Rothstein would call you a sellout". Anyway the final 'afterword' left us with a reference to the killer from Mr Mercedes, and a little taster of what might lay ahead...another [b:Carrie|10592|Carrie|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1166254258s/10592.jpg|1552134] or [b:Firestarter|233667|Firestarter|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1394208032s/233667.jpg|1803]? We shall see. Not a bad book, very Stephen King, enhanced by the reader, let down by the spoiler of a cover!