Book Review – Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King #20booksofsummer #audiobookreview

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.

Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with two new, unusual allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.

My Opinion:

That was one intense, wild ride!

This book starts off with a horrible murder, of multiple innocent victims, that went unsolved for years. Bill Hodges is a recently retired detective who receives a letter from the self-proclaimed “Mr. Mercedes” killer. Once a detective, always a detective, and Hodges is off and running to capture “the one that got away!”

I was surprised that the killer’s identity is not kept hidden. As much as I enjoy a good mystery, it is also a lot of fun to get into the head of the killer and see what makes him tick, be privy to all of his movements, and hear his thoughts. Our antagonist is smart, crazy, and detached – a deadly combination for those around him.

Hodges finds he cannot find the Mercedes killer alone and unexpectedly recruits two unlikely characters to help him. I love the three of them and the way they worked as a team. I would love to tell you more about them, but I think the less you know going in the better, so my lips are sealed!

This book captured my attention right out of the gate and I was on the edge of my seat throughout! The audio narration was done by Will Patton and it is perfection. If you have yet to read this trilogy, I highly recommend you give the audio a try.

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller
Series: Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: 6/3/2014