As you may know, Mr Mercedes is the new book by one of the most popular and well-known authors on the planet, Stephen King. Mr Mercedes follows retired detective Bill Hodges as he attempts to track down a mass-murderer that has seemingly got away with his crime. This novel is a thriller through-and-through, taking the ex-detective trope and spinning it with a story that just won’t let up. Here’s another King novel that really does tick all the boxes.
In the early hours of a foggy April morning hundreds of job seekers are queuing at a local job fair in the hopes of employment. As they wait, a grey Mercedes arrives and proceeds to drive straight into the crowd, killing eight and injuring many others. With the driver wearing a clown mask, nobody can identify him, and the case is left open with no leads. Bill Hodges, the lead detective on the case before retirement, receives a letter from the perpetrator mocking and taunting him. Not prepared to simply let it be, Hodges starts looking into the case again by himself, leaving the police out of it and following the new leads that the letter brings up. While he gains momentum, Brady Hartsfield, the perp in question, starts making further plans of his own. The question we’re left with is simple: will Bill Hodges be able to solve the case of Mr Mercedes?
Mr Mercedes is the type of novel that is hard to put down, not only because King does a good job at crafting an interesting story, but also because he makes the characters those that you care about. Bill Hodges is our protagonist, an ex-detective that is missing his work. He’s depressed and takes out his gun far too often with the intention of suicide. It’s only the arrival of the letter that changes his mood, giving him focus once again, and a determination that borders on obsessive. His investigations bring out his character well, showing that despite his wish to stick to the letter of the law, some concessions can be made in stretching legality. He’s complex and interesting, a typical good guy with a score to settle.
On the other hand is Brady Hartsfield, the titular Mr Mercedes, a person who projects the right face to the world, but has murkier and disturbing thoughts behind closed doors. Hartsfield, despite how easy it is to despise him, is probably the most interesting characters present in Mr Mercedes. His history and mental instability makes him a fascinating read, just that right amount of intelligence mixed with psychosis. His methods and plans are methodical, yet he has a deeper rage that really makes things interesting.
The plot to Mr Mercedes isn’t much more complex than good guy going after bad guy, but King tells the tale in such a way that the need to read more, to find out a few more small details, is unrelenting. There are twists and turns as the novel unfolds, some expected, while others come out of nowhere and catch you off guard.
It’s difficult to compare Mr Mercedes to other King novels (at least the ones I’ve read), with perhaps the exception of The Colorado Kid due to its topic and nature. As a real-world crime thriller, Mr Mercedes fits the mould perfectly, with the prose and structure clearly familiar to anyone who has read anything by him. I’ve recently read a selection of King’s novels from across his career, almost all of which contain some otherworldly elements, but the core of King’s novels is there throughout: character. Mr Mercedes is no different – it’s a quick and thrilling read, delivering all that could be asked for, and doing so in style, while continuing King’s recent run of great novels. I eagerly anticipate his next offering, whichever genre it is!
Publisher: https://www.hodder.co.uk
Author: http://stephenking.com
June 2014, 496 Pages
Hardcover, ISBN: 9781444788624
Review from a purchased copy
© 2014 Mark Chitty
