New Stephen King Novel Preorders Are Steeply Discounted – Never Flinch Releases May 27

King’s new novel has two main story threads that will intersect as you make your way through the 448-page hardcover. Set in a fictional town called Buckeye City, Never Flinch’s high concept plot is kicked into motion by a letter sent to the police department from an unknown man. The letter writer vows to kill 13 innocent people and one guilty person, which he claims is a response to a separate death of an innocent man.

Detective Izzy Jaynes is tasked with investigating the threat. King’s new protagonist will receive assistance from a private investigator who will be very familiar to constant readers: Holly Gibney.

Holly is the link that ties the intersecting stories of Never Flinch together. During the investigation to find the letter writer, Holly is hired as a bodyguard for Kate McKay, a woman’s rights activist who is being stalked while on a national speaking tour.

Never Flinch marks the seventh appearance of Gibney, whom King has referred to as one of his favorite characters. Knowing Holly’s backstory will probably enhance your reading experience, but Never Flinch is a standalone novel.

• Mr. Mercedes: Bill Hodges 1 (Paperback) — $11 ($19)
• Finders Keepers: Bill Hodges 2 (Paperback) — $12.58 ($19)
• End of Watch: Bill Hodges 3 (Paperback) — $11 ($19)
• Bill Hodges Trilogy Box Set (Hardcover) — $56 ($96)
• The Outsider (Paperback) — $11.86 ($19)
• If It Bleeds (Paperback) — $14.90 ($18)
• Holly (Paperback) — $10 ($20)

Even though you don’t technically need to read any of the other King novels featuring Holly Gibney, all of them are great and well-worth your time. If you only have time to read one before Never Flinch’s release, I’d recommend the most recent thriller, which is simply titled Holly (2023).

King does an admirable job filling the reader in on Holly’s earlier adventures in this novel. This is great for newcomers, but keep in mind that if you plan on reading all of them, you’ll want to go in chronological order to avoid having prior stories spoiled. The 2023 novel is the first and only full-length King novel where Holly is the sole main protagonist. It follows her investigation into mysterious disappearances in a quiet Midwestern town.

Holly Gibney first appeared in Mr. Mercedes (2014), Book 1 in King’s Bill Hodges Trilogy starring a retired police officer. of the same name. Holly’s presence increased in the two sequels, Finders Keepers (2015) and End of Watch (2016).

The private investigator also played a crucial supporting role in The Outsider (2018), a supernatural horror novel that was adapted into a pretty good HBO series. She’s also the main character in the title novella in King’s story collection If It Bleeds (2020).