Book Chatter

Never Flinch
By Stephen King
Scribner, May 2025, 448 pp.

The Short of It:

Holly Gibney is back.

The Rest of It:

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help. ~ the publisher

This is a slow burn read. It’s a little different from his other books. This story is definitely more nuanced and paced but still captures the essence of one of his most beloved characters, Holly Gibney.

However, it was painfully slow in the beginning. There is a lot going on. New characters, a crazy killer, police involvement and Holly moonlighting as a body guard. This was plenty, but then a musical band is introduced as well as a women’s rights speaker. There are competing events to contend with. Honestly, it didn’t feel all that authentic to me.

Barbara. Beloved Barbara writing her poems abut also singing? Holly, oogie Holly as a bodyguard? The villain? Pretty good. Well fleshed out with a decent backstory and setup.

Never Flinch is the product of the current world we are living in. The Presidency, although just a tiny mention, the women’s rights stuff tossed in, the need for substance abuse support and programs. I feel like King was trying to say a whole lot with this story but the plot suffered for it.

I read to escape and this installment didn’t have that classic King stamp that I enjoy so much. The ramped up ending made up for a lot of it because it’s a knuckle-biter but did I want to spend time with these beloved characters? Not really.

I am a huge King fan so don’t come at me in the comments. I gotta tell it like it is. Will I read him again. Damn straight I will and I will clear my calendar just like I did for this one.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

I mentioned it the last time I was around here, but work has been super busy. Trying to keep up with everything is proving to be a bit more challenging. Not really the work stuff but the personal stuff, like this blog. I come home and I am wiped out. And it’s June. What?

Right Now:

They added two more student services to my Sundays. I now have 5th-8th grade. Before I had 7th and 8th. This is kind of cool because new students and all that. Can’t wait to meet all the new students this Sunday.

This Week:

Nothing. Nada. Plenty of work stuff as I gear up for the fall semester but no personal commitments. Thank God! All I want to do all week is come home and go to bed with a book. I’m just so tired.

Reading:

Never Flinch by Stephen King

I have some other books going but I’m focusing on that one for now.

Watching:

I started watching Hacks. It’s pretty good.

Grateful for:

My daughter’s first feature film shoot this week in Boston. Glad that she got work quickly after graduation.

Friends who know just how to pull me out of a bad day or week.

Humor (if it’s funny, I want to know about it)

Have a good week. I will be better about visiting you all!!

Chatting with friends about books and life…