IF IT BLEEDS by Stephen King

A collection of four uniquely wonderful long stories, including a stand-alone sequel to the No. 1 bestseller THE OUTSIDER. News people have a saying: 'If it bleeds, it leads'. And a bomb at Albert Macready Middle School is guaranteed to lead any bulletin. 

 Holly Gibney of the Finders Keepers detective agency is working on the case of a missing dog - and on her own need to be more assertive - when she sees the footage on TV. But when she tunes in again, to the late-night report, she realises there is something not quite right about the correspondent who was first on the scene. So begins 'If It Bleeds', a stand-alone sequel to the No. 1 bestselling THE OUTSIDER featuring the incomparable Holly on her first solo case - and also the riveting title story in Stephen King's brilliant new collection. 

 Dancing alongside are three more wonderful long stories from this 'formidably versatile author' (The Sunday Times) - 'Mr Harrigan's Phone', 'The Life of Chuck' and 'Rat'. All four display the richness of King's storytelling with grace, humour, horror and breathtaking suspense. A fascinating Author's Note gives us a wonderful insight into the origin of each story and the writer's unparalleled imagination.

A new Stephen King book is always a treat, so I couldn't wait to get stuck into these four novellas. 

MR HARRIGAN'S PHONE

Craig is a good, hard-working kid eager to earn a buck. That's how he ends up working for Mr Harrigan. He goes over to his house every afternoon and reads to him, takes care of his plants and befriends the old man. But he also learns from him, and forges a connection that even death can't sever... 

Wow. This was such a great story! The emotional impact of this one is huge. I loved how Craig is such a great and kind guy, and always was. But even good guys give into the temptation to right a wrong. 

Fantastic story. Awesome use of foreshadowing the future and our relationships with phones, technology and the internet. Also loved the portrayal of the father-son relationship. And how King writes true friendship between people of all ages so well.

There's a lot to like about this story. 

THE LIFE OF CHUCK

The world is falling apart and Chuck Krantz had 39 Great Years. No one knows what this means while it's happening, but as the story unravels, the mystery is slowly revealed...

This turned out to be another brilliant story. Everything starts with a bang. The universe is dying and everyone's left in an apocalyptic haze, but we soon find out there's a LOT more to this story. And at the heart of everything is Chuck.

I really enjoyed how the tale unfolds in reverse order and spans across three different acts. On the surface, they each seem to stand on their own, but the eerie connection knocked me off my axis. Amazing.

IF IT BLEEDS

After what happened in Texas, Holly Gibney didn't think she'd ever have to face such a terrifying monster again. Until she catches a detail in a news story that bothers her... 

OMG. I absolutely LOVED this novella. Not just because I adore Holly, but because I really enjoyed the story. I never expected The Outsider to have a sequel, but I'm SO glad it did because this was awesome. 

I was hooked from the beginning and the rising tension was riveting. I could barely tear myself away from this novella. Fantastic!

RAT

When Drew gets an incredible novel idea, he can't wait to get started. But the last time he tried to write a book things didn't turn out well...

This is another fantastic story. I enjoyed following Drew's quest to chase an idea he was sure was different to all the others. I liked how he was willing to put everything on the line to find out, and how when he does, it all leads to more than he bargained for.

And of course, the creepy bit got me.

If It Bleeds is an awesome collection of stories featuring a selection of interesting characters with intriguing tales to tell. Every novella is brilliant in its own way. And the Author's Note was a great way to finish the book. Loved it.

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me a copy! 

If It Bleeds, April 2020, ISBN 9781529391541, Hodder & Stoughton