Page and Screen

A book/movie/tv review site

You are here: Home / Books / Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

By

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Publisher: Scribner

Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Purchase: Physical; Kindle

Author Bio:

Mr. Mercedes Author Photo

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Doctor Sleep and Under the Dome, now a major TV miniseries on CBS. His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller as well as the Best Hardcover Book Award from the International Thriller Writers Association. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Mr. King can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and his official website.

*Author bio and photo taken from Amazon.com*

Synopsis:

In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, hundreds of 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 Hartfield 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 a couple of highly unlikely 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.

Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable.

*Synopsis take from Goodreads*

Review:

I have always felt that Stephen King, although a legend in the horror and fantasy genres, has always been at his best when his characters are more grounded in reality. His crime novels and thrillers have inspired Academy Award winning performances and even (arguably) one of the greatest films ever made. In Mr. Mercedes, King once again creates an excellent set of characters, anchored by a very evil villain. Unfortunately, the plot is riddled with holes, questionable choices, and a handful of crime drama clichés that turn a promising premise into the literary equivalent of a Summer blockbuster: it’s enjoyable as long as you don’t think about it too much.

Credit has to be given to King for giving readers something other than the typical hero. Instead of a handsome-but-troubled hero cop or a beautiful-but-hard-edged female detective, we get a retired, over-the-hill sixty-four year old. Bill Hodges is (by the book’s description) fat, bald, and borderline suicidal and anything but the standard issue hero. His compatriots are just as atypical for a crime novel: a seventeen year old African American boy with smarts to spare and a mid-forties woman with incredible computer skills that suffers from a severe social disorder. If you had to pick a trio to save a city from a mad serial killer, this isn’t the group you are likely to pick. That’s why it works so well here.

Then there is Mr. Mercedes himself, Brady Hartfield. King has created a villain that is the perfect combination of brilliant, sadistic, vile, and undeniably evil. While not the greatest big bad that King has ever written, Brady is among the best; he’s a character whose motives and actions will haunt readers long after the book is closed. Brady’s plain clothes style of sinister makes one wonder what kind of evil is lurking in the light of day rather than the shadows.

The problem is that King relies on the usual crime/thriller standards when writing the plot for these unusual characters. He spends far too much time justifying why this retired detective would decide to take one of his last unsolved cases into his own hands when an apparent confession is dropped through his mail slot instead of contacting the police force. These explanations work to a point, but it just becomes too unbelieveable long before the final chapter. To make matters worse, when the plot shifts and becomes a simple vendetta story, Hodges’ partners are fine with breaking multiple laws to help him. This is a kid that has his pick of colleges and a woman that, only a few days prior, was barely able to follow a conversation. Yet both of them are willing to follow someone who is clearly not of sound mind into the proverbial gates of Hell. Something just isn’t right about that. Even less believable is the contrived reason why the police cannot be called in to prevent an explosive finale. We won’t even discuss the age old trope of our hero insta-falling in love with the beautiful witness/client.

Flaws aside, Mr. Mercedes is a fun read. The narrative switches back and forth between Hodges and Brady, giving readers insight into both sides of the cat-and-mouse scenario. Seeing just how close this ex-cop is to solving “the one that got away” without even knowing it keeps the book moving at an exciting pace and does much to gloss over its flaws.

While probably not worth rushing out to the bookstore to buy right now, Mr. Mercedes is worth checking out at the local library if you ever find yourself jonesing for a quick crime novel fix and can let the characters take you in enough to disregard the overall plot’s inconsistencies. Just because this may not be one of King’s showcase models, this Mercedes should at least be taken out for a test drive.

Comments

  1. I have ALWAYS loved hIs books. I have I have read most of his older books. this sounds like a great read.

  2. I’ve not read a stephen King novel in awhile! I keep telling myself that I need to, but I have so many books It’s hard to find the time.

  3. I used to be a dedicated Stephen King follower, from middle school on. It’s nice to see he’s still following his passion of writing. (and thanks for the review!)

  4. Your review is exactly why I love to read Stephen King. His worst book is still going to be a great read. he may not always hit them out of the park, but I know he’ll always give me a solid triple.

  5. I love Stephen King. His books are fantastic. I have yet to pick up this one, but I;ll have to get it soon!

  9. I have found many books by Stephen King on sale in our local bookstore. I’m not sure which to get because I’m spoilt for choices. Thanks for sharing this review. I think I will like this kind of thriller.

  10. I’ve never read a Stephan King book! As a kid I walked in on one of his movies and I’ve been terrified to pick up a book! Silly I know! Maybe it’s time I try.. This looks. Interesting!

  16. I’ve never read any of Stephen King’s novels – I know shame on me. My ex boyfriend was a huge fan though, I can’t remember him having this one.

    • I feel the same. My husband loves ALL his stuff but I am a little terrified to watch anything, or read anything because I was scared as a kid! My husband tries to get me to watch his movies and I’m like NOPE and if you do GO DOWNSTAIRS! lol. I think men in general are bigger fans than us women!

  17. Whenever someone says Stephen King I automatically think of 1000 chapters of deeply descriptive stories. I will have to give this book a quick skim since I’ve been currently looking for some summer books I can add this one to my list. Thank you for sharing!

  19. I am like many. I enjoy Stephen king and read carrie when i was about 10. probably not what a 10yr old should read, but i did. i’ve been hooked ever since. my favorite is needful things. i am not a fan of the Dark tower stuff though. i prefer his horror vs. the fantasy type stuff.

  21. I honestly have never read a stephen king book, but by this review, it sounds like i need to! Thanks for sharing!

  22. I’ve never read one of his novels, but I have read his autobiography (on Writing) and a short story he wrote about old-time east coast gangsters. If there’s anything I can say about Mr. King is that he has one hell of a handle on characterization 🙂 Thanks for the book review! It seems like it might be a great easy poolside read.

  23. You know that I don’t care for Stephen King, but you seemed to enjoy this one while you were reading it. Hate seeing not that you thought the plot was a little lacking. Hopefully the sequel is a bit better 🙂

  25. Im usually not into fiction books but stephen King!!! I have always been a huge fan! One of the best FICTION authors!

  27. I used to read a lot of s.k when i was a teenager and even took a walk in the neighborhood he grew up in stratford ct. in the middle of the night when i was last in ct. I know, I’m a nerd but i’m proud of it. lol!

  28. One of Stephen King was the first book I ever picked up to read “for fun” as a teen. I don’t exactly remember the title, or what it was about – but I do recall it sucking me in and scaring me to bejeezetown. He’s such a fantastic author, and I’m glad he’s still writing creepy and interesting reads!

  29. Sounds like a good one. My husband is looking to get into another authors books and he likes the darker type books like these. I think he will like Stephen King, thanks for sharing, now I have some shopping to do! Lol

  30. My husband loves Stephen King books but they freak me out way too much to even look at them on my hubby’s bookshelf. I know he is a talented writer and there are great movies based off of his work, but no thanks. I’d rather watch cartoons and not have to sleep with the lights on!

  31. Thank you for sharing! I have to admit that I am not a Stephen King fan. His genre of books are just not my cup of tea. However, I would gladly share your post with my Hubby who likes suspense and horror reads! He will be thrilled with this! 🙂

  32. I have been a Stephen King fan since I read IT for the first time. Since then I have loved some and hated some of his books but I never stop reading his work. This looks like a fun read but doesn’t sound as good as some of his best like IT and The Shining.

  33. I have never read one of Mr. King’s books, but this sounds thrilling. You wrote a fantastic review, so I’ll take your word for it being a fun, if not imperfect, book and look for it at the library. Thank you!

  34. You know, I’ve never read a Stephen Kin book..! I think it’s because I know the thriller aspect is a little more than I’m comfortable with… That said, based on your description, they sound like a fun adventure to escape with for a bit. And it’s always better to create scenarios via imagination than the screen, imo. I’m hoping to get a lot of reading done this summer, thanks for this synopsis of a book that I’m sure will be a great summer companion!

    xo,
    lauriel of EyeForElegance.com

  35. What a thorough review! I like the the title of this book because Mr. Mercedes is what we call my uncle. I am going to text him about this right now! I’m glad that it was a fun read for you. Maybe I can get around to reading a book again someday. Ha! I have a 9 month old so it is kind of impossible right now.