Title: Finders Keepers.
Series: Bill Hodges Trilogy #2.
Writer(s): Stephen King.
Narrator(s): Will Patton.
Genre(s): Horror, Thriller.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio.
Format: Audiobook.
Release Date: June 2nd, 2015.
Length: 13 Hours.
My Overall Rating:
Previously in the Bill Hodges Trilogy:
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.
Despair has a way of warping a person’s understanding of the world, their comprehension of good and evil, and their grasp on right and wrong. When drowning in despair, it comes as an inevitability for a person to latch onto the first buoy they find, no matter the consequences of their actions, to avoid losing their mind. On top of the darkness of this despair, a growing sense of obsession can turn a said person towards a path of self-destruction: their world becomes a playground where nothing but the source of their obsession is the purpose of their life. Read by the award-winning narrator Will Patton, this second novel in the Bill Hodges Trilogy, invites readers into critically-acclaimed author Stephen King’s exploration of madness and mayhem in whole new characters with retired detective Bill Hodges back in action to stop a madman from doing the unforgivable.
What is Finders Keepers about? In 1978, Morris Bellamy sets out to rob America’s most famous reclusive writer, John Rothstein. Veiled as an opportunity to steal money, he reveals that his interest lies rather in the author’s notebooks, where potential stories of a beloved series are up for grabs, stories that Morris Bellamy is ready to kill for. In 2010, young Pete Saubers discovers a buried trunk containing money and John Rothstein’s notebooks. With his parents struggling with poverty and his father suffering from the injuries sustained during the infamous Mercedes Massacre, he sees the means to save his family while trying to keep it all a secret. Unfortunately, in 2013, Morris Bellamy comes out of prison and is ready to recover the goods he once stole, no matter the costs.
“Shit don’t mean shit.”
— Stephen King
It’s best not to imagine this as a strict sequel of Mr. Mercedes with author Stephen King introducing new characters, a new antagonist, and a new story direction. While the trio of heroes from the first book do make an appearance, with a couple of quintessential references to events in the first novel tossed in to justify this trilogy, the focus of the narrative revolves rather around the chain of events born from the deceased author’s notebooks and what everyone who has touched them does about them. This time around, the narrative around impressionable readers and their obsession with fictional characters make from an entertaining thriller, especially with Morris Bellamy’s own despair and descent into mania leading him to seek the only reward he ever wanted in his miserable life. The young Pete Saubers own impressionable self leads him to make numerous mistakes in his life, despite innocent and just intentions, that puts him in the crosshairs of Morris Bellamy’s madness. Both of their characters obtain an impressible amount of character development, unlike the rest of the characters, and make for interesting character studies, allowing readers to better grasp their individual turmoils, their motivation, and their willpower to do what they set out to achieve.
Despite hints of this novel’s little ties to the first book, it remains a suspenseful story that takes some time before it has its grip around your neck. In fact, the pacing is rough, with author Stephen King trying to juggle two different viewpoints until they can finally merge and allow action and mayhem to ensue. Once author Stephen King finally gets an opportunity to shed blood, he makes the most of it and depicts some wonderfully disturbing moments that fully capture the deranged nature of the antagonist. Despite some of these unpredictable twists, it often does feel like the author didn’t know if he wanted a more grounded and traditional detective story or a slow-burn thriller, making a lot of his Mr. Mercedes references feel superficial and shoehorned into this story. While this sequel subverts all expectations, it does so for the wrong reasons, making readers hope that the final book in the trilogy will go back to basic and offer a darker, more convincing finale to the Bill Hodges Trilogy.
Finders Keepers is a thrilling sequel exploring the power of fiction and the lengths one will go to for what they assume they have the right to possess.
Roars and Echoes 
Fabre view Lashaan and nice to seen it was on audio as well!!
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Thanks, Nicki! 😀
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Sorry this didn’t quite work for you. One day I’m going to start this series😁
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Mr. Mercedes will surely be a wonderful read for you, Tammy! 😀
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I like the theme but looks like this was okay. One day I wil read Stephen King books. For now they feel daunting. Great review!
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They indeed can be but you should totally check out the shorter stories that he produces to give you an idea of what kind of stories he can write! 😀 Thanks for reading, Yesha!
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Readers’ expectations can indeed work against the success of this book, because it veers off in a very unpredictable direction in respect of the first volume. Still, the theme of the fascination of immersing oneself into stories proved fascinating enough for me – and I have good news for you: book 3 goes back to the “old” King stomping ground 🙂
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Absolutely! I honestly thought this sequel would continue with the first book’s villain and build things around him and even maybe add a supernatural twist to it all. I’m currently working my way through the third book and I look forward to seeing what King has to offer now. 😀
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In book 3 you will get all the supernatural elements you’re looking for, and more “quality time” with the villain ;-). Happy reading!
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Hmmmm…. interesting, but this does further reinforce my desire to slowly get back into King by going back to some of his older books I never got around to, or perhaps rereading some of my favorites. I do also want to read more recent King, though that’s been hit or miss for me so far. But I suppose that’s to be expected given how many books he’s written. Seems pretty natural not all would appeal. Are you going to stick with it and see how book 3 turns out?
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I too want to check his older stuff, especially when you know how much love fans have for them. I do wonder if King has a structure that hardcover fans can easily detect in his new stuff nowadays. It can probably explain why he lost some fans along the way and is slowly getting them back in his claws now! And yes, I’m currently working my way through the final book and I look forward to seeing how it’ll all close out this trilogy in the end.
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I read Mr. Mercedes a long time ago. I would probably have to reread it if I want to read this one. Not sure if I will continue or not. You sound like you have mixed feelings around this one, Lashaan. Great review, pointing out what worked and didn’t for you.
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Honestly, you don’t really need to know too much about the plot of Mr. Mercedes to enjoy this one, I believe. This sequel, whenever it does mention events of the first one, usually covers the major plot elements, making this one readable as a stand-alone story. But I still think the first one was better than this one, so a reread of the first would definitely not be a bad idea in itself! 😀 Thanks for reading, Carla!
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I like the way Stephen King writes suspense. I know his recent books are not the best. This one seen very mixed.
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I like his style so far too. Some stories are more intriguing to me than others though. I look forward to finishing up the third book of this trilogy though.
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It seems that the first one was more to your taste Lashaan! And rough pacing is astonishing with a master like King!
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Yep, I do think the first one was the best so far! Thanks for reading, Sophie! 😀
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When this was originally released I had already decided that King was no longer for me, so I was ok with whatever he did, because I wasn’t going to read it no matter what 😀
I also remember the final book being released but have NO idea where it goes. I guess you’ll fun finding that out yourself…
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He publishes so many of them every year too. I do wonder how easily you can get burned off of his stuff.
Working my way through the third one already. I do hope it’ll close off the trilogy on a nice note.
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Great review Lashaan, the book seems quite thrilling and I like the idea behind the plot! Too bad that it doesn’t live up to the expectations after the first book!
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Thanks, Juliette! It’s still a great story, as long as you don’t have any expectations for it as a sequel. 😀
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I liked this sequel, but it does feel like a weird departure.
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Indeed! 🙂
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Hmmm…. the negatives you described seem to be worth more than 1.5 stars, it seems. In fact, they put me off completely, even though the rating had me hooked.
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Yep, for some, it can really be a killer. I’m pushing through the “bad” hoping the third book is a “return to form”. Then again, “expectations” is really what can kill anyone’s enjoyment of this book.
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Yea, you only set yourself up for disappointment. But then again, maybe not.
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