Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2)

Title: Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2)

Author: Stephen King

Published in: 2015

Date read: 2nd May 2021

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Finders Keepers" by Stephen King is the second novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy, shifting focus from the original serial killer to a new, equally dangerous kind of obsession: a literary one.

The story begins in 1978 with a horrifying home invasion. A reclusive, legendary author named John Rothstein, famous for his "Jimmy Gold" series, is murdered by three obsessed fans. They are enraged by Rothstein's decision to abandon his popular character, Jimmy Gold, and write more experimental, literary novels. Before the killers are caught, they steal a trunk full of Rothstein's notebooks, containing unpublished "Jimmy Gold" manuscripts. The ringleader, Morris Bellamy, hides the trunk, along with a significant amount of cash, burying it with the intention of retrieving it later. However, Bellamy is soon imprisoned for an unrelated crime.

Decades later, in 2009, a bright and struggling teenager named Pete Saubers discovers the buried trunk. His family is in financial distress after his father was left permanently disabled by the Mercedes Killer (Brady Hartsfield, from "Mr. Mercedes"). Pete uses some of the cash to help his family, and, being a fan of the Jimmy Gold books himself, begins to secretly read the unpublished manuscripts. These stories become a lifeline and a source of inspiration for him.

Meanwhile, Morris Bellamy is finally paroled after serving 35 years. His first thought is to retrieve his stolen treasure: Rothstein's notebooks. He returns to the buried spot, only to find it empty. Enraged and obsessed, Bellamy, now older but no less violent, begins to meticulously track down who stole his literary prize. His search eventually leads him to Pete Saubers.

This is where the stories of the literary obsession and the continuing fight against evil converge. Bill Hodges, the retired detective from "Mr. Mercedes" who now runs a private investigation agency with Holly Gibney, is brought into Pete's story by a desperate friend of Pete's. Hodges and Holly realise the immense danger Pete is in from Bellamy.

The climax involves a tense and violent confrontation as Bellamy corner's Pete and his family, determined to reclaim the manuscripts. Hodges and Holly, despite their limited resources, must race against time to save Pete from the murderous and obsessive Bellamy, ultimately putting themselves in harm's way. "Finders Keepers" explores themes of literary obsession, the destructive power of fan culture, the enduring impact of a single crime across generations, and the lengths to which people will go for something they covet. It also subtly sets up the final confrontation with Brady Hartsfield for the last book in the trilogy.

Comments:
Proof that Stephen King can write amazing stories that do not involve supernatural entities. Brilliant book, as one would expect.

Books that we've read by Stephen King (68):
Carrie (1974), 'Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (The Shining, #1) (1977), The Stand (1978), Night Shift (1978), The Dead Zone (1979), Firestarter (1980), Cujo (1981), The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) (1982), Different Seasons (1982), Christine (1983), Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), Pet Sematary (1983), The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) (1984), Skeleton Crew (1985), It (1986), The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) (1987), The Eyes of the Dragon (1987), The Tommyknockers (1987), Misery (1987), The Dark Half (1989), Four Past Midnight (1990), The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3) (1991), Needful Things (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1992), Gerald's Game (1992), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Insomnia (1994), Rose Madder (1995), The Green Mile (1996), Desperation (1996), Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) (1997), Bag of Bones (1998), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), Black House (The Talisman, #2) (2001), Dreamcatcher (2001), Everything's Eventual (2002), From a Buick 8 (2002), Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) (2003), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, #6) (2004), The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7) (2004), The Colorado Kid (2005), Cell (2006), Lisey's Story (2006), Duma Key (2008), Just After Sunset (2008), Under the Dome (2009), 11/22/63 (2011), Full Dark, No Stars (2011), The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5) (2012), Dr. Sleep (The Shining, #2) (2013), Joyland (2013), Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) (2014), Revival (2014), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2) (2015), End of Watch (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #3) (2016), Elevation (2018), The Outsider (2018), The Institute (2019), If It Bleeds (2020), Billy Summers (2021), Later (2021), Fairy Tale (2022), Holly (2023), You Like It Darker (2024)