Stephen King reads an excerpt from his new book, Never Flinch, and takes readers behind the scenes of how the “whodunnit” came to be in the video below.
The author also explains his love for Holly Gibney, the character who previously appeared in Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch, The Outsider, If It Bleeds, and Holly.
The 448-page novel will be published in hardcover, e-book, and audio book on May 27 from Scribner.
Here’s the official synopsis:
When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill 13 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 14 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.
Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.
Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.
King is currently working on a third novel in The Talisman saga. Tune into The Losers’ Club, our weekly King podcast, who discussed the latest developments surrounding that novel.
