Stephen King has long been a master of weaving suspense with supernatural elements, and his story If It Bleeds, part of a collection by the same name, is no exception. While I have a plan to read the remaining tales in the collection, I focused on If It Bleeds as I am reading through the Holly Gibney stories.
Holly Gibney of the Finders Keepers detective agency sees footage of a horrific school bombing on TV. She suspects that there is something odd about the reporter Ondowsky who was first on the scene and that he may be a supernatural ‘outsider’. Holly makes contact with an elderly former policeman who believes that the reporter feeds on the fear of traumatic emotions, and Holly realizes that Ondowsky must be stopped. She, Barbara, and Jerome must all work together to take down Ondowsky.
This gripping tale featuring Holly Gibney was a must-read as I finished The Outsider and get ready to read Holly in preparation for the upcoming Never Flinch novel. If It Bleeds sees Gibney investigates a chilling school bombing broadcasted on TV in what is really a continuation of The Outsider and connected to the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, the tale offers another edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into both mystery and horror.
I am a sucker for a Holly Gibney story and If It Bleeds definitely curbed my appetite. King has really found his stride in telling tales featuring such a complex character. Gibney taking complete center stage in this novella evolves her character even further from her previous appearances in the Mr. Mercedes series and The Outsider. Her tenacity, intelligence, and resilience are at full display as she navigates murky waters filled with supernatural oddities.
While If It Bleeds is not groundbreaking, the story itself is a fascinating blend of crime mystery intertwined with supernatural elements—a combination that King executes well. The novella is a suspenseful journey that shouldn’t be missed if you are a fan of Gibney’s exploits or want to be caught up on her story.
If It Bleeds leans heavily on previous novels such as The Outsider and the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, so I would not consider this novella a standalone tale. Entering this story without having read the novels mentioned would leave you asking more questions than getting answers. The benefit is that the Mr. Mercedes series and The Outsider are fantastic novels and are worth reading anyway.
Ultimately, If It Bleeds is a wonderful addition to the Holly Gibney lore and gives us more closer following the events of The Outsider while getting me ready for her standalone novel, Holly, and the forthcoming Never Flinch. Stephen King continues his storytelling prowess with this tale and I am thankful he continues to include Gibney in his stories as I cannot get enough of her adventures.
I plan to read the remaining stories: Mr Harrigan’s Phone, The Life of Chuck, and Rat in the future, especially The Life of Chuck as the adaptation is set to release on June 6, 2025.
If It Bleeds is available at bookstores everywhere from Scribner. The audiobook, narrated by Will Patton, Danny Burstein & Steven Weber, is available on Libro.fm!
