When an eleven-year-old boy is found murdered in a town park, reliable eyewitnesses undeniably point to the town's popular Little League coach, Terry Maitland, as the culprit. DNA evidence and fingerprints confirm the crime was committed by this well-loved family man. Horrified by the brutal killing, Detective Ralph Anderson, whose own son was once coached by Maitland, orders the suspect to be arrested in a public spectacle. But Maitland has an alibi. And further research confirms he was indeed out of town that day. As Anderson and the District Attorney trace the clues, the investigation expands from Ohio to Texas. And as horrifying answers begin to emerge, so King's propulsive story of almost unbearable suspense kicks into high gear. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy but there is one rock-hard fact, as unassailable as gravity: a man cannot be in two places at the same time. Can he?
Holly Gibney Series
The series follows investigator Holly Gibney, who evolves from an unassuming helper into a tough, meticulous, and unyielding professional. In ordinary American towns (such as Flint City), she uncovers crimes that look rational on the surface but carry a darker, hard-to-explain underside. King builds suspense through small details, witness accounts, and Holly’s ability to endure where others back off. It’s a blend of crime and horror about how easily the “normal” world can fracture—and how costly the truth can be.
Recommended Reading Order
If It Bleeds
- 496 pages
- 18 hours of reading
This is a new collection of four novellas — Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat, and the title story If It Bleeds — each pulling you into intriguing and frightening places.
When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl's desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down