Review: Finders Keepers by Stephen King

Finders Keepers by Stephen King
Also by this author: Gwendy's Button Box, Elevation
Published by Scribner Book Company on June 2, 2015
Pages: 448
Format: eBook

John Rothstein is a renowned author known for his character, Jimmy Gold.  Unfortunately, Rothstein hasn't published in years, making his fan-base nervous that he's lost his ability to write. One fan,  Morris Bellamy, takes this concern a bit to far. Convinced that the mind behind his favorite character has sold out to the publishing industry, Bellamy breaks in to Rothstein's home and kills him, execution-style.  His "visit" isn't without a payoff; he walks out with dozens of notebooks Rothstein kept in his safe, along with a significant amount of money.  Certain that the notebooks contain at least one additional novel, Bellamy believes he'll hit paydirt once the excitement about the author's death dies down and he's able to sell the notebooks. He buries the notebooks and money in a trunk behind his home, promising to unearth it when all the hubbub dies down. What he doesn't predict is is imprisonment for a completely different crime.

Decades later,  teenager Pete Saubers and his family have come on tough times.  His father, once a lucrative realtor, is now unemployed. Desperate to find another job, Thomas Saubers wakes up at the crack of dawn to attend a job fair. It is there that his fate is sealed: he becomes a victim of Mr. Mercedes. Severely wounded, unable to find work, Thomas Saubers becomes addicted to pain pills. His marriage is at risk; the concern about money has hit an all-time high. Pete is certain his parents marriage is headed to divorce. In a sudden turn of events, Pete finds a trunk containing notebooks and a large sum of money. Pete knows that he just can't give his parents the money; instead he anonymously mails money to his parents.  The money doesn't last forever, however, and soon he must turn to the mysterious notebooks as a means to support is family.

Meanwhile, Bellamy is released from prison on parole. The time he spent incarcerated hasn't eased his anger and he returns to the trunk to regain what he thinks is rightfully his. When he finds it empty, he launches on a murderous rampage to find his buried treasure.

As with tradition, I devour every King novel the moment it hits the stands. Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise you to see this review, just one day after publication. The moment it hit my iPad library, I took off reading. And what an adventure it was!

I knew that a few of the characters from Mr. Mercedes would make an appearance. Although that doesn’t take place until 1/3 of the way through the book, it allows readers to become invested in the new characters introduced in this novel.  Seeing the rampage of Mr. Mercedes from the point of view from another victim was a brilliant move; it shows readers that his wrath continues long beyond that fateful morning.

In true King form, Finders Keepers is truly a story of good versus evil…but not without a bit of focus on the gray that lies between the two.  Hodges is the quintessential cowboy that rides in to help save the day, but he’s not without his own flaws. Unable to accept retirement, he’s still employed on the brink of law enforcement, bringing in less desirable individuals as part of his new firm, Finders Keepers.  His involvement in the novel, though, is minimal. Again, allowing the newer characters to shine through. That said, his gives us an means to check in on Brady, “the” Mr.  Mercedes, and the chilling changes that have occurred since the head-bashing that brought about his incarceration in a medical facility. It is my hope that he has an even larger role in the third book in this trilogy. Though King has been taking a foray into more thriller-ish novels, horror is his passion, and fans are dying for that classic King horror novel. I hope this is what he rewards his fans with!

The concept of obsession is certainly not a new theme to Stephen King; it’s one that he’s employed with quite a few of his novels. Just how far it takes you…that’s what separates a sane human from a monster. In this case, the relationship of writer and reader is addressed, an eerie similarity to Misery.

Though the reader is aware of everything up front, as with every King novel, the reward is not in the destination, but in the journey. He inserts conflict, suspense, and intensity like no other author can, quickly propelling readers through the novel.

My adoration of King’s writing is so great that, although I just finished reading the print version of this novel, I plan on starting the audio book next. His work (and Ray Porter’s narration) are that good.

It goes without saying…but I highly, highly recommend this novel.