After releasing The Colorado Kid and Joyland via the Hard Case Crime imprint, Stephen King made his grand debut into the world of hard-boiled crime fiction with Mr. Mercedes. The first in a trilogy, the 2014 novel introduced readers to Bill Hodges, a crusty, retired detective who finds his golden years interrupted by the taunts of a psychopathic killer he failed to apprehend.
A divisive book among the King faithful, Mr. Mercedes is nonetheless an important one, as it introduces Holly Gibney, a recluse-turned-investigator King would go on to feature in four subsequent novels (and one novella), including last year’s Holly.
Join The Losers’ Club’s Randall Colburn, Jenn Adams, Ashley Casseday, and Rachel Reeves as they detail the book’s origins, how it differs from the author’s previous forays into crime, and the ways in which it reflects evolving societal fears about domestic terrorism. They also discuss the book’s messy vision of a post-recession America and its musings on class, second chances, and the nature of evil. It’s also one of King’s poundcakiest books, so prepare to blush.
Stream the discussion below and stay tuned for their coverage on the TV series adaptation of Mr. Mercedes. For further adventures, join the Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. You can also unlock hundreds of hours of content in The Barrens (Patreon), including more Lobstrosities like this episode.
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The post With ‘Mr. Mercedes’, Stephen King Accelerated Into a New Era [The Losers’ Club Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.