I’m sad to come to the end of this trilogy because I’ve become so (cerebrally) fond of the characters in the Bill Hodges books. As are many of SK’s fictional characters, Bill, Holly, Jerome, et al, are normal people confronted with weird and horrific situations and forced to pull all kinds of superhuman bravery out of thin air. In the most extreme scenarios imaginable, they embody the best parts of every human, and they sparkle with the typical pathos and everyday challenges we all face in our lives, just ratcheted up a supernatural notch or two.

This trilogy is a mash-up of murder mystery, police procedural, monster hunt, love story, and buddy comedy. But it also boldly tackles big issues like depression, anxiety, grief, child abuse, toxic relationships, and suicide. In the Author’s Note, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is provided, along with words of encouragement for anyone who might need them.

The story is delivered at a driving pace, and for those who’ve been traveling the Mr. Mercedes roadway from start to finish, it’s a page turner with a bittersweet but inevitable conclusion. Is it satisfying? Sure, it does the story justice. But at the same time, it’s like moving out of your parents’ home or leaving college - you’re excited to finish that phase of your life, but sad that it’s something being left behind forever because you can’t go back.

I listened to the audiobook and once again, Will Patton is an incomparable narrator. He superbly voices and gives life to all the book’s characters in the most professional and endearing way. His narration is so well fitted to SK’s writing style and characterization. A match made in heaven!

Well this has definitely confirmed this to be a favourite series of mine. I was going to say wow that ending, but its more like wow those last 200 pages. Adding a supernatural element so late in the series was an odd choice, but I did enjoy it. I definitely want to revisit the series at some point, admittedly mostly because of Holly, who is a precious bean who should be protected at all costs  and remains the highlight of the trilogy. Holly is not just one of my favourite King characters, but probably one of my favourite characters ever.

That said, I have to acknowledge the problematic elements, mainly King's n-word count of 9 in this book alone. Its obvious enough that the mass murder is not a nice guy, without needing to include slurs, it's just unnecessary and uncomfortable.
 
Also please never write the word 'amazeballs' in a paragraph of prose ever again.