Stephen King, the master of horror, is back with another title: Never Flinch. The iconic author behind It, The Shining, Fairy Tale, Pet Sematary, The Mist, and so many more classic titles is revisiting one of his most beloved characters: Holly Gibney. Originally a smaller side character in Mr. Mercedes, she quickly developed into a star and kept coming back in that series. Even when that series ended and another, seemingly unrelated title was released (2018’s The Outsider, a phenomenal book), she reappeared. Gibney came back in a sequel novella before finally getting her first novel with 2023’s Holly. Now, she’s back as a major part of another book.
Stephen King announces Never Flinch
The novel Never Flinch features two interconnected storylines, much like Holly did. In one, a famous feminist currently on tour is harassed by an increasingly emboldened stalker who wants to disrupt her message. Holly Gibney is hired as her bodyguard. In the other, a man threatens to kill 13 innocent people and one guilty person to atone for the death of an innocent man who was killed in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. In typical King fashion, these two storylines will intersect and create an explosive climax. You can check out a full excerpt of the book now.
Summary of Plot
“When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to ‘kill thirteen innocents and one guilty’ in ‘an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,’ Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help,” part of the book’s description reads. Stephen King seems to be heading back to the thriller genre for this one.
“Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events,” the summary continues. “At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard — a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.” The book will officially launch on May 27, 2025.
Why This is Exciting
To date, Stephen King’s The Outsider is one of my favorite books ever. Unbeknownst to me, there is a character in there by the name of Holly Gibney. As it turns out, she is a recurring character in a lot of recent King work. I immediately read the rest of the books starring her, marveling at her journey. She is a well-developed character and a pleasant protagonist to read. After finally getting her own novel, which seemingly indicates the end of the road for the character’s crime-related journey, it’s great to see that King also can’t quit Ms. Gibney. The only problem now is having to wait several months before reading anything aside from the excerpt.
Climax and Resolution
Stephen King is one of the longest-running authors working today. He has been at it since 1974 when he wrote and published Carrie. 50 years later, he is still going strong and providing excellent fiction along the way. Any new book from one of the best authors is exciting, but this one is especially exciting for those who’ve enjoyed King’s recent run. Excluding Fairy Tale, another great book, much of the last few years has been dominated by characters that are poised to return in Never Flinch. Pre-orders are available now on Amazon and other locations.
