Mr Mercedes
Author: Stephen King
Natalia (12) / 3/5
Mr. Mercedes, a crime thriller novel written by Stephen King, revolves around a game of cat and mouse between a detective and a serial killer. Unemployed individuals are waiting in line at a job fair when a Mercedes drives into the crowd, killing several job-seekers and badly injuring a lot more. Posthaste, retired detective Bill Hodges, who had a passion for solving murder cases, is presented. Divorced, solitary and discontent with his state of affairs, he considers taking his own life many times. But one day, he unexpectedly receives a letter delivered by a mysterious "Mr. Mercedes" alleging to be the Mercedes killer. Feeling intrigued and renewed, Hodges begins his own investigation, bringing him to life again and reviving his old detective skills. Mr. Mercedes claimed to be well-versed in all aspects of the killings, piquing Hodges' interest. As detective Hodges delves deeper into the case he unearths disturbing facts about a Brady Hartsfield, otherwise known as Mr. Mercedes. Brady Hartsfield is an intrigued young man who is obsessed with death and everything it represents. The tension starts to build as Hodges and Hartsfield become lost in a game of cat and mouse.
I felt that the perpetrator had no sense of originality, and I think that if that character were written in a way that deviated from the typical serial killer norms, the book would've been much more interesting. I did, however, enjoy the interchanging perspectives between the detective and the killer. I always find it interesting when I see things from a different perspective, more so, when a character and I have contrasting personalities or a different way of thinking.