Stephen King has published a number of short collections over the years, including ‘Skeleton Crew’ ‘Night Shift’ and ‘Different Seasons’ amongst others. So I was curious as to whether ‘If it bleeds’ would be as enjoyable.

Stephen King Movies

I can’t think of any other author whose short stories have inspired as many movies. A quick glance at some from the previous collections include ‘Children of the corn’, ‘The lawnmower man’ and ‘Apt pupil’, ‘Hearts in Atlantis’ just off the top of my head. ‘The body’ (Stand by me) and ‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’ are also novellas. King himself describers this collection as three novellas and a short novel.

Mr Hardiman’s Phone

It was only when I started ‘let it bleed’ that I realised I’d already seen one of the stories on Netflix - ‘Mr Harrigan’s phone’ starring Donald Sutherland. Considering the book only came out in 2020 and the movie was released in 2022, to me that’s a pretty quick turnaround.

The story is based around a young lad called Craig, who establishes a relationship with local elderly billionaire, Mr Hardiman. Craig introduces the reclusive gentleman to the wonders of modern technology, and ends up getting a stranger connection than he suspected. I won’t say anymore so as to not spoil the surprise - the best part of the story for me is King’s world building and likeable characters, but it has creepy moments.

The Life of Chuck

This is a story told in reverse about Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz, ‘leaving’ us after 39 great years. At the same time, the world seems to be coming to an end, with the internet being the first to go.

After such a strong start, I had high hopes for this and it pulled me along but at the time I was disappointed with the ending - it felt like it just petered out. I don’t expect every story to have a huge climax or big reveal but I really turned the page (or flicked my finger on the kindle) expecting another chapter here. But this story has stayed with me, it’s actually quite profound and makes sense the more I think of it. Interestingly, Mike Flanagan is apparently making a movie of this. We contain multitudes, indeed.

Rat

Definitely something of Jack Torrance of ‘The shining’ fame here, as King is on firm ground here with his story of an isolated writer called Drew. He wants one more crack at the writing game, despite the misgivings of his wife who remembers what happened after his last writing episode when things turned to Sh*t with a capital S. He sets off to an isolated cabin to write what he is sure will be his bestseller - he can just feel it in his bones. Of course, events conspire to ensure that this little writing break doesn’t go according to plan.

Dedicating yourself to creativity can make you a bit loopy, as Drew finds out here. During a storm, a wounded rat appears at his cabin door and that’s when things take an odd turn, but this is a Stevie King short story after all. I liked this, but I think it’s more about atmosphere and telling us something about the dangers of a writers life. As if he hasn’t told us before!

If it Bleeds

This short novel is the reason I purchased ‘If it bleeds’ in the first place. I had just started reading ‘Holly’ when mention was made of Chet Ondowsky, and I realised I had somehow missed an instalment in the Holly Gibney series. (Holly gets a mention in ‘Mr Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch’ but the ‘The Outsider’ is her first standalone followed by this short story then ‘Holly’. You don’t have to have read the previous works to enjoy this short story, it’s just that I like being a completist when it comes to King.)

Like the previous installments, Holly is involved in a crime mystery that has a supernatural element to it. After a deadly explosion at a high school due to a parcel bomb, Holly notices something odd one of the news reporters. A cat and mouse game ensues.

I’ve read some mixed reviews from King fans about Holly Gibney but I have to say that I like her a bit more with each installment. We continue to learn about her background and character, and it’s obvious that King has a lot of time for. I would say that those books mentioned have a different style to them, but I’ve enjoyed them so far, and King certainly seems to be enjoying writing them

If it Bleeds Summary

I’d say this is mid-range King - good solid thrills and scares, and still able to spin a good yarn. ‘Night Shift’ and ‘Different Seasons’ are a high bar and for me are some of his best works, a horror master at his peak. Saying that, mid range King is better than most and as usual, I enjoyed this.

As much as I like the recent crime/mystery books, I like him best when his storytelling is a bit weird, and there’s ‘strangeness’ in the stories. Thankfully, there’s plenty of that here. He’s also funnier than most, and there’s momments of macabre humour in ‘If it bleeds’ as well.

He’s 76 now, and it’s amazing that he’s so prolific. I started this bookblog two years ago with a review of ‘Billy Summers’, more recently enjoyed ‘Fairy Tale’.

Long may he write, for it will be some time before we see his like again.

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Published by Hodder and Stoughton 20 April 2020

449 Pages