PERSONAL
I picked up Mr. Mercedes because of Stephen King’s If It Bleeds, a short story compilation.
Coming from there, I expected Mr. Mercedes to include iconic descriptions, great pacing, good readability, and an engaging story. In perspective, both books ended up being twin flavors, like chocolate and vanilla.
BEGINNING
The initial chapters were engaging because of the protagonist, Bill Hodges. Learning about this suicidal detective was intriguing, especially compared to the antagonist.
In his introduction the reader sees a normal nerd, Brady, end his shift. As he clocks out, he casually complains while expressing his frustration of being overlooked. His most prevalent complaint is Hodges; Brady can’t stand him, every time he looks at his life he sees joy, fortune, and blessings.
Brady especially hates how Hodges can live on: To him it’s unfathomable how a detective sleeps, knowing that their incompetence led to scot-free criminals.
Seeing Brady and Bill’s cat-and-mouse dynamic is not only refreshing but innovative.
In all my years of consuming media, I have never been so intrigued. The runner-up to this point was Death Note, but now even that is blown out of the water. What makes Mr. Mercedes better is how we see multiple perspectives of the same characters. We see them through lust, rage, desperation, etc., and it adds to them like petals to a flower. Their emotions ground them; they string their actions “logically”’ and through that, they have an impact.
Especially in the beginning, when Bill dusts himself off. Previously, he would spend days kissing his revolver; but when Brady broke the ice, Bill acknowledged his grim reality. His first attempts to recover were futile, only getting him past breakfast before he gave up. However, as the days fly past Bill’s frustrations bottle up, and that’s when he really starts making changes.
MIDDLE
While the grounding is great, there’s almost too much. It can be an intense chase scene, and then the next two pages switch gears to explore the stress that the character feels. Situations like this happen frequently, unfortunately to the point of feeling like filler for the reader.
This becomes especially present when Bill is snooping for Brady. Since Bill searches with help from another detective, the book constantly illustrates their relationship. I understand that this was to show Bill’s legacy, but all those descriptions felt like pulling hairs.
Despite these issues, the book does get better. The reader starts seeing Brady under a magnifying glass, seeing his habits, his thinking, and his issues.
To me, this was Cupid’s arrow: the descriptions weren’t annoying, and the “illustrations” left plenty of room for psychological analysis. This room came from the realism of the details; they make you feel like you’re observing a creature, and they keep you “guessing” at what’s next. This excitement isn’t like a cliffhanger; it’s a genuinely harvested curiosity.
As for Bill, we learn about his inner circle (or lack of it). The host of this circle is Jerome, the chore boy for Bill who cuts the grass and eventually helps with a case.
Apart from Jerome, there is only the helper detective named Hunter. As the novel progresses it is revealed how Hunter served with Bill and the people they helped along the way. King crafts his narrative in such a way that we are able to observe their friendship develop and form into a dependable brotherhood.
In the midsection of the novel, we also see Bill build relationships with anyone he meets (including interviewees and assistants); as part of his character development, he offers kindness and warmth to all he encounters. Bill’s breakthroughs, in combination with Brady’s shatterings, are explosive. They had me hooked, and I wanted nothing more than to see what would happen. I was perplexed with how this rusty detective would hold up against a troubled, broken man.
ENDGAME
Unsurprisingly, the finale is spicy; we get to see “animals” backed into corners. We see struggle, and we spectate sorrow.
By the end, desperation is the theme. It’s incredible and amid the chaos previously divulged details start “clicking”. When all the dust settles, there is an odd peace as a sense of resolution for both characters and the reader.
OVERALL
This book was a treat. It almost had everything I wanted: entertainment, “education”, and inspiration. It was like watching a movie but with the impact of a documentary. Mr. Mercedes was a constant thriller via the details; without them, I have no idea how immersed I would be.
In general, this is a rich book, especially for new Stephen King readers. Apart from introducing the legendary Bill Hodges, Mr. Mercedes epitomizes a solid Stephen King book.
I would even recommend this to people who dislike reading. Coming from that crowd, I’m sure this will blow them away. This book is like a holy grail, one from which anyone can walk away feeling rewarded.
