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Whether it’s the revisionist history of 11/22/63 or the magical realism of The Green Mile, Stephen King fans know the prolific novelist frequently writes outside the horror genre. His latest, Never Flinch, is a crime thriller centered on Holly Gibney, a detective after a killer with a twisted sense of morality. Never Flinch was published on May 27 and quickly became a bestseller on Amazon’s book charts.
Gibney has turned into one of King’s favorite characters, appearing in six of the author’s novels since 2014. In a promotional video for Never Flinch, King said, “She’s a very quiet person. She’s an insecure person. But she’s also brave. And that particular contrast really fascinated me.” Never Flinch is the second standalone novel centered on Gibney, following 2023’s Holly.
In Never Flinch, Gibney tracks a serial killer who is threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” as retribution for the death of a wrongly convicted man. Gibney is also hired as a bodyguard to protect a prominent feminist activist from an obsessive stalker.
Holly Gibney Books in Order
Gibney has not only become a favorite of King’s but she’s a fan favorite, too. Justine Lupe portrayed her in Mr. Mercedes, while Cynthia Erivo played her in The Outsider. If you’re looking to read every Holly Gibney book before (or after) Never Flinch, here’s what you need to know about every book she appears in.
The character is introduced in the Bill Hodges trilogy. Her first standalone story is 2021’s Holly, but she also appears in The Outsider and If It Bleeds, a novella. The TV adaptation of Mr. Mercedes is streaming on Peacock, while The Outsider is on Max.
Mr. Mercedes
Published: June 3, 2014
Mr. Mercedes, published in 2014, is centered on detective Bill Hodges, who Brendan Gleeson plays in the Audience Network adaptation of the same name. It’s the first entry in the Bill Hodges trilogy, and also introduces Holly Gibney as a side character.
Finders Keepers
Published: June 2, 2015
Finders Keepers is the second novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy, and follows an obsessive fan who murders a reclusive novelist and steals an unpublished manuscript. Thirty-five years later, he’s released and wants the manuscript back, and Hodges and Gibney have to prevent him from killing again.
End of Watch
Published: June 7, 2016
End of Watch introduces a supernatural element to the series, as the hospitalized antagonist gains telekinetic powers, using them to influence victims to commit suicide. It’s the final installment in the Bill Hodges trilogy.
The Outsider
Published: May 22, 2018
The Outsider centers on a new cast of characters. The story centers on a supernatural killer who can mimic a person’s appearance. Gibney is brought in as a private detective to help with the investigation.
If It Bleeds
Published: April 21, 2020
If It Bleeds is a collection of previously unpublished stories. The title story is centered on Gibney as she investigates a school bombing.
Holly
Published: September 5, 2023
Holly, published in 2021, is the first standalone novel centered on Gibney. Set during the Covid pandemic, and follows the private detective as she investigates a series of disappearances.