Never Flinch

A Novel

De: Stephen King

Narrado por: Jessie Mueller, Stephen King

From master storyteller Stephen King comes an extraordinary new novel with intertwining storylines—one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission, and another about a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker—featuring the beloved Holly Gibney and a dynamic new cast of characters.

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.

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. 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.

Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.

Thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.

©2025 Stephen King (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Jessie Mueller provides a rich, satisfying performance that should please fans of King’s audiobooks, particularly his most recent works. By now, King has fully embraced the detective genre. Private investigator Holly Gibney is back—with her dizzying intellect, ability to think through tough cases, and relatable quirks. The story is a revenge plot that has the murderer announcing to law enforcement a plan to kill '13 guilty and one innocent.' Along the way, Gibney hits the road, serving as protection for a famous women’s rights activist who also attracts credible, dangerous threats. Mueller fully embodies the many diverse voices that make up Gibney’s world of the Finders Keepers detective agency, including characters who break into song. Mueller’s tone embraces the mounting tension." —AudioFile Magazine

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2025 by The New York Times Book Review, AV Club, Variety, The Boston Globe, The Minnesota Star Tribune, Vulture, Men’s Health, Book Riot, New York Post, Goodreads, AARP, Paste, and more!

This is the best narration I've heard in the last 3 years.

This narrator was 100% spot on. Truely a joy to listen to. Although I realize abortion is a very divisive subject, I also understand that it was impossible for the author to put names to the billions of unborn humans that have been slaughtered because they were an inconvenience.

King Stumbles?

I've never felt compelled to write a review until I finished listening to this today. Most of the way through the book, I thought, 'this cannot be Stephen King.' I thought maybe he gave the idea to a lesser writer but still published it somehow? I didn't find it AI-bad, but so much of the book was just... questionable. He is my favorite author, hands down. And his latest work is so good, it's almost unreal (from Mr. Mercedes to the first Holly book). It was interesting in the Author's Note at the end, he basically talks about the struggles he had writing it, which was the evidence that, yep, he wrote this thing. I kept thinking, there's no way he's going to have these unrelated stories come together - in the same room, no less - but he sure did. I had this second Holly book on my calendar to download the day it came out, I was so excited. There's a first for everything, and this is the first King book in which I'm disappointed.

King is Still King

As the title states...King is still King ...

But ..

He has once again defaulted to his almost formulaic format of his own personal politics and beliefs..i.e.

conservative = bad
Christians= bad

you miss the days of his more even handed view of Novels like The Stand or Desperation where you might at least have a positive view of those who are practicing Christians..

it's at the point where King appears almost infantile in pushing his own views...

Even with that he is still a masterful storyteller...
The afterword makes you ponder if King is impacted by any health issues etc given how he sounds .
On the plus side the narration is vastly improved over his previous work of Holly..but still behind Will Patton's masterful acting of Holly's personality..you still can't go wrong with His work ..as a fan he is still vibrant..but come on Steve ..can you have a bad guy who shares YOUR views or only those opposite of yours .??

Not good

Love SK-but not this. Story predictable. All characters were unlikable-no mystery-and frankly not an enjoyable read.

Choppy Story

I waited so long for a new Stephen King book to be released!

I am so disappointed! This story is convoluted and choppy! It would have been better if the story just centered on the serial killer with more of his background motivations.

I watched a movie where Holly Gibney was played by Cynthia Orivo. The Holly Gibney in this story bears no resemblance.

I hope we don't have to wait another 2 years for King's next release. I gave the book 4 stars only because it is a Stephen King book.

The narrator was just ok.

It’s alright

Like other reviews, it is more of a solid murder/crime novel than a typical King novel. I think the missing element of the supernatural and Will Patten narrating Holly is what made this just alright. Expectations for a Holly spinoff really haven’t been met for me in the two that have come out since the Bill Hodges trilogy.

Average at Best

Story just didn't do it for me. I'm a King fanatic read every novel most more than once. I can't ever see myself returning to this one though. Can't wait for the next one however.

outstanding 💖

Excellent narrator brings all the complex characters to life! What a cast and King is a master at drawing all the strands into art. Holly Gibney is a FMC for the ages. Some will pan this book based on politics which is EXACTLY what this story warns against! Situational irony! Long live King 👑

No spoilers

Not your typical SK novel in terms of spookiness, but an incredibly tightly interwoven story that is next to impossible to put down. I can’t say enough about the narrator—she captures not o oh the characters but also the tone of the story itself. Glad I listened instead of reading this one!

Holly Gibney is the hero we need.

I loved it all. Every word, every scenario. Stephen King is my favorite author of all time. Never disappoints!