Mr Mercedes

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Described as 'the best thriller of the year' Sunday Express, the No. 1 bestseller introduces retired cop Bill Hodges in a race against time to apprehend a killer.

A cat-and-mouse suspense thriller featuring Bill Hodges, a retired cop who is tormented by 'the Mercedes massacre', a case he never solved.

Brady Hartsfield, perpetrator of that notorious crime, has sent Hodges a taunting letter. Now he's preparing to kill again.

Each starts to close in on the other in a mega-stakes race against time.

©2014 Stephen King (P)2014 Simon & Schuster

LOVED IT

I have always been reluctant to read a Stephen King Novel believing regrettably thinking that all his stories were fearful and scary but I bit the bullet and my goodness I loved it. The story line was clever, intriguing, holding my interest all the way to the end. Undeniable a great thriller!

King is king

Stephen King can spin a yarn with the best. In fact, his books seem more alive and engaging and than many other authors.

I'm not a huge fan of his strictly horror writing, but if he can continue in this vein I'll read them all!

Not one of his best

Well, it's a Stephen King so the way the story is told is interesting. The plot, concepts and characters are archaic. I would not advice anyone to spend a credit on this, even for big fans.

Really good

Loved it what a great storyteller and a fantastic story want to start all over again

Well read!!

A slow start but the links and story line linked in so well enjoyed it.

Grey audiobook!

Fantastic reading, excellent content. A thrilling listen. Can't wait to listen to the next books.

One of the best books I've ever listened to.

Wow. King is the master of suspense, of character development, and of sick little twista and turns that send your stomach twisting, but in a good way. You're not just listening to a story, you're being picked up and flung on a journey. I loved it. The narrator was an absolutely perfect choice.

Engaging Thriller!

Stephen king’s Thriller writing and Will Patton’s narration are a golden match. The novel is a powerful thriller that keeps you wanting more and more. The cat and mouse scenes between the retired detective and the villain keeps you on your toes. Loved it!

Mr Mercedes

Loved the ending of this book, now just want to read the next. Good story and narration

Will Patton brought the story to life!

The narrator managed to paint an excellent picture of the characters with his voice.
Stephen King once again kept me on the edge of my seat...

King on form yet again

Mr Mercedes has great pace, almost breathless sometimes . If you have ever liked a Stephen King novel, then I reckon you will like this one very much. Some decent characters, lots of action and tension - a classic page-turner, well read by Will Patton. But too straightforward, dare I say simple, for this fan - hence only 4 stars. Best for me would be Bag of Bones or Hearts In Atlantis, both available unabridged from audible. But don't get me wrong - Mr Mercedes is a really great listen!

Cliched, Predictable but Brilliant

Yes, it's nicked part of almost every private-eye-hunts-serial-killer book ever written, from Wilkie Collins to Chandler and beyond. Yes, you could plot the beginning, middle and end without too many mistakes.

But that old formula in a great storyteller's hands can grip like nothing else, which is why we're still watching Sherlock and why JK Rowling's equally cliche-ridden latests are selling like hotcakes.

In other words, couldn't put it down (or whatever the audio equivalent may be). Highly recommended, have already downloaded the follow-up.

A gripping and absorbing thriller

This Stephen King at his best - he is really much more than a horror writer, for those who don't already know that. It's his superb characterisation that is so special. His characters are fully realised, to the point that you feel you know them - even the evil ones. This is an "old fashioned" thriller, by which I don't mean dated or predictable, but simply a rattling good story which is scary, humorous, and moving - all human life is there as a disreputable newspaper used to say. It is hugely enjoyable and I found it difficult to pause once I had started. The narrator gives a beautifully judged performance and I would recommend this book to anyone - especially those who think Stephen King is not for them.

A superbly gripping story read by the best.

Outstanding narration makes this thrilling story of twisted humanity v flawed protagonists truly come alive - King at his best.
Highly recommended.

Engaging & riveting

I haven't read one of Stephen King books for a while but I am a big fan of his writing. I downloaded Mr Mercedes and expected a good story. The book surpassed my expectations, particularly the characters.

King really brings his characters to life and this book is alive with characters. You end up loving them and hating them in equal measure!

Bring on the second book in the trilogy!

A great venture into the Crime genre from King

Absolutely loved this book a great start to the trilogy. Can't wait to get the next one.

Finished it in a hurry

Stephen king is back with his dark stories. this thriller doesn't disappoint. in typical king style, narrative leads this story promptly forward. overall, quite easy to complete.

A different kind of Stephen King novel

This is recognisable as Stephen King but is refreshingly different from supernatural or ghost or monster tales.

Excellently Narrated

A fantastic listen, particularly enhanced by the narration from Will Patton. There are not as many twists and turns as I was perhaps expecting, but nonetheless it was utterly engaging from start to finish, looking forward to the next chapter with Mr. Hodges....

A great listen

What did you like most about Mr Mercedes?

Stephen Kings characterisations. I enjoy all the back stories, they bring his characters to life

What other book might you compare Mr Mercedes to, and why?

Hmmm, better than the usual detective hunting a physcopath stories, which can become very common place as there are so many. This one stands out.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favourite?

The main character a retired detective. Will Pattons narration is outstanding, each character has a unique voice, deftly displayed, young man, old man, women, all expertly done. Well Done Will!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No plot spoiler! I cared about all the characters. Not many laughs

Any additional comments?

Stephen King away from the horror genre delivers a page turner