With more than 60 novels to his name and a career that spans a near half-century, Stephen King is arguably one of the best-known authors alive today. However, despite his rightful claim to a seat on the literary throne, many avid readers shy away from King’s books. Be it a weak stomach, a dislike of things that go “bump” in the night, or a fear of the unknown, some people just can’t take the plunge. Wary readers fear no more! King’s 2014 crime fiction novel, Mr. Mercedes, strikes the perfect balance between mystery and suspense. Departing from his traditional horror-based roots, King crafted a story worthy of your attention. Let’s explore the reasons why it’s time you dive in and experience the world of Stephen King. And don’t worry – you shouldn’t have to sleep with one eye open after reading this one. 

Reason one: to see a different side of Stephen King.

He shines in the mystery, crime fiction realm with this novel. It’s a refreshing break from King’s usual suspects that often feature supernatural phenomenon. Mr. Mercedes is a believable story with real villains and real heroes.   

Reason two: Detective Bill Hodges provides a relatable protagonist.

With a character reminiscent of the 80’s cult fiction Detective Cagney, it’s hard not to relate to Bill Hodges in some way. As a retired officer of the law, Hodges is hardened and almost flippant in regards to self-worth. Battling with a lingering feeling of regret and the crippling tendencies of his undiagnosed depression, Hodges is in no way a perfect protagonist. But that’s what makes it work. He’s honest, imperfect and raw – a true “every man.” 

Reason three: the storyline isn’t all that unbelievable.

This is partially due to the fact that pieces of the book were based on real events. King’s inspiration for having a car act as the murder weapon stems from the story of a woman who drove through the front of a McDonalds. Along with drawing ideas from true stories, the book’s believability can be attributed to King’s ability to seamlessly weave together a series of completely possible, however unfortunate, events to create the perfect mystery. 

Reason four: it’s a perfect balance of CSI, Criminal Minds and True Detective. 

Combine the continuous trail of evidence and clues popular in CSI, the back-and-forth narration between detective and perpetrator in Criminal Minds, with the obsessive compulsion to close a stale case from True Detective, and you end up with a well-crafted crime novel. 

Reason five: Brady Hartsfield is a modern-day Norman Bates.

Though Hartsfield’s personality and situation aren’t exactly the same, it’s fair to say he is as close to Bates’ level of sociopath as any antagonist in the past 50-some-odd years. Hartsfield’s backstory alone will have you on the edge of your seat. *Side note: if you don’t know Norman Bates, go ahead and pick up Robert Bloch’s Psycho while you’re out.

Reason six: the random and peculiar team of “sidekicks.”

Every great detective has a sidekick, or, in this case, a team of sidekicks. Jerome and Holly are the complete opposite of any duo you’ve ever seen. The unlikely pairing of a mentally unstable middle-aged woman with an intellectual prodigy of a teenager somehow works. King wraps the team up in a pretty little package and delivers it to you in a very intentional, surprising way. 

Reason seven: it’s a well-staged cat-and-mouse mystery.

In its simplest form, Mr. Mercedes is a classic tale of good chasing evil, light chasing dark. However elementary it may initially appear, once you dive in, King will have you questioning who’s really chasing whom. 

Reason eight: to prepare for the next chapter.

Lucky for us, King announced that Mr. Mercedes would not only have a sequel, but that he’s continuing the story through a trilogy. The second installment, Finder’s Keepers, debuts early June.