Never Flinch: A Novel
Written by Stephen King
Narrated by Stephen King and Jessie Mueller
4/5
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About this audiobook
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.
Stephen King
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch, the short story collection You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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Reviews for Never Flinch
172 ratings11 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Sep 10, 2025
The Mr. Mercedes trilogy has been a standout in Stephen King's oeuvre, and its characters are amongst his finest. So I was happy to see them return to spinoffs like The Outsider and Holly. I'm not too sure about this one though.
Holly seems to have lost most of the awkward quirkiness that made her so endearing, the Robinson kids are so excruciatingly wholesome that you'd expect their poo to smell like roses and the story itself stumbles from one unlikely coincidence to the next.
Suspending the disbelieve is a bit of a struggle at times, but things do remain interesting and well-paced. All in all a decent yarn but far from great.
King's afterword was a bit of a shock too. Not only did he admit this book is not his finest, he also sounded a bit flat and old. Not the energy I've come to know so well over the decades. I hope he's doing well. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Sep 8, 2025
Liked it. Good mystery. Happy ending
Enjoyed the ride Left it fulfilled - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Aug 21, 2025
I liked the relevance to current events and the characters. Was hoping for a little more supernatural that was hinted at in the final chapter. Although the horribleness of delusion was front and center. In all, a good read. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Aug 11, 2025
It was Exciting and expensive and I like all of his - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Jun 30, 2025
King, but not at his best as most honestly described in his afterword. However, he's forever the King of prose in my book. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Jun 11, 2025
Holly has finally hit her stride. Lots of suspense and elements of horror
Lots of smaller stories converging to.one ending. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Jul 7, 2025
I love SK but this wasn’t it for me. I’m tired of the political stuff and covid. SK is a master and he’s earned the right to write about whatever he’s passionate about for sure. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Jul 14, 2025
I gave it 3 hours and I still couldn't get into it. Normally the 1st chapter gets me hooked. Maybe it was the narrator. I really wish Will Patton would've read this.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5
Jun 14, 2025
Yarn, Lame, Unfocused are just a few words that come to mind. I wonder if Joe No Body had written this book would it have been on the best sellers list? I think not. In fact I’m not convinced, Mr. King wrote this book, and if he did, he has slipped off his throne.2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Jun 12, 2025
Disappointing for a King novel, but in line with what is being counted as a "best-selling thriller" these days. I applaud that he keeps writing, keeps going. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Jul 25, 2025
Horrible boring and politically inaccurate.. We don't need to be preached to .1 person found this helpful
