Stephen King has always been an author whose writing I admired. From his thriller classics like “The Shining,” to the ever-so-popular “It,” King’s prevalence in literature is a well-deserved badge. Despite having so many well known novels, it often surprises me to see how often King releases new books. His novels are so well written, it’s become a standard for him to have great releases and “Holly” has cemented itself as one of them.

The premise of “Holly” follows the main character Holly Gibney, as she answers a plea to find a missing young woman. Following her instincts as a private investigator, Holly chases after the hair-raising case in a whir of recklessness and ambition, keeping the suspense potent throughout the book.

Holly has been a recurring character in another series by King. Her first appearance is in “Mr. Mercedes,” and Holly has become a welcome character in her appearances. Starting off from being shy and withdrawn, we have slowly seen her adapt to become an intelligent and bold character who later becomes a private investigator. In terms of traits, I wouldn’t say Holly is my personal favorite protagonist, but her character is so gripping due to her well-done development. King beautifully portrays her as a real person who makes rational decisions, making her truly a mark of a remarkable character.

Another thing that makes “Holly” so enticing is the suspense, which is often where authors struggle to hold the tension throughout the book, but “Holly” nails it . The characters are so well written — their thoughts laid bare in the most human of ways — that it truly sends a tendril of fear through your mind. I caught myself nervously looking around my own surroundings while reading, because that is the terror in the cruelty these murderous people blatantly exhibit.

The only slightly disorienting thing in the novel is the brashness and rapid exhibition of King’s ideas. All over the book, there is the prevalence of COVID-19, increasing the urgency of the book as we see constant death. Along with the disease comes the infamous anti-maskers, one being Hollys’ mother, who succumbs to COVID-19 after protesting mask mandates. Though the time frame and setting are interesting, I was not as engaged in the sudden contemporary debates.

“Holly” is a masterful piece of the thriller genre. With a mind-bending plot, terror-inducing execution and skilled writing. “Holly” is a benchmark to modern crime, human cruelty and the truths of horror in society: a perfect example of suspense done well.