If It Bleeds by Stephen King

I should get this out there from the offset, I am something of a King fan. Given the prolific author’s output; I can’t say that I’ve read all of his books, maybe not even most of them. What I can say with absolute confidence is that his works stand amongst my all-time favourite books and movies. So, you can be sure when a new Stephen King book comes out that I am paying attention and If It Bleeds, is no different.

This book isn’t a new novel but rather a collection of four novellas. Long-time fans of King will note this with some excitement; as the author has had a history of success in this format. On a personal note; I find them an excellent gateway into the horror writer’s style, as the size of his novels can be a little daunting for some.

Mr Harrigan’s Phone

The lead story had me intrigued from the moment it started. It’s the tale of a boy who befriends a retired businessman. At the start we’re told a yarn about friendship and love. Two generations brought together by first the written word and then by technology. By the end, the narrative is on an altogether darker path. Simultaneously a love letter and a cautionary glance at smart tech (the iPhone specifically); Mr Harrigan’s Phone reminds us that if we don’t want an answer, don’t call out.

The Life of Chuck

Everything’s falling apart and one message keeps popping up: “39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck!”. The world is in a sort of ‘pre-apocalypse’, society has fallen apart, some are indifferent, others are in a state of outright panic, one is making some really stupid decisions but ultimately no-one has any idea of what is going on around them. This is a story broken into three distinctive parts which manages to be in scary, heart-warming and hopeful all at once; with the powerful message that we are more than a single thing defining us; we each contain multitudes.

If It Bleeds

The namesake of these long short stories is a sequel to one of Stephen King’s more recent novel, The Outsider.

If not familiar with this story from the book, you might be from the HBO show of the same name? It also has plot connections (and characters) from previous books Mr Mercedes, Finders Keepers and End of Watch which also have had a TV show based on them (Mr Mercedes).

I guess the ideal experience would be to have read these four books (or seen their TV adaptations) first, I don’t think that is strictly necessary though. The lead character, a private investigator called Holly Gibney carries it well; I’ve no doubt you’d want to spend more time with her after this story though and you wouldn’t be disappointed. The story kicks off with a terror incident that doesn’t sit right with our hero and reminds her of a horror she faced not too long ago.

Rat

It all ends with a fairy tale of sorts. Rat. Words are hard; there are no two ways about it and Rat spins a yarn about an author that can’t put them to paper. He has tried and sometimes he has succeeded, other times it has gone disastrously wrong. Of course, Stephen King likes his author protagonist and why not? Write what you know. What we have here might be a protagonist but a hero he is not. This is a story about bargains, dark thoughts and deep-rooted resentment. Inspiration and association are twisted by the mind of a man with a single goal. It’s a great example of how horror can be as much about the mindset of the characters than the story itself; not the only story in the collection to make this point either.

Should You Buy ‘If It Bleeds’ by Stephen King?

The themes of the book are simple enough; believe the unbelievable, do not tempt fate, live life to your own beat and above all else… live. There are more, no doubt but these stood out to me especially. I experienced the collection through Audible, it is an excellent way to experience books if either busy or physically unable to pick up a book. The production quality of If It Bleeds is fantastic and I greatly enjoyed each of the four narrators; they all helped add to each story’s distinct tone and voice.

I couldn’t tell you if this is better or worse than other King short stories as it depends on what you are looking for and where you are in your life; that is entirely subjective. What I can tell you is that each novella is certain to be someone’s favourite and I enjoyed them all. In fact, I think If It Bleeds is a worthy addition to any book collection, whether a Stephen King fan or not; as each and every story is well crafted and has its own compelling reasons to read (or listen to). So, in summary; I believe it is a worth buying.

* This post contains affiliate links to Amazon, all opinions are my own.