End of Watch by Stephen King

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End of Watch by Stephen King


                And here we are again with retired detective Bill Hodges and his partner Holly Gibney. Martine Stover, a woman who was paralyzed from the chest down after the massacre at the City Center is dead. It’s being ruled a murder-suicide. At least it looks that way. Her mother was found dead in the bathtub and it’s obvious she took her own life. But Pete, Hodges’s old partner called Bill for a reason. The situation doesn’t feel right. As the police officially closed their case, Hodges and Gibney begin their investigation and it leads them back to what should be a dead end, Brady Hartsfield. Hartsfield has been in the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic for years. The nurses call him a gork, the lights are on but nobody’s home. But Hodges had been hearing rumors about strange this happening around Hartsfield. Rumors about things moving, water faucets turning on, and blinds rattling when no one is there to move them. Now Hodges is being forced to believe that Mr. Mercedes might be up to old tricks with these new abilities.
                I’m not sure how much justice I’ve done this book with the above blurb but at least I tried. If you’ve read the first two books of this trilogy then you are very aware of the toxic relationship that developed between Hodges and Hartsfield. End of Watch takes that relationship, magnifies it upping the ante and the stakes. Brady is back and more powerful than he has ever been. Hodges and Holly are wrestling with an issue they can barely understand. They are running on pure instinct and skill. That and Hodges’ ever growing notion that Hartsfield isn’t done with him yet.
                The foundation laid down by the first two books makes the end of this trilogy thrilling and satisfying. Readers are already familiar with all of the relationships and the character building continues. I loved seeing how time has strengthened the relationship between Holly and Bill. It was odd in the beginning and it’s still odd but there is something so natural and endearing that is extremely enjoyable to be read. Brady is something to behold and the mystery behind his new powers and how he is putting them to use is really the driving force of the novel. Throughout these novels the readers have been very aware of the motivations of the villains and have had to watch the protagonists string the clues together. Luckily, our good guys know what they are doing and don’t mind putting themselves out on a limb to solve a problem. This book is no exception.
                I’m satisfied. Actually I am more than satisfied. I feel vindicated. End of Watch was nonstop from beginning to end and I could not put it down. It was more than what I thought it would be and by the end I was completely absorbed in the story and anxious. This is how you successfully end a trilogy. Risk it all and don’t hold back. Highly recommend this novel. I honestly feel like End of Watch truly brought this story full circle and delivered. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.


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