Harrigan, the kid buys his friend an iPhone. After winning some cash off a lottery scratcher gifted by Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.” Craig is a youngster in a small Maine town hired by a rich old businessman to read and do the odd chore after he retires. King’s penchant for coming-of-age yarns – seen not only in “It” but also his novella “The Body” (the basis for “Stand by Me”) – comes through in “Mr. More: Stephen King decries comparisons between coronavirus and his pandemic novel ‘The Stand' When storms, insecurities and sickness (including some aspects that feel a little too close to our current viral crisis) hit, Drew strikes a sinister bargain with a rodent that turns out to be a thought-provoking (and punny) spin on a “Monkey’s Paw” situation. But his latest concept, a Western thriller, is gangbusters, and he goes out to an old family cabin in the woods to get the novel done. He’s given himself over to academia because every time he tries to turn a good idea into a novel, things go seriously bad – mentally, physically or both. “Rat” centers on the aforementioned writer, a man named Drew Larson with an acclaimed short story to his credit. “If It Bleeds” also digs into her backstory, her family and how far she’s come from being a mousy supporting character to a bona fide modern Sherlock. This time, she’s investigating a horrific school bombing in Pennsylvania and a TV newsman who has an uncanny knack for covering major tragedies. Mercedes” and is now one of King’s most indelible personalities.

Inspired by the journalism adage “If it bleeds, it leads,” the story is a first solo outing for heroic private eye Holly Gibney, who was originally just a “quirky walk-on” in “Mr. King’s Constant Readers, as well as those who adored HBO’s recent adaptation of “The Outsider,” will be most interested in the title novella. Rowling's Harry Potter on annual challenged books list More: Margaret Atwood's`Handmaid’s Tale,′ J.K. Joining fellow past collections 'Different Seasons,' 'Four Past Midnight' and 'Full Dark, No Stars,' “If It Bleeds” showcases King’s gift for crafting personas – in one case, fleshing out someone fans already know well – and exploring themes such as mortality and friendship. But as classic as his novels are, his shorter fiction has been just as gripping over the years, and includes such classics as 'The Body' and 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.'

Now, King himself doesn’t have that problem at all – the horror master’s astounding bibliography, with epic tomes like “It” and “The Stand,” speaks for itself. The main character in one of Stephen King’s novellas in his new collection, “If It Bleeds” (Scribner, 448 pp., ★★★½ out of four), is aces with short stories but has real issues getting a novel together.

Holly gibney if it bleeds