#98 in Horror
Never Flinch
- NYT bestseller · 6 weeks on the list, peaked at #1
Affiliate link: buying through it supports BookRank at no extra cost to you.
About the book
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? Izzy 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, disrupting her events, and growing bolder. 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, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, King’s twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only this master of suspense and horror could pull off.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.3 across 144 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 44% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Horror average of 7.5. That is how 7.5 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 7.3 | 144 | 100% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“The storylines here don't really gel at all, it feels like two novellas awkwardly pushed together, a feeling only intensified by the cheap and easy way one of them is resolved. There are dangling characters and motivations, hints at setups that don't go anywhere....King's afterword suggests this one was a difficult experience for him, and sadly you can see that on the page. Even in his late period he can still write a good book (I really liked Billy Summers), but this isn't one of them. I wouldn't mind at all if Holly had a rest for a couple of books now.”
“Pros: - I like the messages/themeing - I like the pacing - The writing is still good...so Stephen King - I liked Don/Trig as a villain - This is the book where I felt connected with Holly the most Cons: - Some characters were heavily underdeveloped - The questions asked and mysteries given were solved way too easily - Trigs character felt underutilized, at least, his motivation for becoming a serial killer - The cross dressing phsycho trope - The ending was mid”
Frequently asked
What is Never Flinch rated?
7.5 out of 10, from 144 reader ratings across 1 independent sources.
Is Never Flinch worth reading?
Readers give it 7.5/10 from 144 ratings, which puts it ahead of 37 % of the Horror shelf.
Where does Never Flinch rank?
#98 in Horror on the current snapshot.
Was Never Flinch a bestseller?
Yes — 6 weeks on the New York Times list, peaking at #1. Sales are shown here but never scored.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Horror — and a score of 7.5, the closest to this book.
