If It Bleeds is a collection of four previously unpublished novellas by American writer Stephen King which was published on April 21, 2020, by Scribner. The stories in this collection are titled "If It Bleeds", "Mr. Harrigan's Phone", "The life of Chuck", and "Rat".
If It Bleeds
Holly Gibney of the Finders Keepers detective agency is indulged with the case of a missing dog when she sees footage of a school bombing on TV. But when she tunes in again late in the night, she realizes something is not quite right about the reporter who was first seen in the news. Soon, she finds out that she is not the only one who suspects the same. The truth about the reporter is terrifying. Holly Gibney is one of King's recurring characters, having appeared in his Bill Hodges Trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch) and in The Outsider.
Mr. Harrigan's Phone
In this story, a message on Craig's cell brings him into a shocking state. One day he finds out that his dead friend's phone, which was buried with his body, still communicates from the grave.
Craig gets a job working for the retired Mr. Harrigan when he is just nine years old--watering plants and reading books to the old man, who has retired after a successful business career in the small town of Harlow, Maine. He is a helping hand for Mr. Harrigan. The time they spend together is a lively time for both of them. As years go on, Craig buys an iPhone for him as a thank you gift after a scratch-off lotto ticket that Harrigan had gifted the boy in the form of paying him off. The old man reluctant to accept the phone at first, eventually he starts enjoying it. When Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig places the phone in his pocket to be buried with him. One night Craig, missing his friend, leaves a voice message. To his shock, he gets a text in return. Craig will learn that everything which is gone, isn't dead.
The Life of Chuck
As the world around him crumbles into oblivion, a man realizes that he contains multitudes. A story told in reverse, starting with the end of Chuck Krantz's life, and moving back in time to show how he had lived that life.
Rat
A writer with writer's block seeks a devilish bargain to help him finish a novel. He must contend with the darker side of ambition.
Review
If It Bleeds is a 2020 collection of four short stories that were originally scheduled for release on May 5, 2020, the release was pushed up to April 28 and pushed up again to April 21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Audiobook has the voices of Will Patton, Danny Burstein, and Steven Weber.
These four longer short stories leave the same impression as their predecessors penned down by Stephen King. His stories hold the readers up to the end until all the strings untangle and make a perfect end. His imaginations are limitless and he brings out very strong characters with stupendous dialogues. Each story pulls you into intriguing and frightening places. He gives pleasure to his fans every time with every new release, there is no bad start if you are new to him.
This book got mixed reviews, both thumps up and down from critics. USA Today's Brian Truitt awarded the collection 3.5/4, saying, "If It Bleeds is aces with short stories but has a real issue getting a novel together... King still owns the fright business like none other, but the iconic author will keep you up late at night engrossed in four tales about our dreams and our frailties."
His first crime thriller featuring Bill Hodges, Mr. Mercedes, won the Edgar Award for best novel and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Both Mr. Mercedes and End of Watch received the Goodreads Choice Award for the Best Mystery and Thriller of 2014 and 2016 respectively.
His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by the New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller as well as the Best Hardcover Book Award from the International Thriller Writers Association.
Stephen King has been the recipient of many national and international awards to date. He has received America's prestigious 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the 2014 National Medal of Arts. In 2007 he also won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He has been described as 'King of Horror' a play on his surname.
King studied at the University of Maine, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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