Holly’s Still Standing: “Never Flinch” Brings Her Back With Bite

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Never Flinch by Stephen King picks up where Holly left off, and it’s great to see Holly Gibney back in action—older, wearier, but still as sharp and stubborn as ever. This latest instalment doesn’t quite reach the emotional heights of her previous outing, but it’s a solid, chilling continuation of her story, and Stephen King proves he’s still got plenty left to explore with her.

This time around, Holly’s pulled into a case that feels less like a traditional mystery and more like a slow-burn psychological horror wrapped in real-world fears. Gone are the hints of the supernatural—Never Flinch is rooted firmly in the here and now, and that makes it all the more terrifying. The plot moves briskly, and Holly’s voice—full of quiet empathy, anxious energy, and understated strength—guides us through another nightmare that feels just plausible enough to send a chill down your spine.

What really stands out is how King weaves in current political fears, particularly the rollback of abortion rights. It’s not subtle, but it’s not heavy-handed either. The story digs into the horror of lost autonomy and the dangerous ideologies creeping back into the mainstream. Holly finds herself up against more than just a killer—there’s a whole system of control and cruelty behind the scenes, and King makes sure you feel the weight of it. The rage simmering just beneath the surface of this book feels purposeful. You can tell King’s not just writing fiction here—he’s making a point, and it hits.

Holly herself continues to evolve in interesting ways. She’s still battling her anxiety, still mourning those she’s lost, still unsure of her place in the world—but she’s also more assertive now. She doesn’t flinch (pun intended) from uncomfortable truths, and there’s something deeply satisfying in watching her come into her own. This isn’t the same Holly we met back in Mr. Mercedes. She’s scarred, but she’s solid.

The only reason I’m docking a star is the ending. It wraps up a little too cleanly for my liking. Given how charged and intense the middle of the book is, I was hoping for something messier, something that lingered. Still, that doesn’t take away from what is otherwise a tense, tightly-written continuation of Holly’s story.

If you’ve followed Holly this far, Never Flinch is absolutely worth the read. It’s darker, angrier, and more politically pointed than some of her previous cases, but that makes it feel even more urgent. She’s still one of King’s most compelling characters, and this book proves she’s far from done. Four stars from me.