If It Bleeds by Stephen King

New York Times Bestseller

From the master of the novella comes four dark, brilliant tales that showcase Stephen King at his finest. If It Bleeds delivers exactly what King devotees crave: unforgettable characters, creeping dread, and stories that linger long after the final page.

The collection opens with the title story, bringing back beloved detective Holly Gibney (from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy and The Outsider) as she confronts a new supernatural threat—this time flying solo. In “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” a touching friendship between a young man and an elderly billionaire takes a disturbing turn into the afterlife. “The Life of Chuck” (now a Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award-winning film directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston) explores the extraordinary lives contained within one ordinary man. And in “Rat,” a desperate writer makes a Faustian bargain that tests the limits of ambition.

King’s novellas have always been something special—think Stand by Me, think The Shawshank Redemption. These four new tales prove he hasn’t lost his touch. The Washington Post calls them “exceptionally compelling,” while The Boston Globe praises the collection as “an adroit vehicle to showcase the nature of evil.”

But it’s not all darkness. At the heart of these stories lies King’s enduring faith in friendship and human connection—the forces that save us when evil comes calling. Perfect for a foggy afternoon by the sea or a stormy night by the fire.

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