As a young avid reader of classic literature in the 1970s, I decided to give popular fiction a shot. I loved horror, so I latched on to a new author named Stephen King. After reading CARRIE, THE SHINING and ’SALEM’S LOT, I was forever sold and realized there was serious modern horror beyond what I had seen in the works of Poe and Dickens. Now, 50 years later, I am still just as excited to pick up a Stephen King book --- and happy to say that he has not lost a single literary step.

NEVER FLINCH does not have any supernatural elements. The horrors depicted here are entirely human in nature, which makes them that much more frighteningly real. I have enjoyed seeing the progression of King’s career over the past five decades and how he has evolved from being "merely" a horror author to one of the finest writers working today.

"Despite the book’s title, I found myself flinching several times at the well-placed plot twists and suspenseful turns the narrative takes. It is further confirmation that Stephen King is the 'king' of fiction..."

The book continues the adventures of characters who originated in the Bill Hodges trilogy, specifically Holly Gibney, who runs the Finders Keepers private investigation firm just outside of Cleveland. In HOLLY, she had to face pure evil with a supernatural bent. This time, she gets involved in two separate cases that will converge in the cleverest of ways to create a finale that will have readers gripping their chairs in fear and delight.

The first of the very earthbound evil characters here is Trig, who attends an AA meeting in Buckeye City, Ohio, where Holly and Finders Keepers reside. We will soon learn that Trig has an agenda that presents him as a serial killer seeking to right a wrong done to someone who lost his life in prison. It turns out that this prisoner was wrongly convicted, and Trig is making it his business to symbolically kill 13 people to represent the jury and attorney responsible for the tragic fate of this man, who was beaten to death behind bars. The homicides are eerie, brutal and shocking, and I will keep the particulars secret in this review because it makes for such intense reading.

Meanwhile, Kate McKay, a fiery and outspoken women’s rights activist, is in need of a bodyguard. Her rhetoric has angered some unhinged conservative religious types, particularly when it comes to her views on abortion. Someone in an obvious disguise attacks her with what appears to be acid to the face. It is actually bleach, and the victim is Kate’s assistant. Nevertheless, Kate insists that she has additional help to keep an eye on the throngs of haters and the villain behind this assault.

Holly agrees to take on the role of protector and goes on tour with Kate while trying to zero in on the individual who appears to be acting on behalf of a much larger religious syndicate that wants nothing more than to see Kate’s head on a stake. While not as horrific as Trig’s murderous rampage, this situation is still extremely intense and dangerous, and Holly may be in over her head.

What makes these unrelated narratives that much better is when the brilliantly fertile imagination of Stephen King finds a way to bring them together in a final act that will endanger everyone involved as these two villains cross paths to unexpected and violent results. Despite the book’s title, I found myself flinching several times at the well-placed plot twists and suspenseful turns the narrative takes. It is further confirmation that Stephen King is the “king” of fiction, and he is never better than when he is scaring us with supernatural or human monsters.