Finders Keepers

Published: 2015

Finders Keepers (2015), the second volume in the Bill Hodges trilogy, begins in 1978 when obsessed fan Morris Bellamy murders reclusive author John Rothstein for ending his famous Jimmy Gold series with the protagonist selling out to advertising. Morris steals Rothstein's money and notebooks containing unpublished Jimmy Gold novels before hiding them and being arrested for another crime. Decades later, teenager Peter Saubers discovers Morris's buried treasure in 2010 and uses the money to anonymously help his family, struggling since his father was injured in the Mr. Mercedes massacre. As Peter becomes drawn into the notebooks' literary power, Morris is released from prison and violently pursues his long-hidden treasure. Retired detective Bill Hodges, his partner Holly Gibney, and their young friend Jerome must protect Peter and his family from Morris's increasingly dangerous obsession. The novel explores the relationship between authors and readers, particularly the sense of ownership readers feel over beloved characters. Through Morris and Peter's contrasting relationships with Rothstein's work, King examines how literature shapes identity and morality. Critics praised the novel's examination of literary obsession and integration of new characters with returning ones, though some found Hodges's relatively late entrance into the narrative jarring. The book performed well commercially, maintaining the trilogy's popularity. The television adaptation incorporated elements from this novel into its second season. King has discussed the book as his exploration of the sometimes problematic relationship between authors and fans—a theme relevant to his own experience with obsessive readers. For the Bill Hodges trilogy, Finders Keepers serves as a bridge that gradually introduces supernatural elements that will dominate the third volume. The novel's focus on the power of literature reflects King's career-long interest in stories about writers and writing, while its structure—alternating between past and present—demonstrates his skill with complex narratives.

Themes

• Literary obsession
• Author-reader relationship
• Family sacrifice
• Legacy
• Artistic integrity

Adaptations

• Elements incorporated into the second season of the Mr. Mercedes television series

Collector Notes

Second volume in the Bill Hodges trilogy. Notable for its focus on literary obsession and the relationship between authors and readers—themes relevant to King's own experiences.