If you’re a fan of Stephen King like me, you might be familiar with his enigmatic character, Holly Gibney. But did you know she has her own series of books where her character plays a major role? Here’s everything you need to know about the Holly Gibney series, including Stephen King’s newest book coming in 2023, Holly.
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Who is Holly Gibney?
Holly Gibney is a character who Stephen King created and introduced in his Bill Hodges trilogy. (The first book in that series is called Mr. Mercedes). Holly is a neurodivergent woman who works as a private detective.
After the Bill Hodges series, Holly returned as a supporting character in The Outsider, then as the protagonist in a novella titled If It Bleeds, and is also the titular character in Stephen King’s upcoming novel, Holly.
Holly Gibney Books in Order
Here are the books that are technically included in the Holly Gibney series. This list doesn’t include the Bill Hodges trilogy, because it isn’t officially considered part of the Holly Gibney series (though she does play a pretty major role in those books, and I recommend reading them first if possible to avoid spoilers).
Check out this post for Stephen King’s best non-horror mysteries and thrillers.
The Outsider by Stephen King
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Mystery
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Synopsis: Detective Ralph Anderson is pulled in to investigate a horrific crime riddled with conflicting evidence. The top suspect – a well-known and well-liked local man – has an ironclad alibi. And yet, eyewitnesses and DNA evidence place him at the scene of the crime.
Release date: May 22nd, 2018 (U.S.)
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Suspense
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Synopsis: This novella (part of a collection of four novellas by Stephen King) is a standalone sequel to The Outsider, following Holly Gibney as she investigates her first solo case.
For more Stephen King short stories and novellas, be sure to check out this post for all of Stephen King’s short story collections in order (plus the best TV and movie adaptations based on those stories)!
Release date: April 21st, 2020 (U.S.)
Holly by Stephen King
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Mystery
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Synopsis: A desperate mother enlists Holly’s detective agency to help find her missing daughter. The suspects: an octogenarian married couple who work as academic professors – and who may be hiding a terrible secret in their basement.
Release date: September 5th, 2023 (U.S.)
Do you have to read Stephen King’s Holly Gibney books in order?
If you haven’t read the Bill Hodges trilogy yet, you will come across some spoilers in The Outsider. So, if possible, I recommend reading that trilogy first before reading the books in the Holly Gibney series.
I also recommend reading the Holly Gibney series books in order as well, although the If It Bleeds novella is technically considered a stand-alone sequel to The Outsider.
Is there a TV show or movie adaptation of The Outsider or Holly Gibney’s other books?
Yes! A TV show adaptation of The Outsider was released in 2020 by HBO, starring Ben Mendelsohn as Detective Ralph Anderson and Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney. The standalone sequel novella, If It Bleeds, has not yet been optioned for film. It’s possible it will be optioned by HBO for another limited series, as a follow-up to The Outsider, but that’s not yet confirmed.
The three other novellas/stories from If It Bleeds (not featuring Holly Gibney) have all been optioned for film adaptations, however:
- Mr. Harrigan’s Phone was adapted by Ryan Murphy, Netflix, and Blumhouse. It was released in 2022 as a full-length movie starring Jaeden Martell and Donald Sutherland.
- Rat was optioned by Ben Stiller.
- The Life of Chuck was optioned by Darren Aronofsky.
I hope you get a chance to read this chilling and suspenseful series, including Stephen King’s newest book in 2023 featuring Holly Gibney!
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I used to be a pretty avid reader of Stephen King but being a caregiver to an ALS patient the last 7 yrs I’ve lost touch. Thank you for bring me up to speed. I will get back to reading my favorite author of all time.
Hi Lorraine! I’m so glad my post helped inspire you to get back to reading. Audiobooks could be a good option for when you don’t have a lot of free time (just a thought)! Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, too. 🙂
Hi Miss Taylor..I also was an advid reader..A huge fan of Steven King..I’m from Portland, Maine..not far from Steven Kings home about a couple of hours..needless to say I never got to visit his home..I now reside in South Carolina..I would love to get back to reading as I did way back in the day..Maybe this will help me get there..I also saw Mr.Flanagans Phone great movie huge fan of Donald Sutherland…P.s..i did get to meet Steven King at a kitchen store in Kittery Maine called Lechters..
Hi Kathy! That’s so cool! I think he’s one of the few authors I would recognize right away if I saw him in person haha. Ohh I’ve been wanting to watch that adaptation – I need to ASAP. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Like Anne Wilkes, I’m Stephen Kings #1 fan. Note: no worries Mr. King I’m too old to cause any trouble!! Plus I’m a fan of Owen’s and Tabby! Can’t wait to read Holly. Unfortunately I lost almost all of my Stephen Collection. There was a flood in my condo, and my insurance would not cover enough to buy back about 37 books. Plus I did not get the list turned in time.!! Actually it was mostly my fault. Anyway, I am starting to replace them this summer. I hope this is a place where we can discuss him.! I’ve never gotten involved in internet chatting, but I would for him,
I love Stephen King, too! I’ve read quite a few of his books, but I’m still working my way through them all. Oh no, I’m sorry to hear about your collection. I hope you’re able to replace it without too much trouble!
Thanks for having this post. I’m glad that I followed your advice and read (listened to) the Bill Hodges books first!!
I’m so glad you found the post helpful 🙂 I love all those characters so much. Hope you’re enjoying the books!