If you're looking for the typical Stephen King kind of horror, if there really is such a thing, then this book is not it. This is not a bad thing. Since I rarely read the dust cover descriptions, especially on a King book, I had virtually no expectations going into Mr Mercedes. It's a King book; it's the first of a Trilogy. That's all I needed to know. But as with most King books, I did expect some paranormal, or maybe a freakish occurrence of sorts. Therefore, it took me a while to realize this is a straight up story, in Stephen King style. 
 What I love most about Stephen King is his ability to write about anything. In Mr Mercedes, Bill Hodges is a retired detective ready to hang up his hat in this world for keeps, until the killer that got away sends him a goading letter. If there is a main theme in King's body of work, it's the battle of good vs. evil. The Mercedes killer is simply evil in man. He is the product of his parents and this world, and one who wants to take out his anger in a big way. 
 The story cuts close to the current day monstrosities in America. It's a reflection of our world at this time. King gets inside the mind of a killer to reveal bitter antagonism. I like the unlikely trio in Hodges, Jerome and Holly and look forward to more from them. Their characters are so closely grounded in reality, and really another of King's loveable band of heroes we would never expect to win against the bad guy.