If It Bleeds

Synopsis

The No.1 Sunday Times bestseller featuring a stand-alone sequel to The Outsider as well as the novella 'Mr Harrigan's Phone', now with a stunning new cover look.

News people have a saying:

'If it bleeds, it leads'.

Following a horrific explosion at a school, Holly Gibney of the Finders Keepers detective agency notices something suspicious about the TV reporter who is first on the scene. In this riveting title story, Holly sets out to discover what he is hiding in her first solo crime case.

Dancing alongside this stand-alone sequel to The Outsider are three more irresistible long stories: 'Mr Harrigan's Phone' sees young Craig introduce a curmudgeonly retired businessman to the wonders of the smartphone; 'The Life of Chuck' is a three act life-story - told in reverse order - about a man whose face appears on a billboard; and 'Rat' sees a struggling author head to a remote cabin in the woods of North Maine, where a deal-making rodent offers him a life-changing pact.

Summary

Chapter 1: Mr. Harrigan's Phone

* Plot Summary:
* Craig, a teenage boy, befriends Mr. Harrigan, an elderly recluse. When Mr. Harrigan dies and leaves Craig his iPhone, Craig uses it to communicate with his deceased mentor's spirit.
* Real Example:
* Craig uses the iPhone to ask Mr. Harrigan for advice in dealing with a bully. Mr. Harrigan's spirit threatens to punish the bully, and the bully suddenly becomes paralyzed.

Chapter 2: The Life of Chuck

* Plot Summary:
* The second story follows Chuck, a private detective hired to investigate a missing person's case. As Chuck delves deeper into the investigation, he discovers a series of disturbing events connected to a mysterious figure known as the Rat.
* Real Example:
* Chuck uncovers evidence that the missing person was involved in a secret society that practices dark rituals. The Rat is revealed to be the society's leader, who possesses supernatural abilities.

Chapter 3: If It Bleeds

* Plot Summary:
* Holly Gibney, a character from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, investigates a series of violent killings in a small town. As she digs into the murders, she encounters a sinister cult that worships an ancient evil entity.
* Real Example:
* Holly discovers that the victims were members of a secret society that had summoned a demon. The demon possesses one of the cult members and wreaks havoc on the town.

Chapter 4: Rat

* Plot Summary:
* The fourth story returns to the world of Chuck from "The Life of Chuck." Chuck is hired to find a missing girl who is believed to have been kidnapped by the mysterious Rat.
* Real Example:
* Chuck follows a trail of clues that lead him to an abandoned warehouse. There, he confronts the Rat, who has transformed into a monstrous creature. Chuck uses his detective skills and quick thinking to overcome the Rat.

Chapter 5: The End

* Plot Summary:
* Holly Gibney and Chuck's paths cross as they investigate the intersecting cases in the previous stories. They uncover a grand conspiracy involving ancient evil, secret societies, and supernatural forces.
* Real Example:
* Holly and Chuck join forces to defeat the ultimate evil, a powerful entity that threatens to consume the world in darkness. They use their combined skills and knowledge to unravel the conspiracy and restore balance to reality.