Trace van Lieshout

When I first picked up "Holly" I read the first couple of chapters and put it down. Right from the get-go there was so much focus on covid, masks and vax. We all lived through that time so why feel the need to re-immerse in it? But a little while later I decided to give it a go. When I thought about Holly as a character I thought sure, she probably would be paranoid about people's decisions regarding safety measures. And I figured I'd use the book almost as immersion therapy. I'm sure I'm not the only one that almost has PTSD from that whole 2 year period, so why not try read it to work through my issues? The book was ok. I did read it all the way through the second time....but the constant reminder of covid, masks, vax...it got to be *ho-hum*. Who knows, maybe that part will resonate with some readers, but the whole "let's introduce ourselves by stating vax status and BRAND" was just...eye rolling. And how convenient that all of the "bad guys" were not buying the narrative, or dying from covid. Hmmm.... Even the ending left me wanting more. It was all very convenient, and that's not what we've grown to know and expect from SK. I was waiting for the twist to come, but there wasn't any. Holly instantly grew from private detective to superwoman, able to cut someone's throat with an earring, and break another's neck through bars despite being shot in the arm! And then to get to hospital and be given a private room for a shallow gun shot wound, while covid sufferers were dying in hallways? Really? Anyway...this ends my relationship with SK. I have been one of his constant readers for almost 40 years, but reading this book written by a bitter old bigot just made me sad. If you would enjoy reliving 2020 and 2021 by reading an unrealistic, covid heavy book, then go ahead. I'm just glad I didn't pay for my copy.