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Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Stephen King reveals why he almost trashed his latest novel — and why his dog may outlive him
Updated 8 hrs ago May 24, 2025 6 min read Save By Janet Somerville Special to the Star 'Sometimes the universe throws you a rope.' That's what cop-turned-private investigator Bill Hodges tells his colleague Holly Gibney in Stephen King's 2015 novel 'Finders Keepers.' As Holly returns in 'Never Flinch,' King's new book, out May 27, that wisdom becomes a touchstone in all of the narrative threads. The Dickens of our time spoke with me recently by phone from Florida where he winters with his wife of 54 years, the novelist Tabitha King, and their 10-year-old corgi, Molly, whom his social media followers will recognize by King's ironic nickname for her: The Thing of Evil. Throughout our conversation his generosity of spirit shone, reverberating, as Fitzgerald wrote, 'like a tuning-fork struck upon a star.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Janet Somerville is the author of 'Yours, for Probably Always: Martha Gellhorn's Letters of Love & War 1930-1949.' Related Stories 'Poison: A History' and a 100-year-old book signed by Tolkien: a peek at the library of bestselling fantasy novelist Guy Gavriel Kay Toronto novelist Linwood Barclay took a big risk with his latest book, 'Whistle': 'If it sinks like a stone, it will probably be the last of its kind' Forensic anthropology is mainly behind her, but Kathy Reichs is still dreaming up Temperance Brennan novels Report an error Journalistic Standards About The Star More from The Star & partners
Toronto Star
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Toronto novelist Linwood Barclay took a big risk with his latest book, ‘Whistle': ‘If it sinks like a stone, it will probably be the last of its kind'
May 18, 2025 4 min read Save By Janet Somerville Special to the Star Long before he found his footing as a newspaper journalist, first at the Peterborough Examiner and later at the Toronto Star, Linwood Barclay was a kid writing fan fiction based on his favourite TV shows and was soon befriending celebrated writers Margaret Laurence and Ross Macdonald (pen name of Kenneth Millar). When I met with the internationally bestselling novelist in the Little Portugal home he shares with his wife, Neetha — his beloved and trusted first reader — he had just returned from a book tour in France. It began at Lyon's massive crime literature festival, Quais du Polar, where his 2023 thriller 'The Lie Maker' was the leading Canadian title and one of the finalists for the Grand Prix des lectrices Elle. Barclay is home just as his own second TV series airs there: 'Cette nuit-là (That Night).' It's based on 'No Time for Goodbye,' his breakout book from 2007, which has sold three million copies worldwide. He'll be in the U.K. in mid-June to launch his new novel, 'Whistle' (William Morrow), at an event to announce the Bloody Scotland book festival lineup, and then at Toronto's MOTIVE festival at Victoria University on June 29. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Janet Somerville is the author of 'Yours, for Probably Always: Martha Gellhorn's Letters of Love & War 1930-1949.' Related Stories Forensic anthropology is mainly behind her, but Kathy Reichs is still dreaming up Temperance Brennan novels Ernest Hemingway's time in Toronto working for the Toronto Star sparks a first-time novel In his new novel, the creator of TV's 'Bones' channels the classic private eyes Report an error Journalistic Standards About The Star More from The Star & partners
