Hodder to publish new Stephen King in May 2020

Hodder & Stoughton has announced a new book by Stephen King, If It Bleeds, will be published in May 2020 featuring four brand new long stories.

It will be published by Hodder will publish in the UK and Commonwealth, excluding Canada, on 5th May, in hardback, e-book and audiobook. Scribner will publish in the US.

The lead story is a standalone sequel to previous bestseller The Outsider (Hodder), featuring a solo case for character Holly Gibney. Laying out its opening, the synopsis explains: “News people have a saying: ‘If it bleeds, it leads’. And a bomb at Albert Macready Middle School is guaranteed to lead any bulletin. Holly Gibney of the Finders Keepers detective agency is working on the case of a missing dog – and on her own need to be more assertive – when she sees the footage on TV. But when she tunes in again, to the late-night report, she realises there is something not quite right about the correspondent who was first on the scene.”

Three other tales, "Mr Harrigan’s Phone", "The Life of Chuck" and "Rat" all “display the richness of King’s storytelling with grace, humour, horror and breathtaking suspense,” Hodder said. An Author’s Note will give readers an insight into the origin of each story and King’s imagination.

The news comes after a blockbuster few weeks for King whose new book The Institute (Hodder) has sold 39,688 copies through the TCM, while film adaptation "It Chapter Two" has been a number one hit at the box office.

Editor Philippa Pride said: “The sensational success of The Institute shows just why Stephen King is described time and again as one of the best storytellers ever. Fans of The Outsider will delight in meeting Holly Gibney again – she was meant to be a walk-on character in Mr Mercedes but stole Steve’s heart (and that of everyone at Hodder). Three additional unique and uniquely wonderful stories will both appeal to King’s Constant Reader and attract a host of new fans. In addition, his Author’s Note gives us a generous glimpse into his creative process.”