[6] In 1978, petty criminal Morris Bellamy and two accomplices break into the home of John Rothstein, a reclusive author famous for his Jimmy Gold Runner trilogy.

The trio force Rothstein to give them the combination to his safe, discovering a small fortune of cash and a large amount of notebooks.

After making their getaway, Morris kills his accomplices at a deserted rest area and drives to the home of his estranged mother.

In 2010, Pete Saubers, a young boy who is now living in Morris' childhood home, has parents who are financially struggling.

Pete researches Rothstein and learns about his unsolved murder but assumes the culprit has died or been imprisoned since then.

Andy, who is deeply in debt, immediately recognizes them and tells him to bring the notebooks, realizing they are worth a fortune.

Meanwhile, Morris finds the empty trunk and suspects Andy stole the notebooks, as he was the only person who knew about them.

Hodges and Holly try to follow him, but Pete manages to lose them and goes to Andy's shop to tell him he is not giving up the notebooks.

In her review for The Guardian, Alison Flood praised the book as "expertly plotted" and a "fresh take" on one of King's favorite subjects – "the relationship between a writer and their fans.

'"[8] Nick Romeo of The Boston Globe was more critical, faulting the "somewhat outlandish plot" and how "Deeper themes about the power of fiction feel somewhat grafted onto the suspenseful story.

[10] The third season of Mr. Mercedes retains the title from the first Bill Hodges book, and follows the events from Finders Keepers.