🩸 Horror Fiction −17%

Glimpse, The Angel Shot

✍️ Stephen King
Reader Score
4.0
(5 reviews)
$18.99 $23.00 Save $4.01 (17%)
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Stephen King explores trauma and revenge through a detective and psychologist hunting a serial killer.

The story follows Detective Rick McCoy and criminal psychologist Patricia Holmes as they pursue a serial killer linked to the PPP case. Both characters carry deep personal scars from previous encounters with this predator. The narrative focuses on the investigation of seven missing women found murdered after requesting an Angel Shot in bars. King uses his expertise in horror to heighten the psychological stakes for both protagonists. The plot emphasizes the lingering effects of violence on law enforcement and mental health professionals. Readers will find a tightly woven tale of obsession and retribution.

Key Themes
serial killer pursuit psychological trauma Angel Shot murders
Literary Context

Published in November 2020 by Wild Rose Press, this work sits within the modern thriller genre. It draws on King’s established tradition of blending psychological depth with horror elements. The narrative reflects contemporary concerns about safety in public spaces and the long-term impact of violent crime on victims and investigators alike.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Thomas Harris · Tana French · Gillian Flynn
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Wild Rose Press 📅 2020 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781509234356
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: Glimpse, The Angel Shot

Stephen King delivers a dark thriller in Glimpse, The Angel Shot, published by Wild Rose Press in November 2020. The narrative centers on Detective Rick McCoy, who resumes his duties after returning from leave following a traumatic event involving his wife and the serial killer known as PPP. His investigation into the disappearance of seven women from bars intersects with the work of criminal psychologist Patricia Holmes. Holmes has also suffered personal loss due to the same predator, having lost her husband to him. The plot unfolds through the dual perspectives of McCoy and Holmes as they track the killer who targets women asking for an Angel Shot. The story draws on the tradition of psychological suspense and procedural crime fiction. King’s reputation for crafting intense supernatural and horror narratives provides a distinct tone to this legal thriller. The book is organized around the escalating danger faced by the protagonists as they confront a past that has returned with lethal intent. This title suits readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a focus on psychological trauma and serial killer profiles. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted entertainment or pure supernatural horror without a grounded criminal investigation element. The narrative relies on the tension between professional duty and personal grief. King’s background in horror adds weight to the stakes involved in McCoy’s return to active duty.

💎 Our verdict on Glimpse, The Angel Shot

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Stephen King delivers a dark thriller that prioritizes psychological stakes over supernatural spectacle. The dual perspective of Detective Rick McCoy and psychologist Patricia Holmes provides a nuanced look at the impact of predatory violence on those who hunt it. While the plot relies on familiar procedural tropes, King’s background in horror adds significant weight to the emotional resonance. However, this book may not appeal to readers seeking lighthearted entertainment or those expecting pure supernatural horror without a grounded criminal investigation. It is a serious examination of trauma and revenge, demanding patience from those who prefer fast-paced action over deep character study and psychological analysis.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate character-driven mysteries with a heavy focus on psychological trauma and serial killer profiles will find this title engaging. The narrative offers a tightly woven tale of obsession and retribution, appealing to those interested in the lingering effects of violence on law enforcement and mental health professionals. King utilizes his expertise to heighten the psychological stakes for both protagonists, creating a distinct tone that blends legal thriller mechanics with horror sensibilities. It is ideal for audiences seeking a grounded criminal investigation element that emphasizes the tension between professional duty and personal grief, rather than lighthearted entertainment or pure supernatural horror.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —
⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Fans of gritty procedural thrillers with deep psychological undercurrents will find this compelling. If you crave character-driven mysteries exploring trauma and obsessive detective work, pick it up. Avoid if you seek lighthearted escapism or expect traditional supernatural scares rather than…

Reader rating

4.0
Based on 5 reviews
5
1
4
1
3
3
2
0
1
0
J
Jessica J.
July 1, 2026
Decent

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. The font runs small in this edition. Recommended with reservations.

T
Tom R.
March 21, 2026
Decent

Bought this for my brother and ended up reading it first. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Happy enough with the purchase.

L
Liam G.
January 7, 2026
Dread done right

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. Glad I finally picked this up.

E
Emily B.
December 23, 2025
Decent

A friend from my book club recommended it. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one. A few scenes I will not forget, whether I want to or not. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. While King is famous for supernatural tales, this is a grounded psychological thriller focusing on human killers and police procedure rather than ghosts or demons.
It lacks traditional gore or magic. Instead, the horror stems from realistic psychological trauma, serial killer profiling, and the tense atmosphere of a cat-and-mouse investigation.

📖 Who should read this

Fans of gritty procedural thrillers with deep psychological undercurrents will find this compelling. If you crave character-driven mysteries exploring trauma and obsessive detective work, pick it up. Avoid if you seek lighthearted escapism or expect traditional supernatural scares rather than grounded human horror.

📜 Historical context

Stephen King steps away from the paranormal to engage with the gritty tradition of police procedural suspense. This work echoes the lineage of psychological thrillers where the monster is human, drawing on established tropes of the obsessive detective and the traumatized profiler. It bridges his signature intensity with crime fiction conventions, exploring how past sins resurface through modern urban dangers like bar safety codes.

📖 From the series “Deadly Glimpses”

All books in the series →
Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Stephen King
Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer
$16.99
78
Read →
Glimpse, The Tender Killer -25%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Stephen King
Glimpse, The Tender Killer
$17.99 $24.00
78
Read →
Glimpse, The Beautiful Deaths -26%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.3
Stephen King
Glimpse, The Beautiful Deaths
$18.99 $26.00
69
Read →

✍️ More books by this author Stephen King

The Mist
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Stephen King
The Mist
$14.00
86
Read →
It (Special Edition) 🏆 Bestseller -12%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Stephen King
It (Special Edition)
$50.00 $57.00
86
Read →
Misery -50%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Stephen King
Misery
$19.00 $38.00
86
Read →
Never Flinch 🏆 Bestseller -13%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Stephen King
Never Flinch
$20.00 $23.00
86
Read →
2026 Stephen King Annual IT 40th Anniversary - Library Edition -13%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Stephen King
2026 Stephen King Annual IT 40th Anniversary - Library Edition
$59.95 $69.00
86
Read →
Cell 🏆 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Stephen King
Cell
$20.00
81
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Wild Rose Press

All books from this publisher →
The Mother of Flowers
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daniel Beauregard
The Mother of Flowers
$12.99
81
Read →
Wanderings - A Collection of Six Short Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Kenneth G Bennett
Wanderings - A Collection of Six Short Stories
$14.99
78
Read →
The Fountain
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Christopher Farris
The Fountain
$18.99
81
Read →
Life After Death
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Sharon Saracino
Life After Death
$12.99
78
Read →
Felicity
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
J L Short
Felicity
$15.99
81
Read →
A Love to Die Kill For
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Stephen King
A Love to Die Kill For
$20.99
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Eight Reasons -11%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Stephen King
Eight Reasons
$23.99 $27.00
86
Read →
The Vigilante and the Dancer
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Stephen King
The Vigilante and the Dancer
$18.99
78
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist