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** Later on,
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* NeverMyFault: Brady blames his actions on the universe, because if it was truly a good world with a good God and all, he surely wouldn't have done those horrible things.
to:
* NeverMyFault: Brady blames his actions on the universe, because if it was truly a good world with a good God and all, he surely wouldn't have done those horrible things. More specifically, [[spoiler: when [[ItMakesSenseInContext Brady's attempt to poison some hamburger to kill a dog instead kills his mother, hamburger and poison he specifically bought to bring pain to his current nemesis]].]] Brady blamed Detective Hodges.
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* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Bill taunting him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges (who had been contemplating killing himself) reason to live in tracking him down.
to:
* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Bill taunting him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges (who had ''had'' been contemplating killing himself) reason to live in tracking him down.
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* TheAlcoholic: Brady's mother.
* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life, a [[spoiler:homemade radio sniffer wouldn't be able to circumvent the security on the keyless entry system on a Mercedes [=SL500=]]]. As King points out in the author's note, expensive, high tech cars have expensive, high tech security systems.
* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life, a [[spoiler:homemade radio sniffer wouldn't be able to circumvent the security on the keyless entry system on a Mercedes [=SL500=]]]. As King points out in the author's note, expensive, high tech cars have expensive, high tech security systems.
to:
* TheAlcoholic: Brady's mother.
mother, starting from the stress of dealing with Frankie and money woes.
* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life,a [[spoiler:homemade [[spoiler:a homemade radio sniffer wouldn't be able to circumvent the security on the a Mercedes [=SL500=]'s keyless entry system on a Mercedes [=SL500=]]].system]]. As King points out in the author's note, expensive, high tech cars have expensive, high tech security systems.
* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life,
* AteHisGun: Hodges is contemplating this at the start of the book.
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* {{Gaslighting}}: [[spoiler:Brady put a sound file of a crying baby and her "mother" on Olivia Trelawney's computer with a program to make it play at random times, making Olivia think it was the ghosts of two of the Mercedes Killer's victims berating her for allowing her car to be stolen.]]
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Bill's former partner on the police force and ''his'' new partner. While Bill is chasing Brady, they manage to solve ''two'' of Bill's other outstanding cases, one that of a serial killer at least as depraved as Mr Mercedes himself, albeit in a very different way. This also acts as something of an antidote to the idea that PoliceAreUseless: they're both very good cops (though maybe not as good as Bill), but are too swamped with another major case to pay close attention to Bill's investigation.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Bill's former partner on the police force and ''his'' new partner. While Bill is chasing Brady, they manage to solve ''two'' of Bill's other outstanding cases, one that of a serial killer at least as depraved as Mr Mercedes himself, albeit in a very different way. This also acts as something of an antidote to the idea that PoliceAreUseless: they're both very good cops (though maybe not as good as Bill), but are too swamped with another major case to pay close attention to Bill's investigation.
to:
* {{Gaslighting}}: Part of the reason for the Mercedes' owner's suicide, thanks to [[spoiler:Brady put putting a sound file of a crying baby and her "mother" on Olivia Trelawney's her computer with a program to make it play at random times, making Olivia think it was the ghosts of two of the Mercedes Killer's victims berating her for allowing her car to be stolen.]]
times]].
*HeroOfAnotherStory: HeroOfAnotherStory:
** Bill's former partner on the police force and ''his'' new partner. While Bill is chasing Brady, they manage to solve ''two'' of Bill's other outstanding cases, one that of a serial killer at least as depraved as Mr Mercedes himself, albeit in a very different way. This also acts as something of an antidote to the idea that PoliceAreUseless: they're both very good cops (though maybe not as good as Bill), but are too swamped with another major case to pay close attention to Bill'sinvestigation.investigation.
** Later on,
*
** Bill's former partner on the police force and ''his'' new partner. While Bill is chasing Brady, they manage to solve ''two'' of Bill's other outstanding cases, one that of a serial killer at least as depraved as Mr Mercedes himself, albeit in a very different way. This also acts as something of an antidote to the idea that PoliceAreUseless: they're both very good cops (though maybe not as good as Bill), but are too swamped with another major case to pay close attention to Bill's
** Later on,
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* {{Gaslighting}}: [[spoiler:Brady put a sound file of a crying baby and her "mother" on Olivia Trelawney's computer with a program to make it play at random times, making Olivia think it was the ghosts of two of the Mercedes Killer's victims berating her for allowing her car to be stolen.]]
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mrmercedes_7183.jpg]]''Mr. Mercedes'' is a novel by Creator/StephenKing, described as the author's first hard-boiled detective novel.
to:
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mrmercedes_7183.jpg]]''Mr.jpg]]
''Mr. Mercedes'' is a novel by Creator/StephenKing, described as the author's first hard-boiled detective novel.
''Mr. Mercedes'' is a novel by Creator/StephenKing, described as the author's first hard-boiled detective novel.
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* CanonWelding: A very weird example. King's novels ''{{Literature/IT}}'' and ''{{Literature/Christine}}'' apparently exist as works of fiction within the ''Mr Mercedes'' universe, albeit as movies rather than novels; but [[Literature/TheDarkTower the number "19"]] crops up a few times, and Judas Coyne[[note]]From Joe Hill's novel ''Heart-Shaped-Box'', recently established as part of the Stephen King universe along with Hill's other works.[[/note]] is a real in-universe musician rather than a fictional character.
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* BoyBand: 'Round Here, a 4-man group with Music/OneDirection-like overtones that shows up frequently throughout the book. The climax takes place at one of their concerts.
* CanonWelding: A very weird example. King's novels''{{Literature/IT}}'' ''Literature/{{IT}}'' and ''{{Literature/Christine}}'' ''Literature/{{Christine}}'' apparently exist as works of fiction within the ''Mr Mercedes'' universe, albeit as movies rather than novels; but [[Literature/TheDarkTower the number "19"]] crops up a few times, and Judas Coyne[[note]]From Joe Hill's novel ''Heart-Shaped-Box'', recently established as part of the Stephen King universe along with Hill's other works.[[/note]] is a real in-universe musician rather than a fictional character.
* CanonWelding: A very weird example. King's novels
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* WouldHarmAChild: Brady has no problem with kids being killed in his attacks. [[spoiler:His final intended attack takes place at a music concert mostly attended by young girls.]]
to:
* WouldHarmAChild: Brady has no problem with kids being killed in his attacks. [[spoiler:His final intended attack takes place at a music concert mostly attended by young girls.]]]]
----
----
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* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life, a [[spoiler:homemade radio sniffer wouldn't be able to circumvent the security on the keyless entry system on a Mercedes SL500]]. As King points out in the author's note, expensive, high tech cars have expensive, high tech security systems.
to:
* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life, a [[spoiler:homemade radio sniffer wouldn't be able to circumvent the security on the keyless entry system on a Mercedes SL500]].[=SL500=]]]. As King points out in the author's note, expensive, high tech cars have expensive, high tech security systems.
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* ArtisticLicenseCars: In real life, a [[spoiler:homemade radio sniffer wouldn't be able to circumvent the security on the keyless entry system on a Mercedes SL500]]. As King points out in the author's note, expensive, high tech cars have expensive, high tech security systems.
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* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Bill taunting him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.
to:
* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Bill taunting him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges (who had been contemplating killing himself) reason to live in tracking him down.
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* ObfuscatingDisability: [[spoiler:Brady disguises himself as a bald man in a wheelchair in order to sneak explosives into the 'Round Here concert.]]
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* ObfuscatingDisability: [[spoiler:Brady disguises himself as a bald man in a wheelchair in order to sneak explosives into the 'Round Here concert.]]]] He's apparently taking pages out of [[Literature/{{Rose Madder}} Norman Daniels']] book.
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* StopBeingStereotypical: Jerome likes to periodically speak (and occasionally write) in a stereotypical Ebonics persona he dubs "Tyrone", much to the annoyance of others.
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* DeathSeeker: Brady gradually becomes more and more of one as the narrative goes on, eventually deciding he'll enact a TakingYouWithMe bombing [[spoiler:at the 'Round Here concert]].
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* MurderByMistake: Brady intends to kill Jerome's dog with poisoned hamburger meat. [[spoiler:Instead, his mother cooks the meat and ends up dying.]] Also counts as an example of HoistByHisOwnPetard.
to:
* MurderByMistake: Brady intends to kill Jerome's dog with poisoned hamburger meat. [[spoiler:Instead, his mother cooks the meat and ends up dying.]] Also counts as an example of HoistByHisOwnPetard.]]
* NeverMyFault: Brady blames his actions on the universe, because if it was truly a good world with a good God and all, he surely wouldn't have done those horrible things.
* NeverMyFault: Brady blames his actions on the universe, because if it was truly a good world with a good God and all, he surely wouldn't have done those horrible things.
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* PragmaticVillainy: Brady repeatedly considers the idea of poisoning his ice cream supply and has even researched it. But he refrains from actually doing it due to knowing he'd be pinpointed and arrested.
* RealityEnsues: [[spoiler:For all his badassery, Hodges eventually becomes overwhelmed by the stress of the situation, not helped by his weight problems, and suffers (but survives) a heart attack that forces him to back down from nabbing Hartsfield.]]
* RealityEnsues: [[spoiler:For all his badassery, Hodges eventually becomes overwhelmed by the stress of the situation, not helped by his weight problems, and suffers (but survives) a heart attack that forces him to back down from nabbing Hartsfield.]]
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* AbusiveParents: On one hand, one could understand the stress of Deborah Ann when it comes to handling Frankie once he became mentally disabled, perhaps even giving her a bit of leeway for occasionally getting mad with her afflicted son. But on the other hand, [[spoiler:kicking his firetruck down the basement stairs and then nodding for her other son Brady to kick Frankie down said stairs, and then to lie about what really happened]] says other things.
* AssholeVictim: Unintentional on Brady's part, but [[spoiler:his mother dying from consuming the poisoned hamburger meat becomes an example once you learn of her part in Frankie's death.]]
* BlackBestFriend: Jerome, a teenage prodigy who helps Hodges mow his lawn and handle his computer, is considered as such in the narrative.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Brady appears to, and [[spoiler:seems to be horrified when she dies after eating the poisoned hamburger]]. But his "love" for her seems to be more fueled by how she made him feel entitled and "[[ParentalIncest helped him]]"...
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* InfantImmortality: Subverted. One of the victims in Brady's first attack is an infant.
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* HollywoodAtheist[=/=]StrawNihilist: Brady is an example of both, dismissing the idea of God due to the cruelties he's witnessed in his life and welcoming the idea of the [[CessationOfExistence darkness]] he sees following death.
* InfantImmortality: Subverted. One of the victims in Brady's first attack is an infant. [[spoiler:He also murdered his younger brother Frankie when they were children.]]
* InfantImmortality: Subverted. One of the victims in Brady's first attack is an infant. [[spoiler:He also murdered his younger brother Frankie when they were children.]]
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* MurderByMistake: Brady intends to kill Jerome's dog with poisoned hamburger meat. [[spoiler:Instead, his mother cooks the meat and ends up dying.]]
to:
* MurderByMistake: Brady intends to kill Jerome's dog with poisoned hamburger meat. [[spoiler:Instead, his mother cooks the meat and ends up dying.]] Also counts as an example of HoistByHisOwnPetard.
* ObfuscatingDisability: [[spoiler:Brady disguises himself as a bald man in a wheelchair in order to sneak explosives into the 'Round Here concert.]]
* ObfuscatingDisability: [[spoiler:Brady disguises himself as a bald man in a wheelchair in order to sneak explosives into the 'Round Here concert.]]
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* HeroOfAnotherStory: Bill's former partner on the police force and ''his'' new partner. While Bill is chasing Brady, they manage to solve ''two'' of Bill's other outstanding cases, one that of a serial killer at least as depraved as Mr Mercedes himself, albeit in a very different way. This also acts as something of an antidote to the idea that PoliceAreUseless: they're both very good cops (though maybe not as good as Bill), but are too swamped with another major case to pay close attention to Bill's investigation.
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* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler:Janey isn't the novel's third hero, but a SacrificialLion; her cousin Holly is the one who ends up playing the pivotal role in taking down Hartsfield.]]
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* CanonWelding: A very weird example. King's novels ''{{Literature/IT}}'' and ''{{Literature/Christine}}'' apparently exist as works of fiction within the ''Mr Mercedes'' universe, albeit as movies rather than novels; but [[Literature/TheDarkTower the number "19"]] crops up a few times, and Judas Coyne[[note]]From Joe Hill's novel ''Heart-Shaped-Box'', recently established as part of the Stephen King universe along with Hill's other works.[[/note]] is a real musician in-universe.
** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters were watching the movie version of ''IT'', only to later visit Derry and briefly encounter the ''real'' Pennywise in-universe, so the lack of supernatural elements in ''Mr Mercedes'' is not necessarily the culprit.
** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters were watching the movie version of ''IT'', only to later visit Derry and briefly encounter the ''real'' Pennywise in-universe, so the lack of supernatural elements in ''Mr Mercedes'' is not necessarily the culprit.
to:
* CanonWelding: A very weird example. King's novels ''{{Literature/IT}}'' and ''{{Literature/Christine}}'' apparently exist as works of fiction within the ''Mr Mercedes'' universe, albeit as movies rather than novels; but [[Literature/TheDarkTower the number "19"]] crops up a few times, and Judas Coyne[[note]]From Joe Hill's novel ''Heart-Shaped-Box'', recently established as part of the Stephen King universe along with Hill's other works.[[/note]] is a real in-universe musician in-universe.
rather than a fictional character.
** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters werewatching referencing having seen the movie version of ''IT'', only to later visit Derry and briefly encounter the ''real'' Pennywise in-universe, so the lack of supernatural elements in ''Mr Mercedes'' is not necessarily the culprit.culprit of the aforementioned weirdness.
** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters were
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** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters were watching the movie version of ''IT'', only to later visit Derry and briefly encounter the ''real'' Pennywise in-universe.
to:
** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters were watching the movie version of ''IT'', only to later visit Derry and briefly encounter the ''real'' Pennywise in-universe.in-universe, so the lack of supernatural elements in ''Mr Mercedes'' is not necessarily the culprit.
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** It should be noted this isn't King's first continuity MindScrew: as far back as ''TheTommyknockers'' characters were watching the movie version of ''IT'', only to later visit Derry and briefly encounter the ''real'' Pennywise in-universe.
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* CanonWelding: A very weird example. King's novels ''{{Literature/IT}}'' and ''{{Literature/Christine}}'' apparently exist as works of fiction within the ''Mr Mercedes'' universe, albeit as movies rather than novels; but [[Literature/TheDarkTower the number "19"]] crops up a few times, and Judas Coyne[[note]]From Joe Hill's novel ''Heart-Shaped-Box'', recently established as part of the Stephen King universe along with Hill's other works.[[/note]] is a real musician in-universe.
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* [[ManChild Adult Child]]: Holly provides a rare PlayedForDrama example. At forty-five she still lives with her controlling mother, who treats her like a particularly young and ineffectual teenager, a role she's grown so used to she barely even questions it [[spoiler:until after Janey's death]]. She also has shades of OneOfTheKids, considering how well she and seventeen-year-old Jerome end up getting on.
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* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Bill taunting him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.
to:
* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Bill taunting him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.down.
* WouldHarmAChild: Brady has no problem with kids being killed in his attacks. [[spoiler:His final intended attack takes place at a music concert mostly attended by young girls.]]
* WouldHarmAChild: Brady has no problem with kids being killed in his attacks. [[spoiler:His final intended attack takes place at a music concert mostly attended by young girls.]]
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* TheAlcoholic: Brady's mother.
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* MurderByMistake: Brady intends to kill Jerome's dog with poisoned hamburger meat. [[spoiler:Instead, his mother cooks the meat and ends up dying.]]
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''Mr. Mercedes'' is the first installment in a planned trilogy. The second volume, ''Finders Keepers'', is due out in 2015.
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* PoliceAreUseless: In general throughout the book but near the end they're distracted with the results of a major bust, leaving it up to the heroes to stop Brady on their own.
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* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Brady takes issue with biracial relationships and black people in general.
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* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Hodges taunting Bill about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.
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* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Hodges Bill taunting Bill him about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.
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* ParentalIncest: Brady's relationship with his mother has significant shades of this.
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''Mr. Mercedes'' is a novel by Creator/StephenKing, described as the author's first hard-boiled detective novel.
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* ForTheEvulz: Brady's motivations amount to this.
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* HarsherInHindsight: The novel was written before the Boston Marathon Bombings. King described the similarities as "too creepily close for comfort".
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''Mr. Mercedes'' is a novel by Creator/StephenKing, described as the author's first hard-boiled detective novel.
A psychopath drives a stolen Mercedes into a crowd of people, leaving eight people dead and fifteen wounded. He is never caught. A year later, retired cop Bill Hodges is sent a letter by the killer taking responsibility for the crime. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse between the two as Bill must track down 'Mr. Mercedes' before he can strike again.
----
!!The novel contains examples of the following:
* BadHumorTruck: Brady drives an ice cream truck as one of his jobs. He considers poisoning children but ultimately decides against it.
* CarFu: Brady's first attack utilizes this.
* DrivenToSuicide: Brady manages to push the woman who owned the stolen Mercedes into killing herself. He later tries the same with Bill but fails.
* EleventhHourRanger: Holly is introduced past the midway point [[spoiler:and becomes a major character after Janey is killed.]]
* HarsherInHindsight: The novel was written before the Boston Marathon Bombings. King described the similarities as "too creepily close for comfort".
* InfantImmortality: Subverted. One of the victims in Brady's first attack is an infant.
* MauveShirt: The opening chapter gives a bit of characterization to a number of victims before they are killed by Mr. Mercedes.
* MonsterClown: Brady wears a clown mask during his Mercedes run. It's described as looking like none other than a certain character from '[[Literature/{{It}} that TV movie about the clown in the sewer]]'.
* RetiredBadass: Bill Hodges.
* ReverseWhodunnit: We know very early on that Brady is Mr. Mercedes.
* StuffedIntoTheFridge: [[spoiler:Janey is killed in an attack meant for Bill.]]
* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Hodges taunting Bill about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.
A psychopath drives a stolen Mercedes into a crowd of people, leaving eight people dead and fifteen wounded. He is never caught. A year later, retired cop Bill Hodges is sent a letter by the killer taking responsibility for the crime. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse between the two as Bill must track down 'Mr. Mercedes' before he can strike again.
----
!!The novel contains examples of the following:
* BadHumorTruck: Brady drives an ice cream truck as one of his jobs. He considers poisoning children but ultimately decides against it.
* CarFu: Brady's first attack utilizes this.
* DrivenToSuicide: Brady manages to push the woman who owned the stolen Mercedes into killing herself. He later tries the same with Bill but fails.
* EleventhHourRanger: Holly is introduced past the midway point [[spoiler:and becomes a major character after Janey is killed.]]
* HarsherInHindsight: The novel was written before the Boston Marathon Bombings. King described the similarities as "too creepily close for comfort".
* InfantImmortality: Subverted. One of the victims in Brady's first attack is an infant.
* MauveShirt: The opening chapter gives a bit of characterization to a number of victims before they are killed by Mr. Mercedes.
* MonsterClown: Brady wears a clown mask during his Mercedes run. It's described as looking like none other than a certain character from '[[Literature/{{It}} that TV movie about the clown in the sewer]]'.
* RetiredBadass: Bill Hodges.
* ReverseWhodunnit: We know very early on that Brady is Mr. Mercedes.
* StuffedIntoTheFridge: [[spoiler:Janey is killed in an attack meant for Bill.]]
* VillainBall: Brady sends the letter to Hodges taunting Bill about his failure to catch him hoping to spurn him into committing suicide. Instead, it gives Hodges reason to live in tracking him down.
