Chi perde paga

The story revolves around John Rothstein, a celebrated writer who has stopped publishing for two decades and whose famous character Jimmy Gold is loved by many but left in a bad state by the author himself. Morris Bellamy, an avid fan of Rothstein, goes to his house in the middle of the night to confront him about his decision to stop writing and the end he gave to Jimmy Gold. He intends to rob Rothstein but also wants revenge. After getting the combination to his safe from Rothstein, Bellamy kills him by blowing up his head.

Unaware that it would take thirty years before he could retrieve them, Bellamy leaves with Rothstein's money and manuscripts. However, when he finally gets a chance to read them, he has to face Bill Hodges, a retired detective who was the hero of "Mr. Mercedes," and his assistants Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson.

Similar to "Misery non deve morire," King explores the obsession of a reader with their favorite author, pushing it to the limits of madness and telling the story in a fast-paced manner. "Chi perde paga" is the second book in the trilogy that began with "Mr. Mercedes," where King delves into the power of literature over everyday life, for better or worse.