Some readers find the character of Jerome problematic. Do you agree? What do you think the author intends to communicate through Jerome’s character, particularly through his satirical alter ego?

The hard-boiled detective genre typically deals with human corruption and sin rather than profound existential evil. Would you say that Brady Hartsfield was corrupted, or was he born a monster, already evil by nature? Or is it a combination of factors? Is the character believable? Why or why not?

Compare Mr. Mercedes to one or more classic examples of the hard-boiled detective genre. How does Mr. Mercedes fulfill or diverge from the expectations of the genre?