The Outsider by Stephen King | Published May 22nd 2018 by Scribner | 561 Pages | Goodreads
PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION
“An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.
An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.”
✅ REVIEW
This is a terrifying novel from the king of horror. There were moments when I wanted to stop reading the book altogether because the descriptions were sometimes too cruel to stomach.
The story follows the investigation of a child’s violent murder. This book is part thriller/mystery and part horror/fantasy. As usual, Stephen King is talented at creating lively and believable characters. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent.
My only hangup with the novel is that it was a longer than I prefer and at moments I found my mind wandering, which usually does not happen with other stories.
Overall, I enjoyed it but did not love it. I recommend it to fans of Stephen King’s novels and readers of horror and thrillers.
P.S.: This novel won the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards for Mystery & Thrillers.
✅ BOOK SOURCE AND FORMAT
Loan from Miami-Dade’s Library overdrive, audiobook
I haven’t read King in such a long time but I think I’m definitely going to have to give this one a try. Great post!