The Outsider: A Novel

· Simon and Schuster
4.5
782 reviews
Ebook
576
Pages
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About this ebook

Evil has many faces…maybe even yours in this #1 New York Times bestseller from master storyteller Stephen King—also an HBO limited series starring Ben Mendelsohn!

An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is discovered in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens—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 have DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.

As the investigation expands and horrifying details begin to emerge, King’s 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.

Ratings and reviews

4.5
782 reviews
Jennifer Graziano
May 23, 2025
Death is scheduled on the calendar; not interrupting anyone too much, creating volunteer charity work to do. Solving various problems at crime scenes and tying up loose ends in the days afterward. The victim is always the area the crime scenes are in; the deceased has a first & last name. Money is a bit separate from area company supply stores; therefore, is directly applied to a person's worth. The calendar is first priority set by companies for their supplies and employee schedule; money is for worth. Emotional language is reserved for the weather and never agrees well with characters. It usually their scene and they want to use their words for the area; weather ones just don't fit. They always lose their argument.
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Joshua Lampston
August 27, 2024
I chose 5/5! A great propelling of oscillation. The story roots deeply from the beginning and becomes an ongoing obsession of excitement! And well moved. "The Outsider"— and well paced....a instant taking...will make you salivate for more...tasty and enriched. You'll learn to love it...
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Kevin Davis
June 1, 2018
I have been a Stephen King fan since 4th grade and have loved the journeys he takes me on. This one was no exception despite his hatred for our President which did seep into the story. It does seem however that Stephen King has not bought into the liberal garbage chimney and still supports the second amendment, that I am thankful for at least the man has been one of my biggest heros for the better part of the last 40 years I would hate for that to end.
6 people found this review helpful
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About the author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch, the short story collection You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

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