The Outsider: A Novel

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.

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Published Jun 4, 2019

576 pages

Average rating: 7.71

308 RATINGS

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Raleigh Women 30+

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Huber Heights Book Club

Delving into different genres and engaging in thought-provoking discussions while connecting with local community members.

The Dark Resonance Book Club

The Dark Resonance Book Club meets monthly to discuss horror, suspense, and paranormal novels from masters like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Thomas Harris, as well as newer voices in these genres. The Dark Resonance Book Club is led by award-winning horror and suspense author, Derik Cavignano. This is a newly-established club that is open to the public.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Outsider* delivers classic Stephen King suspense with a gripping blend of crime and supernatural horror. Many praise its strong chara...

foxland
Jan 04, 2026
6/10 stars
Not my favorite work by SK but still compelling and mildly disturbing in his classic style. Kept me puzzled for most of the book, which is rare.
Breannalf
Dec 27, 2024
6/10 stars
His supernatural ending was Meh, but his human drama ending was fantastic. The first page has you hooked.
Davepat
Mar 09, 2026
10/10 stars
2 for 1 deal: true crime and horror combined. I enjoyed the true crime portion the most
KelSpinski
Jan 09, 2026
6/10 stars
I listened to this as an audiobook. The story was good, but seemed to drag on and on at some points. Then finally it all came together.
StephGold
Jan 06, 2026
10/10 stars
A delightful thriller! I had so much fun listening to this book, it was the perfect summer fiction read.

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