The Outsider

A Horror Novel by Stephen King

Subgenres:

Crime Thriller,
Police Procedural,
Supernatural Horror

Published 2018

Length 655 pages

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This book is for you if you're into...

Grounded police procedural with a shape-shifting monster twist
Crime thrillers that suddenly turn into supernatural nightmares
Halloween reads mixing forensic detail and creeping dread

From Little Stack

The Outsider is Stephen King doing what he does best: taking something as ordinary as a small-town murder investigation and twisting it until you’re side-eyeing every shadow in your house.

It kicks off like a straight-up crime thriller. A respected coach and beloved family man is accused of something unspeakably awful. The evidence is airtight… until it isn’t. And just when you’re settling into "maybe this is a courtroom drama," King pulls the rug and goes, "Surprise! Monsters are real."

What makes it so perfect for Halloween is that sweet spot it hits between grounded police procedural and full-on nightmare fuel. You get detectives, alibis, and forensic details… but you also get a shape-shifting creature that feeds on grief and fear, lurking right under everyone’s noses.

If you want a Halloween read that starts with a bang, keeps you hooked with mystery, and then delivers a monster that’ll crawl into your dreams? The Outsider is your ticket.

As Featured in Paranormal Horror Stories That Devour Sleep and Sanity by David Green

Publisher Description

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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