The Outsider by Stephen King

Will Patton reads it. You should read it too :)


The Outsider by Stephen King, Narrated by Will Patton
Unabridged Audiobook 
Released May 2018, 18+ Hours
Amazon ♦ Goodreads
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.

My Thoughts:

This is the story of an atrocious murder of an innocent and the investigation that turns into a “ fucked up nightmare of a case” for all of those involved.

That description about sums it all up. The murder, the ensuing rush to jail a suspect and the follow up are all horrific. To say anything more about the plot, truly, is to ruin it for anyone wishing to read it. It’s not just me being lazy! I’m seriously tired of having things spoiled for me so I’m refusing to say much of anything. If you want to know more, check out one of the zillion spoilery reviews out here in the internets.

If you want to read a book by a master storyteller who grabs you early and doesn’t really let you up for air until well into its second half, I cannot recommend this audiobook highly enough. I was hooked into the story so hard that I found myself making up chores so I could stay plugged in and listen to “just a bit more” before I had to return to reality. I even took my lazy dog for a long neglected walk in order to have an excuse to keep going. He pooped out way before I was ready to call it quits on The Outsider and pull out my earbuds.

This isn’t a straight up murder mystery and you need to know that before going in. It has a horror angle and a tie-in to a previous series. If you don’t like either of those two things in your books, you might not be overly thrilled with the second half of the book. Me? I loved it. I want more books like these and I want them all to be narrated by Will Patton! His voice is just so down to earth, calming and listenable (is that a word?). He breathes life into the characters and that’s a skill that isn’t an easy one to master.

I’m not giving this book five stars because:

1. I’m a jerk and only give fives out to the rare book that I personally feel fit my idea of perfection.
2. It gets a little sloggy in its last few acts.
3. It made me sad and horrified but I never felt fear or creeping dread as I did in The Shining or Pet Sematary.

Instead I give it 4 ½ stars which is the next to best thing, and a very high recommendation.

Comments

  1. I am waiting on a hold for this fromthe library. I think it sounds so good. I probably won't get the tie in from another series but hope that doesn't ruin it for me. Great review!!!

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    1. Thanks, Grace. It will definitely not ruin this book for you but it may spoil bits of the Mr. Mercedes series if you ever decide to read it.

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  2. I have a copy of this and Stormi and I are buddy reading it as soon as hers comes in from the library. I can't wait! I loved Will Patton in Falling Skies. It's a good sign when a book outlasts a dog on a walk. Mine would walk until they died from exhaustion...well, Cass would. T would walk until he smells food, or sees food, or even thinks of food - you get the idea.

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    1. lol, my Bailey is a bit on the lazy spectrum. He had heartworm when I adopted him and it may have damaged his heart a bit. He gets tired out pretty quickly. I hope you both like this one!

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  3. I haven't read anything by Stephen King in a while as I haven't enjoyed recent offerings. Not sure if I'll be reading it.

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    1. Did you read Joyland? That's one of my favorites of his more recent offerings.

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  4. That is a good recommendation! I'll be looking forward to this one. :)

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  5. This is a must read for me. Guess I'll be checking the local library.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  6. Tie-in to a previous series? What series is that? Would it be best to read those beforehand?

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    1. Mr.Mercedes. I would give them a read if you're wanting to read the series because it will spoil a few things reading The Outsider first. However, it is not necessary to read them in order to enjoy The Outsider but you will get more out of knowing the backstory of the character that pops up who ties them together.

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  7. People have been way too talky talky about this one. We did good by reading it right away. I was planning to write a review for it this weekend, but I've been l.a.z.y. Maybe later. :) I hope you guys are having an excellent Father's Day.

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    1. People just don't shut up, lol. I do my best to avoid spoilers but it's hard. Thanks, we had a fun Father's Day.My husband wanted to go to a local "Rib Fest". I don't eat ribs but he had a blast :)

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  8. I probably need to put my name on the list at the library for this one. I am only recently starting to read King but I like the idea of tackling this one as an audiobook. Gald you enoyed it!

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    1. I hope your turn at the library came up! Sorry for the late reply on this one Carole.

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