The Outsider – Stephen King

An eleven-year-old boy’s body is found in a town park, and eyewitness accounts and fingerprints point unmistakably to Terry Maitland, one of Flint City’s most respected citizens. Detective Ralph Anderson orders a swift public arrest, but Maitland has an airtight alibi: he was out of town when the crime occurred.

As the investigation deepens, the evidence becomes impossible. How can one person be in two places at once? A seemingly straightforward murder case twists into something darker, more terrifying, and beyond rational explanation.

This standalone novel connects to Stephen King’s Holly Gibney universe, blending police procedural, psychological suspense, and supernatural horror. Readers following that character may prefer to read the Bill Hodges trilogy first, although the central mystery can stand on its own.

Rated approximately 4.0/5 on Goodreads from more than 300,000 ratings. Readers praise its relentless suspense, unsettling atmosphere, and accessible combination of crime and horror. Opinions differ over whether the detective or supernatural side is stronger, but many enjoy the collision of both.

Perfect for fans of Mr. Mercedes, Holly, The Institute, The Silence of the Lambs, The Chestnut Man, and Gone Girl.

Popular with readers who love:

• Mystery blended with horror
• Small-town crime
• Supernatural evil
• Detective investigations
• Creeping psychological tension
• Impossible evidence and unexplained phenomena

A trade paperback (2018) in Very Good condition, with minor shelf wear, clean and intact pages, and a tight binding.