Book Talk…10/19/18 Stephen King’s The Outsider

Traci Kenworth

The Outsider by Stephen King. Scribner May 28, 2018.

Amazon Blurb:  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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 review: When a boy is found murdered and violated in the worst way imaginable, a popular coach is accused of the crime. The problem is: he has an alibi. Witnesses say otherwise but he has witnesses as well. The detective on the case takes things personal as his son was once coached by Terry. As the town reels with shock, another tragedy strikes and Ralph and others on the case discover they might be dealing with something supernatural. How can a detective believe such a thing though? It goes against everything in him. There has to be a logical answer. Until there isn’t.

I LOVED it! Or rather, enjoyed the story though the topic isn’t something I suppose one should enjoy, lol. King weaves his magic through this story and tells a tale I won’t soon forget. From the moment the crime happens, to the arrest, to the shooting on the court steps, everything pulls together in a thrill ride of terror. He borrows a character from another series of his in this as well and though I haven’t read the other series yet, I liked meeting Hollie and following her story.