The Outsider: A Novel

Stephen King

May 2018 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Will Patton

About this audiobook

Now an HBO limited series starring Ben Mendelsohn!​

Evil has many faces…maybe even yours in this #1 New York Times bestseller from master storyteller Stephen King.

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.

Ratings and reviews

narrator yells and whispers alternately. always have to turn volume up and down to hear properly. that's my only complaint. I'm happy that King mentions Evil Trump in his books because a bestselling author is allowed to have his own opinions. So to all the people (all 12 of them) who liked that evil antichrist, stop buying King's books. he is gonna write whatever he feel like. if you didn't already know he was a democrat, then you don't pay attention. future generations need to learn about how he was the first antichrist. King helps "clean slate" people who haven't been taught by their parents to be bigots, republicans and racists. I feel sorry for those reps because they ARE going to be firewood in hell, and it's usually their parents fault. that said, its still their fault in the end because they will not work to educate themselves and learn the truth about the evils in right wing politics. it's all about business interests above human interests, planet and animal interests.

I enjoyed this audiobook but sad to say, Will Patton's narration was a bit tedious at times. I especially did not care for his voice with Holly. I felt as if I was listening to a solo whispering session in staccato. I know or assume this character's voice is supposed to be this way, but it was sometimes annoying. In fact, each time a character is in reflection or talking to themselves, they are barely audible (no pun intended) otherwise a great King book.

I'ma be honest, if you're under the age of 30, skip this book. The way King writes about technology immediately pulls me out of the story. Also, the narrator for this book sucks. He speaks raspy and way too theatrical, it makes me cringe. Just skip this one

About the author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Will Patton’s film credits include Halloween, Boarding School, Megan Leavey, American Honey, Meek’s Cutoff, A Mighty Heart, Remember the Titans, The Mothman Prophecies, Armageddon, and No Way Out. He starred in Swamp Thing on the DC Universe streaming platform and was seen in five seasons of the TNT series Falling Skies. He has won Obie Awards for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See? He is also known for his audiobook recordings of the work of Stephen King, James Lee Burke, Denis Johnson, and William Faulkner.