The story begins with an evil, over-kill of a little boy. The boys' coach and mentor is accused of the horrific murder, and the evidence against him is overwhelming: DNA, witnesses, video, — It's all screaming, 'guilty'! But of course, that's only the beginning. King throws in a twist. The coach has a rock-solid alibi. This is also confirmed with: DNA, video, and witnesses. The story then morphs from a crime thriller to one where the only answer points toward the supernatural.

This book constantly kept me guessing and spinning my wheels, trying hard to figure it out. This story evolves seamlessly from a gritty police procedural into full-on supernatural territory. You almost don't realize it until you're smack dab in the middle of it.

The characters are all interesting and can carry their own weight. But the star has to be Holy Gibney. She's quirky, anxious, and not your typical hero. But her fractured ego and quiet strength make her unforgettable.

The outsider is creepy and unsettling. It's a thin line between the impossible and what just might be real.

The book dragged in some places, which is typical of King. But also typical of King, it doesn't last too long.

Read more King books, of course ;)

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch, the short story collection You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), 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.

Published May 2018
576 Pages
#11 TV, Movie Fiction
#104 Suspense Thrillers
#116 Murder Thrillers
4.5 Rating

417 Words

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Created Sep 29, 2025 at 7:44am • Submit your own review...