The Outsider: A Novel

Written by Stephen King

Narrated by Will Patton

Evil has many faces…maybe even yours in this #1 New York Times bestseller from master storyteller Stephen King—also an HBO limited series starring Ben Mendelsohn!

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781508252221

Stephen King

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. 

Reviews for The Outsider

[Frank BX · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Will Patten was fantastic and I wish he’d read ever audiobook I listen to.

[Chandler Langford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Will Patton did fantastic narrating this! Loved the story.

[scott Newbry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank goodness for my memory issues! I can enjoy great works like this for the first time, every time!

[Cody Lundeen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

it kept me interested from start to finish, just the way I like a book to be

[Lisa Thomas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Will Patton did an excellent job narrating this large novel

[Jaime · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Will Patton reading this made the story!! He is amazing

[Prasanna Natarajan · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Way too long. Listened to it at 1.8x for the latter half of the book. It was unnecessarily stretched. Typical story in which the "villain" does not do anything the "hero" and the climax sucked. Disappointed

[Tom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Will Patton did a great job. Kudos
Really enjoyed listening

[Andy U · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Started out interesting but took quite a bizarre turn. I suppose it's very King. Writing is excellent as you'd expect but the story really felt it had little point by the end.

[Gail Gross · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

PLEASE stop getting this guy to read your books !! He’s horrible!!!

[Allen Shellenbarger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

mix between desperation/regulators/Mercedes... definitely see a series in the pipeline

[heather smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story. Narrator has an awkward delivery for some of the characters, but overall a good experience.

[Frank · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a bizarre and very interesting book . Full of twists and turns everywhere what u know is a lie what you think you know is wrong what you expected is wrong the story flips you on your head and makes you believe the unbelievable though character development, sadness loss and at the end making you question yourself if there is truly supernatural forces in the universe well the universe is endless who knows

[Aldo Ramirez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dude I am not a guy that sticks around to finish a book,But man this was a really good book what makes it better was Will Patton reading it.He made each character come to life ! You always could tell who was talking .It could of had a plot twist at the end but never the less 5/5

[estela mava · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Patton Is a wonderful narrator. Best to the King’s work.

[Ena Belvin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kind of slow dragging but a good novel to be spooked by.

[Polo Briseno · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved it...yet another classic from Mr. King...loved Holly!!!! great read

[Mercy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first Stephan King book (I know, I may have been living under a rock on this one) and I LOVED it! Awesome narrator. Can’t wait to explore King’s other books!!

[Rayan Pushpanath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

great
hats off,
loved this novel
psychological thriller
suspense and action

[meboles · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully oerformed by Will Patton! Are there Grammys for audiobooks yet??

[Natasha Howard · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Beginning was great, then it kinda fades to boring. Not an edge of your seat kinda book

[Richard Eaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good tie in with character from Mr. Mercedes series. The origin story wasn't the best, but it was still fun to read (listen to).

[Erick MacGregor · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was OK. It was weird how long it took for Holly Gibney to be introduced to the storyline, for me the book could've been shorter and less descriptive, but I guess that's just Stephen King's style. The end was exciting, though.

[Thomas Rosenthal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gripping. Addictive. Nobody does it better than King. The greatest narrative genius since Dickens. Pure fantastic story telling. Shades of It in this tale.

[Pamela Hosford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

amazing book that kept me engrossed. the narrator was perfect.

[Abe Spades · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my first Stephan King novel. I felt he did a great job getting me attached and emotionally invested in the characters of the story.

[YaYa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is so surprising and so detailed, just like every one of Steven Kings’ novels. I feel like I know every character, and I also loved the happy ending! You would certainly love this novel, full of suspense and action! Recommend it for everyone!

[D Gibson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic story! Will Patton does an amazing job with the characters and the story has you guessing, per usual, throughout.

[AlishaSchlesener · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’ve read nearly all of King’s books, and this is one of his absolute best.

[Thomas Nunez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Stephen King, his books flow like a fine wine. Couldn't put my headphones down. Great narrator too.