Have you ever heard of the name Stephen King? It will most likely ring a bell. Whether it be from the school librarian to the chart-topping novel IT, we’ve all been exposed to the infamous novelist at some point in our lives. And why wouldn’t we! The cultural phenomenon has helped mold the world of books we see today. Through his vast, well-renowned novels, King has exceeded the boundaries in the writing industry.

 An excellent representation of Stephen King’s writing would be The Outsider: a grisly murder mystery that digs deep into the supernatural world. Recommended by my English Teacher, I was eager to jump right in. The story sets the tone with an 11 year old boy’s violated corpse found within the town park. The potential culprit, validated by both eyewitnesses and forensic evidence, visibly point to Flint city’s most beloved citizen—Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two young girls. Detective Ralph Anderson orders a quick public arrest, closing the case in a heartbeat, or so they thought. Maitland has an alibi along with witnesses and DNA evidence too. But how would that be possible? One hard fact remained: a man cannot be in two places at once. Or can he? As the story unravels and the investigation expands, the terrifying and engaging Stephen King writing shines through. Plot line after plot line, I became more invested, terrified, and amazed. From the dialogue to the creativity to the depth of the characters, I found a book I could not put down; a book that forced me to have a nightlight besides me the next couple of evenings. 

The Outsiders is undoubtedly one of the best books I’ve picked up recently. Reading Stephen King’s work, I have learned that it is like no other: he loves to drag readers on. He’ll slow down the writing by adding unnecessary yet thrilling plot twists and every last gruesome detail. He builds and builds, adding more and more substance to the compelling story that has millions of readers furiously flipping through the pages trying to find the answers. King will have you on the tip of your toes and throw major curves you would never see coming. He creates characters you’ll love and hate, making even the most desultory readers care. The Outsider was quite a journey that did not disappoint. This is the perfect story for anyone willing to ride the twists and turns, but carefully controlled roller coaster balancing reality and unreality. As long as you don’t rush through and make sure to enjoy the savour every last detail, I promise this book will deliver!