This novel was very on brand for Stephen King, and if you expect anything else prepare to be disappointed. A thrilling mystery that quickly dances into the supernatural, The Outsider follows a group of investigators hunting down the culprit behind a brutal child murder. When their main suspect provides an airtight alibi and the case begins to unravel, they're forced to consider the impossible.

Like most of King's novels, The Outsider was full of potential but ultimately fell into a tired pattern. The intro was full of suspenseful buildup and anticipation, the rising action and ultimate reveal were long and drawn out, and the resolution felt rushed and unfulfilling. King spends plenty of time weaving the mystery and hyping up the monster, but then flakes when it comes time to explain the twists and major points. He even has the characters repeatedly state that they're only guessing and it's left at that... As most people say, it's like two different novels. Not so much because of the supernatural twist, but for me it was the quality of the story. The beginning was so rich, only for it to drop off into long winded expositions, hollow developments, and painfully one dimensional characters who lacked any ounce of genuineness.

I've never been a big fan of Stephen King so I wasn't totally surprised or disappointed. The mystery was intriguing and I had no trouble staying with it. At times, it was even scary, keeping me up a few nights. But as usual, it could have been better.