

Quick Review:
Good supernatural crime thriller with all your typical Stephen King-isms; graphic violence and a ponderous pace with a heavy focus on atmospheric storytelling and slow build tension. If you like King, you'll probably like this book. If you don't, it won't convert you.
Details:
The Outsider is my first King book in a while and I can say it's like sliding into an old pair of comfortable shoes I'd forgotten about in the back of closet. King wheels out all the old classics of his writing style to deliver a story that builds slowly, allowing the tension to distill to a point where it's tough to put the book down towards the end. The development of a haunting atmosphere is immaculately done and establishes a world where things are realistic but just a bit strange as few but King can.
The cast of characters is quirky but not in a way that takes you out of the story. The build up is extremely slow and this book probably could have dropped about a quarter of its overall length and been better for it. Overall, a solid read for any long term King fan or anyone wanting to dip their toes into the the behemoth that is Kings body of work.
Quick Review:
Good supernatural crime thriller with all your typical Stephen King-isms; graphic violence and a ponderous pace with a heavy focus on atmospheric storytelling and slow build tension. If you like King, you'll probably like this book. If you don't, it won't convert you.
Details:
The Outsider is my first King book in a while and I can say it's like sliding into an old pair of comfortable shoes I'd forgotten about in the back of closet. King wheels out all the old classics of his writing style to deliver a story that builds slowly, allowing the tension to distill to a point where it's tough to put the book down towards the end. The development of a haunting atmosphere is immaculately done and establishes a world where things are realistic but just a bit strange as few but King can.
The cast of characters is quirky but not in a way that takes you out of the story. The build up is extremely slow and this book probably could have dropped about a quarter of its overall length and been better for it. Overall, a solid read for any long term King fan or anyone wanting to dip their toes into the the behemoth that is Kings body of work.