Stephen King has written several acclaimed crime and mystery novels, and one of his most unsettling books has been adapted into an HBO series that fans might have missed15:45, 30 Jul 2026A suspenseful crime drama show has left viewers on the edge of their seats, but many might not have realised that it's been based on a major bestselling book by horror writer Stephen King.‌When it come to story adaptations, there are some people who always prefer to read the book before watching the adaptation, as the book often contains more information and details than what will be able to be included in its adaptation. Meanwhile, others might not be as bothered and simply choose to watch the film or TV show before reading the book, if they ever do.‌However, one booklover went onto one of Reddit's forums for book readers and asked for recommendations for films and TV shows that had been adapted from a book, writing that they were keen to read the book before getting sucked into the screen adaptation.‌While numerous suggestions flooded in, one particular user highlighted an adaptation of a recent Stephen King novel that has largely flown under the radar."Stephen King's The Outsider," one user simply recommended in the comment section of the post, and was quickly mirrored by other users.What is The Outsider about?The Outsider follows a police investigation sparked by the discovery of an eleven-year-old boy's violated corpse in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of the town's most beloved residents, and the novel quickly earned its place amongst King's most unsettling and compulsively readable works after its publication in 2018.‌Two years after the book's release, the mini-series made its debut on HBO Max, as the ten episodes follow the same storyline, with the characters being played by an impressive ensemble cast that includes Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, and Bill Camp.As reviews came out following the show's premiere, viewers said they were particularly captivated by Erivo's portrayal of Holly Gibney, a recurring character from King's Bill Hodges trilogy of novels, who features as a major supporting character in The Outsider.‌Having earned an impressive rating of 91% on reviewing site Rotten Tomatoes, viewers have praised the show's brooding atmosphere, Jason Bateman's directing skills, and the cast's powerful performances for special praise. Although some viewers later took issue with the series' pacing, such criticisms were largely drowned out by the overwhelming admiration directed at those involved.Despite a strongly positive reception to all 10 episodes, HBO declined to commission a second series, with production company MRC subsequently seeking to take the show elsewhere. King confirmed that scripts for a follow-up series had already been written, and both cast and crew made clear their eagerness to continue. However, no further developments have since been announced.Other Stephen King screen adaptationsHaving penned countless iconic novels throughout his decades long writing career, ranging from IT, featuring the terrifying killer clown Pennywise, to The Shining, centred around a family taking up residence in a haunted hotel, there are lots of screen adaptations to enjoy.‌Many of King's works have served as the foundation for major Hollywood films, including IT, Stand By Me (adapted from The Body) and The Shawshank Redemption, which holds the title of IMDb's highest-rated film of all time.His horror novel Salem's Lot has been reimagined twice as a TV series, in 1979 and 2004, as well as receiving a big-screen adaptation in 2024. His 1980 novella The Mist was turned into a series in 2017, only to be axed after a single season.When it comes to adaptations, King has been candid about favouring television over film, as the small screen affords the time needed to fully explore his intricate plots and character development. He famously noted: "That is the great thing about TV: You can take these things as they are and expand more."Article continues belowThe Outsider is currently available to stream on HBO Max.