Stephen Edwin King is an American author. Widely known for his horror novels, he has been crowned the “King of Horror”. He has also explored other genres, among them suspense, crime, science-fiction, fantasy, and mystery.
There are enough reasons to read Stephen King's books. He can transport readers into compelling universes populated by complex players twisting through complicated stories that make readers yearn to turn the page. King's talent for combining suspense, horror, and profound emotion pays off and provides not just rapid escape but also musings on humanity, fear , and the murkier parts of society. His stories frequently grapple with iconic tropes such as good and evil, morality, and the consequences — physical and emotional — of trauma, and it's those sorts of universality that allow his books to connect with a broad spectrum of readers. Also, by paying close attention to detail and gaining an insight into the psyche of human beings, King might be constructing more empathic, analytical, emotionally driven readers.
Best Stephen King Books
For new readers who are willing to take the plunge into Stephen King's universe, there are still an essential 15 books to start with. These books display the breadth of his writing and the range of genres he investigates, from eerie supernatural stories to psychological suspense and moving drama. Whether in their fight against primordial wickedness, a town besieged by something sinister, or humanity's struggle to survive in the face of terror, each of these novels promises a reading experience that is second to none. Everyone has its allure, sucking readers into memorable tales that linger with them long after they finish the final page. All readers should read these better to appreciate how far and wide King's talent roams.
1. Fairy Tale
High schooler Charlie Reade enjoys baseball and football — and also has his share of heartache, from his mother's death in a horrifying accident to his father's addiction to alcohol. When Charlie, reminiscing on preoccupation, comes to possess a dog named Radar and befriend Howard Bowditch, who dwells in an isolated house on the hill with a locked shed in the backyard. As Charlie performs the tasks Bowditch assigns to him, from digging up each of the older man's roses and replacing them with blue ones to visiting the local pool hall before it opens, he comes to befriend Radar and, after Bowditch dies, the man leaves Charlie a cassette tape that reveals an unbelievable secret: the shed is a gateway to another world, a secret Bowditch has been protecting for decades.
The Book's publication date is September 6, 2022, by Scribner. It is 607 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 607 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
2. The Outsider: A Novel
When the horrific murder of an 11-year-old boy is discovered, the arrest by local authorities of a popular Little League coach is a cause for celebration in this thriller from bestselling author Terry Maitland. He seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? With eyewitnesses and fingerprints, detection seems ironclad. In spite of his alibi, DNA evidence and a growing list of witnesses make the case against Maitland appear to be fool-proof. However, as Detective Ralph Anderson and the district attorney delve deeper into the case, the investigation is broadened, and mysterious evidence surfaces about Maitland's unaccounted movements, casting doubt on his clear alibi.
The plot soon validates that cover copy, racing across the finish line to untangle a spider's web of tension and mystery, bringing to light the nature of the crime—and Maitland's participation—in a shocker that only Stephen King could cook up.
The Book's publication date is May 22, 2018 by Scribner. It is 655 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 655 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
3. The Institute: A Novel
In the middle of the night, Luke Ellis's parents are murdered, and he is kidnapped and brought to The Institute. There, he wakes up with no window in a room just like his own and learns that he and several other children — Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris and Avery — have special abilities, like telekinesis and telepathy. These kids are held in Front Half, where they're subjected to surveillance and mind games by the sadistic director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff, who use their powers for dark ends. Those who don't cut are sent to the horrifying Back Half, from which nobody has ever returned. Determined to get away and raise the alarm, Luke soon finds out that life inside the Institute is no game. It's a struggle for survival — a struggle that may already be lost.
The Book's publication date is September 10, 2019 by Scribner. It is 560 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 560 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
4. Billy Summers
In Billy Summers, Stephen King creates a masterful, darkly humorous, and gripping story about–of all things–how hard it is to kill, but it's easier than you might think. When Billy, a troubled man who has been a combatant in the Middle East, becomes Billy, a killer for hire, he takes his work very seriously. Weary of this perilous existence, Billy longs to retire, but he's quickly re-enlisted in one last heist, which carries the promise of an enormous payout even as its true motives seem questionable. As the narrative unfolds, an intimate portrait emerges, one that situates us where past and present meet.
This tale flows seamlessly from the great cause of one generation to the doubts and moral dilemmas of another, and that takes on the master narrative of the country over half a century by sticking to its margins, waiting patiently for an opportunity to court destiny on its terms. A complex antihero, Skillborn is an unlikely hero you'll never forget, with his dimpled chin and ability to disappear.
The Book's publication date is August 3, 2021 by Scribner. It is 527 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 527 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
5. The Stand
When a patient in Stephen King's The Stand flees a biological testing laboratory, he has no idea that, after incubating a mutated super flu, his escape is bound to wipe out 99% of the world's population. As the world rapidly crumbles around them, they will be put to the ultimate test, facing their allegiances – and what really matters. Season one of The Stand will close with a nail-biting showdown between Randall and Mother. Alongside Skarsgard on the Cast are James Marsden, Amber Heard, Whoopi Goldberg and Owen Teague. Humanity is broken up and struggling for survival. The last remaining survivors will have to choose who they are loyal to and what they will lie to find the destiny of the world.
The Book's publication date is June 24, 2008 by Anchor. It is 1348 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 1348 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
6. It: A Novel
In Stephen King's It, seven friends return to Derry, Maine, to grapple with the haunting and monstrous local being that haunted and hunted them as children. And when they first met the creature — a thing that hunts children, an “other” — they defeated it, forcing the horrors of that summer into the recesses of their minds. Now, decades later, the murders have begun again, and their loved ones are dying once more. They head back to the town to confront the returning nightmare. It is set in a small town in New England and follows the life of the protagonists as children and then again as adults after they realize that the evil they believed they'd vanquished as kids still lingers.
Long after the group's childhood experiences with a monster as old as time surface in their memory, the seven friends return to Derry to face the beast and destroy its latest victim. King's first Book informed works as varied as Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me and remains a cinematic classic.
The Book's publication date is January 1, 2016 by Scribner. It is 1181 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 1181 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars
7. The Shining (2 book series)
In Stephen King's The Shining, Jack Torrance applies for a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated, old Overlook Hotel, hoping to cure his writer's block and make a new start for his family. But when the hob's dark, bestial desires are released during the harsh winter, the family's tranquillity is shattered. Jack has plans to get some writing done and reconnect with his loved ones, but the devious forces at the hotel have their agenda. Only his five-year-old son, Danny – who has some such gift of his own – can see the words on the wall. The chilling novel that inspired the iconic film.
The Book's publication date is June 24, 2008 by Vintage. The first book is 673 pages long and the second book is 655 pages long. Both of them are available in several formats.
Length: 673 pages and 655 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars
8. The Bill Hodges Trilogy (3 book series)
The show follows retired detective Bill Hodges, who gets sucked back into a sick and twisted world of obsession, crime and justice when the really creepy and sadistic mass killer from Hanky's past comes back. King's ability to craft rich, nuanced characters is more than evident here, as Bill and his unusual sidekicks — Jerome and Holly — tangle with various external and internal demons. The pacing is breakneck, with the tension ratcheting up with every page, and the themes of revenge, destiny, and the fuzzy area between good and evil are explored again with Forsman's trademark depth. But though the trilogy plays out in high-stakes action and mind-bending reversals, it's King's talent for intimate, character-driven storytelling that makes the series feel deeply emotional. It's a compelling, breakneck journey that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, highlighting a darker and more grounded aspect of King's storytelling.
These book were published in 2014, 2015, and 2016 respectively. Each book of triology is 538 pages, 558 pages, and 511 pages long. These books are available in every format.
Length: 538 pages, 558 pages, and 511 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars
9. Holly
In Finders Keepers, Holly Gibney is burdened by loss and the material and emotional strain of an unsparing caseload. She seeks to make Penny Dahl and her daughter, Bonnie, whole again. As Holly, grieving for her partner, who is ill, and her complex mother, begins looking for answers, she finds unsettling ties to the professors, Rodney and Emily Harris, the very picture of genteel rectitude. They are hiding a sick, perverted secret just below the surface of their tidy, tiny home about Bonnie's disappearance. As Holly digs deeper, she meets a cunning, patient couple who are not just merely devious but shockingly ruthless in their quest to cover their tracks.
With her pulse-pounding, Holly is tested to the brink, her personal life becoming a mere shambles while the hunt consumes her, body and soul, a dangerous battle of witsIn this deadly dance, Holly faces a devious opponent who may be even more intelligent and cold-blooded than she.
The Book's publication date is September 5, 2023, by Scribner. It is 463 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 463 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
10. The Hard Case Crime Novels of Stephen King (3 books)
The Hard Case Crime Novels of Stephen King The acclaimed suspense and horror fiction author's dark foray into the noir crime genre is back! Indulge in Stephen King's three (3) unforgettable noir-inspired thriller titles via Titan Books: The Colorado Kid, Joyland, and Later! Though separate in plot and setting, the books reflect King's trademark ability to build rich, atmospheric worlds inhabited by intriguing characters whose lives end up intersecting in strange — and often chilling — ways. For some reason, King was eager to write another crime novel, so he wrote The Colorado Kid. This weird mystery story remains unsolved, after which came Joyland, a combination of mystery and “bump in the night” spook tale with a hefty dose of nostalgia about old-timey carnivals, and just now King has given readers Later, which is a crusty, emotional take on a heroic crime-thriller yarn.
King's knack for infusing a straightforward genre like crime with suspense, spookiness, and emotional depth is what gives these books their flavour. For fans of both the crime genre and King's other work, this is a fascinating foray into his versatility, taking noir but adding his distinctive brand of uncanny.
The triology was published in 2005, 2013, and 2021 respectively by Hard Case Crime publisher. The length of each book is 184 pages, 283 pages, and 297 pages. These books are available in all formats
Length: 184 pages, 283 pages, and 297 pages
Formats: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook, Hardcover, Mass Market Paperback
Latest Version: 1st Edition
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
11. If It Bleeds: Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, If It Bleeds, Rat
With If It Bleeds, Stephen King has written a burst of fresh new stories with newly found virtuosity and a seemingly effortless, instinctual mastery of the storytelling gift that has made him one of the greatest storytellers of our time. In the title story, the still-beloved Holly Gibney, known to millions of readers from the Mr Mercedes trilogy and The Outsider, deals with a particularly vexing menace on her own, and Mr. Harrigan's Phone is a meditation on the troubled aftermath of a friendship across generations. And Life of Chuck provides a moving meditation on the intricacies of life, as Rat explores the uglier repercussions of ambition.
Throughout these narratives, King's hallmark themes of evil and friendship build the tapestry of the decade—evil in all its varied forms and the actual, life-saving power of friendship. Whether facing off against otherworldly creatures or coming to terms with sinister minutia, these offerings cushion their themes of postmodern dread with the novelist's recognizable emotional depth, making them instant—and future—classics in the Master of Horror's legacy.
The Book's publication date is April 21, 2020. It was published by Scribner. It has 447 pages to read and available in different formats.
Length: 447 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
12. The Dark Tower (7 book series)
Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, a seven-book epic that fuses fantasy, horror, westerns, and science fiction, is a sprawling and imaginative work of fiction. The series is centred around Roland Deschain, the last of the gunslingers, as he journeys through a Western-inspired fantasy landscape to reach the fabled Dark Tower, the centre-point for all universes. King trades in fate, destiny, and the struggle between good and evil throughout the books, examining the heavy philosophical ideas of time, identity, and sacrifice. Having well-developed characters, interesting world-building, and a complex plot interweaving many characters and King's other work as well, The Dark Tower is a fantastic journey.
It's at once a distressing, eerie journey, a reflection on the human experience and a celebration of the power of story. Though the series is dense and, at times, cryptic, it rewards those who are willing to become absorbed by its grand tale.
The Dark Tower series was published between 1982 and 2004 by Donald M. Grant, Viking, and Scribner. The length of each book is as follows:
The Gunslinger (1982) – 224 pages, The Drawing of the Three (1987) – 400 pages, The Waste Lands (1991) – 512 pages, Wizard and Glass (1997) – 787 pages, Wolves of the Calla (2003) – 714 pages, Song of Susannah (2004) – 432 pages, and The Dark Tower (2004) – 845 pages. These books are available in all formats.
The Gunslinger
Length: 224 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.2 out of 5 stars
The Drawing of the Three
Length: 400 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.3 out of 5 stars
The Waste Lands
Length: 512 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Wizard and Glass
Length: 787 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Wolves of the Calla
Length: 714 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Song of Susannah
Length: 432 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.3 out of 5 stars
The Dark Tower
Length: 845 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars
13. ‘Salem's Lot
Stephen King's second novel, the classic chiller ‘Salem's Lot, tells the story of evil in small-town America: For the town of Jerusalem's Lot, this is just the beginning. His happiness turns dark soon after, however, when two young boys crash into the woods — and only one emerges alive. As terrible things begin to happen, Mears is identified as a suspect, and so begins the battle to discover what unspeakable horror has descended upon them. With few allies, he is left to face the growing darkness overtaking the town in a fight for survival. King skillfully marries psychological suspense with supernatural terror in this creepy coming-of-age tale about fear, prejudice, and the corrupting potential of darkness.
The Book's publication date is October 17, 1975, by Doubleday. It is 668 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 668 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
14. Elevation
In Elevation, Stephen King delivers a heartwarming and eerie tale set in the small town of Castle Rock, where Scott Carey, a man mysteriously losing weight without explanation, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected kindness. As Scott begins to understand their struggles, including confronting his own biases, he tries to bridge the gap and help them find acceptance. With a blend of unlikely alliances, community spirit, and the mystery surrounding his condition, King crafts a poignant, timely narrative about overcoming division and finding common ground. Narrated by King himself, his delivery enhances the novel's good-hearted appeal, making Elevation a deeply moving antidote to a divided culture filled with both joy and a bittersweet reflection on humanity.
The Book's publication date is October 30, 2018, by Scribner. It is 160 pages long and available in a few formats.
Length: 160 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.4 out of 5 stars
15. Sleeping Beauties: A Novel
In Sleeping Beauties, written by father-and-son duo Stephen King and Owen King, the authors weave a story that's part gripping, part thought-provoking dystopia, and set in the present day in a small Appalachian town in which a strange occurrence makes women slip into a cocoon-like sleep — and become vulnerable to violence. The novel grapples with questions of gender power and survival as the town spirals out of control in the women's absence.
Featuring King's signature blend of the macabre and the sentimental, Sleeping Beauties is a long fable, as much as a horror story, as much as a fable, focusing on the divisions between the sexes and what lies on the other side. It's a fascinating examination of how fear and power infect human action, and King's collaboration offers a novel that, in its unsettling way, makes you think.
This novel was published in September 26, 2017 by Scribner. The length of this novel is 717 pages. It is available in several formats.
Length: 717 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
Latest Version: First Edition
Ratings: 4.3 out of 5 stars
To sum up, Stephen King's books improve your quality of life. His stories are so engaging. Not only have you swept away from reality, but you also learn the lessons about human nature and morality and the difficulty of life. Anyone who reads his novels will get an (often brutal) glimpse into what it means to be a human, feel all kinds of things, and think about thoughts that are as timeless as they are pertinent.