Hailed as the Master of Horror, Stephen King has 65 novels under his belt. From full-length series to standalone novels to pithy short stories, King has something for everyone. However, given the large number of projects he has worked on, there were always going to be titles that, despite deserving global praise, did not quite get it.
For those that love films based on his books, or are looking to explore his lesser-known works, here are our top picks from Stephen King's array of underrated novels. From books that are pure horror to those that depict King's grasp of the human psyche, these books are bound to impress everyone wanting to delve into the works of Stephen King.
7 Insomnia
Kicking off the list is 1994's Insomnia. Set in the town of Derry, Maine, Insomnia tells the tale of Ralph Robert as he starts seeing strange things following his progressively worsening insomnia. It turns out that these 'things' are not simple hallucinations, but auras and spirits directly involved in the working of the universe.
What follows is a gripping tale full of surprises. The book also has deep ties into the extended Stephen King universe and especially Dark Tower series. An essential for anyone wanting to dive deeper into King's works.
6 If It Bleeds
If It Bleeds is a short novel surrounding a school bombing. The book follows detective Holly Gibney, who suspects that something is wrong about the first reporter on the scene of the bombing. What happens next is, in Stephen King fashion, twisted, interesting, and intense.
Many of King's works can be long and dense, and take a while for readers to get through. However, If It Bleeds is a fun short read that also serves as an excellent introduction to King's shorter works.
5 Mr. Mercedes
Mr. Mercedes begins with a large queue outside a job fair beginning in a few hours. Readers are introduced to struggling characters in the queue hoping to land a job. A man in a Mercedes then drives through the que, killing and injuring many.
The book tells the story of this notorious Mercedes killer and the quest of tracking him down. During all this, readers are treated to some intense writing by Stephen King. The story of the killer dives deep into the depths of the human psyche, trying to explain what would drive one to commit such terrible acts. The book was also adapted into a critically acclaimed television show in 2017.
4 The Outsider
The Outsider begins with the mutilated dead body of a child named Frankie Peterson being discovered. It is clear upon investigation who the murderer is. Upon his arrest though, the murderer, with evidence, proves his innocence. On one hand, there is clear witness evidence proving him to be the murderer. But on another hand, he provides ample proof that he was not even in the city during the time of the murder.
As some might have already guessed, what follows is a mind-bending mystery in typical Stephen King fashion. It involves a lot of supernatural elements alongside great character development and a fascinating plot. The Outsider is arguably among Stephen King's greatest works, and is another novel that got an acclaimed television adaptation.
3 The Dead Zone
Following an accident, a part of Johnny Smith's brain gets damaged, thus becoming the 'Dead Zone.' As compensation, the remaining active parts of Johnny's brain become heightened and give him the ability of knowing a person's future upon touching them. Much like other entries in the list, the book is full of King's beautiful writing, intense moments, good character development and a great cast.
The Dead Zone has a sort of cult following among Stephen King fans. Those who love it consider it to be among his greatest pieces of work, and are always ready to defend it. All in all, The Dead Zone is an ambitious Stephen King novel that every fan should check out at least once.
2 Cujo
Cujo is a novel about a dog that contracts rabies and starts attacking people. In typical King fashion, the novel is full of tense moments, themes such as abuse and familial tension, and grief.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Castle Rock. The plot's movement is excellent and during its peak moments, the book is certain to have readers on the edge of their seats. Cujo is an excellent novel that depicts how good King is at blending in multiple genres in a single book.
1 Gerald's Game
Popularized by the Netflix adaptation, Gerald's Game is another Stephen King book that deserves more love. It is a short read about a couple that visits their lake house for a romantic mini vacation, but things end up going south very quickly.
Without going into spoilers, the best way to describe Gerald's Game would be by two words: dark and tense. Stephen King does an excellent job of creating an unsettling atmosphere in a cramped space very quickly and then letting the readers follow along as things start unfolding. It's an excellent quick read for anyone wanting to read more Stephen King.