Stephen King’s 10 Most Underrated Novels From a Guy Who's Read Them All

1. "Joyland"

I might place this book in my top 5 Stephen King books overall. Joyland is on this list because a lot of people are unaware of it. King has published three books so far with crime fiction publisher, Hard Case Crime. These include The Colorado Kid, Joyland, and Later. All three are shorter works by King standards, and the brevity benefited Joyland in particular. The characters are strong. The emotions dictate the characters’ choices. The story and pacing pull the reader along.

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2. "Mr. Mercedes"

This is the first novel in a trilogy of Bill Hodges crime fiction novels. Characters from these stories make at least two more appearances in other Stephen King works. These books have received acclaim, but Mr. Mercedes makes this list because in addition to being a great story, it has failed to land on the personal top lists of many people. I’d easily place this work in my top ten Stephen King books. The whole trilogy is good, but this novel in particular is almost perfect in its beats, tone, and diversity of character. No individual is a perfect fit for the role they play, but they create a close to perfect story as a result.

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3. "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon"

Tom Gordon was a real-life Major League Baseball pitcher for the Red Sox at the time of this novel’s publication. The story follows a young fan who gets terribly lost in the woods and must fight to survive a harrowing journey. It is a brief novel, which prevents the story from dragging or becoming overindulgent. It is a close look at a young character struggling to survive. Many Stephen King readers might be surprised at the ways this story is different from his other works, and the power the narrative still holds.

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4. "Lisey’s Story"

Lisey’s Story did receive a screen adaptation that was well received. At one point, Stephen King mentioned he thought it was his best story. It makes this list because despite how good it is, many people still don’t think of it while listing off King’s best. It focuses on strong three-dimensional female characters and relationships. While it has some similarities to Bag of Bones and “Secret Window Secret Garden”, it does a superior job of exploring grief, loss, family, and trauma. This story punches above its weight.

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5. "Revival"

Revival is something unique in King’s catalog of work. He has always leaned into and borrowed from cosmic horror, but this work captures a sense of existential dread, especially at the end, that other novels weren't able to. It really does an excellent job of tying together themes of religion, faith healing, carnival shows, Dr. Frankenstein, electricity, addiction, rock and roll, and the veil between worlds. These ideas intertwine and tangle up in a story that leaves readers reeling.

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6. "Bag of Bones"

Lisey’s Story is arguably a better novel than Bag of Bones. Both have characters who are writers, a Stephen King staple. Both stories are built upon losses, though they might be seen as mirror images of each other, or divergent paths based on character death. Both had adaptations made of them, although the Bag of Bones version was probably less appreciated. Bag of Bones excels in its mystery and the process of unraveling the unfinished business of the spirit world. A clever story with a surprising resolution.

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7. "Desperation"

Desperation is not a perfect novel. It was written as a companion piece with The Regulators under the Richard Bachman pen name, long after everyone knew Bachman was Stephen King. The gimmick and connection between the two books are strange. I enjoyed both, but believe Desperation is the better of the two. The unsettling beginning keeps readers off balance throughout the entire story. The struggle against the deadly threat plays out well. The book definitely deserves more attention than it has gotten.

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8. "Sleeping Beauties"

Sleeping Beauties is a collaboration between Stephen King and his son, Owen King. Generally, I’ve not been a huge fan of Stephen King’s collaborations. In terms of being underrated, I think a lot of readers would be pleasantly surprised by this one. There are a few missteps in the narrative I would criticize, but taken as a whole, the large cast of characters is used well, the action proceeds nicely, the blend of the two writers’ styles serves to elevate the story and differentiate it from other King books, and it has some interesting moments that kept me engaged throughout.

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9. "Rose Madder"

Those who have read Rose Madder are split on it. I would not put it on a list of King’s best work, I don’t think, but I believe the gap between how good it is and how many people know about it is vast. The main character’s escape from the dangers of her marriage is really well written. Her road to redemption is nicely done, and features a really good cast of supporting characters. The supernatural elements are interesting and differ from other King works. I think the resolution of the story is quite good.

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10. "From a Buick 8"

There are a lot of readers who don’t know about From a Buick 8, and many who have read it and don’t appreciate it as much as I do. There is a style of gothic storytelling in which a story is told second or third hand, thereby creating some veils of mystery over the action. Stephen King has utilized this technique a few times over his career. I think the tie between the boy and his late father is done well. I think the bond between the officers, the boy, and the secret they keep is also good. The reveals are laid out in a way that kept me reading. I think they are balanced well with what is not revealed. I’m of the opinion that this book is underrated.

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Honorable Mention: "Duma Key"

I debated subbing Duma Key for one of the other entries on this list. It is not a perfect book, but it does fall right near the beginning of the most recent era of King’s career, in which he is consistently putting out great novels one after another. It is not as well known as some, but many who have read it appreciate it very much. King’s descriptions of creating visual art produce excellent prose. The path to recovery is heartfelt and heart wrenching. The characters are fully developed. The losses sting. The story deserves more credit than even I have given it in the past.

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