Regarding King, many times over the last twenty years or so I've felt I've outgrown him but currently reading Outsider and coincidentally working my way through Mr. Mercedes on Netflix and it's true you do sometimes forget how nasty he can get amongst the excessively wholesome all American characters and settings. Anyone who's read Outsider will know the particular  dirty deed I'm referring to.
Wearing jeans and leather, not crackerjack clothes

I haven't read that but I've seen the series, albeit a few years ago. I remember it getting a bit grim at times (and apperently both it and Mr. Mercedes share a character).

Hang on, there's a series of The Outsider? Didn't know that.
Wearing jeans and leather, not crackerjack clothes

Revival is one of his best recent books imo. I loved that one.