Seth Numrich’s narration of 17-year-old Charlie Reade’s story is moving and frightening in equal measure. Charlie befriends a reclusive curmudgeon, Howard Bowditch, and his aging dog, and inherits Howard’s house and dog when he dies. Howard also leaves Charlie a cassette recording—voiced remarkably by Stephen King. On it, Howard recounts a story within the story, involving a locked shed, a portal to a dying world, and Charlie’s part in a plan for salvation. Numrich creates a distinctive voice for each character, complete with growls and guttural snarls for evildoers. He even makes a hum sound threatening. Listeners will be drawn into this audiobook by the intimate tone of Numrich’s narration, which is like hearing Charlie himself.
Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
Duration: 24 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797145297
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Patterson drops listeners into a world of supernatural thrills.
Courtney Patterson vividly narrates this horror novel. In the fictional town of Cold Harbor, Long Island, a centuries-old monster lives in a creepy mansion. Three neighbors become involved with her just as she needs to renew her powers through horrific acts. Two of the women’s children band together with a local housekeeper to defeat the monster. Patterson creates a unique voice for each character, performing Icelandic and Long Island accents, wealthy hauteur, and working-class desperation. She also captures the fear of children who are facing both metaphorical and literal demons. Her renditions are captivating.
Patterson drops listeners into a world of supernatural thrills.Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 26 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488237287
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Kowal’s performance enhances this gothic horror audiobook.
Mary Robinette Kowal narrates this historical horror audiobook about a woman tasked with illustrating parasitic insects. Sonia, a scientific illustrator in 1899 North Carolina, has taken the job of assisting entomologist Dr. Halder in completing his book. Several mysteries surround her new assignment—the local woods are rumored to be full of “blood thieves,” and the animals around Halder’s estate act strangely. Plus, Halder’s previous illustrator was also his wife, whose current whereabouts are unknown. Kowal’s mature voice and precise pacing maintain a creepy atmosphere as Sonia slowly unravels the doctor’s secrets and how they connect to the insects he’s studying. She skillfully uses an American Southern accent and adjusts her cadence to enliven portrayals of the estate’s other workers.
Kowal’s performance enhances this gothic horror audiobook.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250436153
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
