Stephen King’s latest audiobook has four exceptional novellas that are each masterfully narrated. “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” narrated by Will Patton in a wistful tenor, is a meditative coming-of-age tale dotted with technophobia and communications from beyond the grave. “The Life of Chuck” is King’s most imaginative work in years. Narrator Danny Burstein expertly captures the surreal story’s shifting tones, which range from pure joy to abject despair. “If It Bleeds,” a sequel to THE OUTSIDER, is also narrated by Patton, who provides a unique and compelling voice for King’s recent favorite protagonist, private investigator Holly Gibney. “Rat,” about a struggling writer’s descent into darkness, is riveting, thanks to narrator Steven Weber’s focused intensity. For longtime King listeners and newcomers alike, this collection is essential listening.
Pub Date: April 21, 2020
Duration: 15 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797104805
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 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
Vacker’s precise pacing and authentically depicted terror elevate this chilling audiobook.
Karissa Vacker skillfully narrates this dystopian horror audiobook about a mysterious painting. Tilly receives the once-in-a-lifetime task of restoring The Mother, the rumored fourth painting of a macabre artist with a tragic story. Then Tilly discovers she’s pregnant, which triggers Motherwise, an incentivized program that supports families in a society experiencing extreme population decline, to closely monitor her health. Vacker easily conveys a wide range of characters using accents and tonal adjustments. She captures a variety of emotions as Tilly desperately tries to complete her work despite the unsettling and sinister happenings that seem to be connected to the painting and to Motherwise’s invasive pregnancy tracking.
Vacker’s precise pacing and authentically depicted terror elevate this chilling audiobook.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217285402
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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