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
Aysha Kala crafts a delicate performance surrounding a surprisingly complex story about a carousel. The carousel, originally built in 1900s Paris, is shrouded in a mystery and linked to a history of missing children. Kala narrates as Maisie, an immigrant just arriving in Chicago in 1920, uncovers the dark secret of said carousel alongside Det. Laurent. Kala's elegant narration style blends perfectly with the thrilling writing, clever descriptions of the magical settings, and a cunning mystery, delivering a catchy listen for a wide audience. The dialogue between the protagonists progresses the plot while also allowing for satisfying character development. Kala's narration is a mix of whimsical wonder and gritty determination.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781488237003
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jensen Olaya and Joel de la Fuente share narration duties in this tale of a family haunted by the shadows of their past. Olaya primarily plays the part of Sophie, an outsider invited to the ancestral home of the Filipino Sepulveda family. Fuente takes over the role of Javiar, an exiled member of the family. While Sophie and Javiar have distinct points of view that might merit two narrators, both also assume the dialogue of the surrounding cast, which often leads to an inconsistent tone throughout the book. Olaya is typically monotone, offering no significant differences in the voice of any character. Fuente is a bit better at distinguishing characters than Olaya, but the mismatch of their narration styles detracts from the substance of the story. Overall, this recording may have been better served by a single narrator with a more diverse set of voices and tones.
Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798890594716
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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