• Doctor Sleep

  • A Novel
  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Will Patton
  • Length: 18 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (38,296 ratings)

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Doctor Sleep  By  cover art

Doctor Sleep

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Will Patton
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Fiction, 2014

Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration - Male, 2014

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special 12-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky 12-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the "steam" that children with the "shining" produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant "shining" power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes "Doctor Sleep."

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan's own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra's soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted fans of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

©2013 Stephen King (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Will Patton's delivery enhances King's prose in ways that make King's work so much more enjoyable in audio than just reading it…Patton's narrative voice captures the rhythm of King's words. His character voices, filled with a variety of regional American accents, remain consistent. Most importantly, the sinister aspects that embody characters and moments of this novel are superbly executed and will certainly leave listeners on edge." ( AudioFile)
"King, not one given to sequels, throws fans a big, bloody bone with this long-drooled-for follow-up to The Shining." ( Booklist)
"…a gripping, taut read that provides a satisfying conclusion to Danny Torrance's story." ( Publisher’s Weekly)

Featured Article: We All Quote Down Here—50+ of the Best Stephen King Quotes


It is King's versatility, his skills as a writer, and his ability to tap into our fears that makes Uncle Stevie so eminently quotable. Even though King writes mainly terrifying books, his works are also full of wisdom, heart, humor, and compassion. He can be scaring your pants off one minute, and really making you think about humankind the next. Here are the best quotes from the master of the macabre: Stephen King.

What listeners say about Doctor Sleep

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28,908
  • 4 Stars
    7,261
  • 3 Stars
    1,523
  • 2 Stars
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Performance
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    27,959
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    5,239
  • 3 Stars
    1,131
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    25,895
  • 4 Stars
    6,591
  • 3 Stars
    1,628
  • 2 Stars
    375
  • 1 Stars
    210

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A nice continuation.

The story line flows well and pulls details from other novels. Overall a great book that leaves room for more.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Will Patton makes this book come alive!

What made the experience of listening to Doctor Sleep the most enjoyable?

Stephen King is a master of surprise and he made the events in this book mesh perfectly.

What other book might you compare Doctor Sleep to and why?

Every King Book is well-thought out and has a different twist. For that reason it is hard to compare this to other King Books or other authors.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Will is so smooth and he plays the characters perfectly and brings them to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Unlike other Stephen King books, this one was somewhat more predictable but not obvious.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING

AMAZING continuation of a classic! Thank you for keeping him human in a supernatural world

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

By Far The Best Novel I've listened to.

This caught you in its web from the first sentence to the last. the books story unfolded easily but still full of surprises.
The Narrator was FANTASTIC ! I COULDNT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET IT. You wont be sorry.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Read!!

I always wondered what happened after they made it from the hotel. I love how Danny is a real person with real problems and that he constantly is trying to live a good life while battling bad obstacles.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!!

Would you listen to Doctor Sleep again? Why?

Many times, and I usually do not re-read or re-listen!

What did you like best about this story?

Excellent plot, flow, suspense, humanness and spookiness!

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but his performance was superb!

If you could rename Doctor Sleep, what would you call it?

I would not re-name it.

Any additional comments?

Get this book!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent reprisal of the Shining characters

It wasn’t until I was a quarter of the way through the story that I fully embraced the story I was hearing. It’s been almost 40 years since I read the Shining but gradually realized the brilliance that is exemplified in this novel. I’ll be rereading this often

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great following story to The Shinning. Good Reads!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I found a great connection to the characters.

What did you like best about this story?

The human story mixed with fantasy.

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud a few times

Any additional comments?

No

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stephen Kings always the best.

This book answers all the questions you'd have and then some after the shining. I love the characters and the mix of real world references with the true not. Really a great book as always!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect absolutely perfect!

The story isn't scary but still gave me nightmares of troubling emotional encounters. That emotional attachment to the characters it what makes it great.

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