Ghost Story

By: Peter Straub

Narrated by: Buck Schirner

Length: 22 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Peter Straub’s classic tale of horror, secrets, and the dangerous ghosts of the past...

What was the worst thing you’ve ever done?

In the sleepy town of Milburn, New York, four old men gather to tell each other stories - some true, some made-up, all of them frightening. A simple pastime to divert themselves from their quiet lives.

But one story is coming back to haunt them and their small town. A tale of something they did long ago. A wicked mistake. A horrifying accident. And they are about to learn that no one can bury the past forever...

©1989 Peter Straub (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Favorite Book

I originally read this book around the time it came out. It has always been a favorite of mine. It is really good. One of the best! The audio book is really well done and the story is just as good as I remember it. I have read it many times, but it been at least 20 years since I last read it. I recommend this book to fans of horror, ghost stories and just a fine story!

Just Okay

Not a bad story, but way too much exposition, too many characters and FAR too much useless blabbity-blah. It could be 5 hours less and much more concise. The narrator is less aggravating if you speed it up to 1.25 or so. Elements of The Shining and Dracula... just get to the dang point already!

An allegory about aging

Not a horror story for everyone. It has a strong literary impulse with certain nods to Henry James. It’s glacially paced at times and rewards those who are patient. Overall it is well written but could have been 150 pages shorter.

his voice. love it

The book was kind of confusing. but would recommend it. he is one of my favorite authors

Great book!

Wow! Amazing book. Not bone chilling but certainly kept my attention. I will read again for sure. The narrator is great too. I will recommend to other people for sure. More of a thriller than out right fear. Good stuff!

A Stephen King novel that isn’t as good

This book is fine. It has distinct, acceptable characters, plenty of development, some good scenes. It’s all fine.

Still, I found myself reminded of Stephen King so much throughout that I often wanted to just be listening to It or Salem’s Lot. I think the latter is a good point of comparison.

This book is very similar to King’s vampire novel, but at almost every turn it seems smaller, less fierce and powerful.

By the time you get to the end of Ghost Story, you feel somewhat underwhelmed. It’s as if you just had a long dream with plenty of loose ends and you can’t remember half of it.

This book is worth checking out. It has some surprises in store for you and it can be fun, but it ultimately suffers due to the fact that its story has already been written by more masterful hands.

Good story, too verbose

Solid writing but drones on in ways that gives new meaning to the word "detailed." Still, enjoyed the storyline and characters immensely. Recommend.

Great book! wasn't crazy about narration..

Slow start, but man it makes up for it in the 2nd half. Highly recommend👍

gripping!

I love this book! Further I enjoyed the readers tones and accents which readout made the characters stand on their own. looking for the next like this!

A good story, but not scary enough

I appreciate the literary merits of this book more than I did the first time I read it. I find Buck Schirner's performance immensely less grating than the first time, and in fact I think it suits the material very well.
But I didn't find the story scary!
Not in the individual episodes, or in the broader plot.
A lot of it is creepy, and the atmosphere can get spooky and unsettling, but it's not enough scares for how much story there is.