Locke & Key

Aside from the amazing story, which I was already familiar with, being a fan of the graphic novel series, the production values for the audio are akin to a blockbuster film... but without the visuals. The acting is superb, a stellar cast; sound design is rich and full, with exceptional music score; and the recording sounds like each scene was actually placed in the physical space in which it occurred... rather than a studio.

I've only finished Books 1-3 in a couple of sittings. Books 4-6 await!

All the characters, as performed by this cast, are mesmerizing. But for me, my favorites are the mom, Nina, and the 'Echo' in the well (played by the ever so talented Tatiana Mislay!).

Nina has so much depth and realism to her character, and the trials she goes through are so uncomfortably real. I hear "Every Mom" whenever she appears.

Tatiana Mislay plays the thing in the well with the most enticingly sultry voice, but that allure is tempered with a chilling danger. We're talking' the Sirens luring young ones to their doom!

Oh yeah, and Stephen King (!!!) plays a little role. He's hilarious!

They're not really "narrators", but actors playing characters. They were all fully invested in their roles... not a false note among them (so far - I have the other half to get through!). It's truly like listening to a movie with a blindfold.

I listened to The Starling Project, and I loved it.

Locke & Key is heads and shoulders above that excellent production! Kudos to Audible for producing this audio feast for the ears and imagination (and to Joe Hill, as well)!

Both versions are great I am sure. Personally, I like Audio Versions that allow me to travel and listen at the same time.

If you enjoy thrillers, horror, or any of Joe Hill's past work, you will enjoy this audio book.

Both Tatiana Maslany from OB and Kate Mulgrew from OITNB?! I am so in.

Joe Hill creates such memorable characters it is hard to pick one out of the bunch.

I'm not a comic book/manga reader. It's probably an age thing. I don't remember any good comic books at the corner drug store that I could walk to in the small Midwestern city I grew up in. Archie, Jughead and Richie Rich just didn't do it for me. The last "comic book" I bought was Stephen King's "Creepshow" (1982), with its fantastic artwork by Bernie Wrightson - and yes, it was published before George Romero's mediocre movie of the same name was released.

With writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Ramirez "Locke & Key" (2008 - 2013, limited series comic books, IDW publisher; 2015, Audible Studios performance), Audible actually created a new genre: Audible Comics. At least, I think that's what they are planning to call it. Right now, it's 'uncategorized' in the book index. Whatever genre it is, it works quite well as a listen.

According to the Wikipedia entry for "Locke & Key", the director of the Audible performance is voice actor William Dufris. Wikipedia can be hit-or-miss, but the "Locke & Key" entry spawned footnotes like bunnies, and it looks credible - although I can't find a second source to confirm the director. Whoever did direct the performance did an astounding job. There are a bunch of really talented actors (about 45, plus the three top billed stars); great sound effects; and specially commissioned music.

It took me a while to get through "Locke & Key" because it demands careful attention. Miss a few important lines, and you'll miss a plot twist. It should be listened to at night, when the imagination can run wild and scared, and without the distraction of smart phones and television. Have a cup of hot herbal tea, or a glass of red wine to go with the listen. It is, after all, Lovecraft, Massachusetts, where the line between worlds is just a hidden door deep within a drowning cave; locked with key after key forged from metaphysical metal; and guarded by the echoes of loved ones, daemons from ghastly other worlds, and teenagers who ease into the supernatural like easing into driving. They'll tell you it's an awesome and frightening responsibility, but you get used to it.

"Locke & Key" is really a new form of storytelling. It relies heavily on the imagination, which makes the experience different for every listener. The production quality - the actors, the music and the effects - is so high (and probably so expensive) it will be hard for future performances of other works to meet the standards this performance sets. Enjoy the scare - it's well worth the time to listen.

The title of the review is a quote from "The Picture in the House" (1920, 1921) by H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937).

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Yes, I love that it is done as a play with multiple characters. I had listened to something similar on a podcast and was trying to find more things like it, luckily I had preordered this!!

The acting.

No, I have not listened to the narrator before, although there was more than one!

Get it, you won't regret it!

I loved the way that this was written. I was hooked until the very end. I just had to know about the lock and key story and I am glad that I downloaded this book. It is every bit as amazing as i had hoped it would be.

Nothing can prepare for the scale of this strange tweeter horror adventure. It's a creepy and spooky story that, I admit I wasn't quite expecting, but so after the first two chapters you're hooked. The production value and voice casting alone is a standout but just as the story evolves, so do the chapters with original music, number of characters and sound effects. I may have to listen to this again, so worth the time - but not for the young or faint at heart.

I will admit I was disappointed at first, and almost didn't stick with it (too many actors, voices, and unclear actions). It took me a bit to adapt to listening to the dramatization, but once I did I was hooked. This was quite the adventure tale with several twists and turns.

My recommendation is to turn the key and unlock the adventure for yourself! Enjoy!!

I'm so glad this is my first audio comics! I was extremely concerned how well it would translate. But it was well produced. Definitely worth a listen!

its an audio drama, not an audio book, there's no descriptive narration. but the story is very good and the voice actors are talented. Has the feel of a Stephen king story.

Loved it! Great story, fantastic performance!!! I was surprised at how well they translated a series of graphic novels into a sound recording.