NOS4A2

A Novel

By: Joe Hill

Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew

Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The spine-tingling, bone-chilling novel of supernatural suspense from the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Fireman and Horns - now an AMC original series starring Zachary Quinto, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ashleigh Cummings.

"A masterwork of horror." (Time)

Victoria McQueen has an uncanny knack for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. When she rides her bicycle over the rickety old covered bridge in the woods near her house, she always emerges in the places she needs to be.

Charles Talent Manx has a gift of his own. He likes to take children for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the vanity plate NOS4A2. In the Wraith, he and his innocent guests can slip out of the everyday world and onto hidden roads that lead to an astonishing playground of amusements he calls Christmasland.

The journey across the highway of Charlie's twisted imagination transforms his precious passengers, leaving them as terrifying and unstoppable as their benefactor.

Then comes the day when Vic goes looking for trouble...and finds her way to Charlie. That was a lifetime ago. Now, the only kid ever to escape Charlie's evil is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx hasn't stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. On the road again, he won't slow down until he's taken his revenge. He's after something very special - something Vic can never replace.

As a life-and-death battle of wills builds, Vic McQueen prepares to destroy Charlie once and for all - or die trying.

©2013 Joe Hill (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Quite simply the best horror writer of our generation, Joe Hill’s masterful storytelling is on full display in NOS4A2. It is by turns terrifying and hilarious, horrifying and full of heart, and relentlessly compelling." (Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of The Prophet)

"Fascinating and utterly engaging, this novel is sure to leave readers wanting more. One thing is for certain, however. After reading this book, readers will never hear Christmas carols in quite the same way again." ( Library Journal, starred review)

"[A] new take on the fantasy-horror genre...Highly recommended." ( The Sun Herald Sydney, Australia)

It was entertaining!

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and interesting.

At first, I had a hard time with the performance, her voice was a bit annoying, then as I kept going, I started to appreciate her delivery of all the characters. She did a great job.

I would recommend it.

Don’t waste your money.

Don’t do it, don’t waste your time and money. The book lacked an important element, a good story.

Enthralling performance

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were complex and the plot was completely novel to me. Both scary and so funny at times, but in the most macabre way!

NoS4a2

In my opinion. It was a very good book. It can be thick at times and a bit dull with some characters that get a bit washed out. But, the story is very enjoyable and had moments that will really grab you. It wasn't quite what I expected going in to this listen. The performance was well reenacted. You won't be disappointed.

Story excellent and Kate Mulgrew Superb

The story is quite good and Kate Mulgrew's reading is just superb. Probably the best reading I have heard yet by a single person in my all the audio books that I've listened to. Absolutely fantastic. The only thing that is kind of a howler for somebody who is a life long native of Massachusetts is the pronunciation that Kate was allowed to use for Haverhill, MA. She pronounced it

➘Haver ➘Hill ..................... where she rhymed the first syllable with "have"

when we natives "know" that it is pronounced as one syllable

➘Haverill .............................. where the first part rhymes with "Shave"

I only nitpick this because Joe Hill is from Maine.

Awesome narrating!

Really enjoyed the book and the narrating by Kate totally made it! I’ll be listening to more from both.

the story is great I like the main protagonist

the narrator did a really great job, really sold the story and made you connect with the characters well done

BEST BOOK EVER!

I would recommend this book to any horror and suspense readers. I loved this book so much I read the whole book in less than 2 days. Joe Hill is an amazing writer, although I haven’t read any of his other books I think this one is his best! Not only was this written beautifully it was also read beautifully, this reader was somehow almost as interested in this book as I was!!!

Christmas, Cocoa, and Creeps

This was an audiobook that I didn’t want to finish. It’s an indulgent and spine-tingling story. I remained on the edge of my seat and held my breath during moments of thrill. It’s emotional, relatable, and quite classical in terms of horror. I hope Joe Hill considers creating a sequel!

Outstanding Symphony of Horror

It is so refreshing to come across a writer that writes to the, "smart reader". This was my first Joe Hill book and I was surprised and impressed by the caliber of his writing, he has definitely inherited his fathers, (Stephen King's), ability to spin a  spooky yarn that takes you on a gripping roller coaster ride. 

A fast pace, combined with well constructed characters provoked some thrilling and unexpected intensity. From the mystical heroine to the horrible villains, the characters have such depth that they draw you right into their dreadful altered reality.  For the thriller/horror seeker this scary and suspenseful read will not disappoint. 

A 115 year old convicted kidnapper/murderer, awakens from a 5 year coma,.. dies,.. gets embalmed, and then....walks out of the  hospital...  
As an act of revenge against the young girl who aided in his conviction years earlier, he and his creepy, murdering minion, snatch her young son with the intent of taking him into a bone chilling, fantasy world; "Christmasland". He would only be one of the many. 
A brave, mystical, but also, damaged heroin must use all of her recourses and abilities to try to save her son from a dammed eternity. 

The narrator did a great job with the up and down pace and the different character voices.  I will be looking for Hills next book with the hope that he can keep up the highly exciting, first rate plot lines.