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)

Killer narration of a great sprawling story

Would you consider the audio edition of NOS4A2 to be better than the print version?

I haven't gotten to read the print version yet; I have it on hold from the library. When I get and complete it, I'll edit this to update.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the story of Vic, because she was more than just a fluff filler character. Especially how she felt about Lou, and Wayne. She seemed more complex and fleshed out than you'd expect a character in a horror novel to be.

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

I haven't; and initially (based on the sample available from Audible) I wasn't sure I'd like her performance. However, her portrayal of Charlie Manx and Vic were *amazing*. Her other voices were good, but those two stuck with me. I am going to track down other titles she has narrated and give them a try, just based on her performance in this book. No spoilers, but at the end? Total chills based on the way she did it!

Good story-Incredible narrator

What did you love best about NOS4A2?

I listened to NOS4A2 without any idea of who Joe Hill is but early on I thought how similar the story is to Stephen King's work. Not in a plagirisim way but in the tone that permeates the novel. For me, calling your child heroine "the Brat" for example, is pure King. I was very delighted at the end to find out that the author is in fact the son of Stephen King. I think he does King proud. Joe Hill is good writer in his own right. He is good at characterization and he writes with heart. By the end of the book you really care about the major characters which is no small accomplishment. I wasn't crazy about the plot and don't think it is completely original but it held my interest due to my caring for the characters and due to an incredibly good narration by Kate Mulgrew. This is one of the finest pieces of narration I have heard since I started listening to audio books twenty years or so ago. I don't know that I found the story that scary but it was a great listening experience all the same.

What did you like best about this story?

The narrator and the characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

Couldn't say without a spoiler.

Amazing Terrifying Read

I found this book to be amazing. The performance really made it. Joe Hill is a great talent. I love that like his father, he often chooses strong and flawed female central figures. I laughed, cried, and found myself deeply connected to the characters and the story.
The concept that there is a physical world and a world of thought that are parallel is fascinating. For me, my imaginary world of thought has brought comfort. It is of a humorous nature and had allows me to laugh at the physical world. For others their world of thought can be a terrible burden.

Creeps Out Christmas

I thought it started slow. Once the book involved a twelve year old, a vampire, a broken down motorcycle and a man in a gas mask, I got scared. Not to give anything away, but as a parent nothing frightened me more than loosing one of my kids. TERRIFYING!!!

Other than that, it was a very good book. The constant Christmas music as the background theme makes me want to give up Christmas too. Creepy.

it's good

a twenty five hour audio book and I finished it in 4 days just about. thought ought to tell ya what you need to know

Sooo good

Super engaging and just an overall really good read. Really good character development in the book

AMAZING!!!!

This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK!!!!!! It keeps interested from start to finish!

Can Kate Mulgrew read everything to me now?

NOS4A2 is a fantastic story. It's the first Joe Hill novel I've listened to and I'm sure to listen to much more. But Kate Mulgrew's talent and ability to give voices to all the characters is astounding. She can probably read a human resources handbook and bring it to life. Well done!

fast paced whirlwind

I cant wait for more. It was riveting, fast paced, a good easy listen.

Loved it.

Fantastic story. Terrific narrator. Apparently I have to write minimum fifteen words for this review.