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)

Great book

Great book, and the reader is phenomenal! Could not wait to start listening again when I would have to pause it. Kept me interested the whole time.

Kate, please narrate more.

Amazing book, dripping with references to his father's work. Kate is a true performer who has never stopped bettering her craft. If you like stephen king (sorry Joe), you'll love his sons work, which has echoes of his father while remaining true to itself. So. Good.

Never mind the cover art

At first I was a bit put off by the title (and even the cover art) thankfully my interest in the story line overrode my predilections and I purchased it. Really glad I did! Now, I'm no fan of obscenities, but there are a few in this book and I must say that of all I've heard that didn't need the foul language or over did it, this book carried it well and frankly would have been missing something without it.
Honest review here so listen up. This guy, Joe Hill, he's a master. I'm no writer so I can't really describe just how good he is, but it wasn't like reading or even listening to a story. It was like living it. Like... I don't know but it was fantastic! And Kate, Oh man! Her narration has truly set the high bar. I had not heard her narrate before so let me say, there's a new standard to which I hold narrators to and its Kate Mulgrew!You don't want to miss this.

A MUST for King Fans!

What a story! Truly one that the could have come from Stephen himself. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the plot, the narrative performance, the beginning and the end. Subtle references to other books readers of this book would enjoy. I'm a huge King fan and I'm so happy to see that his legacy is already being taken at a good pace. Bravo Joe!!

New Fan

So happy to find this, what a great story, great listening. Can't wait to hear another story by Joe Hill.

a super creepy listen, well read

What made the experience of listening to NOS4A2 the most enjoyable?

Kate Mulgrew- I am a huge Star trek Voyager fan and thought I was going to be distracted by Captain Kathryn Janeway, but Mulgrew does such a great job with character's voices and differing cadences. A distinguished performance.

The story- is blissfully long and involved, the mystery unfolds slowly (too slowly for some) but its jam packed with action scenes. I never felt board. and what great characters hill has created! I love how his protagonist, Vic, is not the perfect mom, she is a real person who makes mistakes and gets lost, feels guilt and buries her feelings. And the antagonist, Charlie Manx, is a great villain because he believes he's doing the right thing in his own twisted way. He's just not a bad guy with a bad habit.

What other book might you compare NOS4A2 to and why?

reminded me (a teeny tiny bit) of Christopher Moore's Horror/Humor books like "a Dirty Job" and "the Stupidest Angel."

Which character – as performed by Kate Mulgrew – was your favorite?

They were all so well done, but I particularly liked her reading of Bing and Lou

Any additional comments?

There's only a few audio books that make my "listen again" This is one of them!

Haunting

Gripping, imaginative, chilling book. You know a horror story has gotten under your skin when it makes you a tiny bit afraid of your own small children!

The reading by Kate Mulgrew is unbelievable. Possibly the best audiobook performance I've ever heard and I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks.

There is a fun little reference to listen for if you've read Hill's other work, and that of his father. I love meta-references and appreciate the thematic connection this one draws between many different works.

Loved it!

I really liked this book great story and great narration it was hard to stop listening too it just always kept u on the edge.

gripping thrill ride with 10 star narration

What made the experience of listening to NOS4A2 the most enjoyable?

First and foremost was Kat Mulgrew's EXCELLENT narration. You could picture each character with their distinctive voices. Charlie Manx was particularly terrifying --

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vic - who overcomes many obstacles against all odds in her quests, I also really liked Maggie - who also had many obstacles, and kept persevering, against all odds.

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

no, but I will be sure to keep an eye out for her. I have given many narrators 5 stars for excellent work, but this is the all time overall best narration out of hundreds of audiobooks!!

Captivating tale - creepy and engaging

Joe Hill has quite possibly destroyed my love of Christmas carols with this tale. there are at least tainted and I am glad I read this book in July. The idea that we all live in two worlds, our everyday world and the one inside our head resonates strongly and truly makes the supernatural events in NOS4A2 seem plausible. The characters are well created, so "everyday" human, that we are drawn in. The lead character seems to have special powers and yet we come to understand it isn't special but the power of creativity. The outcome could br good or evil as either can result from tampering with the human condition.

Kate Mulgrew gave a delightful reading!

I highly recommend this. audiobook.