Billy Summers Audiobook By Stephen King cover art

Billy Summers

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Billy Summers

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Paul Sparks
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The number one New York Times Best seller

An Esquire Best Book of the Year

A Wall Street Journal Favorite Book of the Year

A Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist

From legendary storyteller Stephen King, whose “restless imagination is a power that cannot be contained” (The New York Times Book Review), comes a thrilling new novel about a good guy in a bad job.

Billy Summers is a man in a room with a gun. He’s a killer for hire and the best in the business. But he’ll do the job only if the target is a truly bad guy. And now Billy wants out. But first there is one last hit. Billy is among the best snipers in the world, a decorated Iraq war vet, a Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done. So what could possibly go wrong?

How about everything.

This spectacular can’t-pause novel is part war story, part love letter to small town America and the people who live there, and it features one of the most compelling and surprising duos in King fiction, who set out to avenge the crimes of an extraordinarily evil man. It’s about love, luck, fate, and a complex hero with one last shot at redemption.

You won’t put this story down, and you won’t forget Billy.

©2021 Stephen King. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Action & Adventure Crime Thrillers Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Thriller Crime Mystery Exciting Scary
Compelling Character Development • Emotional Relationship Dynamics • Masterful Storytelling • Moral Complexity
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The narrator took a good minute to get used to and at times his way of pausing after every 3 or 4 words was annoying(my husband hated that more than I did but he liked the story enough to ask me how it all turned out) I barely noticed it after the first chapter. Parts of this reminded me of an old short story about a gang of outlaws, one of whom caught flies & did a magic trick with them & some thread(if you don't know that one, look it up!)
If you're lookin for a super scary or supernatural story you may be disappointed in this one because it isn't one of those but listen anyway because the story is well worth it. I was sad it ended so soon. I wanted it to go on but isn't that what a great story is all about-If you don't want it to end it means you're enjoying it. Some might hate the end, some might love it. As for me, I neither love nor hate it because in my mind the story continues.

Loved it.

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One of favorite King books! Loved it!!! However, it’s time King let’s his hate for Trump go. the side swipes ever other chapter are annoying and unnecessary-

Loved the story, but leave it alone King

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After listening to the sample I was on the fence about this book. Well to my surprise it was a home run! Narration was amazing, the narrator was a perfect fit for this book. One thing I can't understand is why can't Mr.King write one book without pumping his left wing political beliefs in them. It seems all the characters are Democratic left wing Trump haters in every book he writes.

Was doubtful about the narrator

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I read another review that said the narrator put him to sleep. I disagree stridently. The slightly flat affect is a portrayal of the main character. Without it, it would not have felt nearly as authentic. In addition I was engaged by the meta concept of a book within a book. And of course all those fun Stephen King Easter Eggs (names, locations, etc.). Just delightful, in a sad and creepy way of course.

Thoroughly enjoyable and kept me guessing

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Thank you Stephen King for this wonderful story! Also thank you to Paul Sparks for his wonderful and creative narration. The characters grab you from the beginning and I felt attached to them all the way through. Sorry it’s done, might have to go back and listen again.

Paul Sparks

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The book overall…amazing. Of course.
Re all the military/Iraq stuff…as someone who’s lived it, King clearly did tons of homework but still made it his own. Even more than the sum of the tiny details, he got the character and culture rights. Hooah, Mr. King.

Iraq vet, eye roll most fiction about “us”…King gets it right

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Phenomenal. Simply blown away by this.

I don’t know where to start honestly.

The text is some of the most inspired and, frankly, fresh storytelling King has put out in a long long time. I’m a lifer as far as Stephen King is concerned. Dude is my ride or die and this blew me away. Billy Summers will live right alongside Jack Torrance, Pennywise, Annie Wilkes, Carrie White, Bill Hodges, Andy Dufrense, Bill Denbrough and the Loser’s Club, Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Oy.

This is King giving us a crime novel that doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel by any means but it does what the author does best: deliver characterization, build a sense of place, and give us a reason to give a damn. By the time the back half of the story begins and we’re introduced to another important character, the narrative shifting to a different feel entirely, he found ways to surprise me nonetheless. Genuinely loved this and found myself unable to stop listening outside of when I absolutely had to during work, etc. Kept finding reasons to run errands, take long drives, just anything to keep listening.

I was initially unsure of the narration/performance here from Paul Sparks but my doubts disappeared about fifteen minutes in once he started establishing his voice for Billy, the various ancillary characters and then some. I’m looking forward to hearing more of Paul’s work on future King books honestly. Knocked it out of the park.

One of King’s best in the past decade

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This work is a great listen. The narrator’s voice is smooth and so easy to listen to. Many little nods to things King’s readers will get. King is getting so much better with time.

RICHLY TEXTURED STORY

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This is not your typical Stephen King novel! I bought it on a whim, and was not disappointed.

Loved it!

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Paul Sparks is an amazing narrator. We all know Stephen King is an amazing author. I wonder how he sleeps at night sometimes, with his head full of what have no become my nightmares. (Thanks for my irrational fear of clowns, Mr. King!)

Billy Summers will not scare you. Instead, it will beautifully narrate a story of.. a hired killer.

Billy Summers has a job to do, and it's a job he's been very successful at in the past. This time, the pay off will be huge. This is the last time. Can he afford to make friends with innocent people along the way? One would think that would be the last thing he'd want to do. But, Mr. King has other plans for Billy.

This is a definite King winner, and I am a huge King fan. He has hits and misses, but Billy Summers has been knocked out of the ball park.

-Wendi

Masterful, excellent narration!

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