• Rose Madder

  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Blair Brown
  • Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (4,274 ratings)

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Rose Madder  By  cover art

Rose Madder

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Blair Brown
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Publisher's summary

The number-one national best seller about a woman who escapes an abusive marriage is "one of Stephen King's most engrossing horror novels. Relentlessly paced and brilliantly orchestrated...fueled by an air of danger immediate and overwhelming" (Publishers Weekly).

Rosie Daniels leaves her husband, Norman, after 14 years in an abusive marriage. She is determined to lose herself in a place where he won't find her. She'll worry about all the rest later.

Alone in a strange city, she begins to make a new life, and good things finally start to happen. Meeting Bill is one, and getting an apartment is another. Still, it's hard for Rosie not to keep looking over her shoulder, and with good reason. Norman is a cop, with the instincts of a predator. He's very good at finding people, even if he is losing his mind.

Fixed on revenge, Norman Daniels becomes a force of relentless terror and savageness, a man almost mythic in his monstrosity. For Rosie to survive, she must enter her own myth and become a woman she never knew she could be: Rose Madder.

"Riveting, engrossing...packed with suspense" (People), Stephen King infuses this novel with an edge-of-your-seat, chilling atmosphere. Rose Madder is "an eerie, remarkably mature and moving novel" (The Washington Post).

©1995 Stephen King (P)2009 Penguin Audio

Featured Article: We All Quote Down Here—50+ of the Best Stephen King Quotes


It is King's versatility, his skills as a writer, and his ability to tap into our fears that makes Uncle Stevie so eminently quotable. Even though King writes mainly terrifying books, his works are also full of wisdom, heart, humor, and compassion. He can be scaring your pants off one minute, and really making you think about humankind the next. Here are the best quotes from the master of the macabre: Stephen King.

What listeners say about Rose Madder

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

awesomr

I read this book in my 20s . I enjoyed listening to it just as much as reading it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good audible book

I like most of Stephen King books, but this is one of my favorites. Not sooo scary I need to listen in the daylight hours only.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well read great story

In short - one of SK’s good ones. Narration performances from both King and Brown were both excellent. However - the insertion of music was VERY poorly done. It was often too loud and started way too soon to indicate the end of the scene or chapter. Remove the music and you’ve got a 5/5 performance!!

Avid listener,
L

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Don’t like the guy narrator

I don’t like the male narrator in this story. And I wish this recording studio didn’t put so many sound effects in their books as it takes away from the story most of the time. But Stephen King is brilliant and has told a great story once again

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very addictive

I absolutely loved every moment of this book even though parts were a little strange but hey it's written by Steven king. the narrator did a great job I thought I'll probably listen to it again at some point

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

My favorite SK book

The first King novel I read was The Stand, which I gobbled down in about 4 days while at home with chicken pox (for the second time.) I was told doing so could damage my eyes, but couldn't put the book down!
When Rose Madder came along, I fell in love. It was the mid 80's at the time ~i think~ the first time I read it. I remember being in the group of cry babies that whined when King said that Rose Madder would NEVER be made into a movie. Even though I STILL think Rosie should get her screen time, I can see how this novel would raise hackles on the PC bunch for Norman's colorful language. Still..
This is the first Audible book I've listened to, and it is kinda strange to "read" this way. Blair Brown made the characters come alive, and the male reader pegged Norman perfectly. It would be nice to know who that was. Why wasn't he listed along with Blair?
My only gripe was the volume of the background music. It was appropriate for the story and characters, but it would get loud enough that hearing the dialog was difficult at times, not to mention the mad dash turning the volume down.
I look forward to more Audible books, probably more SK novels, I have four shelves in my library full of him (he's my favorite.) Thanks Audible, for a new way to enjoy reading!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

loved it couldn't get enough. I had to keep listening. Now on to the next- book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My new second favorite Stephen King

My new second favorite of King, only behind IT. As a woman who has been through this exact same situation, He did fantastic at bringing all of a womans fears to life. Great writing, Great performance. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Oh my goodness!! I love love love this book!

I'm a long time Stephen King reader - like for almost 35 years. I read this several years ago & enjoyed it then but honestly this time I completely fell in love. It had some to do with now I'm older & have experienced some serious stuff but also the way it is read by Blair Brown & The Author completely enthralled me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Stephen King Winner

Easy to listen to, great story, great characters, great narration, haunting music. Totally recommend it!

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