The 30 best Stephen King audiobooks of all time

The terrifying story of a family who find themselves trapped in an isolated, snowbound hotel in the middle of the Rockies, The Shining is as claustrophobic and chilling as its setting. (I still haven't been able to shake a slight unease around topiary animals and firehoses after my time spent in the twisted world of the Overlook.) But it’s also so much more than an eerie account of malevolent spirits, a clairvoyant young boy, and a man’s gradual descent into madness—it’s a meditation on addiction, family, abuse, and redemption. Audiobook veteran Campbell Scott, whose credits include Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls and Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain, masterfully narrates this listen, making the horrors that befall the Torrance family all the more impactful.

After the accidental release of a lethal virus, our world is deprived of most of its inhabitants. The survivors panic in the aftermath as widespread violence ensues and those who remain try desperately to find community and belonging by picking sides in an unwinnable war. Survivors seeking civility flee to Mother Abagail, a kindly old woman who seems to speak on behalf of God. But in the deserts of Nevada, a powerful man with a dark temperament named Randall Flagg leads an iron-fisted initiative to weaponize the dwindling population. Since its 1978 publication, King has added new material and reintroduced storylines cut from the original manuscript. With more than 500 pages of new material, this audiobook clocks in at 48 hours. Never mind the length—Grover Gardner performs each moment effortlessly, keeping you engaged and on the edge of your seat as the two camps of survivors fatefully converge.

The Outsider was adapted into a 10-part HBO miniseries starring Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, and Cynthia Erivo only two years after its initial publication—a testament to its strong story and instant popularity. This whodunit thriller is set in the aftermath of the vicious murder of an 11-year-old boy in Flint City, Oklahoma. All evidence—DNA, eyewitness, and otherwise—points to one of Flint City’s model citizens, Terry Maitland. Maitland, however, maintains he has an alibi, which checks out. So how can one man be in two places at the same time? The suspense is highlighted by Obie Award-winning actor Will Patton’s narration of the story. His unique treatment of each individual character makes the entire town of Flint City come to life. AudioFile gave Patton an Earphones Award for his performance, raving that he "turns this story into an audio blockbuster." We couldn't agree more.

A gut-wrenching horror classic that pits unbelievable tragedy against the temptation of resurrecting the dead, Pet Sematary is notoriously the work that scared Stephen King himself. After moving into a new home with his family, Louis Creed, a professor at the University of Maine, learns of a local legend: a pet burial ground behind his backyard, one said to have the powers of reanimation. After a devastating loss, the eerie cemetery lures Creed in, setting into motion an unalterable course of events. As if the story weren’t already terrifying enough, the audiobook is narrated by the incomparable Michael C. Hall, known best for his title role in the serial killer drama Dexter. Hall channels the unsettling delivery he’s mastered in his on-screen career here, adding another layer of unease to this macabre tale of grief and desperation.

Will Patton delivers another outstanding narration in his performance of Mr. Mercedes, the first installment in a series that introduced three new fan-favorite characters: Detective Bill Hodges, Jerome Robinson, and, of course, Holly Gibney. The story unfolds in the wake of an unthinkable mass-casualty event in Ohio. Though local detective Bill Hodges is retired, he’s nonetheless drawn into cracking the case after receiving a letter from the perpetrator, boasting about his crime. But such a complex case demands a unique approach, and so Hodges enlists the help of tech whiz Jerome and observant, neurotic Holly to stop the killer known as “Mr. Mercedes” before he can kill again.

The Dark Tower is a series of eight epic novels, all penned by Stephen King, blending together horror, fantasy, and western, to tell the story of Roland of Gilead, also known as The Last Gunslinger. Roland is on a journey both literal and metaphorical toward "the dark tower," the exact significance of which is unclear, a chilling grail quest that only heightens the overall sense of looming mystery pervading the story. Celebrated narrators George Guidall and Frank Muller have both lent their considerable talents to the series, with King himself bringing a new air to the story with its prequel, The Wind Through the Keyhole.

Duma Key opens as Edgar Freemantle moves to a beach town in Florida to escape the trauma of a psyche-altering workplace accident and the pain of his subsequent divorce. Hoping for a fresh start, he again picks up sketching, a long-beloved hobby—only to have things take a turn for the worse when his drawings start to become real. The audiobook, as horrifying for its disturbing conceit of art-come-to-life as it is for its meditation on the power we give to the past, is narrated by actor John Slattery, best known for his role as Roger Sterling in Mad Men. Slattery alternates from character to character with ease, giving each a distinct voice and tone in an exceptional performance that ultimately secured the 2009 Audie Award for Fiction.

Joyland follows Devin Jones, a college student working as a carny at Joyland Amusement Park during his summer break. Devin becomes obsessed with the history of a murder that took place on the grounds years earlier, and throughout the summer he attempts to find and commune with the murder victim’s ghost. King masterfully paints the setting's eerie atmosphere, one alive with nostalgia belying something grimmer beneath. Jack Ryan and Dawn of the Dead’s Michael Kelly makes this twisted carnival all the more entrancing, enlivening each twist and turn of a summer vacation gone horribly wrong.

Of King’s 2022 foray back into fantasy, fellow editor (and fervent Stephen King devotee) Nicole Ransome wrote: “Longtime King fans are well aware of the many universes in which his stories take place. If you’re unfamiliar with a multiverse in literature, it’s simply when an author creates multiple locations that exist within the same world between different stories. This story follows Charlie Reade, a high school student with a troubled life whose good deed toward a mysterious man opens up a whole new world. Not only does Charlie earn himself a new companion in a loyal dog named Radar, he’s also willed a key to a locked shed that is his portal into this world. Secrets are revealed and Charlie finds himself in the middle of a brewing battle he never could have imagined." Narrated stunningly by actor Seth Numrich, Fairy Tale is an amazing addition to the fantastical world-building that King excels at.

Though It has been brought to screens big and small multiple times over the years, the titular monster has been haunting us since the novel first debuted in 1986. It takes many forms, from the sinister Pennywise the Dancing Clown to the real-life, human nightmares that lurk within each victim's life. "The Losers Club," now a group of adults bonded by traumas of their past, return to Derry, Maine, to hunt down It, the ancient shape-shifting creature they first encountered as children, once and for all. Of Steven Weber's performance, my colleague Nicole said it best: "The book makes you feel as if you have lived in Derry all your life, and Steven Weber’s genius narration shows his incredible range. Whether you prefer Tim Curry or Bill Skarsrgård as Pennywise, wait until you hear what Steven Weber can do with only his voice. The performance will give you chills!"

Sleeping Beauties is a collaboration between Stephen King and his son, Owen. Together, father and son tell the story of a future where women fall asleep for long periods of time and cannot be awakened without horrible effects. One woman is immune from the sleeping condition, and her town must decide if she is the answer to understanding the affliction and women’s true nature or something more sinister. Marin Ireland, an acclaimed theater actor, adds a softness to the narrative without ever letting it veer into somnolence, keeping this story as emotionally grounded as it is dark and twisty.

Skeleton Crew is a collection of 19 short stories, one novella, and two poems written over a 17-year period. Upon its release, it was praised for showing the gradual maturation of Stephen King as a writer, with the earliest story having been composed when King was just 18 years old. Popular stories in this collection include The Mist and The Monkey, both of which found fresh audiences on the big screen. Fittingly, this listen features a truly star-studded cast, including Matthew Broderick, Paul Giamatti, and Michael C. Hall. Every story is read by a different narrator, bringing a unique feel to each and making it easy to transition from one story to the next.

The Dead Zone follows coma patient Johnny Smith, who wakes up with the ability to see the pasts and futures of anyone he touches. This power becomes a curse when Smith shakes the hand of politician Greg Stillson and sees his corrupt future, one that threatens all of mankind. As we can expect from a Stephen King novel, the story is thrilling and suspenseful, but The Dead Zone also explores topics of morality and social vigilance with great ethical clarity.

The Institute follows a group of supernaturally gifted kids who are rounded up to be used as lab rats after their parents are killed. The main character is 12-year-old Luke Ellis, whose stay at the Institute becomes increasingly unbearable. He attempts to find a way out, even though no one else ever has. Tony Award winner Santino Fontana gives authentic voices to the diverse group of characters at the heart of this story, highlighting the contrasts between the heroic band of young protagonists and the adults keeping them imprisoned. If you’re a longtime fan, this audiobook is a must-listen, peppered with references to the wider King multiverse. And if you’re a newcomer, it’s a good introduction to King’s ability to mix the supernatural and the everyday powers that we all possess but may not often employ.

Carrie was Stephen King’s first published novel, and it has since become one of his most iconic works. High schooler Carrie White is a victim of abuse and religious indoctrination at home and a target for bullies the second she steps into the halls of Ewen High. Still, Carrie has always been different, and as she grows older and is pushed further by her mother and her peers, those nascent abilities begin to grow into full-blown telekinesis. It all comes to a head at the school prom, when a heartless prank leads to unimaginable repercussions. Audiobook listeners have the treat of hearing the star of the 1976 film adaptation, Sissy Spacek, narrate the story. After living in Carrie’s world for the duration of filming, Spacek has a better understanding of the character than anyone, and it comes across in this emotionally resonant recording.

While Carrie was the first novel Stephen King published, it was not the first book he wrote. The Long Walk, written during King’s college years and performed here by the masterful Kirby Heyborne, acts as both a gripping story and a sharp metaphor for the mundane violence and death toll of the Vietnam War. In a nightmarish future America, the annual Long Walk competition enlists 100 boys each year. The rules are vicious yet clear: Contestants must keep a minimum pace of four miles per hour, monitored by armed soldiers, and they may not rest at any point. After three issued warnings in violation of these commands, the walker will be shot dead; the contest ends only when there is just one boy left alive.

After a car crash, the prolific author Paul Sheldon finds himself under the care of nurse Annie Wilkes, who happens to be his biggest fan. Unfortunately, that care turns quickly to cruelty as it becomes apparent Wilkes holds a grudge against Sheldon for killing off her favorite character. In an effort to get him to resurrect the deceased character, Wilkes begins torturing him. But Wilkes soon finds that Sheldon is a very dirty bird indeed, and he won't go down without a fight. Narrator Lindsay Crouse fills the exchanges between Sheldon and Wilkes with tension, anxiety, and discomfort, highlighting each strained, painful moment until this story's breakneck conclusion.

Stephen King has claimed that 'Salem’s Lot is his favorite work, and it’s not hard to see why. At its most basic, it’s a story of a band of vampire hunters, but it’s also a commentary on the state of America’s small towns. Ben Mears is an author who visits his hometown in Maine to confront childhood memories and to hunker down and write. Shortly after he arrives, a strange malady sweeps over the town, an epidemic of evil, and the afflicted are thirsty for blood. Ron McLarty’s narration makes the story especially gripping and eerie. The warm, friendly quality of his voice lends an authenticity to the sleepy lull of rural living, which only escalates the effect of the story's underlying terror.

How far would you go to save the ones you love? Everyman Ben Richards will run until his lungs give out. The Running Man opens on a grim dystopian future (eerily enough the year 2025) where the income divide has reached a breaking point, leaving poor Americans to make ends meet in any way they can. When it becomes clear Richards’s young daughter will not survive much longer without medical intervention, he signs himself over to the whims of the Games Network. The Games are televised cruelties masqueraded as entertainment for the masses, and there is no game more brutal than The Running Man. Richards opts in for the chance to win one billion dollars. The catch? He’ll need to survive for a month to claim it while being hunted every step of the way. Narrator Kevin Kenerly is the perfect choice for this dark social commentary, his voice brimming with the rage of one man forced to risk everything in order to save what he holds dear.

Looking for an accessible entry point for Stephen King’s undeniably extensive oeuvre? Look no further than Different Seasons. The quartet of stories, each loosely tied to one of the four seasons, fully flexes the narrative strengths behind King’s renown. The prison escape novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption hums with King’s knack for character development and skewers the prison system with a deft focus on humanity and hope. By contrast, Apt Pupil is a testament to the author’s capacity for building dread, a truly disturbing work where evil stems not from the supernatural but from the depravity lurking in the most unexpected of everyday people. King’s finesse for coming-of-age stories shines in The Body, a stunning exploration of young men coming to terms with their mortality after a grim discovery; meanwhile, he’s back to his macabre roots with The Breathing Method, a frame narrative that recalls an unthinkable feat of unconditional love. Each story demonstrates why King is the pillar of his genre—sure, there are some frights, but it’s in exploring the human condition in all its shades and seasons, all its light and dark, violence and tenderness, that the singular brilliance of his work lies.

Lisey’s Story is one of Stephen King’s more quiet, intimate stories. In the wake of her author husband’s recent death, Lisey Landon suddenly learns about the more unsettling elements of his past, including how dangerous and psychologically challenging his fame could be. Academy Award-nominated actress Mare Winningham narrates this layered story of love with affection and warmth. (However, for the more horrific parts of the story, it’s clear that she channeled the chops honed in her four-season stint on American Horror Story.) It's that combination of authentic tenderness and sheer terror that makes Lisey’s Story so special, and Winningham is the perfect performer to bring it to life.

For listeners who are intrigued by King’s style or curious about his fan following but don’t want to sleep with the lights on, there’s 11-22-63, a brilliant time-travel saga following one man tasked with a mission that will potentially rewrite history: prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. My colleague Tricia Ford said it best: “11-22-63 is a technicolor romp to the past where the root beer tastes better, cars have more class, and listeners are warned to beware of the yellow card man. I was not alive in 1963, but after spending 30+ hours listening to narrator Craig Wasson bring these fictional (and real) characters brilliantly to life, I feel like, while I didn’t live there, I’ve at least visited for a long weekend. Blending time travel, history, a little romance, and political intrigue, this is an oddly feel-good tale—odd because it's about assassination and comes from the king of horror.”

Under the Dome, Stephen King’s 48th novel, follows the story of people isolated in Chester Mills, a small town in Maine, after a large dome suddenly descends, separating the town from the rest of the world and making all outside contact and communication impossible. The initial arrival of the dome causes chaos, slicing limbs off those caught at the border as it descends and causing medical equipment to malfunction. But it’s the social shockwave that ripples both inside and outside of the dome's walls that will truly change Chester Mills forever. The claustrophobic tension of this no-way-out drama is only heightened by the skills of narrator Raúl Esparza, a celebrated stage and film actor nominated for multiple Tony Awards.

Doctor Sleep picks up decades after the events of The Shining. Now an adult, Dan Torrance is haunted by the very same struggles that his father once faced. Eventually, he decides to pursue sobriety, but as he recovers Dan finds that his long-restrained psychic abilities are beginning to resurface. He wields them with purpose, helping guide his hospice patients into the next life, but when he crosses paths with another clairvoyant in young Abra Stone, Dan is pulled back toward the darkness. This time, however, the threat isn’t a sinister, haunted hotel but a roaming cult of vampiric beings led by the menacing Rose the Hat. Will Patton is an exceptional performer. He nails every emotional beat and grisly murder, making this listen as moving as it is heart-pounding.

Both an excellent psychological horror novel and a tongue-in-cheek meta-commentary on writers and their pseudonyms, The Dark Half was written after the identity of King’s longtime pen name, Richard Bachman, was uncovered. After literary fiction writer Thad Beaumont puts his bad habits and his crime thriller alter-ego George Stark behind him, he finds that moving forward is a task easier said than done. Just when Beaumont thinks he’s free from the most sinister parts of himself, a series of brutal murders indicate otherwise. After all, Thad’s fingerprints are all over the crime scenes. Grover Gardner brings this literary twist on the classic Jekyll-and-Hyde to vivid life, trailing the writer as he descends into the madness of violence and doubt.

Sweet, slobbering Saint Bernard Cujo doesn’t want to be a bad dog, and he certainly doesn’t want to harm his beloved family—not the man, the woman, or the boy. But after contracting rabies from a bat bite, the gentle giant begins to turn vicious. As the disease progresses, so does Cujo’s threat not only to his owners and their neighbors—but to the entirety of Castle Rock, Maine. The gifted Lorna Raver—who won’t be a stranger to horror fans after her memorable star role in Sam Raimi’s Drag Me To Hell—heightens the tension of this heartbreaking, terrifyingly plausible story.

The titular Dolores of this King classic serves as a testament to the author’s ability to create memorable, deeply compelling characters. Housekeeper Dolores Claiborne is thrust into suspicion when her cantankerous, affluent employer, Vera Donovan, dies suddenly. All of Little Tall Island presumes Claiborne a murderer; after all, rumor has it that she killed her own husband decades prior. So begins Dolores’s story, one that she narrates herself as she recounts her life to detectives investigating the death. It’s a bit of an outlier for King as the supernatural and spooky take a backseat to the real horrors of humanity and one woman’s fight to survive and protect those she loves most. The narration is a standout here, with one Audible listener commenting: “Frances Sternhagen was made for this book. Her delivery and accent made me forget I was listening to a book—[it was] more like I was sitting across from her, listening to her story.”

Stephen King’s part-memoir, part-manual On Writing is a valuable asset to any writer or reader. The author’s hard-won advice on creativity, art, and productivity offers insights and thought-starters aplenty. Just a few tidbits of King’s guidance? Read as much as you can, as often as you can; draft with your doors closed; and ditch those adverbs. Fans who are not seeking advice on the craft, however, will still find much to love in On Writing. Nestled throughout are stories and reflections from King’s own life, be it his earliest publications, his struggles with substance abuse, or the 1999 near-death accident that upended everything. The audiobook edition is a real treat for fans, as King himself narrates, and there’s simply no one better suited to tell his life story. This 20th anniversary edition is all the more special thanks to an exclusive conversation between King and his sons Joe and Owen.

To this day, I can hardly think of the 1999 film adaptation of The Green Mile without tearing up; the late Michael Clarke Duncan's performance as gentle John Coffey is truly a masterclass in heart and humanity. The movie originated with King's story, a narrative that unfolded over six bestselling volumes of a serial novel. The title of the book refers to the death-row cellblock of Cold Mountain Penitentiary, where guard Paul Edgecombe first crosses paths with John Coffey. Coffey stands out among the other inmates—there seems to be something special, wondrous even, about this man accused of an inconceivably brutal crime.