Billy Summers

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Paul Sparks

Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Billy Summers is Stephen King's gripping and compelling novel about a contract killer, an ex-marine, with one last payday to earn before he retires.... Once again, King sets his storytelling talent on a new path with this epic new thriller.

From legendary storyteller and number one best-selling author 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-put-it-down 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 (P)2021 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"One of the great storytellers of our time." (Guardian)

"America’s greatest living novelist." (Lee Child)

How does he do it !!!!!!

I have never read a Steven king book I didn’t love ,and this is no exception. I just didn’t want it to end. The story grabs you from the start and the narration was superb. I’m afraid Mr king has ruined my reading pleasure of other authors now. Still I am in the enviable position of not having read all his books yet and when I have I’ll start again.

Brilliant

The characters, story and narration were brilliant! Enjoyed it so much. This is a definite movie.

Stunning

This is quite possibly the best audio book. I've listened to. The narrator deserves a special mention for an outstanding performance. The story is gripping, moving and almost impossible to put down.

Wow

I loved it, it is a must read of a good man doing bad things to bad people.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Really enjoyed this crime novel by SK. The style and story kept my fractured attention throughout. The atmosphere reminded me somewhat of TV shows like Dexter and Ozark. The narration was excellent and reminded me of the young Clint Eastwood. Rare, absorbing high quality fiction. Many thanks, Mr King.

Great characters

Loved the story between the 2 main characters. Glad it was only a friendship and nothing too sexual.
Different ending to what I thought it would be.
Narrator drove me crazy at times, his voice was strong then went down to inaudible. I mean really low. I’m not sure what he was thinking and hope he listened to himself. I listened in the car so missed a few good words and ends of sentences.
Overall a good listen from one of my fave authors.

Amazing work by both author and narrator

Already expected this to be great as it’s from Stephen King. But the narrator is deserves equal if not more credit with just the amazing performance. I was so entertained by the voice acting for Marge!

As for the book, pace was great. Top notch narration makes you engrossed, definitely. But that’s to be expected from most of Stephen King’s work. The book within a book, a writer writing about a writer, adds an enjoyable layer to the story.

Jeez, that was good

I love Stephen King. Everything I've read of his, which by now is getting to be a lot, I've enjoyed. Some more than others, sure, but I like em am. That said, I know I'm in the minority among King fans, though, when I say that I generally prefer his less scary and less supernatural stories. I like those too, of course. Especially The Dark Tower. But I especially love the way he writes about humans in the real world. And this story is deeply human. And it's an amazing insight to all aspects of the human condition. Plus, it's just a fun, if sometimes emotionally wrenching, story. I really loved it. And the narrator was great. 9.25/10

Better than I expected.

I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with Billy & my heart broke with some of the things that happened to him & the good people he came into contact with. I thought the narrator was well suited and I found him easy to listen to. I am a HUGE Stephen King fan & this book is definitely among my favourites. I can't wait for his next release!

Exceptional. In terms of story and narration.

There has been some disappointment concerning Mr. Stephen King’s recent books being so far removed from his earlier work. This and the mentions of a certain president sure do tile up people. I’d prefer to say his books were always about people. Sometimes people in scary situations. But always about people. My humble opinion, this was a gripping read. Like a turn of a screw, it gets tighter and tighter. The protagonist seems poorly fleshed out even with the insight into his thoughts. However his thoughts about the other characters is phenomenal. The voice work really complimented the story. Just couldn’t stop listening till the story ended. And was left with the feeling the story ended too soon.