If It Bleeds

Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, If It Bleeds, Rat

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Will Patton, Danny Burstein, Steven Weber

*#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

Featuring the novella “The Life of Chuck,” now a feature film adapted for the screen and directed by Mike Flanagan (The Fall of the House of Usher, Doctor Sleep) and starring Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Karen Gillan—a Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award winner!

From the legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new “exceptionally compelling novellas that reaffirm [King’s] mastery of the form” (The Washington Post).

Readers adore Stephen King’s novels, and his novellas are their own dark treat, briefer but just as impactful and enduring as his longer fiction. Many of his novellas have been made into iconic films, including “The Body” (Stand by Me) and “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” (Shawshank Redemption).

The four brilliant tales in If It Bleeds prove as iconic as their predecessors. In the title story, reader favorite Holly Gibney (from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy and The Outsider) must face her fears, and possibly another outsider—this time on her own. In “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” an intergenerational friendship has a disturbing afterlife. “The Life of Chuck” explores, beautifully, how each of us contains multitudes. And in “Rat,” a struggling writer must contend with the darker side of ambition.

If these novellas show King’s range, they also prove that certain themes endure. One of King’s great concerns is evil, and in If It Bleeds, there’s plenty of it. There is also evil’s opposite, which in King’s fiction often manifests as friendship. Holly is reminded that friendship is not only life-affirming but can be life-saving. Young Craig befriends Mr. Harrigan, and the sweetness of this late-in-life connection is its own reward.

“An adroit vehicle to showcase the…nature of evil” (The Boston Globe), If It Bleeds is “exactly what I wanted to read right now,” says Ruth Franklin in The New York Times Book Review.

Critic reviews

"Stephen King's latest audiobook has four exceptional novellas that are each masterfully narrated. 'Mr. Harrigan's Phone,' narrated by Will Patton in a wistful tenor, is a meditative coming-of-age tale dotted with technophobia and communications from beyond the grave. 'The Life of Chuck' is King's most imaginative work in years. Narrator Danny Burstein expertly captures the surreal story's shifting tones, which range from pure joy to abject despair. 'If It Bleeds,' a sequel to THE OUTSIDER, is also narrated by Patton, who provides a unique and compelling voice for King's recent favorite protagonist, private investigator Holly Gibney. 'Rat,' about a struggling writer's descent into darkness, is riveting, thanks to narrator Steven Weber's focused intensity. For longtime King listeners and newcomers alike, this collection is essential listening."

Fantastic Book

I lived this book of short stories. Some were truly scary! I was also happy to have another installment of Holly! I also loved that some of Stephen King's narrators from some of his other books narrated this book. Was like finding a well loved purse in the back of the closet and finding a $20 in the pocket.

King Does It Again!

Loved it. Stephen King is a master story teller. I loved all these stories. Holly is still my favorite.

Classing King

A good collection of stories. I definitely enjoyed "If It Bleeds". Aside from one, all other stories were quite entertaining. Would definitely recommend.

Excellent book! My second favorite SK collection

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
I love this book! Stephen King did such a great job and telling the story. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to a King story and I realize just how much I missed reading his wonderful and kind of creepy stories.

The Life Of Chuck
This was good but not great. The premise and idea were there, but it failed on the execution. The story came across disjointed. Great idea, but the weakest story of the bunch.
If It Bleeds
I love this story! This was a great outsider part two let’s say. I read some reviews knocking it, but this was an amazing story to me!

Rat
I loved this. It was kind of a take on the Monkey’s Paw. I loved the theme of, “What’s the price of creativity?”

Holly Gibney is KING (Queen)

First story is really good as is the last.
The Chuck story is so so but entertaining…but any fan of Mr. Mercedes and/or The Outsider must read “If It Bleeds”…I wanted a full novel but I’ll take what I can get. LOVED IT