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."

Chapter breakdown of the short stories

Mr. Harriman’s Phone - Chapters 1-5
The Life of Chuck - Chapters 6-9
If It Bleeds - Chapters 10-20
Rat - Chapters 21-62

I enjoyed the book and the audio adaptation. My only complaint is with the audible breakdown of not showing which story was which, that’s why I wanted to share the confirmed chapter breakdown to the book stories. Hope this helps and hope you enjoy the stories as much as I did! Stay safe and healthy...and slightly scared of what lies o the next page!

The best Narrators, bar none

Steven Weber and Will Patton are so good that sometimes the quality of the plot doesn't matter. Luckily Stephen King delivers another set of short works that are original, focused, and brilliant. Danny Burstein Is great too, but I haven't heard him enough to be an expert.

Buy this if you like Weber and Patton and King.

Too much horror in real life

I'm used to grabbing up the new Stephen King book the day it's released, have been for 40+ years, now. This time was no different, except l just realized that what's going on outside my window could've come out of one of Mr. King's works. I think now l'll hold onto it until another, hopefully, happier time.

Ignore naysayers. King's a master of short stories

I'm not a Stephen King stan, but I have enjoyed a lot of his books throughout the years and definitely recognize that he's an amazing author.

Honestly his short stories are some of the best short stories I've never heard, to the point that many are critically acclaimed movies. he delivers here and I would enjoy several of these on screen.

a key difference I noticed about some of his short stories vs. novels is that they oftenhave what you may consider a punchline, vs a neatly wrapped up plotline and prologues. I've those those ones. several of these do that.

the narration was great. no complaints.

several people complain about politics as though King has some agenda in this book. there's none. one character is a feminist, and her poltics align with that. another character is sick of hearing another new story about Trump scandals, which regardless of politics, is pretty legitimate to feel. other than that I don't feel like there's anything in there trying to convert people's political views.

this book went by really fast for me. I feel like short stories actually work well with audiobooks , it's nice to consume a whole story in one sitting.

I was hesitant to get this book but I'm glad I did in fact I may go look if there are any other Stephen King short stories collections I passed on over the years.

Please add story titles in chapter list.

The. book is great but it’s extremely difficult to find individual stories .
The story titles should be listed in the chapter list.
Or every time a new story begins restart
The chapter numbers from 1.
It would make things a lot easier