Later

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Seth Numrich

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

A brand-new novel from legendary storyteller Stephen King!

Sometimes growing up means facing your demons.

The son of a struggling single mother, Jamie Conklin just wants an ordinary childhood. But Jamie is no ordinary child. Born with an unnatural ability his mom urges him to keep secret, Jamie can see what no one else can see and learn what no one else can learn. But the cost of using this ability is higher than Jamie can imagine - as he discovers when an NYPD detective draws him into the pursuit of a killer who has threatened to strike from beyond the grave.

Later is Stephen King at his finest, a terrifying and touching story of innocence lost and the trials that test our sense of right and wrong. With echoes of King’s classic novel It, Later is a powerful, haunting, unforgettable exploration of what it takes to stand up to evil in all the faces it wears.

©2021 Stephen King (P)2021 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic Reviews

"Seth Numrich portrays Jamie Conklin, a young man who sees dead people and can compel them to answer questions truthfully. As a child, Jamie is able to help his mother, Tia, avoid financial ruin. But then Tia's girlfriend, an NYPD detective, asks him to force a dead man to reveal the location of a hidden bomb. This unleashes sinister forces that stalk Jamie for years. As the 20-something Jamie remembers these traumatic supernatural events, Numrich sounds appropriately melancholic and haunted. But he also illuminates moments of levity and warmth, mostly in Jamie's musings about growing up and in his relationship with his mother. King's words and Numrich's performance reinforce the idea that kindness can still shine in a world full of horrors." (AudioFile Magazine)

"Voicing Jamie is Seth Numrich, who brings all his classical theater training to what could have been the throwaway role of a kid who mostly tries to ignore an ability he didn’t ask for. Numrich, who played Benjamin Tallmadge in four seasons of AMC’s 'Turn: Washington’s Spies,' embodies Jamie from ebullient first-grader to terrified but determined teen, nailing the evolution of a boy trying to solve his own mystery. The story can be whimsical and funny, thoughtful and alarming, and Numrich is perfectly in step." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) 

Another amazing story

Stephen King is one of the best authors in the world. He has written more than 100 books, short stories, and novellas in almost all genres out there. I experienced many of them as audiobooks and his latest novel, Later, was released yesterday, for the excitement of millions of his fans around the world.

The king of horror, thrillers and suspense, the best-selling and award winning author Stephen King, delivers another amazing story featuring a young boy who can see communicate with people just after they die, and his life gets stranger with every year as he grows older. Combining in his unique, flowing and mesmerizing writing style mystery with thriller and adding a touch of horror, this celebrated author continues to shock and delight his fans.

Renowned actor Seth Numrich does a fantastic job with the narration for Later. He perfectly captures the emotions and drama that our young hero is living. Switching seamlessly between characters, assigning each of them different voices, accents and personalities, he grabs the listener by the throat from the first disjointed phrase and doesn't let go until the very end.

This was the first time for me listening to him, and his first time performing a Stephen King book, but in my humble opinion, he acquitted himself exemplary.

Later is pure Stephen King, original, gripping, entertaining, scary and so captivating!

Narrator makes it!

Of course Stephen King's newest book is wonderful! But the narrator really sells it. He's phenomenal!

All excellent writing w/o politics forced on us.

Best Stephen King he's written in a while. Kept me interested so I finished in one night. Love the references to "IT" which is my favorite King novel. Rather short so perhaps a sequel?

Not a typical King Novel

What happened to those novels that started as repetitive dreams? That turned from years of torment in night terrors into a 1000 page behemoth decades later? The Stand, It, Carry, Under the Dome. I bought it and Im giving it a listen, but I want those stories that take me deep into a different reality, not a 6.5 hour flash.

Bad. Really, bad.

With all the loose strings, I can't help but think this is a "set up" for a series of books. Which, if you like the story, is not necessarily a bad thing. I, however, did not like the story and found it weak and predictable. I keep buying King's books hoping that he will eventually write another that was worth reading. That hasn't happened. So, I think I will give up the hope that it will and save my money.

Couldn’t Put It Down!

“Later” is a page turner with King’s usual ability to make you suspend disbelief. Of course Jamie can see dead people! Fast moving plot, great character development, and terrific narration by Seth Numrich!

Not scary in the least

Narrator kept saying this was a horror story but there was nothing scary or suspenseful at all. Mediocre.

Stephen king describes why Abortion is wrong even in the worst of cases

It is a King book, so of course the hero’s are liberal Democrats and the monsters are conservative republicans. That’s how he sees the world, and expects us to see it that way through his books.

I won’t spoil the story, but I find it interesting that he makes the mistake of making us value a life that should have been (by his own political logic) aborted while still in the womb, I’m sure he won’t make it again.

Plain good

A bright and brilliant story, full of Mr. King's trademarks. His clever, suspenseful storytelling style and signature wit drip from every word, while Seth Numrich nails the performance. I had forgotten that I'd pre-ordered this and listened in one afternoon. I'm reminded once again why this man has been my favorite author since I was a kid sneaking scary stories home from the library.

Great Book!

It was a Great Book! Just sad it's over. Narrator was also perfect for the story. Def worth the credit, but Stephen King always is.