NOS4A2 by Joe Hill – An Audio Book Review

Blurb:

Summer. Massachusetts. An old Silver Wraith with a frightening history. A story about one serial killer and his lingering, unfinished business. Anyone could be next. We’re going to Christmasland….

NOS4A2 is an old-fashioned horror novel in the best sense. Claustrophobic, gripping and terrifying, this is a story that will have you on the edge of the seat while you listen and leaving the lights on while you sleep. With the horrific tale of Charles Manx and his Silver Wraith, Joe Hill has established himself as the premiere horror and supernatural thriller writer of his generation.

Author: Joe Hill

Narrator: Kate Mulgrew

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group

Series: N/A

Genre: Horror/Supernatural Thriller

Run Time: 19hrs 41mins

Audio Release Date: 30th April 2013

My Rating of ‘NOS4A2’: 5 out of 5

Purchase: Audible, Amazon

Review:

Chip off the old block, like father like son … you could say many things to try and get the point across that Stephen King’s literary brilliance flows in the veins of his son as well. The best way to actually get the point across to yourself is to pick up this book and give it a whirl. You’ll not regret it.

I’ll start by saying this is not a vampire novel. The title will make you think that and, in fairness, it’s poked at throughout the novel about a character being likened to one, but long capes and tall towers will not be found here. What is found, is an incredibly well-written antagonist and, if I’m honest, a great cast of characters overall. Everything from the protagonist, who isn’t always the easiest to like, down to her poor family life, the supporting characters she meets along way and the relationships she creates with them, provoke memories of King’s world-building and character work. There’s even a one-off reference to Pennywise at one point, so he’s not distancing himself from the shoes he’ll need to fill one day (and he’ll certainly have no worries about his father getting lawyers on him for taking literary liberties. It’d be cool if Hill took over the mantle of writing about the weird happenings in King’s New England one day.)

This was a long audio book, something I have been struggling to put up with for a while (reading in general if I’m honest), but the vibrancy of not only the story, but the narration, has stirred that love of fiction in me again. I really felt like I had something I could sink my teeth into and get hooked on for a long ride rather than something that felt like a throwaway story to pass the time. It’s been a couple weeks since I finished NOS4A2 and I still think of it and use it as a measuring stick to other things I pick up. Any time an author can make a reader/listener think back to their works after the final page has been turned, they’ve done something right.

If I’m honest, I can’t think of anything Joe Hill did wrong. NOS4A2 was just a whole lot of right as far as I’m concerned. It really was one of those books that made me wish there was more to come. It’s a world I felt invested in and a story that I just didn’t want to end. I look forward to trying more of Hill’s work going forward and anticipate a long, fruitful career on his part.

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