cover image Black House

Black House

Stephen King and Peter Straub, read by Frank Muller. Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged, digital download, 26.5 hrs., $19.99 ISBN 978-1-4423-5905-5

"In D18, there are no end tables, hutches, overstuffed chairs... No pictures of children and grandchildren stand atop the chest, and no crayon drawings of blocky houses and stick figures decorate the walls." King and Straub's gift of describing someone by what's not in his bedroom requires understated narration, and Frank Muller adroitly supplies it, providing appropriate pacing, tone, and pitch throughout this horror sequel to the authors' first collaboration, The Talisman. In Western Wisconsin, a string of murders draws former homicide detective Jack Sawyer out of retirement and back into his forgotten past. Muller understands that narrating the fantastic often requires subtlety, and his delivery is spot on, making this twisted tale of murder and a parallel universe an engaging and chilling listen. A Pocket paperback. (Nov.)