I love a good horror story in summer. I listened to The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig as I listened along to the narration performed by Xe Sands & George Newbern. Come to rural Pennsylvania where things have gone terribly wrong as Nate and Maddie Graves, along with their son Oliver facedown, an unspeakable evil.
by Chuck Wendig
Narrator: Xe Sands, George Newbern
Length: 16 hours and 49 minutes
Genres: Horror
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.4x
A family returns to their hometown—and to the dark past that haunts them still—in this masterpiece of literary horror by the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers
Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.
Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.
Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.
Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.
And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.
This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another.
Whether you read The Book of Accidents or listen, one thing is clear: Chuck Wendig has a twisted mind and the evil haunting the Graves will have your turning on the lights.
The story is told from the perspective of Nate, Maddie and others. I loved the mix narrative as we learned different things that were occurring both individually and throughout the community. Each has strange episodes, but none of them are forthcoming with the others.
Wendig tells a twisted tale and just when you think you know where things are headed, he changes perspectives and terrorizes you all over again. What starts off as a family with baggage looking for a fresh start quickly morphs into your worst nightmares when something that was dormant awakens.
Fans of King will appreciate the character Ollie. There are moments where he steals the show, but Maddie and Nate each have their moments. I loved discovering the history of both Nate and Maddie’s childhood, and loved where Wendig took the story, particularly with the tunnel and manifestations.
Parts gore and parts thump in the night, I quickly slipped in to this story and found myself held captive. It feels like a mix of genres, with some magic and science-fiction elements woven into the story. It all enhanced the story, giving me the suspenseful thrills and chills of genuine horror.
I read along as I listened to George Newbern and Xe Sands narrated. I often do this and loved how the narration amped up the tension, horror, and suspense. The audio is slightly different, but I am assuming it had the final edit. While the story is fantastic, the narration rocked. I recommend listening…turn out the lights and grab a flashlight!
Whether you read or listen, the Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig delivered a twisted tale that crossed genres.#NewRelease #Horror #Book #Audiobook #XeSands #GeorgeNewbern Share on XAbout Chuck Wendig
Chuck Wendig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, Wanderers, and Book of Accidents. He’s also worked in a variety of other formats, including comics, games, film, and television. A finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the cowriter of the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus, he is also known for his books about writing. He lives in Pennsyltucky with his family. His agent is Stacia Decker, with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner.
About George Newbern
Actor George Newbern has appeared in Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride II, Evening Star, Adventures in Babysitting, and many other films. On television, he has had roles on Friends, Nip/Tuck, Hot in Cleveland, CSI, and more. George is also known for providing the voice of Superman in Justice League.
About Xe Sands
Xe Sands is an award-winning narrator known for her authentic characterizations and intimate delivery. She has more than a decade of experience bringing stories to life through narration, performance, and visual art, including recordings of Wonderland by Stacey D'Erasmo, The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro, and Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman. Sands has also been recognized for her engaging romance narrations and was named Most Impressive Narrator Discovery for titles such as Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins and On Thin Ice by Anne Stuart.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Melanie Simmons
This author has been on my list to try for a long time, and I’ve never gotten around to it. i think this is the one to break that spell. It sounds wonderful. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to George Newbern, but I love Xe Sands. Wonderful review.
MarthaE
I generally save my horror books for October. This sounds like a good one.
Thanks for sharing.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I don’t read horror mostly but I do love these two narrators
Wendy Williams
This is not a genre I read, but it sure looks interesting. I might be tempted! I’ve listened to many books narrated by Xe Sands and she’s one of my favorite narrators.
Sophia Rose
I’m too chicken for horror, but yet the premise of this one and how you were captivated by it does tempt me. 🙂
Nadene
Thanks for this recommendation, Kim. Adding it to my wishlist.
Debbie Haupt
yeah I don’t think it’s for me but I know how much you love a good horror tale Kim
Carla
I recently read another review of this book and it intrigued me. I also love doing read/listen when it is available and I love both these narrators, so here’s to getting my hands on the audiobook. Wonderful review Kimberly.
ShootingStarsMag
Great review! This one is on my wish list, so I definitely want to read it in the next couple of months. I think it would be a good Fall/Halloween book.
Melliane
ooooh you made me so curious about this one!