Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Later
- Author: Stephen King
- Narrator: Seth Numrich
- Length: 06:32:43
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 02/03/2021
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense, Noir, Horror
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
It’s not every day you stumble across a story that feels like it’s been whispered to you over a crackling campfire, somewhere between the edge of a desert and the shadows of a city street. That’s the kind of magic Stephen King conjures up in “Later”, a hard-boiled horror-noir mashup that landed in my ears through the impeccable narration of Seth Numrich. Clocking in at just over six hours, this audiobook experience from Simon & Schuster Audio is a tight, thrilling ride – one I couldn’t stop listening to, even when the sun dipped below the horizon and the world outside my window turned as eerie as the tale itself.
I first pressed play on “Later” while driving through the winding roads of northern New Mexico, the Sangre de Cristo mountains looming like silent sentinels. It reminded me of a time when I was crisscrossing the Atacama Desert in Chile, listening to “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. Just like then, the landscape seemed to sync up with the story – King’s world of lost innocence and lurking evil mirrored the stark beauty and hidden mysteries around me. Jamie Conklin, our young protagonist, is no ordinary kid. He’s got a gift – or maybe a curse – that lets him see the dead and pry secrets from them. His single mom, Tia, is barely keeping it together, and when an NYPD detective ropes Jamie into chasing a killer who won’t stay dead, the stakes get personal. The story unfolds like a dusty road twisting toward a destination you can’t quite see, but you know it’s going to leave a mark.
What hit me hardest was Jamie’s struggle – growing up too fast, wrestling with a power he didn’t ask for. It took me back to Oaxaca, where I once stayed with a family whose grandmother spun tales every night. She had this way of pausing just long enough to let the silence sink in, making every word feel like it carried the weight of the world. King does that here, too, weaving a coming-of-age thread into the suspense. Jamie’s not just facing ghosts; he’s facing the moment when innocence cracks open and the adult world rushes in. As a travel writer, I’ve seen that shift in kids across cultures – street vendors in Marrakech, fishermen’s sons in Portugal – and King nails it with a raw, emotional punch.
The audiobook experience amplifies all of this, thanks to Seth Numrich’s narration. His voice is a chameleon – soft and boyish for Jamie, gritty and worn for the detective, and downright chilling for the dead who won’t shut up. You can almost hear the creak of a floorboard or the hiss of a New York alley wind in his delivery. The pacing is spot-on, too; he knows when to linger on a creepy detail or rush through a heart-pounding chase. It’s like he’s sitting across from you, telling the story over a steaming cup of coffee – or maybe something stronger. The audio quality is crisp, immersive, with no distractions – just pure storytelling that pulls you in deeper with every mile you drive or step you take.
King’s at his finest here, blending the supernatural with the kind of noir vibe you’d find in a Raymond Chandler novel, but with that unmistakable Stephen King twist. There are echoes of “It” – the kids facing down evil, the small-town secrets – but “Later” feels tighter, more personal. It’s less about cosmic horror and more about the demons we carry inside. The mystery keeps you guessing, the suspense builds like a storm rolling in, and the horror? It’s subtle, creeping under your skin rather than jumping out with a cheap scare. I loved how King plays with the idea of what’s real and what’s not – Jamie’s ability blurs that line, and it’s a thrill to ride along as he figures it out.
That said, it’s not flawless. The plot leans hard on Jamie’s gift, and at times, it feels like a convenient fix for the detective’s case. I wished for a bit more grit in the resolution – something messier, less tidy. And while Numrich’s narration is a knockout, there were moments where the secondary characters’ voices blended together, losing some distinction. It’s a small quibble, though, in an otherwise gripping listen. Compared to “The Outsider” or “Mr. Mercedes”, “Later” is leaner, more intimate – a short, sharp shot of King’s genius rather than a sprawling epic.
If you’re into mystery, thriller, or horror – or just love a d”mn good story – this audiobook’s for you. It’s perfect for long drives, late nights, or those quiet moments when you want to feel the world tilt a little off-kilter. Fans of King’s slower burns might miss the sprawl, but if you’re craving a tight, haunting tale with a noir edge, “Later* delivers. And here’s the kicker: you can snag this gem as a free audiobook download if you know where to look – check out audiobooks.com for a sample and see if your library or subscription service hooks you up.
Reflecting on it now, “Later” feels like one of those stories that sticks with you, like a memory from a trip you can’t quite shake. It’s not just about the scares or the twists – it’s about Jamie, a kid who’s braver than he knows, and the way King and Numrich bring him to life. It’s a reminder of why I love audiobooks: they turn a solitary journey into a shared one, a voice in your ear making the miles feel less lonely. For me, it was New Mexico’s mountains; for you, it might be a city street or a forest trail. Wherever you are, “Later” will meet you there.
Until our next story-soaked adventure, Marcus Rivera
