Preview
  • Doctor Sleep

  • A Novel
  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Will Patton
  • Length: 18 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (38,683 ratings)

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Doctor Sleep

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Will Patton
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Fiction, 2014

Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration - Male, 2014

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special 12-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky 12-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the "steam" that children with the "shining" produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant "shining" power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes "Doctor Sleep."

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan's own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra's soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted fans of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

©2013 Stephen King (P)2013 Simon & Schuster
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Critic reviews

"Will Patton's delivery enhances King's prose in ways that make King's work so much more enjoyable in audio than just reading it…Patton's narrative voice captures the rhythm of King's words. His character voices, filled with a variety of regional American accents, remain consistent. Most importantly, the sinister aspects that embody characters and moments of this novel are superbly executed and will certainly leave listeners on edge." ( AudioFile)
"King, not one given to sequels, throws fans a big, bloody bone with this long-drooled-for follow-up to The Shining." ( Booklist)
"…a gripping, taut read that provides a satisfying conclusion to Danny Torrance's story." ( Publisher’s Weekly)

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What listeners say about Doctor Sleep

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Suspenseful a great story

I binged and listened to The Shining first then went straight to this book right after so everything was fresh and the two books flowed easily together, Will Patton was superb with his narrative style, I totally didn’t predict the ending, it was a fun ride all the way through

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perhaps THE best Stephen King EVER!

What made the experience of listening to Doctor Sleep the most enjoyable?

What a wonderfully written sequel to the Shining. Mr. King's humor, insight, compassion, brilliance and incredible timing have made this story a multilevel experience. Like his classic, the "Stand"- I'm going to re-read it someday and experience even more of his phenomenal writing talent. I really mean that! This is not merely a "scary" book, that is just a small part of the greatness of this story. Heart warming, insightful, tension building like no-body's business and, yes, scary - but with heart. Enjoy..... I did!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dan and Abra - read it and you will know why.... :)

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but his performance was brilliant. Yes!!

If you could take any character from Doctor Sleep out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would have all to "good" characters come over for a barbecue in my back yard.

Any additional comments?

Read it, and lets talk!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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King At His Best

Most fans of King will readily admit King has his ups and downs. Doctor Sleep is definitely one of his ups. In my opinion this should be ranked among his best novels, along side It, The Stand, and of course the The Shining. The story is well developed and Kings melding of the Shining back story into this Novel was excellent, never coming off as forced.

Will Patton was outstanding as the narrator, bringing all the characters to life with voices that fit perfectly to the personalities.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great follow up!

As always, King does not disappoint. loved this book! please continue making great books. 🥰

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely LOVE this book!

Such a great follow up to The Shining. The story was great, the narrator did a great job with the characters.
I have listened to this twice and can’t wait for the movie to release on Nov. 8th!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great performance, overall okay story.

As a sequel to the shining this book had big shoes to fill. it did not. Great narration can't make up for a lack of interest in the story. really fell flat toward the end. Stephen King can build a great world but this book didn't have the distinguished flair his other greats do.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow, incredible

This was an amazing story and narrated wonderfully. This book scared me as much if not more than The Shining. Stephen King is the master of story telling and horror.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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“KING” of horror has done it again!!!

Awesome king!!! THE SHINNING, was great! The book was so much better and different than the movie!!! Stephen outdid himself on this one! I’d love for the “right people!!”to make a movie out of this book!!! With all the computer animation, and Technology, this book could be a phenomenal movie!!!

Thanks for remembering Danny, I too wondered what would become of the child. I had a Shine in me as a kid/teenager. I outgrew mine. ✨SHINE ON DAN!!!✨

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

My honest take...

I’ve been a King fan for most of my life. He’s done some of my favorite and least favorite stories to date. I liked this immensely, it wasn’t my favorite of his, but it was a great listen. I was unaware that Patton did readings, I loved his way of capturing the ups and downs of the story. He was expressive without being overly dramatic or just too much. I read several reviews and stuff before I took a credchance on this... worth it and then some. It wasn’t what I thought I would get outta Danny, but that was part of the fun. Worth the cred people.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Sleep

Great story. Loved Will Patton's narration. One of the few narrators I truly enjoyed. In some ways, I liked this even better than the Shining. The characters seemed more real and I could relate to them better. Of course, The Shining wins for sheer terror. He's done it again.

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