Pet Sematary

Stephen King

Mar 2018 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Michael C. Hall

About this audiobook

Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestseller and “wild, powerful, disturbing” (The Washington Post Book World) classic about evil that exists far beyond the grave—now featuring a stunning vintage cover!

When Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job and moves his family to the idyllic rural town of Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. Despite Ludlow’s tranquility, an undercurrent of danger exists here. Those trucks on the road outside the Creed’s beautiful old home travel by just a little too quickly, for one thing…as is evidenced by the makeshift graveyard in the nearby woods where generations of children have buried their beloved pets. Then there are the warnings to Louis both real and from the depths of his nightmares that he should not venture beyond the borders of this little graveyard where another burial ground lures with seductive promises and ungodly temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—one more terrifying than death itself, and hideously more powerful. As Louis is about to discover for himself sometimes, dead is better…

Ratings and reviews

This audiobook was a dreadful experience. Not due to its spine-chilling nature, but rather because of its cringeworthy, inflated, monotonous, and unbelievably cheesy content. Despite being 85% through, I'm compelled to endure it solely because of the substantial time investment. I've genuinely found more amusement in watching paint dry. The current scene, where the main character is burying his deceased son, has become a never-ending ordeal, with every character action narrated in excruciating and mind-numbing detail. The narrator's delivery is genuinely painful, prompting audible expressions of disbelief at the jaw-dropping cheesiness of the storyline. My sincere advice is to steer clear of this bloated catastrophe. Like the author said, "Some things are better left dead."

I'm not ashamed to admit that I actually was never interested in this book until I heard Michael C Hall was reading it. I'm a huge fan of Dexter and I always liked when Michael would narrate Dexter's thoughts throughout the show and the idea of listening to nothing but his voice for over 15 hours... I just couldn't say no. Michael C Hall + Stephen King equals you will have my money every single time. I don't care which book you read by him next but Michael please read another one.

I've already read this book twice, but the Michael C. Hall narration cinched the deal. Great book with excellent narration. This is a great combination. It's one of Kings creepiest stories, and the only better narrator is Frank Muller, who is unfortunately deceased (RIP). Here lies Smucky the cat. He was obedient. That's from a gravestone in the book. And according to the cool 'author's note', Smucky was King's daughter's cat, and the house, road, and cemetery (including the misspelled sign) featured in the story were actually based on a house King lived in, and a "pet sematary" that his daughters cat was buried in, and the authors description about how the story formed in his mind is a great bonus.I highly recommend this audiobook, as a long time King fan. Michael C. Hall does an excellent job on the narration, and his character voices are spot-on. "Here lies Ramses ][ he was obedient" For those interested, Michael C Hall also narrates "Ballad of the Flexible Bullet“ in skeleton crew!

About the author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Michael C. Hall starred on Six Feet Under and Dexter and appears in the second season of The Crown. He also stars in the mini-series “Safe” for Netflix/Canal Plus. His film credits include Christine, Cold in July, and Kill Your Darlings. On stage, he starred in Lazarus by David Bowie & Enda Walsh, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and The Realistic Joneses.