Audiobook Review: You Like It Darker by Stephen King

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Mystery

Series: Short Story Collection

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (May 21, 2024)

Length: 20 hrs and 21 mins

Author Information: Website

Narrators: Will Patton, Stephen King

As always, Stephen King’s short fiction collections can be a mixed bag. While some are absolute gems, others feel like he rummaged through his desk drawer and dredged up some old and half-baked drafts to fill up the rest of the book. The important thing is that the quality and quantity of the good ones mostly outweighed the bad. My thoughts on them below:

Two Talented Bastids – A journalist profiles two long-time friends who both became successful artists in their middle age. Much has been made about their sudden rise to fame at around the same time, and some say it had to be more than just luck and talent. Indeed, the story delves into the mysterious circumstances around a hunting trip that occurred with the two men were younger, revealing a otherworldly encounter that changed the course of their lives and careers. This was one of the longer stories, filled with eerie and surreal surprises. I enjoyed its unique perspective on art and talent, which was a little unsettling but also thought-provoking. 4 of 5 stars.

The Fifth Step – Harold Jamieson is sitting on a park bench reading his paper when he is approached by a stranger who reveals he is a recovering alcoholic trying to complete the 12-step program. He is on step five, where he must admit his wrongdoings, and has chosen Harold upon whom to unburden himself. This was one of the shorter stories, but packed a shocking punch at the end that I did not see coming! Very disturbing, but so very King. 4 of 5 stars.

Willie the Weirdo – Willie is a strange little kid who creeps out his sister and his family. He’s always doing weird things like staring at clouds and collecting dead insects. However, Willie shares a strong bond with his grandfather, who tells the boy seemingly farfetched stories from his youth. Maybe it was because I listened to the audiobook, but I had to go over the ending several times to make sure I understood it. It was so predictable that I thought there just had to be another hook. Nope, it was just a “blah” story. 2 of 5 stars.

Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream – The title character, a high school custodian, goes to sleep one night and has a vivid dream about finding a corpse of a woman. Remembering the details, he is able to find the exact location in his dream, and lo and behold, he also discovers the woman’s body right where he dreamt it. Worried that no one would believe him, Danny calls it in anonymously, but the police end up tracking him down anyway and make him their prime suspect. Danny’s only hope is to get through to Inspector Ella Davis, the only one on the force who might hear him out before the real killer can strike again. Another long one, true novella length, but it was so good I could not put it down. From feeling sympathetic towards Danny to being completely addicted to the tension and suspense, I was hooked. A great blend of action and supernatural. 4.5 of 5 stars.

Finn – Finn has the worst luck. Misfortune just seems to follow him around, and it’s been like this ever since he was a small boy. Case in point, as a teenager, while running home from his girlfriend’s house, he collides with another young man who looks a lot like him. Maybe you can see where this is going. But this story about a case of mistaken identity isn’t so simple, as Finn is kidnapped and violently interrogated by a group of mysterious men. This one could have been so much more, but instead, it felt like King had an idea that just failed to develop. Not sure this one had much of a point. 2 of 5 stars.

On Slide Inn Road – The Brown family are on a road trip to visit a sick relative when their journey is waylaid by a washed-out road. As dad Frank tries to turn the car around though, he backs it into a ditch. Billy and his sister go exploring around the ruins of the nearby Slide Inn, and witness something they were not supposed to see. This was a good story, but underwhelming as well, in the sense that anyone could have written it. I mean, way to go, Grandpop, but I have to say I expected more from King. 3 of 5 stars.

Red Screen – NYPD detective Frank and his wife Sandi are an aging couple who are experiencing some troubles in their marriage. What a hot mess this “story” was, a waste of time, completely unsatisfying and barely coherent. 1 of 5 stars.

The Turbulence Expert – What is a “turbulence expert?” It is an agent for a secret organization that can predict clear air turbulence, sent to fly on flights that will encounter this terrifying phenomenon. Dixon is one of these experts who is called in for a “mission” as he reflects upon the traumatic aspects of his job. I found myself feeling quite ambivalent towards this story, though the concept behind it was admittedly fascinating. Whatever you do though, just don’t read this while flying. 3 of 5 stars.

Laurie – A retiree named Llyod becomes severely depressed after becoming a widower, but his life turns around when his sister gifts him a puppy which he names Laurie. Lloyd gradually bonds with the border collie mix, and for the first half this one reads like a dog lover’s dream about the precious relationship between a man and his four-legged best friend. Then the other shoe drops, and things end on a shocking twist. To be honest, I can’t stand it when authors pull these kinds of stunts, but hey at least I got a good dog story out of it. 3 of 5 stars.

Rattlesnakes – This story is kind of a follow-up of Cujo, featuring Vic Trenton decades after the tragic events involving the rabid St. Bernard. Weathering the Covid pandemic, Vic finds himself holed up off Florida’s Gulf Coast acquainting himself with his neighbors. One of them, an elderly woman named Alita, pushes an empty stroller along the road daily, seemingly believing that her long-dead four-year-old twins are still alive. This was a gut-wrenching story with connections to a couple works by Stephen King, but even though I have not read them, I still enjoyed myself. One of the better stories in this collection, containing poignant messages about grief and closure. 4 of 5 stars.

The Dreamers – It is the early 70s, and Vietnam veteran William returns from the war to land a job as a stenographer assisting a scientist performing eldritch experiments. Gotta love it when Stephen King tackles cosmic horror. Grotesque and captivating. 4 of 5 stars.

The Answer Man – It is 1937. Driving down a remote stretch of highway, Phil Parker, a newly minted lawyer spies a sign advertising services for “The Answer Man.” Intrigued, he stops by and pays the non-descript man behind a simple roadside stall $25 to answer any question for five minutes. But this appears to be more than just a scam or gimmick. The man seems to know things he shouldn’t, giving correct responses to questions about Phil’s life that no one else should be privy to. Not only that, but the man is also able to provide answers to questions about Phil’s future, and though it shouldn’t be possible, events end up playing out exactly the way he said they would. Easily one of my top three stories in this collection. It had everything that makes a classic King story: the supernatural, nostalgia, beauty and despair. The bittersweetness was a fine way to end the book. 5 of 5 stars.

Audiobook Comments: I wouldn’t call Will Patton one of my favorite narrators as I sometimes find the pitch and cadence of his voice difficult to understand. However, I can also see why he is beloved among Stephen King fans. His accents are superb and there is a certain gravity to his performance that lends a great vibe to King’s stories.