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Pet Sematary  By  cover art

Pet Sematary

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Michael C. Hall
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Publisher's summary

Never before available on unabridged audio! Dexter's Michael C. Hall reads this classic horror story described by Publishers Weekly as the "most frightening novel Stephen King has ever written".

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. Yet despite Ludlow's tranquility, there's an undercurrent of danger that lingers...like the graveyard in the woods near the Creeds' home, where generations of children have buried their beloved pets.

Behind the "pet sematary", there is another burial ground, one that lures people to it with seductive promises...and ungodly temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there - one more terrifying than death itself and hideously more powerful. An ominous fate befalls anyone who dares tamper with this forbidden place, as Louis is about to discover for himself....

©1983 Stephen King (P)2018 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"The narrator is Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), who can now add an Earphones Award to his resume.... Hall's narration captures the surprising humanity found on the page, but his voice becomes appropriately grim as the story barrels toward the inevitable darkness." (AudioFile)

Listen to Michael C. Hall performing King’s chilling horror classic.
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  • Listen to Michael C. Hall performing King’s chilling horror classic.

What listeners say about Pet Sematary

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    5 out of 5 stars

THIS is what Audible was made for!

This is a fantastic book. I love King, and have read most of his books. I would go as far as to say that he is my favorite author. I love a few authors more than others that I read, but King is the king.

I first read Pet Sematary right after it came out in hardback. I was in high school, and the book really affected me. Many of King's books have had a significant amount of impact on me, but this one....this one is on a whole other level. The concepts that are dealt with in this book are beyond nightmares. You know what is going to happen rather early on in the story, but you just can't believe that he is REALLY going to go there. I mean, really?? Wow... Heebie Jeebies times 100.

The best thing about my experience with this story this time around was the narration of Michael C Hall. He was fantastic!! I know that he had a thriving TV career with Dexter, and I'm sure he has come across other ways to earn a living since then, and probably never needs to work another day in his life, but he is a MASTERFUL narrator. This book fit his talents perfectly, and left me wanting more from him. Excellent!

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98 people found this helpful

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  • Tj
  • 04-10-18

The soil of a man's heart is stonier. A man

loved how this was delivered. such a wonderful job. couldn't stop listening. had heard/seen/read before but once I saw Hall was narrating was sold. chills and thrills with a wonderful voice! cheers

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35 people found this helpful

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Wonderful!

I have been waiting a long time for this audiobook. Thank you Stephen King! Excellent performance by Michael C. Hall!

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29 people found this helpful

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Damn scary elevated by Hall's narration!

What made the experience of listening to Pet Sematary the most enjoyable?

Michael C. Hall is an amazing narrator. His characterization of Judd was amazing and unique and brought me back to watching the film the first time and experience Fred Gwynne's performance. After listening, I realized not much actually happens in the novel, but King creates an amazing novel where the dread escalates to a stunning conclusion.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gage after he returns from the semetary is creepy and foul-mouthed. Judd Crandall makes the story. Louis Creed is written well and is multi-dimensional, and King deftly uses him to personify the grief and other emotions that come as a result of a loss of a child.

What does Michael C. Hall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice is amazing and he uses appropriate inflection and speed depending on the events in the story. He gives each character a unique inflection without it being heavy-handed. The story is creepy, and Hall's narration adds to the creepiness of it all.

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27 people found this helpful

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Micheal C. Hall knocks it out of the park

It’s a classic. Made even better by Hall who’s narration is great. I can not put it down. At first I was impressed by the ability to differentiate between the characters. After a few hours I knew which character was speaking by the voice and that goes a long way to sell the story. Great buy. I will listen to this one again and again.

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15 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Well told but very grim

This is another Stephen King classic, and as he says in the preface, he believes it is one of his most horrific stories. Whether you will agree depends on what you define as horror. There are some creepy characters (human, animal, and a shadowy "creature" that is never fully revealed), but the horror comes from the shadow of death that is encroaching on the Creed family. I found the story to be a very slow starter, but as with most of King's stories, there are well-drawn characters, and this gives the story it's emotional impact. Just a warning, this is a very dark no very sad story. It is about death. If that's a sensitive subject for you, I'd recommend you skip this one.
Michael C. Hall gives a fabulous performance of this one, really excellent.

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14 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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An excellent vocal performance

Michael C. Hall did an absolutely fantastic job at his read of this book. His pacing and vocal add ins were incredible and made the story much more intense. That being said, the actual plot of the story was very slow and would have lost my interest at time had it not been for the performance.

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Delightful in the Stephen King Way

Where does Pet Sematary rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've always ranked Pet Sematary high on my Stephen King list, but to hear it read by Michael C. Hall pushed this novel to the top, second only to IT. Hall's sonorous voice can go from tender to menacing to terrified with perfect transition.

What did you like best about this story?

King presents one of the most horrifying scenarios a parent can face, the death of a child, then ratchets the fear and dread further than one might expect. The back stories, much like in IT, foreshadow what is ahead, but it's the tender yet gruesome graveyard scene that reveals King's genius for horror.

Have you listened to any of Michael C. Hall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't remember listening to any of Michael C. Hall's other performances, but if they're anything like his in Pet Sematary, it will be a book worth listening to.

Who was the most memorable character of Pet Sematary and why?

That's difficult to say, but Louis Creed is a relatable character. His love for family and the despair and desperation he goes through make him a wonderful character. Jud Crandall is also an affable figure, although he's the one who opened to the door to the upcoming horrors. Being wise and intuitive, he becomes the voice of reason the Louis needs but fails to obey. Ultimately, every character is necessary and adds to the King mythos.

Any additional comments?

This novel is difficult to read due to the subject matter, yet the dark themes and events are what draws a reader in and makes her/him shiver in bed at night. IT, with all the horror, still has a hopefully undertone. Pet Sematary...not so much.

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10 people found this helpful

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Unbelievable!

Pet Semetery is an absolutely phenomenal audio book! The performance, story and quality make this one of my favorites and I’ve listened to nearly every King book on here. I will now forever associate Michael C Hall’s voice with Louis Creed. Well done audible!

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Outstanding in Every Regard

It was a blessing revisiting this classic book, and was made even better in my opinion through the magical voice of Michael C Hall. I will have a hard time hearing or picturing any of Stephen King’s male lead roles as anyone else besides him now, as he captured the role of Lewis Creed perfectly. It’s the first book I’ve completed here on audible, and the outstanding production of this piece will have me returning to the app as a daily part of my routine.

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