Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Heart-Shaped Box
    Heart-Shaped Box
    Heart-Shaped Box
    Audiobook11 hours

    Heart-Shaped Box

    Written by Joe Hill

    Narrated by Stephen Lang

    4/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    “Wild, mesmerizing, perversely witty….A Valentine from hell.”
     —Janet Maslin, New York Times

     

    The publication of Joe Hill’s beautifully textured, deliciously scary debut novel Heart-Shaped Box was greeted with the sort of overwhelming critical acclaim that is rare for a work of skin-crawling supernatural terror. It was cited as a Best Book of the Year by Atlanta magazine, the Tampa Tribune, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Village Voice, to name but a few. Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Neil Gaiman of The Sandman, The Graveyard Book, and Anansi Boys fame calls Joe Hill’s story of a jaded rock star haunted by a ghost he purchased on the internet, “relentless, gripping, powerful.” Open this Heart-Shaped Box from two-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Hill if you dare and see what all the well-deserved hoopla is about.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateFeb 13, 2007
    ISBN9780061262395
    Author

    Joe Hill

    Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Fireman, NOS4A2, Horns, and Heart-Shaped Box; Strange Weather, a collection of novellas; and the acclaimed story collections Full Throttle and 20th Century Ghosts. He is also the Eisner Award–winning writer of a seven-volume comic book series, Locke & Key. Much of his work has been adapted for film and TV, including NOS4A2 (AMC), Locke & Key (Netflix), In the Tall Grass (Netflix), and The Black Phone (Blumhouse).

    More audiobooks from Joe Hill

    Related to Heart-Shaped Box

    Related audiobooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      8 Best Stephen King Books That Will Have You Gripped

      Mar 14, 2021

      To say that readers love Stephen King is a huge understatement. The most recent count of his total sales came to a whopping 350 million and his affable online presence, no-nonsense attitude to transphobia and right-wing politics, and extremely genero

      5 min read

    • Article

      Review: Stephen King Modeled 'The Stand' On 'Lord Of The Rings.' TV Has Done It No Favors

      Dec 17, 2020

      As a story of a world-gutting flu pandemic, Stephen King's "The Stand," whose second, superior miniseries adaptation began Thursday on CBS All Access, could not be more timely. And as a story of good and evil facing off for the usual high stakes — a

      4 min read

    • Article

      Dirty John: Newlyweds

      Oct 3, 2017

      Dirty John: Newlyweds
      10 min read

    • Article

      Someone To Watch OVER ME

      Jun 15, 2022

      Someone To Watch OVER ME
      9 min read

    • Article

      House Of Horrors

      Nov 26, 2020

      House Of Horrors
      4 min read

    • Article

      Caught in The act

      Aug 4, 2022

      Caught in The act
      4 min read

    • Article

      Would You Kill Mum For Me?

      Jun 19, 2019

      Would You Kill Mum For Me?
      7 min read

    • Article

      ‘Sing to It’: Featured Fiction from Amy Hempel

      Mar 25, 2019

      If she was home at night in her husband’s bed, did he care what she did with her days? The post ‘Sing to It’: Featured Fiction from Amy Hempel appeared first on The Millions.

      7 min read

    • Article

      Life After Death

      May 27, 2022

      Life After Death
      14 min read

    • Article

      Wendy Asks For ADVICE

      Jun 14, 2023

      Tell me,’ said Wendy. ‘Have you ever thought that Tom might, you know, be seeing somebody else?’ For the benefit of new readers, Tom is Mr Dear. Wendy is my friend from the charity shop, and we are strolling through the woods near Chateau Dear with o

      3 min read

    • Article

      Someone To Watch OVER ME

      Jun 8, 2022

      Someone To Watch OVER ME
      9 min read

    • Article

      Abandoned

      May 24, 2022

      Abandoned
      5 min read

    • Article

      No Party Pooper

      Jan 16, 2023

      No Party Pooper
      5 min read

    • Article

      UNEARTHING The Past

      Jul 22, 2020

      UNEARTHING The Past
      9 min read

    • Article

      Famous People

      Mar 1, 2022

      Famous People
      15 min read

    • Article

      Abandoned

      Jun 3, 2021

      Abandoned
      5 min read

    • Article

      Dirty John: The Real Thing

      Oct 2, 2017

      LOS ANGELES - Their first date was at Houston's, a restaurant in Irvine where he opened the door for her and put her napkin on her lap. Candles flickered along the polished-mahogany bar; jazz drifted from speakers; conversation purred. Debra Newell h

      10 min read

    • Article

      The Hotel

      Jun 4, 2020

      The Hotel
      4 min read

    • Article

      Good Bones

      Mar 19, 2020

      Good Bones
      18 min read

    • Article

      A Cure For THE GLUMS

      Sep 6, 2023

      You join us for coffee on the terrace at Wendy’s house, not that you’ll really be bothering about the coffee. Or indeed the raspberry and almond muffins. No, you’ll probably be enjoying the view, wondering why nobody has asked to see your National Tr

      3 min read

    • Article

      POISON ON Pink Paper

      Jan 2, 2020

      POISON ON Pink Paper
      8 min read

    • Article

      Dementia

      Aug 12, 2021

      Dementia
      10 min read

    • Article

      Nugrybauti

      Apr 24, 2019

      Nugrybauti
      8 min read

    • Article

      Right Dead Fred

      Dec 24, 2019

      Right Dead Fred
      4 min read

    • Article

      What Judith Did Next...

      Jun 17, 2020

      What Judith Did Next...
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Heart-Shaped Box

    4/5

    3,017 ratings246 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Good story, but I couldn't stand the jarring music played between chapters. Wth was that even for?
    • 4/5
      The music in this audio is jarring and unnecessary so I docked a star but great story and voice
    • 5/5
      This book captures your attention from the very start and never slows down! I read the whole thing in one day.
    • 3/5
      Not a bad read, a bit drawn out at times with page filling scenes. Unique takes on some overused horror tropes that were refreshing.
    • 5/5
      I loved it, I need more. Thanks it was really enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      Its such a basic horror/ghost story you almost expect it to suck but the authors writing makes it really fun to read. I'd read it again even.
    • 5/5
      Creepy, suspenseful, interesting all the way through. I loved it.
    • 4/5
      I plan to be listening to more from Joe Hill!
    • 3/5
      A friend at work recommended this book, said it really creeped her out and she doesn't get creeped easily. It does have its creepy moments. I don't read much horror these days--other than vampire stuff--so I don't know what to compare it to other than early Stephen King novels, which I have read. Joe Hill is King's son and I think there are some similarities between the two such as the way they draw out a story. Its not all action and dialog, but a story with meats on its bones.
    • 4/5
      Interestingly thrilling story, definitely twisted. loved the main character Judas Coyne, Aging rockstar; collector of the paranormal.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this story. Not much negativity here. The MC was annoying at times but it fit his personality. Would recommend
    • 4/5
      Spooky read that tackled real issues. I liked it!
    • 5/5
      Love it! My second book of joe! Beautiful narration as well! 5 starts!
    • 4/5
      The pacing was excellent. Narrator was outstanding. His style really fit the mood of the story.
    • 5/5
      For fans of rock n roll, all things gritty, cool with a lot of heart
    • 4/5
      I read this because I really liked one of his later books. This one was good too especially if you consider that it's his debut.
    • 5/5
      I like the depth and detail of this book. Great read.
    • 5/5
      Excellent book and was well narrated. Storyline is easy to follow along with on audio.
    • 5/5
      I wish there were more than 5 stars to give! Loved this story! And the narrator is utterly amazing - a large part of why I enjoyed this story so much.
    • 4/5
      A dark intriguing novel about an aging rock star that has to deal with the repercussions of purchasing a ghost with a vendetta.Heart Shaped Box is a story with rich descriptive prose. In the beginning I felt the prose was a bit convoluted and it took me a quarter of the book to get used to the author’s style. The detailed prose controlled the pacing of the story allowing a deeper sensory immersion. I felt an odd disconnection with the main character perhaps because he was in his head most of the time with very little dialogue. I ended up caring more for his dogs and the secondary characters. All the characters had interesting back stories that I enjoyed reading about. The horror elements were heavy in the beginning bordering on surreal then dulled to interweave with the more mundane atrocities humans are capable of. The vivid details and symbolism left a strong impression. Overall, I enjoyed the story and was surprised by the pleasant ending.
    • 3/5
      I just read this because I wanted to know what Joe Hill was like as an author. It's not bad for his first book. A little raunchy but a fairly good ghost story, and it makes you appreciate keeping your loved ones safe and avoiding evil.
    • 5/5
      Spooky, scary, real, wow Joe Hills writing is intense. I loved, loved, loved the reader.
    • 2/5
      I really wanted to finish, and I did. But I really was not a fan.
    • 4/5
      Part of chapter 56 in this audiobook (chapter 39 in the physical book) is missing. The narrator did a really good job, and was pleasant to listen to. I could have done without the musical breaks between some of the chapters and sections, but it wasn't really a big deal. As for the story itself, I really liked it! It's was tense, exciting, and kept me engaged the whole time. I can't wait to read more by this author.
    • 5/5
      Joe Hill has proven to me that he is a phenomenal storyteller. His mind is a twisted as his father's, but he has managed to set himself apart.The story was twisted and did not go the way I thought it would from the beginning. There were twists and turns so unexpected that it was surprising, without leaving me too dizzy. Craddock was a creepy, disgusting man who is hopefully frozen up to his neck in the river Cocytus, able to cry out in despair, but never receiving mercy.This was the story of rock star, Judas Coyne and how he was pulled into a sadistic game of suicide/death by the stepfather (Craddock) and sister (Jessica) of one of his former paramours (Anna). He and his current love, Marybeth get dragged onto the road trip from hell when Jude is tricked into purchasing what he thought was a phony haunted suit. The suit; however, was indeed haunted by the ghost of Craddock who is intent on destroying Jude by making him murder Marybeth before taking his own life. Once Jude realizes that the ghost is real and why he's after Jude, the fight to survive begins.It was very well written and kept me hanging on for more. The only part I disliked greatly was the death of Jude's dogs. Fictional, I know, but animal death of any kind has become something (recently) that I do not handle well. Now I'm starting to agree with the people who say that books should come with trigger warnings. After that the book seemed to drag on, but not because it wasn't good. I was just wanting it to be over so I could stop thinking about the dogs. The ending was surprising and not at all what I expected to happen, which was refreshing, because I hate when I can guess how a book will end and am right. Minus the parts with the dogs, this was a great read. I will definitely read more from the author.
    • 4/5
      Joe Hill. Some may know him as Joe Hillstrom King, of the family King. Son of Stephen King (Richard Bachman) and Tabitha King (Tabitha Spruce).Apparently growing up with a couple writers in the family made it likely that one of their human offspring would pop out and take up a similar occupation. Joe Hill was only recently outted as one of the King family and was wise enough to go out and push himself under a pen name. I likely would not have read his book if i thought it had only been published because of who his DNA was sourced from. instead, i got 50-60 pages into the book before i was advised of this knowledge treat.from my perspective, writers like Dan Brown (Angels & Demons, DaVinci Code) write “Harry Potter for adults”. they get adults and others who normally would catch fire to a book rather than read one. they force them to read something because everyone is doing it, then when they open the book they are spoon fed the whole plot line and coddled until they understand every secret nuance, they feel smarter because someone told them they are smarter.. this book does not fall into this category.Heart-shaped box follows the story of Judas (Jude) Coyne, an aging rocker who is along the same vein as Ozzy. he was into the shocking on stage performances and carried his presence off stage too. at just over 50 years old, with his band dead and buried, he sits on his farm and goes about his business ignoring the world for the most part.early in the book, things start to pick up as his personal assistant, Danny, finds an interesting item on a third rate ebay ripoff auction site. They are selling a ghost, specifically the ghost of an old man. the story goes that the old man wanted to be buried in his Sunday best but the funeral home decided against it. the winner of the auction would in essence be buying the ghost by purchasing the Sunday suit the dead man wanted to be buried in.Jude and his assistant, decided it would be a fine addition to the collection of human skulls, and various other bizarre/creepy/stereotypical nicknack’s that lay about the rocker’s home. a few days later the suit arrives at his home in a heart shaped box.this book really caught my attention. from page one to the end, i was stuck in it. when i went on my trip, i took it with me and was a little sad that i could not just hole-up someplace and read it. Joe’s writing style is completely different than his father and mother. he is not a machine writer, pumping out details onto a page using a standard format and plot line. the book is not overly saturated with details. it does not force you along using loosely set plot lines or overly hinted at shocker ideas which would normally pop out in the last 5 pages. there is no secret twist and turns which will make you think you missed something. instead, as you read it, you know that you are getting a straightforward story, which an honest to god surprise ending.if you look up other reviews of thsi book you will see many people state this was the “scariest book” they have ever read. some will state they are not into horror and this is why they can say this. others, i think just like buffy the vampire style horror and so anything really intense is considered scary. honestly, i didnt find this book to be scary. it falls into the horror category only due to the nature of the plot line, characters, and other entities. i would have to say this is a thriller instead. it kept me glued to the pages, but at no point was i horrified. it was missing all the classical horror stand bys that bad writers fall back on. hell that even good writers fall back on.it was refreshing to reach the end, smiling, pleased. i wanted more, but did not feel like i was cheated. likewise, i did not feel like i was over explained to.if you have a sale in 5 minutes, but you talk to the customer for 15 minutes after they said they would buy, you are likely to lose the customer. this called over selling. Joe Hill sold me in about 400 pages and left me. he didnt use another hundred pages to explain all the intricacies that your standard read wouldnt get. he didnt hand hold or coddle the readers. he left a little mystery in the story. he made me go back and reread parts that i figured out had more details that were important. he didnt treat the read like an idiot, and left us to think for ourselves through each part of the book.he accomplished a work that was no mere Harry Potter, yet was not the cliff notes of a story either. it was a robust, clear cut joy to read.
    • 5/5
      Well, I loved it. The people in my local bookstore hated me though. I cause trouble in there on a regular basis, wanting books they haven't got, wanting books that aren't in the three for two offer to be put in the three for two offer, pretending I work there to other customers, knowing more about books than the staff do, etc. And they did not stock this book. They are supposed to be a professional bookstore but they still do not stock this book. No wonder their profits are plunging. I harrassed then but to no avail. You'd have thought that if the book sellers hadn't cottoned on then the marketing people would have. I expected to be falling over copies of this. Anyway, the other one 'round the corner must have been expecting me and others like me because they had a big stand that was supposed to be full of this book and it was practically empty when I got there. It is an amazing book, nearly slipped up and called it a first book, but it is a second one. First novel though. Joe Hill is a very accomplished writer and he will only get better with time so I'm looking forward to his next book already (bookstore beware...I'll be back). This is a very modern ghost story that makes use of the internet and was very creepy, especially the first appearances of the ghost. I read it very quickly and was sorry to finish it. I will be rereading it very soon.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed Heart-Shaped Box and look forward to reading more by Joe Hill. The story is about Judas, a aging metal rock star, and his "girlfriend" Georgia being haunted by the step-father of his last "girlfriend" Florida who killed herself after Judas sent her back to her home. The story dives right in with the haunting and you learn about the characters as the story goes on. This isn't some great piece of writing. but for what it is, a scary story involving ghost, it is very entertaining.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed reading Heart-Shaped Box, but I don't think Joe Hill is quite mature in his writing yet. The pace of the book seemed a little odd to me, and it didn't actually grab hold of me and keep me going -- I was curious as to how it'd all turn out, but the narrative itself didn't keep pushing me through it. The characters are interesting but not really truly engaging, and the idea is a little creepy but not enough to keep me up at night or even to make me all shivery. Some of the formatting was irritating and kind of threw me out of it, too -- the whole sections of italicisation.

      I don't actually have much to say about this, to be honest. I enjoyed reading it, but it doesn't induce strong feelings in me one way or t'other.
    • 4/5
      Very creepy novel. Not bad for a first book.