We’re only halfway through 2018, but I’ve already listened to a long list of great new audiobooks, plus a handful of favorites from the past.

Here’s a quick rundown if you’re looking for some good choices for the summer.

Fiction

The Outsider
By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Will Patton
Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins

Stephen King’s latest book is a perfect storm of my favorite author, one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and a great story. It’s the story of a gruesome crime, and it’s a lot like his recent Bill Hodges trilogy—Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch, all of which are also recommended (and also read by Will Patton)—in that it has fantastical elements to it. In fact, there’s a nice tie-in between this book and the Bill Hodges trilogy, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

Mountain Man: Prequel
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
Series: Mountain Man, Book 0
Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

I was delighted to discover that Keith C. Blackmore had written another Mountain Man book, which focuses on Gus’ origin story. That it is narrated by R.C. Bray is, of course, the icing on the cake.

Deliverance
By: James Dickey
Narrated by: Will Patton
Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

A survival story that was made (in)famous by the 1972 movie, Deliverance is a surprisingly interesting book that I discovered when looking for something read by Will Patton. The best-known line from the movie isn’t in the book, but it’s just as visceral and believable.

Pet Sematary
By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Michael C. Hall
Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins

This is a classic Stephen King story and I’m surprised to see how well it holds up. The Michael C. Hall narration is excellent.

Non-fiction

The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
By: Dr. Jason Fung
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

An important book that anyone trying to lose weight and be healthier should read. The secret, incidentally, is intermediate fasting, and it’s something I’ve been working on this past year. A must-read.

The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
By: Lawrence Wright
Narrated by: Lawrence Wright
Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins

When I heard that Hulu was producing a TV series based on this book—which I have since watched—I decided to listen to the audiobook, which has a much more complete history that includes both the U.S. view and the more important events in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere that led to this disaster. Fascinating stuff.

Replay: The History of Video Games
By: Tristan Donovan, Richard Garriott
Narrated by: Gary Furlong
Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins

I’ve been moving in and out of this one thanks to many of the other books on this list, but if you’re looking for something industry-related, this might be a good choice. It seems complete, in that it examines video games both outside the U.S. and in. I’m sure I’ll finish it over time.

Re-listens from previous years

Inspired by new books (The Outsider and Mountain Man: Prequel), I went back and re-listened to some older (and shorter) Stephen King and Keith C. Blackmore audiobooks as well:

Joyland
By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Michael Kelly
Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

One of my very favorite Stephen King novellas, about a summer working at a haunted amusement park, and the narrator is perfect.

The Gingerbread Girl
By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Mare Winningham
Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

An inspiring story about a woman who is attacked on a beach while running and takes her life back.

The Hospital: The Free Short Story: The First Mountain Man Story
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
Length: 1 hr and 37 mins

This one’s free, so there’s no excuse for not checking it out. It’s a great introduction to the Mountain Man series and to Gus, its main protagonist.

Tagged with Audible