Secret Window, Secret Garden

King tells the story of Mort Rainey, a struggling writer who is accused of plagiarism by a mysterious stranger who rings his doorbell one day while he holes up in his cottage to get away from it all. Narrated by actor James Woods, the story is so good that he hardly needs to work at maintaining listener engagement. But being the professional he is, Woods gives a performance so powerful and commanding it will hold listeners rapt. His voice is steeped in the deep South when he characterizes the deadly John Shooter; when portraying the recently divorced Rainey, he sounds hollow and alone. Woods gives King's story a palpable mood of isolation--the result is a wonderful example of how affecting an audiobook can be. L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

September 22, 2008
When first confronted by John Shooter, famous novelist Mort Rainey sees him as nothing more than an avid, albeit slightly eccentric, fan. However, Shooter's accusation of plagiarism and his overbearing attitude of malevolence send Rainey scattering to prove his innocence. As Rainey's evidence disappears, his sanity and safety go along with it, and soon he is approaching a reckoning with the determined Shooter. Besides a few audible page turns, James Woods offers a compelling reading, eliciting the stress and anxiety building up in Rainey as he comes unraveled. There's a slightly whiny pitch to Woods's voice that also makes him a good match for Rainey. This 1991 recording (of a novella taken from King's Four Past Midnight) is making its belated debut on CD after 17 years, and throughout it has the recognizable light background hiss of an older recording.