Duma Key: A Novel

Written by:
Stephen King
Narrated by:
John Slattery

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
260
Narrator
60
Release Date
January 2008
Duration
23 hours 0 minutes
Summary
Winner of the 2009 Audie Award for Fiction

Master storyteller Stephen King’s classic, terrifying #1 New York Times bestseller of what happens when the barrier between our world and that of the supernatural is breached.

After a terrible construction site accident severs Edgar Freemantle’s right arm, scrambles his mind, and implodes his marriage, the wealthy Minnesota builder faces the ordeal of rehabilitation, all alone and full of rage. Renting a house on Duma Key—a stunningly beautiful and eerily undeveloped splinter off the Florida coast—Edgar slowly emerges from his prison of pain to bond with Elizabeth Eastlake, a sick, elderly woman whose roots are tangled deep in this place. And as he heals, he paints—feverishly, compulsively, his exploding talent both a wonder and a weapon. For Edgar’s creations are not just paintings, but portals for the ghosts of Elizabeth’s past…and their power cannot be controlled…
Reviews
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lorin

To tell the truth, after finishing The Dome and The Cell I had just about written off King. This, however, is amazing. The writing is seductive and you feel like you are sweating in the hot Florida sand. You can see elements of his struggle with Kings own devastating injuries through Edgar's eyes. It is intricate and powerful. You feel Edgar's struggle to create and somehow you understand how this ties in to an authors struggle to write. This is not a classic King with a boatload of characters. It is about a few core characters and it is written mostly in narrative from one characters pov. Really great stuff.

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Melody

I was engrossed in this book from the beginning! As usual Stephen King's descriptions are richly sensual and there is an appealing quality to each of the main characters that I have sometimes found lacking in Mr. King's other works. I find listening to his work allows me to appreciate his sometime unappreciated literary depth while at the same time he manages to stay current. I like the way the mystery unfolds in a leisurely pace - much like what I imagine life was like on Duma Key.

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Anonymous

After listening to this book, I was reminded how much I love Stephen King. The characters are complex, sympathetic and well developed. The book is long, but I was really disappointed when it ended. One of the reasons that I generally like King is that the stories start out completely reasonably and slowly progress into a horror story. Some of the time the story gets so crazy and monster filled by the end, its hard to really buy into the story. Not so with this one. The narrator did a great job, too. Don't miss it!

This is not one of his better books. The suspense is there at the end, but it took a long time to get there. Not up to his usual brilliance.

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Anonymous

Phew --- this one was long winded. By the time I got to Disc 6, I felt it had to pick up. I was expecting it to really build and it never really did. The basis of the story had so much potential, and I think perhaps I expected more from this one. I honestly did not even realize the book had ended and had gone back to Track 1. I tried to enjoy this one - but it just rambled on and on. I see there are a lot of good reviews, so I must have missed something here?

I just finished "Duma Key" and I think that this book has to be one of my favorite SK stories to date...Not knowing anything about this book prior to receiving it, it was a pleasant surprise! Like others who have read this book I was a bit impatient at the beginning and kept waiting for this story to unfold....but slowly I was falling in love with the characters. Once the real meat of this story began I could not stop...It had to be one of the most eerie tales to date from Mr King, The visuals that he used made me feel as if I was right there on Duma Key and for many moments, boy was I afraid! The clues in this story kept you guessing till the end...and with an explosion of descriptive gore, I was at the edge of my seat when the essence of pure evil battled it out with Edgar Freemantle. I absolutely loved this book and did not want it to end....

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Brian C.

very good read

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Christopher K.

Great story. Really enjoyed it.

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Frank G.

Love the story, the setting was great.

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Craig P.

one of my favorite Steven King novels. I am a big fan and have almost all of his work.

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Christine P.

I’ve heard mixed reviews on FaceBook SK Fan Clubs regarding Duma Key. I added the book to my wish list and then took it off after reading negative reviews. I again read a raving review and added the book to my wish list again. I decided to spend a credit on it and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the concept and loved the passion. There was disjointed feeling to the storyline. I definitely am not a writer or an editor but as a reader, I felt the first 2/3 of the read was Edgar recovering from the accident and throwing himself into his artwork, and the last 1/3 felt rushed. So much happened in the last third of the book I almost feel like I missed something! I will reread it again but not likely for awhile. Onto the next SK novel on my list!!

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Anonymous

Loved it

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Debi A.

great narrator. totally strange story and I loved it so much ive listened to it many times. if you want something supernatural and creepy and also has a hero and will make you laugh this is the one for you. Great book all the way around!!!!

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Bill C.

Fantastic reading Fantastic writing = Goosebumps

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Mary N.

Excellent read.

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Karen T.

I enjoyed the book but the chapters are not in order

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Michael T.

I last read a King book in college. The Stand. I was so disturbed by it I vowed never to read another. Now. 25 years later, I picked this book to listen to on a road trip. It was truly a great story while not scaring the hell out of me. I’ve listened to it twice now

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Nancy K.

Duma key was very good. The characters were well developed and the story was interesting. It was a long book, but the story was so good, it flew by.

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Martin V

Several chapters where in the wrong order but not enough to disrupt the tale only noticed because I've read the paper version

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Megan A

I am sad to see that so many people disliked this book! This was a fantastic book, and was actually scary! It kept me entertained the entire time! If you are looking for a scare and love the SK this is a must read!

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BeckyG

Classic King at his best ~ wounded multilayered characters, scary bad guys, plenty of tugging at the heartstrings. Great narration.

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kimberly SCoggins

I enjoyed this book immensely. The narration by John Slattery was awesome and he did a great job of bringing these characters to life. In my opinion this book is much better than "CELL". Maybe due to the narration. I love how in just about all of Stephen King's books there are damaged people trying their damndest to do the right things and work through their struggles. I will listen to this book many more times I'm sure. Highly recommend! :)

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Leilani Maynard

I have read this story before but thought I'd give it a listen. It is wonderful. John Slattery is great as the narrator. He really brings the story to life. I an avid audio book listener, and this is one of my favorites.

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Jo Ann Sawyer

After finishing Duma Key, I was left wanting more. The writing is seductive and you feel like you are sweating in the summer sun. I loved reading about the Sarasota area and many of the beaches that I love. It brought me into the story and close to the characters. Really great stuff.

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glenice nickel

Very enjoyable and gripping. The narrator was excellent. The characters were real and description vivid

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Kelly Clark

This is one of my all time favorite books from sai King.

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lori handy

OMG i have read/listened to King for a very long time and boo-who with the DOG was way at of line this was terrible starting with THE dog and since Then i could not get into it. I hope my truth is printed here with all the other comments. I will never listen to another book from King.. ( have read/listened) to many off his books years earlier, but now i cannot and will not give another dime to this disappointment what a let down. i guess he done, but keeps selling disappointments to the public, but i cannot be a long time fan and i wasted hard earned $$$ so now i'm done,and if this doesn't get printed under the comments of the book the i guess only good comments get printed. i will never get another book on good faith that it maybe good.. Terrible......

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Perry

This was another excellent King book! Lot's of emotional occurences, then some way out there freaky occurences (as usual in a King book heh). This one is definitely worth the rental!

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Anonymous

This is a great book! It keeps a very good pace through out. The Characters are interesting and the narrator does a very good job. Pick this one up.

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mountain gerl

I loved this book from the very beginning. Definitely read/listen to it. I ended up loving, literally, at least three of the characters. I missed it after I had to return it!

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Lobstentia

An excellent Stephen King story in the classical sense; Interesting character development, a quirky story line and just enough tension to keep you guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator.

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Kathy

I am addicted to Stephen King!!! Loved this story! Dark, mysterious, and all-absorbing! Couldn't stop listening! Can't wait for Part 2 to arrive!

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Angie Teal

Great story by Stephen KIng. It had me glued to my car seat many evenings. In my opinion Stephen King is getting better the older he gets. The story is building up after a slow start and then just pulls you in and will not let go. Loved all the characters and the narrator was outstanding.

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Bonnie Enzian

I agree with "Large" that this is classic Stephen King and the best book he has written in a long time. A great ghost story akin to "Bag of Bones" which is one of my favorites. I loved the characters, the setting, the story and the narrator. Stick with it-it's long but well worth listening until the end.

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Anonymous

this book is just terrible period. i would expect better from stephen king. I could not even finish this book it was so bad.

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Bill

Somehow, Stephen King always delivers. This story was not quite as spooky as some by him, but I really enjoyed it. The reader was excellent.

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Anonymous

I just really found this story to be boring. The reader was pretty good, but I just never got into it. I have read/listened to many King books and I found this one to be one of the least engaging of the bunch. Even if he doesn't hit greatness, I normally am entertained... not so with this one.

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Steven

If this was a first novel it would not have been published. Because this is far from a first novel the reader has a right to expect much more than this product. If Mr. King has an editor he needs to listen to him or fire him. This novel is brimming with cliches in word play and in content. It rambles and wastes the reader's time. It bears almost no qualitative similarity to Mr. King's fine works such as The Shining, The Stand and many others. Mr King has become self indulgent. One example of this is his frequent expression of his political bias through his characters. By doing so he shows himself to be as simple minded and intolerant of others as he apparently believes those others to be toward his point of view. Sometime ago Mr. King announced that he had retired from writing for money. That was a good idea, apparently, because this novel feels as if it was written for some reason other than the love of the art.

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LARGE ROBERT

This is one of the best books KING he's written in a long long time. It is as good or better than his early books, just not as far out there. A very good read, well worth the money. Enjoy

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Anonymous

King introduces his main characters, Edgar Freemantle and Elizabeth Eastlake, with his masterful weaving of plots within plots. He begins with just that one line of horizon and ends with real life characters that you care for etching them onto a background of horror. One nibbles his story and continues to be reeled in and follows the trail of the main character, whose trek takes him from "crane roadkill" to a new life as an artist on Duma Key (an island with a past). Scattered along that trail are eerie encounters, each connected to and creepier than the last. When the reader finally gulps that last bit of bait, Stephen King begins to reel in so fast that one wants to close their eyes (but can't help peeking every moment or two). Along with Edgar's story is Elizabeth's, who is the key to the terror. Stephen King's talent takes you where he wants you...and where you want to be! AND narrator John Slattery added the dimension that made this story even better.

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Anonymous

3 Discs into the story was enough...I didn't even finish it.

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Anonymous

Part I and Part II ... absolutely wonderful. Classic Stephen King. Loved it .. didn't want it to end ...

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Lorna

Stephen King almost always has a good supernatural read and this is another one. It really is "unbelieveably" supernatural so don't expect logical explanations for the events in the book. Great for long car rides to the beach and back.

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Keith Murphy

This was a very surreal book and a long way from the usual Stephen King books. I felt it was too slow at the beginning (where was the plot going?) but it moved along fast once the it got into its stride.

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Anonymous

While the premise was interesting, Duma Key seemed awfully padded with words, which made it a little different than other Stephen King books. The tension and curiousity one usually feels in reading his books was quickly worn out and I needed to take breaks to manage my way through it all. However, the characters are well fleshed out, and the suspense is kept low-key but persistent. Worth the rent if you have quite a bit of time to kill!

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