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The Book of Accidents cover art

The Book of Accidents

Written by: Chuck Wendig
Narrated by: Xe Sands, George Newbern
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Publisher's Summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A family returns to their hometown—and to the dark past that haunts them still—in this masterpiece of literary horror by the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers

LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • “The dread, the scope, the pacing, the turns—I haven’t felt all this so intensely since The Shining.”—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Public Library, Library Journal

Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.

Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.

Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.

Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.

And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.

This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another.

©2021 Chuck Wendig (P)2021 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“[The Book of Accidents] is Chuck Wendig’s magnum opus, blazing with imagination, humanity, and a tiny glimmer of hope for a world drowning in cruelty. It’s horror for right now, and it’s Wendig’s best so far.” (Christopher Golden, New York Times best-selling author of Road of Bones)

“Only Chuck Wendig can blend horror, fantasy, and science fiction into a propulsive thriller that is as funny as it is frightening, clever as it is uncanny, tender as it is terrifying. A magical ride.” (Alma Katsu, author of Red Widow and The Deep)

“Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents transported me to the golden age of sprawling horror novels that I loved so much as a kid. Sweeping yet intimate, multilayered and bighearted, this is a novel to sink deeply into.” (Dan Chaon, New York Times best-selling author of Ill Will)

What listeners say about The Book of Accidents

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First Chuck Wendig novel

This was my first Chuck Wendig novel, but it will not be my last. What an amazing story about empathy, and forgiveness, and cyclic abuse in families. What an amazing horror novel with gore galore, and scary monsters. What an amazing sci-fi novel and fantasy novel and coming of age novel ad infinitum if you haven't read it you really should.

Amazing narration!

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What a ride!

I had no idea what I was in for, and this was so much fun! I love the blend of narratives, so perfectly woven together to pull you in gradually like sinking into the ground.

love the genre mashup of mystsry/horror/comedy/pop-culture/occult/scifi/multiverse etc.

great performance too!

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The book we need right now

Given everything that's been going on for the past few years, and my own personal state, I did not expect this book to be so...uplifting. After all, it is billed as "horror"--literary horror but horror nonetheless. And while it was not a feel-good, sunshine and rainbows story, and there was more than enough creepiness and horror to satisfy fans of the genre, it ultimately made me feel better about the world, and people, and the importance of hope in the darkness.

I'll skip the plot details, since you can find those everywhere, and just say that this was the book I needed to read right now and I think a lot of other folks do too. Kudos to Wendig for a complex and human tale and to the narrators who deftly brought the characters to life.

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    4 out of 5 stars

An acid trip of perception and realities.

love it, hated it, was disgusted and sometimes didn't want to continue....have abstract thoughts regarding different realities

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Excellent read

The story and narrations were perfect. This is the first book of his that I’ve read and enjoyed it immensely. I’m looking forward to reading more of his books.

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New Author for me

I had no idea what I was getting into when I pressed play on this audiobook. In the beginning I didn’t know if I would keep going but I became invested.
I am very much a person who wonders why people are the way they are, how backgrounds affect us etc.
I became very invested in the characters of this book and the storyline, how it would play out.
I recommend the book and am glad I didn’t let initial uncertainty let me put it aside.

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Worth the listen!

loved this book, reminded me of a Stephen King story. kept me entertained for the week.

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I really enjoyed this book!

I am reluctant to try a new author as its a crap shoot, you never know if you are going to like it but I loved this book! The characters were great, the narration was great and the story, well it had twists and turns and kept me intrigued. I highly recommend this book!

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Cathartic and Incredible

If I ever want to explain what cptsd or ptsd and what overcoming intergenerational pain feels like, this is what would ask someone to read. Yes, it is vile at times, and overwhelming, and haunting. But it also mirrors the intrusive thoughts left behind by the damage done by a history of abuse. If you have cptsd, this might be too much for you depending on where you are in your recovery.
The story is very well written, preformed, and it is really just so well thought out.

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Excellent Story!

I very much enjoyed this audiobook, the story is unique and engrossing. I laughed out loud more than once, and invested in the characters and their lives. Highly recommended!

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