The spine-tingling, bone-chilling novel of supernatural suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Horns—now an AMC original series starring Zachary Quinto, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ashleigh Cummings.
“A masterwork of horror.”— Time
Victoria McQueen has an uncanny knack for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable … horror.”— Time
Victoria McQueen has an uncanny knack for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. When she rides her bicycle over the rickety old covered bridge in the woods near her house, she always emerges in the places she needs to be.
Charles Talent Manx has a gift of his own. He likes to take children for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the vanity plate NOS4A2. In the Wraith, he and his innocent guests can slip out of the everyday world and onto hidden roads that lead to an astonishing playground of amusements he calls Christmasland. The journey across the highway of Charlie’s twisted imagination transforms his precious passengers, leaving them as terrifying and unstoppable as their benefactor.
Then comes the day when Vic goes looking for trouble…and finds her way to Charlie. That was a lifetime ago. Now, the only kid ever to escape Charlie’s evil is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx hasn’t stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. On the road again, he won’t slow down until he’s taken his revenge. He’s after something very special—something Vic can never replace.
As a life-and-death battle of wills builds, Vic McQueen prepares to destroy Charlie once and for all—or die trying.
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This my favorite strange book for Christmas! I got it from the new books section of my local public library. The book cover and inside artwork front and back grab me and the reading the short tease about the it made get it. I loved it so much that when they put it out buy for the book drive I bought it. Merry Christmas everyone and a good nights Read!
I love this book! I think it is my favorite Joe Hill book. If you haven’t read it, you should–twice!
This was my first Joe Hill book and what an introduction! He really is his father’s son. The story was unique, scary and smart. I couldn’t put it down. It puts a whole different spin on Christmas.
From its witty cover, sure-to-terrify content, and horror royalty author, NOS4A2 has been on my to-be-read pile since its publication. Due to its length, however, I only recently committed to this baby. You’ll need to be ready to stick with it for awhile (think It or A Game of Thrones), but NOS4A2‘s memorable characters make it a worthy read I’ll recommend to hardcore horror fans.
As a child, Victoria “Vic” McQueen discovered her supernatural ability to teleport via a covered bridge in her small Massachusetts town. When she needed to find something that was lost, she could simply ride her bike through the bridge and emerge on the other side exactly where the lost object could be found.
This ability accidentally lead her to serial kidnapper Charlie Manx, who would proceed to traumatize her for life after trying to burn her alive. Manx was imprisoned for his crimes, but his own supernatural abilities rendered him able to continue haunting Vic — for whom he returns to exact his revenge years later by kidnapping her son, Wayne.
Manx and Vic are amazing characters that Hill writes very well. One minute you’re in the head of a deluded killer and the next in that of a concerned mother hell-bent on saving her kid. With a supporting cast that rounds out the story flawlessly (a dorky biker, a stuttering librarian, a gas mask–sporting accomplice, and a fun troupe of criminal investigators), NOS4A2 doesn’t fail to keep readers captivated.
Part It and part Stranger Things, NOS4A2 is a must-read for horror-fantasy fans looking for longer sagas in which to lose themselves.
A wildly creative horror/suspense about a woman determined to save her son from a twisted harvester of children’s souls. The subject matter is dark, for sure, but Joe Hill writes horror with such swagger that he turns the entertainment factor up to 10 along with the scares.
Joe Hill is a talented chip off the old block. Supernatural fantasy horror involving killer kids, Christmas, an evil car and a bike that can transport its rider to another dimension of sorts. Strong, but damaged female lead character, my favorite kind.
This was definitely a creepy book. I feel like Christmas has been corrupted a bit after reading NOS4A2. Charlie Manx is a sick twisted man along with his demented assistant Bings. I thought this was a pretty good horror novel with a bit of the supernatural. While it was amazing to see what these creators could do, it was also scary to see someone like Manx who created this magical, yet horrifying Christmasland where he takes children. This was a good cat and mouse as Manx becomes obsessed with Vic McQueen and focuses his efforts on her son.
NOS4A2 was a very entertaining read. I liked Vic and Manx as a crazed villain. It was interesting to see how Manx 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith affected the children who got into the car and how it changed Manx himself. Christmasland was very elaborate and anyone could see why the children would love it while also not noticing the scary feel to it. This was a very well written novel and I really enjoyed reading it.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill is a story about a young girl, Victoria McQueen, who has a secret gift for ‘finding’ things. When she ‘finds’ Charles Talent Manx, her life is changed forever.
Joe Hill’s writing is captivating, his world building is impeccable, and I loved the Easter eggs throughout the story as a nod to his father.
For anyone who loves Stephen King, this is a great choice to read as Hill’s writing and story telling is chilling.
A brilliant story I highly recommend.
This was an…interesting read. There were some twists and turns, and the author created an original concept. Enjoyed this book.
Definitely one of my favorite all-time reads. I won’t compare Joe Hill to his dad Stephen King but I will admit that it’s because his dad that I started reading him and I’m glad I did.
What a thrill, author Joe Hill sucks you in from the first word, you don’t want it to end, he puts you right their in the pages, for a hellacious read, fast paced, tension filled, overload with action, heaping helping of twist and turns and builds to a conclusion that I wasn’t expecting. Almost feel like the readers meant to be Victoria McQueen or I read it that way and it made NOS4A2 more epic a read.
Who as a Kid when their on their bicycle didn’t think they could concur the world or didn’t let their imagination flow.
Would highly recommend this one for anyone to read, most definitely will keep reading his books and eagerly waiting his next offering.
A page turner from start to finish! This is the second book I’ve read of Joe Hill’s, and I’m instantly a big fan. I listened to it on Audiobook through the month of December up to Christmas, and what a great time to read it. Hill’s description of Manx’s twisted ‘Christmas land’ is original and told with just enough to let your imagination build the rest. Charles Manx is one of the most diabolical villains created, and narrated by Kate Mulgrew who is brilliant. The voice she uses for him is perfectly creepy. Hill grabs you from page one, and pulls you through the story on a wild ride of a car that transcends worlds. He does not write one boring page, and has a way of building characters you can relate to and fall in love with. I highly recommend this read.
Love Joe Hill and this book is wonderful, twisted and suspenseful
A fantastic book by a great author. Joe Hill has his own style, and shows that he is a great writer like his father. There are some wonderful references to the Stephen King universe.
This was a great book! I’m not sure why, but it kept reminding me of Stephen King’s IT (which I read 20+ years ago and loved). My only qualm is with the main character, Vic – after about the 3rd/4th time of being caught by surprise/off guard you’d think she’d learn to be a little more aware of her surroundings and make smarter decisions. Otherwise, what an amazing tale!
mind blown. Great twist of an old tell.
This is one of the best books I’ve read. I was so engulfed in the story, I could barely put it down until I’d finished it. Do not judge it by the tv mini series, which was (in my opinion) horrible. The title was what drew me to this book, and I’m so glad it did. I am now a big Joe Hill fan.
I was excited and anxious to read this book cause I’m such a huge fan of his dad. I didn’t want to have any notions in my head and tried to forget his dad all together…. but look at him though!!
Anyway….
It was a big book, but oh, so epic!
I was enamored. This Christmas-like setting at times, not what you would think of when thinking of horror. Somehow I might not look at Christmas the same again. This story was just so different from anything I have ever read. And that’s a good thing. Especially reading as much as I do.
I had to know what happened to this family. They seemed cursed to me. I loved how the book wrapped up too. I wasn’t ready for a sequel and thankfully, there was no room to make one. Everything came together better than I could have hoped for.
I have a few more books waiting for me. Can’t wait to get to them. If you like intense and thrilling reads, get this one. Don’t be scared of its’ size… the pages go fast.
4.5/5
Twist on the trope of violence against women as horror, or skewering of the trope, not sure which. Gore and body horror but if you’re reading Joe Hill you probably know that’s what you’re in for?
While the ending got a bit sappy, the overall story was better than decent. The characters stayed consistent with their individual motives not changing to suit the story.
Great book with well developed characters and a twisted storyline. i have started watching the series, but the book is much better This guy is Stephen king’s son. DNA matters !