“Based on the best-selling, award-winning graphic novel series Locke & Key – written by acclaimed suspense novelist Joe Hill (NOS4A2, Horns) and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez – this multi-cast, fully dramatized audio production brings the images and words to life. Featuring performances by Haley Joel Osment (Entourage, The Sixth Sense), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Kate Mulgrew (Orange Is the New Black, Star Trek: Voyager), Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez, and Stephen King (The Stand, 11-22-63), as well as a cast of more than 50 voice actors, this audio production preserves the heart-stopping impact of the graphic novel’s astounding artwork through the use of richly imagined sound design and a powerful original score.”
I didn’t read the comic book series. One day last week I realized I had purchased the audio version of Locke & Key. I must’ve completely forgotten about it. The Netflix trailer for it looks great so I decided to listen to the audio before starting the show. I am so glad I did! This is hands down the most powerful audio book I have ever listened to. This story was brought to life with a full cast production of 50 voice actors. The audio version plays like a movie complete with background noises. I’ve read a lot of bad reviews for the audio version from people who loved the comic series. I can see where some wouldn’t like so much going on upfront and in the background during an audiobook. It took me a minute to get used to it but then I fell in love and couldn’t stop listening. The sound affects and music are amazing and made the listen that much more enjoyable. I hear the Netflix series is based on the comic series but doesn’t exactly follow it and contains a number of changes. I hope the show will still be interested. The comic/audio is very dark, but I’ve read that the show isn’t. It’s lightens it, so to speak. I’d prefer it stick with a dark theme, but apparently Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez were happy with the changes, so I’ll trust their judgement. Locke & Key consists of 6 graphic novels. This is definitely one of the most imaginative things I’ve ever listened to or read. It is intricate, detailed and stimulating with the perfect blend of fantasy, suspense and horror. The characters are plots are superb. I devoured this story audio. That being said, I think I would recommend the graphic novels versus the comic, because, looking at other reviewers, that seems to be the consensus.
Synopsis
A brutal and tragic event drives the Locke family from their home in California to the relative safety of their ancestral estate in Lovecraft, Massachusetts, an old house with powerful keys and fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them. As siblings Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode Locke discover the secrets of the old house, they also find that it’s home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all.
“No you can’t understand because you are reading the last chapter of something with out having read the first chapters. Young people always think they are coming into a story at the beginning when they are usually coming in at the end.”
NOLA504nerds Book Blog 
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