Billy Summers

Written by Stephen King

Narrated by Paul Sparks

Master storyteller Stephen King, whose “restless imagination is a power that cannot be contained” (The New York Times Book Review), presents an unforgettable and relentless #1 New York Times bestseller about a good guy in a bad job.

Chances are, if you’re a target of Billy Summers, two immutable truths apply: You’ll never even know what hit you, and you’re really getting what you deserve. He’s a killer for hire and the best in the business—but he’ll do the job only if the assignment is a truly bad person. But now, time is catching up with him, and Billy wants out. Before he can do that though, there’s one last hit, which promises a generous payday at the end of the line even as things don’t seem quite on the level here. Given that Billy is among the most talented snipers in the world, a decorated Iraq war vet, and a virtual Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done, what could possibly go wrong? How about everything.

Part war story and part love letter to small-town America and the people who live there, this spectacular thriller of luck, fate, and love will grip readers with its electrifying narrative, as a complex antihero with one last shot at redemption must avenge the crimes of an extraordinarily evil man. You won’t ever forget this stunning novel from master storyteller Stephen King…and you will never forget Billy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Aug 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797122700

Stephen King

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. 

Reviews for Billy Summers

[Eleanor Danner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great book by the King!!! Audio was very well done also. The story was gripping and suspenseful. Not a horror like his older books but more in line with what he's published the last 5-10 yrs.

[Katie Thomason · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a magnificent book. It is another example of why Stephen King is one of America’s greatest writers. His characterizations are incredible and unequalled by anyone writing today. I have no doubt history will place him at the top in terms of all writers of American fiction . He just gets better and better.

[Marie Fontaine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank goodness this was an audiobook; if it was a paper book, I would have aching hands and sandy eyes for not wanting to put it down to rest them. The story was a non-putter-down (I just made up that word) and my love for Stephen King's talent was as great -as usual.

[Michael Callahan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Speechless! The BEST book he's ever written. I've read all of them, some much more than once, but this one really struck me as being so profound and intense. A real study in characters and their development. Very insightful in so many ways.

[Daniel Martin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best Stephen King book in years, certainly since “Mr. Mercedes.”

[Chris C · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

King's best in decades great plot and what a duo.

[Jessica Bockover · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This took me two weeks to finish. I honestly could see this being better as a movie. I finished because there were parts that had me invested and some parts were just meh. I can’t say I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The dynamic between Alice and Billy was cool.

[David Weinreb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book, not typical King, just wish he would stay away from the diatribe about Trump, really don't need political stuff when reading fiction

[Constance Sahlmark · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good; a a few slow moments but great plot and characters. The kind of characters you wish you could follow up on; feel grief of knowing that as the book ends, you won't hear from them again.

[ao378hrhfauh8 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Stephen King missed a great opportunity to make this book a tense story about a fugitive. Instead he brushed up Leon by Luc Besson and added politics to it. Politics ruins everything.

[Ted Horton · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It’s a very good story. However, King’s obsession with Donald Trump has made the last couple of books hard to enjoy. I can’t recall his political leanings ever being on such display against any President before. Personally, I would prefer his stories without the excessive political commentary about either party. Just write scary stories.

[Sandra Holley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whichever path Stephen King chooses when he writes a book, he turns it into a marvel. Billy Summers is what I call a "slice of life" sort of story, which ties us all together in this human race. If you hit the highlights of his life story, it is pretty sad, but connects with all of us. There is so little we have control over in this life. For some of us, that takes many years to become a reality. And I have long believed that such knowledge only comes to us when we are fully grown, no matter the age. A very thought-provoking book and I highly recommend it.

[Darcia Helle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Okay, all you rabid Stephen King fans, please don’t crucify me. Here goes: This book was just okay for me.

I feel you hurling insults with your personal rocket launchers.

Billy’s character hooked me. I was all in at the beginning, totally sold on the premise.

King is wordy. Way too many words. But I expected that.

Then…

Suddenly we deep-dive into Billy’s past history as a Marine. These parts went on and on… and on. It’s a military story, with a whole lot of detail about Billy’s experience. It’s slow and unnecessary.

Then…

We go in a new direction with a character called Alice. And I just couldn’t buy into her behavior. I know people rarely react the way we expect them to, but, well… Nope.

Still, I loved Billy and the vengeance he methodically pursued.

But…

King inserts all these weird references to covid coming in the future, and how Billy and the others didn’t know that in a few months all these various places would be closed, the roads empty, etc. It’s so obviously King interjecting these tidbits. The story is told in first person, from Billy’s perspective, and these sudden future observations are jarring. I didn’t see the point of this at all, aside from King wanting to toss covid into the book.

We also have the slams about Trumpisms here, which didn’t fit the story either, but whatever.

This 500+ page book would’ve worked better at about 300 pages. And Alice needed a different backstory or something, because… Seriously.

The audio is excellent, and the narrator did a superb job of inhabiting Billy’s character.

[Nicki Harris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it. Different from his usual. Reminds me of " The Body" from years ago.

[Jeremy Alexander · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book from a Trump hater. Bet you wish he was there now huh? I know they have to go along with the rabid liberal media or King would be finished. But its ok. Whats in office now is karma at its finest!! Still love King tho. Can't help it.

[William Hendrix · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Definitely intelligently pieced together and as the puzzle reveals all the twist and turns a brilliantly wrote book by the king

[Pam Burig · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Different story line than other King books.Good book but slow in parts.Not an "O my God" read.

[Shafiq Pontoh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

wonderful, thrilling, love it. Love the act and sound of the characters.

[Jackie Jaramillo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this novel. It was suspenseful and thrilling. Good read.

[Julie Small · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I felt like I knew the characters and was sad for the book to end. I love it when a book sticks with you long after you finish reading it. Highly recommend!

[Valorie Jackson · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I’ve enjoyed SKs novels in the past, but his current habit of political jabs and obvious hatred of anything Trump is off-putting and distracting from the storyline.

[Jean Farthing · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The reader. The story. I loved it. Great book. Thanks.

[Dancy Home · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Maybe my favorite Stephen King book ever. Could not stop listening. Such a great story addressing several contemporary issues. Get this one.

[Jeanne E Payne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is not your typical Stephen King story, but I it was good. Note to even Celebrity authors: you will alienate some readers with your personal political views fobbed off on a character. Other than that, Billy Summers is a well written character.

[Jason N. Canellas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Could have been a great story if the political views were omitted.

[Kathy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How does one man have all those words?! I love good readers.

[sue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Spectacular. The narrator was amazing. The book itself was riveting. An amazing combination. Loved it!

[Melanie Beaulieu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have liked many of his older books but unfortunately have not been a fan of all his newer stuff. I found this book drags and couldn’t fully get into it.

[Kim Wilson Whitman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stephen King is always engaging, but this book gave us a window into his writing process. I loved the main character and the story arc. This narrator is also very good.

[sandra2sandradine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mr. Stephen King gets better and better, like fine wine, as the years go by. This has become another favorite novel for me. Mr. Paul Sparks' reading it makes it an unforgettable read!