The Babysitter Lives Audiobook

“I enjoyed The Babysitter Lives very much. It’s perfect for audio, as really scary stories always are, and this one is really scary. Perfect for a long car ride…especially when you’re almost out of gas and you start wondering if maybe someone has gotten into the backseat and will lurch into the rearview mirror.” —Stephen King

Only on Audio! A new horror novel from the bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and My Heart Is a Chainsaw.

A mother carries her six-year-old daughter into the tiled bathroom where the bathtub is already running, is still running, is overflowing, and for a moment the girl calms, seeing her little brother floating facedown in the water, his hair a golden halo around him, but then this mother is guiding her face-first down into that water, that, as it turns out, isn’t just water but scalding water, and eleven years later her scream is the drawer screeching out of the counter by the sink.

When high school senior Charlotte agrees to babysit the Wilbanks twins, she plans to put the six-year-olds to bed early and spend a quiet night studying: the SATs are tomorrow, and checking the Native American/Alaskan Native box on all the forms doesn’t mean jack if you choke on test day.

But tomorrow is also Halloween, and the twins are eager to show off their costumes—Ron is a nurse, in an old-fashioned white skirt-uniform, and Desi has an Authentic Squaw costume, complete with buckskin and feathered headdress. Excitement is in the air.

Charlotte’s last babysitting gig almost ended in tragedy, when her young charge sleepwalked unnoticed into the middle of the street, only to be found unharmed by Charlotte’s mother. Charlotte vows to be extra careful this time. But the house is filled with mysterious noises and secrets that only the twins understand, echoes of horrors that Charlotte gradually realizes took place in the house eleven years ago. Soon Charlotte has to admit that every babysitter’s worst nightmare has come true: they’re not alone in the house.

The Babysitter Lives is a mind-bending haunted house tale from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.

Featuring a note from the author.

Download and start listening now!

"The night before she’s scheduled to take the SATs, Charlotte lands a new babysitting gig for 6- year-old twins Ronald and Desi. Her plan is to feed the kids, put them to bed, and study until the Wilbanks come home. When Charlotte hears mysterious noises in the house and she’s unable to locate the twins, she learns that the house was the scene of a brutal murder/suicide and that the tragic (and misunderstood) past has remained behind and threatens everyone there. Isabella Star LaBlanc, a Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota actor, is the ideal choice to represent Indigenous teen Charlotte; her voice is both youthful and commanding, allowing listeners to relax and put their trust in her as a babysitter. Her voice exudes confidence as she continues to deal with all of the supernatural misfortunes thrown at her. While some listeners may think LaBlanc’s portrayal of Charlotte is too stoic, those who pay attention will notice how she adds emotions to reflect the danger other characters encounter. Using slightly but believably different voices for the other characters, LaBlanc aces the rhythm and writing style distinct to Stephen Graham Jones, giving it a naturally flowing quality. Encourage Jones' fans who may be disappointed in the lack of a print edition to listen to this audio-exclusive, even if they aren’t fans of audiobooks. They may come back for more!"

— Suzanne Temple