This is the third gripping tale in the four-part audio series from Stephen King's best-selling book Four Past Midnight. Set in Junction City, Iowa...
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reviews
Mar 17, 2011
Melissa
rated it: 
The Library Policeman is my least favourite of the Four Past Midnight collection so far. It focuses on a small-town businessman, Sam Peebles, who loses his library books and discovers there may be a steep other-worldly fine to pay.
The novella's lack of originality made it feel like an amalgam of dozens of ghost stories I've read before. It didn't particularly annoy me as I listened to it (though the spooky music which tried to make innocuous dialogue like "The library..." More...
The novella's lack of originality made it feel like an amalgam of dozens of ghost stories I've read before. It didn't particularly annoy me as I listened to it (though the spooky music which tried to make innocuous dialogue like "The library..." More...
Feb 11, 2012
Donald
rated it: 
I read and listened to this one again because Lilja of Lilja's Library fame is holding a writing contest to come up with who Marv was before he was the Library Policeman. I have some ideas for that and we'll see how that goes, but this story hit me differently than it did the first time. King's stuff does that.
As much as Lilja wants to know who Marv was (and who came up with the name Marv, by the way?), I'd like to know this: who the hell is Ardelia Lortz? Better yet: what the hell i More...
As much as Lilja wants to know who Marv was (and who came up with the name Marv, by the way?), I'd like to know this: who the hell is Ardelia Lortz? Better yet: what the hell i More...
Aug 27, 2011
Emily
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 20, 2011
Chris
rated it: 
I really enjoyed this book. How can you not like a book about a psycho librarian who sends the Library Police out to get you if you don’t return your books on time? I have slowly been making my way through the books that are part of the Four Past Midnight series and this is the third story. All of them have had there own type of twist to them and that is what keeps them interesting.
In this book Sam is asked to write a speech for the Rotary club and it is suggested that he get some b More...
In this book Sam is asked to write a speech for the Rotary club and it is suggested that he get some b More...
Dec 29, 2010
Sean
rated it:
http://dev.ttys0.net/2010/12/library-pol...
For most people the library is a place of quiet solitude whose greatest offense might be that of ennui. Leave it to Stephen King to turn it into a place of intense fear and dread, tucked neatly into the Four Past Midnight collection of novellas. The major themes will be familiar to King fans; suppressed childhood fears revisited upon the adult, warped realities and allusions to other King archetypes. I’m usually not a fan of novella collection More...
For most people the library is a place of quiet solitude whose greatest offense might be that of ennui. Leave it to Stephen King to turn it into a place of intense fear and dread, tucked neatly into the Four Past Midnight collection of novellas. The major themes will be familiar to King fans; suppressed childhood fears revisited upon the adult, warped realities and allusions to other King archetypes. I’m usually not a fan of novella collection More...
Oct 04, 2008
Rose
rated it:
I had two thoughts while reading this book:
One was that I had just finished an article by John Mark Eberhart, who wrote, "... all I can say is bravo to Mr. King. You keep finding new ways to entertain us, and yes, to make us think about how the world continues to abide such cruelties, for some horrible, inane reason, and about the truly frightening aspects of aging, of losing friends and loved ones to death and, inevitably, contemplating the undeniable truth of our own eventual More...
One was that I had just finished an article by John Mark Eberhart, who wrote, "... all I can say is bravo to Mr. King. You keep finding new ways to entertain us, and yes, to make us think about how the world continues to abide such cruelties, for some horrible, inane reason, and about the truly frightening aspects of aging, of losing friends and loved ones to death and, inevitably, contemplating the undeniable truth of our own eventual More...
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Jun 21, 2007
Sarah
rated it: 
Four Past Midnight contains four novellas by Stephen King. For the purpose of my book count, I'm counting each novella as a separate "book" and I'll be posting a separate review for each one.
"The Library Policeman" is the third novella. Librarians are evil. Libraries are too dark and too quiet. Overdue book fines are inherently scary. What Sam doesn't realize is just how bad things can get if he loses a pair of books.
The story of the evil she-devil lib More...
"The Library Policeman" is the third novella. Librarians are evil. Libraries are too dark and too quiet. Overdue book fines are inherently scary. What Sam doesn't realize is just how bad things can get if he loses a pair of books.
The story of the evil she-devil lib More...
Jan 25, 2009
Jared
rated it:
A novella by Steven King. Well written and an entertaining read, I'm only giving it 3 stars because it was just that: an entertaining read, but with no real lasting impression. A guy borrows some books from the library to help him with writing a speech and then forgets to return them. Because of this, the library policeman comes calling and the librarian turns out to be a work of pure evil. It was fun, but largely forgettable.
Sep 05, 2008
Shrina
rated it:
Okay. I guess the lesson with Stephen King is "keep on reading" or listening in this case.
Finally a good plot (albeit a predictable one). Well, predictable if you've read a couple of King books.
This book is less frustrating than the second in the series, Secret Window, Secret Garden. The flow of story is more logical because the narrator isn't crazy. I'm discovering I don't like the narration of a crazy man because more than not, the narrator sounds dumb i More...
Finally a good plot (albeit a predictable one). Well, predictable if you've read a couple of King books.
This book is less frustrating than the second in the series, Secret Window, Secret Garden. The flow of story is more logical because the narrator isn't crazy. I'm discovering I don't like the narration of a crazy man because more than not, the narrator sounds dumb i More...
Jan 18, 2009
TQM
rated it:
I’m surprised that this book was as good as it was. It was originally published as part of a collection of “short” short stories even though this story was not all that short. There are a few graphic scenes when the protagonist remembers his past, but otherwise, this is a true Stephen King book in the tradition of that ol’ clown in the sewer yarn.
Aug 05, 2011
Geenyas
rated it: 
Stupid, and poorly written, even for a Stephen King book. I picked up the audio version at the library because it was the only available audio that looked even half interesting. Either I had completely forgotten how annoyingly bad King's writing is, or this is one of his shockingly lesser efforts. You decide.
Dec 18, 2009
Robert
rated it:
This was an extremely dark and disturbing tale, and I don't think I will ever be able to read it again, but it was a great story overall. Intense and chilling.
Sep 28, 2010
Gail (myJunegirls)
rated it:
Love, love, love this story. It is sick, twisted, and horrifyingly real at times. Whenever I think of this whole book- Four Past Midnight- this is the first story to always pop in my head.
Oct 02, 2009
Sherry
rated it:
This and the The mist are my favorite "novella's" from Stephen King. When he is on top of his game, nobody writes horror better.
Dec 24, 2009
Linda
rated it:
Freaky, demon librarians. Don't think I'll ever see libraries in the same light. Great story.
Dec 22, 2011
Mohamed
rated it:
أعجبت بالفكرة جدا وكانت ممتعة في البداية وبعدين لما دخل بقى في جو المسخ والشئ اللزج اللي ورا ودنها ...انا مش بحب رعب المسوخ والارواح والكلام ده .. عامة الرواية مش مرعبة بس مسلية
Oct 28, 2010
Bettie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 17, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Classic King novella that starts innocently enough but grows increasingly creepy and horrific. The man's imagination knows no boundaries.
Aug 17, 2008
Cher
rated it:
This is a story about a boy who gets raped at a public library. King does such a good job of describing the feelings of the boy during and afterward, I must give him credit for thorough research or bravery in facing one's own demons. Is this horrible? Yes. Is it well written? Yes. But the depressing ickyness of this novella is too overwhelming to actually "enjoy" reading it. I read horror for escapism!
Apr 26, 2011
I may go back to this later. Although it wasn't a bad book, there are other books that I'm really wanting to read/listen to more at this time. Plus, I think I read this years ago since the story seems so familiar to me.
Jan 25, 2008
Patrick
rated it:
I listened to this on tape freshman year of high school in my room learning how to paint. Ardelia Lortz is the scariest female villain this side of Alma Mobley. A man's current overdue book reminds him of a really bad experience with the library police as a kid, and it's about to become a severely unpleasant case of deja vu.
Jul 23, 2011
Mr.
rated it:
Definitely the scariest and most disturbing book I have ever listened to (or read) by Stephen King! So gripping and suspenseful you might want to keep the lights on. I highly recommend the audio book version narrated by actor Ken Howard, who gives a flawless presentation!
Oct 30, 2007
Chiny
rated it:
this is so awesome! who ever taught that Stephen King could actually come up with a library policeman, a guy who punishes children who forgets to return their books on time! kinda weird though, but once again, i am so amazed at stephen king's great imagination!
Apr 21, 2008
Thomas
rated it:
I'd like to have seen the look on Stephen King's editor's face when he read the titular story. There's dark, and then there's the recesses of this man's head. Yikes. Anyway, not worth reading, but then I don't like to read, so.
Dec 13, 2009
I have this in 'Four Past Midnight' however i haven't gotten to read it as yet, Hope I will soon.
Feb 11, 2012
