Audible: It was a really close call this year, but after much spirited debate among our editors, the top prize goes to Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep, narrated by Will Patton. King’s own son, Joe Hill, gave dear old dad a run for his money with his standout NOS4A2, narrated by the incomparable Kate Mulgrew, who, along with Patton, was part of the cast of The Son, another top contender. Throw in Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance of The Great Gatsby and Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart ““ voted by our listeners as their favorite of the year ““ and you can see why it was tough to pick just one winner. But King’s return to the territory of The Shining proves that the master just keeps getting better and better. And Patton, who flawlessly captures the disturbingly haunting voices of King’s imagination, is our Narrator of the Year.
For more of the Best of 2013, click on each category listing below to see the winners and runners-up, and explore the top picks from some of your favorite authors, narrators, and celebrities.