Listen free for 30 days

  • 14

  • By: Peter Clines
  • Narrated by: Ray Porter
  • Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (4,911 ratings)

Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
14 cover art

14

By: Peter Clines
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £22.89

Buy Now for £22.89

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Paradox Bound cover art
Ex-Heroes cover art
Roadkill cover art
The Very First Damned Thing cover art
Drive cover art
Outland cover art
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) cover art
The Broken Room cover art
Earthcore (Dramatized Adaptation) cover art
Dead Men Can't Complain and Other Stories cover art
So You Had to Build a Time Machine cover art
The Singularity Trap cover art
The Daily Grind: A Slice-of-Life LitRPG cover art
Agent to the Stars cover art
A Town Called Discovery cover art
The Warehouse cover art

Summary

Audie Award Nominee, Science Fiction, 2013

Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches.

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything....

Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches.

There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything....

©2012 Peter Clines and Permuted Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A riveting apocalyptic mystery in the style of LOST." (Craig DiLouie, author of The Infection and The Killing Floor)
"A wholly original story that weaves together mystery and the apocalypse like a finely tuned band." (Evan Roy, Bricks of the Dead)

What listeners love about 14

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,852
  • 4 Stars
    1,440
  • 3 Stars
    459
  • 2 Stars
    115
  • 1 Stars
    45
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,348
  • 4 Stars
    956
  • 3 Stars
    209
  • 2 Stars
    32
  • 1 Stars
    24
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,451
  • 4 Stars
    1,379
  • 3 Stars
    529
  • 2 Stars
    139
  • 1 Stars
    62

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A good one!

The blurb on this one didn't really appeal, so it was with hesitation that I bought it. So glad I took the plunge.

I can see why another reviewer may not have liked the last quarter of the story.....but on balance, it didn't detract sufficiently from the rest of the story to warrant a lower rating. This was a great listen. The quiet dread starts to build from the opening scene, and keeps building (intentional excessive use of "building"), despite the light-hearted tone of the characters. On balance, this is book is good entertainment.

It's not possible to say anything else about the plot without giving too much away. I knew it was sci-fi, but I had no inkling of what was coming for at least 3/4 of the book. It kept me listening into the small hours more than once.....so much for getting a good night's sleep courtesy of the building (not a spoiler of consequence!). Now I know why the editor's intro says what it does....but it doesn't really give much of a clue.

Narration was excellent.

Not surprising that Audible.com selected this as its best sci-fi novel of 2012 - just sorry I took so long to listen to it.



54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW FOR 14, by Peter Clines, read by Ray Porter

This book is one of my favourite books from Audible since I first got my iPad Mini 2 years ago. I am not sure why, it leans a little too much on the fantasy side of Sci-Fi. I  am not really into Lovecraft horror/monster type normally but 14 is written with such gritty, ordinary, day to day characters, so well developed that it is very believable. And extremely intriguing and very thrilling. 

It has a "Lost" kind of feeling. However, I don't mean that literally;  Lost became so drawn out and complicated that I got totally bored and lost interest in any of the increasingly unbelievable characters after the first season. This book kept my interest as the puzzles unfolded and the characters developed. 

Ray Porter, The guy who reads it, is wonderful, not too much accent or gender changes, and helps to give credence to the characters. 

So, when it started to go off into the horror side I was too hooked to let it really bother me. It all fits together well in the end and I have listened to it over and over. It is weird, I bought one of his other books immediately because I enjoyed 14 so much but, sadly I did not like it at all. 

But for me 14 remains up there with Solaris, which is a much deeper, more psychological story, (equally well read) and The Martian; which I don't think is as well written but also a really exciting, well read book.

53 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • P
  • 13-04-13

Un-expected pleasure.

I didn't know what to expect with this one, I got it because I really enjoyed clines other creations.



But I quickly fell in love with the whole story, you get to know each and every character and the twists are great.



It is hard to review without giving anything away, alls I can say is very enjoyable and really well narrated to the point where you can easily pick out each character by the narration.

36 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It's locked for a reason!!!!

It's been a while since I got totally immersed in an audiobook. This didn't really stand out to me, I only got it as it was in the sale, but I'm glad I did!

Nate works as a temp, going nowhere with no cash, so when cheap digs are offered he grabs them. Once he moves in, he starts to meet his neighbours and they soon realise that not one room in the whole building is structurally the same. Not only that, the building doesn't appear to be attached to the power grid and nobody's heard of the landlord.

I can't go into too much without spoiling it, but needless to say the atmosphere when they go past the basement and into room 14 is so tense you'll need to put the light on!

32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Mixed bag...

This was an odd one for me, I really enjoyed the first 8 hours of the story a lot but the last 4 hours not so much. That's not to say the last 4 hours are terrible or anything - its fine, but its almost like a different storyline somehow. Hard to explain without spoilers really, but for me the writer had the first part of the story done really well, and the latter part not so well - but it was an interesting story well told, just seemed to go a bit odd towards the end.

28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

This was brilliant - characterisation was wonderful, plot was brilliantly woven together with lots of nice pop culture references (loved the totally throwaway "bowties are cool"), and pace was such that I stayed up much too late to find out how it would end. Ray Porter's narration was also excellent, with clear delineation of the various voices and a great line in comic timing amid all the impending horror. Off to look for more things by Peter Clines/more narration by Ray Porter...

27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just, wow.

If you could sum up 14 in three words, what would they be?

Hilarious, entertaining madness.

What did you like best about this story?

It's impossible to put into words without giving massive spoilers, but the characters in this book have much more depth and realism about them than pretty much any other book I have ever read. I found myself sharing all their emotions, and rather than guessing the ending, was anxious to find out what they were leading to. This book is so well written, it's truly edge of your seat stuff.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Ray Porter's performance is fantastic. A couple of the accents may have been a little ropey, but he still managed to make them believable, even his women had the correct balance of strength and fragility that so many actors tend to get so wrong. His pace is perfect, and his acting highlights all the humor and / or tension that each scene requires. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of his narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could've lost a whole weekend to this book. I was due to take a coach journey when I was about a third of the way through it, and decided to listen to more of it rather than my music. On the way home again I was pretty tired, and thought I would continue with the book, maybe have a doze on my way home...no chance. By the time my journey ended I was LITERALLY on the edge of my seat. The girl next to me must have thought I was crazy with all the fidgeting I was doing as events unfolded in my ears. By the time I actually got home, the story had become so intense that I was glad my other half was back from work so I didn't have to sit in the house on my own while I listened to the end.

Any additional comments?

I've been chewing all my friends ears off (figuratively) to try and get them to listen to or read this book. If you give it a chance, I promise you will too. Pretty much jumped straight into my top five favourite books and gives Neil Gaiman a damn good run for his money.

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Solid first 3/4's...dissapointing finale.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Hmmm, not really. [Spoiler free] - Ive said that the finale is dissapointing, but this has little to do with the plot/story - which was fine, if a little derivative. The build up of quiet dread, and the slow unfolding of the mystery was a lot of fun. No, it was the character's response to the events towards the end that didn't sit well. Up to the final quarter of the book, Nate and chums responded plausibly to what was going on. However, their friendly banter, and muted reactions (to what was, a roller-coaster of terror and madness), seemed more in keeping with getting lost in the woods, and not being sure if you're going to make it home that night, rather than, what was, a prolonged waking nightmare.

Putting people in bizarre, and horrifying situations, and making their responses believable, is something that writers like, Stephen King or Richard Matheson, seem to make look easy. And its essential in stories like this. Peter Clines' difficulty just highlights how hard it is to actually achieve, and the difference between writing a book thats good, and writing one thats just alright.

The narration, although a little flat and stacatto at times (during the 3rd person narration, rather than when people were 'talking'), was quality. The characters were distinct and well portrayed.

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Oh I loved this book!

What did you like most about 14?

Fresh believable characters, incidental love interests that didn't detract from the story in any way! Unpredictable twists and turns, appealed to me (at 60) and my daughter (at 24) test of a good story. Different to my usual read but I'm really glad I took a chance and listened. Easy to follow without being boring, unusual concept but believable, even the weird bits!

What other book might you compare 14 to, and why?

Can't compare it to anything really, all new and very enjoyable!

Which character – as performed by Ray Porter – was your favourite?

Veek is very cool (not sure if that's how to spell it) she has a wicked sense of humour, Zeela is also pretty cool.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both - I found my jaw clenching in parts, shouted out loud in the car a few times, couldn't wait to get out of work to start listening again!

Any additional comments?

Buy it if you like a good story, fantasy, suspense and laughing!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

14

Nate moves into a new flat in a very strange apartment building. It seems that every apartment in the building is different and has something strange about it. There are the green cockroaches, the lift that has never worked, apartment 14 is padlocked, and many other strange oddities.

This was a wonderful book, with lots of twists and turns, and some fantastic ideas. And every time something new was revealed about the building I had a new theory about what was going on. I loved this book and will be looking for more books by Peter Clines.

Loved every minute of it.

Really great listen, highly recommended.

15 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Magpie
  • Magpie
  • 24-06-12

Super solid listen!!

I'm sure I can't say here anything that hasn't already been said, however I was so impressed, I felt like I had to. I also don't want to reveal anything, because the minimal knowledge I had before listening made the unfolding of the story so much more fun! This was such a solid listen on all fronts. The characters were engaging, the story interesting, the source of the mystery was terrific. By the time it had ended I wanted to hear more!
The absolute best thing, though, was the narrator. If there were some way I could give Ray Porter more than 5 stars, I'd give him an enthusiastic 10! His accents were credible, pronunciation:impeccable, and timing and flow: spot on! The thing I loved the most is that his interpretation never got in the way of the story he was telling. I've never found a narrator, aside from Jim Dale, I felt I would gush about - Ray Porter is gush-worthy!

569 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anthony
  • Anthony
  • 08-07-12

Sometimes it pays to read reviews!

This was another book purchased solely on reading reviews and I'm glad I did. Reading the story description alone I never would have used a credit on this book, strange goings on in an apartment complex just didn't "pop" for me but there were so many positive reviews I gave it a shot. The narrator is the same guy that reads the Joe Ledger series and I really like his voice and characters, he did it again on this book and even added an Indian accent. The "goings on" in the apartments was interesting enough but what happens toward the end of the book was very suspenseful and exciting and that's all I will say about the content.

This is one of those audiobooks that I really can't see how no less than 90% of listeners will enjoy and a sure bet that your credit won't go to waste.

396 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Edward
  • Edward
  • 26-06-12

Long Time Listener, First Time Reviewer

I've never read Clines before, but if the rest of his work is on par with 14, I think I will have read all of his work by the end of the month. I devoured 14. I missed a project deadline at work because of 14. I really want there to be a 15, 16, and 17, even though I am perfectly aware that would make no sense.

Bottom line? This was a fun book with a fantastic narrator. Nothing deep really, but it didn't need to be. It was perfect fantasy/horror genre pulp. The entire thing is destined to be a movie that will inevitably fall far short of the story Clines has written. For Clines' financial sake, I really hope that happens anyway. Keep up the good work Peter.

242 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jim "The Impatient"
  • Jim "The Impatient"
  • 20-06-13

Don't Get Killed By This Place

I won't he promised. Smart women are so damn sexy.

There has been a lot of ranting and raving about this book and the narrator Ray Porter.

The reason is because it is a great book. It starts out really good and you think it is a scary house book, but it is so much more. The book just gets better and better as it goes along. Toward the end of the first downloaded part, I was thinking they are about to solve, this, what are they going to do for the next six hours. Well, they did plenty.

I also like how well the author knows what it is like to be a working stiff. Most of these people are in this apartment because it is cheap and Cline seems to have some real experience on what it is like to live around the poverty level. He understands the dreams and struggles of the working man and woman. There is some good character development in this book.

Ray Porter is excellent.

Check this book out, you will like it.

240 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for FanB14
  • FanB14
  • 02-03-13

Sci-Fi Scooby and Friends

Mysterious apartment building with low rent in Los Angeles raises healthy curiousity for young tennants. Sharing freaky details about lights and green cockroaches, the gang and slowly comes together in the shape of the Mystery Bunch, complete with Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Velma investigating the oddities of their dwelling.

Each character was interesting and relatable with Nate as the reluctant leader trading barbs with Veek, the oober-intelligent hacker. The guys and nudie sunbather, Zela meet on the roof to watch sunsets and share a few frosty beverages. Found myself enjoying the eccentricities of the gang. Narrators did an excellent job for each voice. Fresh take on a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys caper, searching for answers leading them into an other worldly caper.

The mystery unravels into a science fiction (not psychological) thriller. Enjoy.

184 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kim Venatries
  • Kim Venatries
  • 27-06-12

Very Good Thriller

I downloaded this book thinking it would be a haunted house story. It's so much more. I hesitate to say more because I would not want to give away anything. I'll just say there is a mystery that you will not guess. Not in a million years. The story is part science fiction, part horror, part thriller. I definitely wanted to finish it in one sitting.

173 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Joyce
  • Joyce
  • 24-06-12

Surpassed expectations!!!

It is difficult to review this book without ruining the experience. I thought I knew where Clines was going, then BAM--he changed directions and utterly surprised me. I did not see where he was going with 14 and was questioning Audible placing it in the Sci-Fi category..I was sooo naive! I believe I can make some comparisons without giving the plot away:

It is part Stephen King and part Frank Peretti (I think I should stop there as you are probably completely baffled...as you should be! This is utterly unique!). 14 is bizarre and wonderful.

Ray Porter did a fantastic job. I put him in the same category as Scott Brick and Kate Reading (2 of my favorites). He gave each of the characters their own personality. The evil characters made my skin crawl and I cheered for the heroes.

Recommended, I just cant tell you why without spoiling it~

131 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for John
  • John
  • 29-06-17

Not smart sci-fi

Any additional comments?

As many of the reviews show, this book appeals to many readers. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. If you take the time to go through the many written reviews, you'll see that this book is very polarizing. Most readers either love it, or were disappointed. If you are a reader who accepts what's presented without question, regardless of its plausibility... then you'll probably really enjoy this story.
Ray Porter is a world-class narrator and Peter is a creative story teller, which gets things off to a very good start.Things start falling apart when the author needs to dig deep and intelligently pull all of the strange observations by Nate and his Scooby-do bunch; into a cohesive and compelling narrative.
Initially, we are treated to a complex historical plot-line that Nate and the bunch uncover piece-by-piece. But once the team finally unveil what's happening... the author chooses to venture into the simple and supernatural. Converting the storyline into a bad horror movie of monsters chasing likable characters who make bad decision after bad decision.

124 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Lindsay
  • Lindsay
  • 25-02-13

what the what???? spoiler alert...

What disappointed you about 14?

I thought that the ending could have been much better... I almost felt the the writer started writing this book with no clear vision as to where it was going to go, then got backed into a corner when he finally had to reveal what the building was all about, panicked, and created a totally contrived unbelievable ending. Not only was the ending poorly created, the character development of a key character was not flushed out properly, and it just seemed lazy on the part of the author. (It felt as though the author thought it was just easier to kill off said character instead of explain him) This book started out promising, but ended VERY poorly, I felt it was a waste of my time! So my advice is do not waste yours with this book!

112 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mel
  • Mel
  • 07-01-13

Cthulhu Cult - Cloverfield Sqwhale Eat Clines

Ray Porter is always good; he gets 4*; (I'm giving him an extra one just for finishing this reading.)

Leaping Lemmings!! I betrayed myself--I did not listen to reviewers I trust. Their friendly warning reviews faded to the end of an ever-growing ever-glowing list. I held out for 7 mos., but all those stars! stars! stars! I was glamoured. Good Gawwd...I would be one of those bloody furry lemming puddles at the bottom of a cliff. And deservedly so.

Read the Lovecraft *cosmic indifferentism* canon. Read his description of the Great Old Ones, Cthulhu, Yog Sothoth, Azathoth--the anthropomorphic beings (tentacled head, whale bodies, dragon wings, and ALL) that occupied the ancient dimensional universe. 14 started out kind of fun, but the piracy got so outrageous, the monotony so monotonous...the Scooby Doo shtuff, the Bradbury name and Tesla, *Sqwhales*, dragging in the descendants of Lovecraft..."I eat you, food for me..." *Ludicrous: So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing.*

96 people found this helpful

adbl_uk_web_target_buy_box_sale_test