Classic R.L. Stine. I liked the collection of stories and the variety. Made me very nostalgic for my childhood. Although I appreciate the short stories, I did feel some were a little rushed. There was a setup and then suddenly over. No time to be "scary." With that said, I think it's perfect for a young kid. Short and sweet and just enough suspense to not be too scary but leave them wanting more.
Great narration by all narrators.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for the arc.

This one didn’t really click with me. It was just okay, and I think I’ve probably outgrown this type of story. I’m not ruling out reading more from the author, but this one wasn’t for me.

My nephew is a huge Goosebumps fan, but we hadn’t come across the Stinetinglers series before. This installment includes three short stories, which I’m guessing is standard for the series. I listened to this with my nephew, and we both ended up really enjoying all of them. Here's how we rated each one:
-Comic book story: 4 stars from my nephew, 3 from me
-Pet shop story: 4 stars from both of us
-Substitute teacher story: 5 stars from both of us

Each story had just the right amount of spooky without crossing into anything too scary. Perfect for kids and, let’s be honest, easily startled adults. We’re definitely interested in checking out the first three books now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Stinetinglers 4 comes out August 26, 2025.

I loved this audiobook! I personally have always loved R. L Stine's work and grew up reading the Goosebumps collection so listening to this was so nostalgic. I know its very YA but I still felt the stories were interesting and amazing as an almost thirty year old, haha. Very fun audio book! Would highly recommend.

Stinetinglers 4 consists of 3 spooky novellas written by the master of (young) horror, R.L. Stine. Each story is entertaining and chilling without being overly frightening. My favorite story is about Tony, a comic book collector who ends up in a sticky situation. These atmospheric novellas have well-rounded character development and unique story premises, I recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense and mild scares!

I am so happy to report that I really liked the fourth Stinetinglers. The previous ones were simply not doing it for me. I was bored and worse annoyed by how stupid I felt while reading them. This one was a wholly different reading experience, partially because I listened to it entirely on audio. Also because these are three interconnected novellas. Stine does excel in long form fiction. My fave story was the second one where Jenna gets a job in a pet shop but things go horribly wrong. It reminded me the most of the OG Goosebumps and was a delight to read. I swear I didn't see that twist coming. The multiple narrators added an amazing touch, immensely elevating the reading experience. This is the truest for the last story, Mr. Howl, with all the sound effects and little things the narrators did to make it an immersive experience. Highly reccomend listening to this one on audio. The audiobook slaps.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC!
Stinetinglers 4 by R.L. Stine is a fantastic middle grade collection that strikes the perfect balance of fun and fright. As someone who grew up on Goosebumps, this brought me back to my early elementary days. This book is something I’d easily recommend to any parent of elementary or middle school kids who love spooky stories.
All the tales take place in the same town and school, and the overlapping characters give the book a fun “tv series” feel. Each story stands on its own but adds to the overall atmosphere. It’s like a kid-friendly horror anthology.
Whether your child is a confident reader or prefers listening, this audiobook was a treat—engaging and creepy in the best way. A great pick for classroom libraries, book fairs, or at-home reading time.

Steintinglers four by RL Stein, this is a great goosebumps type story for chapter readers and those ready to delve in to the spooky. From a boy who faces superhero characters and finds a new missing acquaintance name Caleb to a pet shop that is so much more and the boy who realizes his teacher is not your ordinary educator it’s all in the same universe and I found the stories adorable not too scary and perfect for those around nine or 10 years old I’m not gonna lie I really enjoyed the stories I found them imaginative I thought the narrators gave pretty good performances for a children’s audiobook and it really makes me wish things like this were around when I was young. A very appropriate and entertaining read. this would make a great gift for chapter readers and those who love the spooky. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #RLStine, #StineTinglers4,

Another fun, spooky installment of the Stinetinglers series.
This one was a little different than the others. The first 3 I think had one story per chapter (or at least a lot more stories - the first one had 10 separate stories). This one had only 3 longer stories. One of my main things for the first 3 was how short each story felt. I wanted more. So I was excited that this one focused on fewer, longer stories. Each story had interconnecting characters, or mentioned characters or places that were in the other ones.
Our first story is about Tony. He loves comics and is thinking about selling some of his collection. But there is something off about the comic book store and Tony might find himself discontinued. I liked the mystery surrounding this one. Tony met another comic book collector and they planned to meet up, but the next day, the shop owner said he never existed. Where Tony finds this guy is creative and fun.
The second story is about Kylie. Her parents are making her get a job for the summer. Her and one of her friends want to enter a photography contest, and Kylie thinks a job opening at the local pet store might give her a great picture. I think this one was my favorite. The owner told her not to go through a specific door, so of course the second he leaves, she does. What she finds turns into a very typical Stine story and it was really great.
The last story is about Teddy. New to school, he sees their new substitute teacher turn into a warewolf. He tries to tell his friends about it, but no one wants to hear it. This one left you wondering whether or not Teddy really saw Mr Howell turn into a warewolf or if it's his imagination or something. The ending was left open ended as a lot of Stine's books do which I love.
Though these stories didn't really have anything to do with one another, they went together nicely and it was easy to see them all take place in the same small town, especially when characters or places from the other stories are mentioned.
There were 3 audiobook narrators - one for each story. They were all great. They had pleasant voices and were pretty dramatic, which is perfect for a series like this.
I will continue to read any books in this series. They are so nostalgic and fun!

These short stories were perfect for anyone that loved goosebumps growing up! The characters and storyline were fun and entertaining. The narration was great too. ☺️

Thanks to the MacMillan audio and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

🎧 Stinetinglers 4: 3 Chilling Tales by the Master of Scary Stories
Author: R. L. Stine
Narrators: Johnny Heller, Katharine Chin, Torian Brackett
Genre: Middle Grade Horror | Themes: Fear, Identity, Consequences, Supernatural Intrusion

🕷️ A Trio of Terrors That Speaks Louder in the Dark

R. L. Stine’s Stinetinglers 4 is a compact yet potent dose of horror storytelling, tailored for younger audiences but laced with enough psychological tension to intrigue seasoned readers. These three tales—each distinct in premise but unified by a creeping sense of dread—are elevated by the audiobook’s trio of narrators, who bring texture, rhythm, and emotional shading to Stine’s signature style.

Stine knows his audience well, and in Stinetinglers 4, he plays with classic horror motifs—haunted objects, eerie transformations, and the uncanny lurking in the everyday. But what makes these stories compelling isn’t just the scares; it’s the moral undertones. Each tale carries a subtle cautionary thread, reminding listeners that choices have consequences, and that fear often masks deeper truths.

Rather than relying on gore or shock, Stine crafts suspense through pacing and atmosphere. His prose is deceptively simple, allowing the horror to seep in gradually. For readers who appreciate narrative economy and thematic clarity, these stories offer a masterclass in how less can be more.

🔊 Audiobook Performance: A Symphony of Unease

- Johnny Heller brings a gravelly warmth to his narration, perfect for stories that hinge on creeping dread. His timing is impeccable—pausing just long enough to let a sinister moment breathe, then plunging forward with urgency. He makes the listener feel like they’re being told a secret they shouldn’t hear.

- Katharine Chin adds a youthful energy and emotional nuance, especially effective in scenes where characters wrestle with fear or confusion. Her voice carries vulnerability without sacrificing strength, making her narration ideal for protagonists on the edge of discovery or danger.

- Torian Brackett delivers with a smooth, resonant tone that lends gravitas to the supernatural elements. His voice feels like it belongs to the shadows—calm, deliberate, and just a little too knowing. He’s the kind of narrator who makes you lean in, even when you’re not sure you want to know what happens next.

Together, the narrators create a dynamic listening experience that mirrors the emotional shifts of each tale. Their performances don’t just complement the text—they deepen it, turning simple scares into immersive psychological landscapes.

Fear as a Mirror

While aimed at younger audiences, Stinetinglers 4 doesn’t shy away from exploring fear as a reflection of identity, insecurity, and the unknown. Each story invites listeners to consider what scares them—and why. There’s a subtle philosophical undercurrent here: that horror isn’t just about monsters, but about the parts of ourselves we don’t understand.

This makes the collection ripe for analysis, especially for readers like you, J, who enjoy peeling back narrative layers to uncover emotional and societal resonance.

Stinetinglers 4 is more than a spooky snack—it’s a reminder of how storytelling, especially when paired with skilled narration, can evoke fear that lingers. R. L. Stine proves once again that he’s not just a master of scary stories, but a craftsman of emotional tension. And with Heller, Chin, and Brackett behind the mic, these tales don’t just whisper—they echo!

This was a fun trip down memory lane because I was such a fan of R.L. Stone when I was a kid. This was definitely giving Goosebumps vibes, and I am here for it. I liked the format of the three different novella length stories. This was a fun one for fans of the author and genre. I'm happy to see a new generation of Stone fans in the making.

The Goosebumps kid in me will always love anything that Stine writes. Stinetinglers 4 is no exception and I love that this time around he connects the stories and makes three novellas instead of short stories. Beware you're in a for a scare.

R.L. Stine was my first scary love—his books sparked both my obsession with horror and my passion for reading. Picking up Stinetinglers 4 as an adult brought that same eerie thrill I felt as a kid under the covers with a flashlight.

Each story delivers Stine’s signature mix of creepy twists and campy fun.

Whether you grew up with Goosebumps or Fear Street, or you’re just discovering his work, this is a treat. Short, spooky, and highly entertaining.

Review: Stinetinglers 4: 3 Chilling Tales by the Master of Scary Stories by R.L. Stine
Rating: 4.5/5

Listening to Stinetinglers 4 felt like stepping right back into my childhood. R.L. Stine continues to prove he’s the king of spooky stories for young readers, with three eerie, imaginative tales that strike a perfect balance between creepy and fun.

The audiobook format works wonderfully here, with excellent narration that brings each chilling moment to life. Having grown up with Goosebumps on every bookshelf, it’s a joy to see how Stine still knows exactly how to hook an audience. A perfect pick for young horror lovers or nostalgic fans like me.

(Advance Listening Copy (ALC) courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.)

A very nostalgic 4⭐!

I requested this ALC purely for the nostalgia and found myself thrown back into the same little tales of consequence I read 30 years ago, just with modern references: YouTube, Fortnite, Taylor Swift, AI and so on.

I hadn’t read the other Stinetinglers books, but I liked this setup. It’s a collection of three novellas (as opposed to the short story collections of the other volumes). They’re very minimally interconnected, mostly just standalones with a few nods. The format made it easy to fall into.

You know what you’re getting into here, so keep that in mind. If you’re judging it through an adult literary lens, and expecting horror that’s deep or terrifying, you’re definitely doing it wrong. I don’t want to tell anyone how to read, but these books are for kids, and I think kids would absolutely be amused and entertained by them.

🎧 AUDIO-SPECIFIC:
Each has its own narrator, and all three do a really great job. They’re animated, expressive, and portray the characters in a way that feels a bit larger-than-life, which is perfect for the tone and age group. It held my attention, despite my ADHD, and I'm certain the performances would engage younger listeners.

The first narrator especially stood out. He did a great job voicing both the kid protagonist and the gruff comic store owner—who was genuinely unsettling. The second narrator was also solid. While I thought she could have differentiated the voices between the two girls a little more, her general performance was a lot of fun and fit the tone well. The third narrator had a softer tone, but still brought the energy to the characters, with unique takes that I enjoyed.

Also worth noting: Stine himself narrates the author’s note and the chapter intros, and that was a cool little extra. His voice is super distinctive. I don’t think I’d enjoy a full book in his voice, but for that little bonus intro? It worked.

TL;DR - A solid read. Recommended for both spooky-story loving kids and the nostalgic 90s kids who raised them.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
When growing up, R.L. Stine and his Goosebumps series had all of us in a chokehold, and then the movies chief kisses. So when I say this, I just had to see if he still had it. And I have concluded he does! I like how this is three different novellas, but they all tie into one story with the same characters, with each of them being the main character.
Great for children of elementary and middle school age.

The audiobook is narrated by Johnny Heller, Katharine Chin, and Torian Brackett. They all did a good job giving the story depth; it was easy to listen to and also understand. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and MacmillanAudio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I started reading horror when I was young and I'm happy that there are so many wonderful thrillers still coming out for younger readers. This is a fantastic little collection, all of it taking place in one town, with just the right amount of chills and thrills. I loved the narration; this was very entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

I enjoyed reading the previous three books in this series. So, I was excited to see a new collection was coming out. Stine changed it up with this collection and wrote three novellas all set in the same small town, Hollow Hills! Each novella is narrated by a person. All three did a great job bringing the stories to life! All three stories are fun, spooky, and engaging, but I especially enjoyed the third story. Teddy and his substitute teacher, Mr. Howell felt very relatable!

Overall, a great collection of novellas! I think young and old readers alike will really enjoy these spooky novellas!

I want to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Stinetinglers 4: 3 Chilling Tales by the Master of Scary Stories.

Listening to the R. L. Stine audiobook brought back many childhood memories. There was a different narrator for each of the books in this set. The narrators brought the stories to life. My favorite was Guess What? I’m a Monster narrated by Katharine Chin. The superhero comic story The Day I Was Discontinued narrated by Johny Heller is a topic that I think most young people will enjoy, and Mr. Howell narrated by Torian Brackett was another fun and spooky story most middle schoolers probably think about occasionally when they get that bizarre substitute teacher. The book was only about three hours long. I loved how each story had the same setting in the small town of Hollow Hills and characters were connected too. This brought a sense of familiarity and connectivity to the short stories.

Stine's writing style is the same as I remember from my Goosebump days and remains a master of scary stories for children and young adults. This book will be recommended to my younger patrons!