ðə nˈɑːvəl tˈɛlz ðə stˈoːɹi ʌv nˈoːɹmən bˈeɪts, ɐ kˈɛɹɾeɪkɚɹ æɾ ɐn ˈaɪsəlˌeɪɾᵻd moʊtˈɛl hˌuː stɹˈʌɡəlz ˌʌndɚ hɪz dˌɑːmɪnˈɪɹɪŋ mˈʌðɚ ænd bɪkˌʌmz ɛmbɹˈɔɪld ɪn ɐ sˈɪɹiz ʌv mˈɜːdɚz.
The novel tells the story of Norman Bates, a caretaker at an isolated motel who struggles under his domineering mother and becomes embroiled in a series of murders.