Short but a great lively read. I really enjoyed it and the style of writing.. Hall and Oates will never be the same!!

Maybe you'll like this one more if you've never seen Final Destination. But basically, it's that. Death is seen coming by one person, and they realized they can't stop it.

Ushers by Joe Hill was a very short story, but it was really impactful in its miniscule length. It was a very creepy story that was easy to imagine yourself in the circumstance of the lead character. I read this story in about 20 minutes and wanted to stare at a wall for a few minutes after just to process what I had just read. This story would be good for all lovers of Joe Hill, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, etc. It had a very classic feel. Really enjoyed it.

Ushers is a delicious short story, the perfect palate-cleanser in between thick books, especially if you enjoy a little bit of spookiness in your reads. A bit predictable, especially because of the cover, but still a lot of fun.

* I'd like to thank Joe Hill and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#Ushers #NetGalley

Great quick read that has a bit of spook to it.

I was given an eARC by the publisher through Netgalley.

Ushers is a short story by Joe Hill. It's 29 pages of entertainment. The story starts off with a young man being questioned by Federal Agents because he has managed to escape not one but two death disasters. The story unfolds and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Expect to be pulled into the story and left wanting more! Hill, excels at short stories. He manages to develop characters, storylines and transport a reader into his world with finesse and intrigue.

Very interesting premise and an above average payoff, especially for such a short novella. The characters managed to feel distinct and memorable, and the author was successful at creating a growing sense of dread throughout the story. Knocked off a star because of the predictability of the ending (though the “how” was painful!).

Highly recommend! Will look into his other works.

Joe Hill is a master storyteller and Ushers is a perfect example of that. A short read to begin with, but I plowed through the pages at lightning speed. I was moved by Martin’s tale as Hill covered death coming for everyone in a brilliant new manor; are you lucky or are you cursed?

CREEPY AS HECK. And such an inventive premise! This gave me literal chills. This was my first foray into Hill’s writing, but I will be devouring all of his books now.

This short story from Joe Hill asks the question: what happens immediately before and after we die? One young man, Martin Lorensen, knows the answer and has evaded death not once, but twice, much to the interest of two federal agents. The agents' interview with Martin, however, only introduces additional questions. I don't want to give anything away, so I highly recommend reading this yourself, preferably in one sitting late at night, alone in the dark.

I didn't read many great books last year - only a few shone out. This short story by an author I've never read before is a gem, and was a great way to bring in the new year. I rarely read horror, but can take some "light" horror (which is how I might categorize this short story). To be sure it has a creepy atmosphere, and at the very end some mystery clears up in a delicious "horror" twist.

Two federal agents are "interviewing" Martin Lorensen a recent college graduate whom they appear to suspect of being connected to a string of suspicious "accidents" - school shooting, train wreck, and others resulting in the deaths of multiple victims.

A chill will forever run up my spine, if anyone even tries to whisper in my ear!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a copy of this story for my honest review. I honestly loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a chilling short novella. This was creepy and morbid and yet I enjoyed this reading experience. This gave me some chills while reading and I almost wish this concept could have been a full length novel.

✨ Joe Hill’s talent for crafting haunting, eerie tales shines once again in Ushers, a gripping novella that leaves a lasting impression despite its brevity. Hill masterfully weaves a story that is equal parts spooky and thought-provoking, with his trademark ability to unsettle and intrigue.

✨ The story centers on Martin, a man with an uncanny connection to near-death experiences. He survives a school shooting and narrowly avoids boarding a doomed train—events that attract the attention of federal agents. The novella unfolds through two interview transcripts, during which Martin reveals how he knew those tragedies were imminent.

✨While the novella's format and short length (under 30 pages) add a sense of urgency and intimacy, they may also leave readers craving more. Hill hints at a vast and eerie mythology surrounding the Ushers but doesn’t fully explore it, which may frustrate those eager for a deeper dive into this world.

✨As someone who has personally experienced a near-death moment, I found this story particularly compelling. It captured my imagination and resonated deeply, though I couldn’t help but wish for more time in Martin’s world to uncover the secrets Hill has only begun to hint at.

✨ If you enjoy tightly woven horror novellas that blend suspense, the supernatural, and a touch of existential dread, Ushers is well worth your time.

Even in a few pages, Joe Hill manages to pull the reader into a new possibility. What we encounter at the moment of death is not what we have been led to believe. He seemingly obtained this ability? second sight? to see the "Ushers" during childhood, but why we may never know. But trying to outsmart fate has deadly consequences and Martin learns this the hard way.

Despite this, Martin maintains a facade of optimism, which is refreshing, despite the emotional and psychological burden. Even in a few pages, Martin seems genuine and sympathetic - well, as much as he can be. Knowing what he is capable of though, I hesitate to call him helpless. However, he doesn't have that smarmy self-confidence that typically comes with a "super-powered" young man. As for Detective Duvall, a lesser writer would've written him as bullish, impatient or dismissive. He is certainly skeptical, but he shows signs of concern for Martin's well-being and that of his colleague; hot-headed Detective Oates.

I do wish the last couple of pages had been left out, ending with only Martin's sad smile. It would've a bit of mystery for the reader, something to leave them wanting more. That being said, I hope this one is greenlit for a mini-series because it certainly has a dark and thrilling premise. It's a great short story and worth checking out, it's free on Prime!

Thank you Net Galley and Joe Hill
I highly enjoyed this little psychological thriller. The opening scenes of two Federal Agents questioning a young man about how he has amazingly escaped death from not one but two disasters catch your attention immediately.

Enjoy reading

Ushers: A Short Story by Joe Hill; 5 stars

I love short stories and novellas. I think they have a very unique formatting that is fast paced, by nature, and forced to be intriguing from the get go. Ushers by Joe Hill, provided to me by NetGalley, hooked me from the beginning.

I think this is a very interesting concept. It didn’t feel like a supernatural vibe until the end of the second interview, adding a new invigoration of interest more than halfway through. Ushers had a very distinct beginning, middle and end following a very distinct series of events while allowing us to feel connected to all three of the characters. I was happy to say that, I didn’t see the ending coming until it was expertly laid out for us, and I was sad about it! I had only known these characters for thirty pages but I was already rooting for them.

“Mr. Duvall, you think there’s something suspicious about me because I wasn’t shot in a school shooting and I didn’t die in a train crash.” (pg. 10)

I can be very picky with short stories. I need them to be quick, entertaining, feel as though they could have gone on for much longer but didn’t necessarily have to, and Ushers had all of that for me. I found this to be masterfully well done and I am very happy I had the opportunity to read it.

“Most of them just kind of quietly… went. Like someone blowing on a dandelion clock, gentle as that. You do get used to it. You find out it’s the most normal thing in the world, like sex, or having a baby, or nursing a baby. It’s one of these fundamental human things, reminds you you’re part of nature. We forget that, you know.” (pg. 7)

Short and impactful— my only regret is that I wish it had been longer! So, so good! The imagery and character development were fantastic!

Went into this short story not really knowing what to expect other than a fantastic author and amazing cover! I feel like I can't say too much without giving it away...it's a short story afterall. But how does Martin keep escaping death? Like Final Destination type deaths? Quick and awesome read to find out!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Although a short read, this book packs a lot into it. It's well written and suspenseful and surprisingly complete, despite being less than 100 pages. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quick "suspense" read.

This short story from Joe Hill is basically Death Note without the notebook. Martin inexplicably survives two major disasters. When detectives become suspicious of Martin’s unusual survival they aren’t prepared to hear the story he has to tell.

I really enjoyed this creepy short story. It has a lot of intrigue and it makes you curious to want to understand what’s really going on. When the answer comes it makes you feel even more satisfied by the wild ride that it takes you on.

Reading this you can tell just how much experience Joe Hill has in writing good horror. It made sense as a short story and I enjoyed every minute of it.