Decent short story, but a short story all the same, where the ending is of zero surprise to the reader a long time before it is to the characters. A young man is interviewed by a pair of cops, because he seems to have escaped a mass killing not once, but twice. Is that prior knowledge, foresight, luck – or devilish planning – or a combination of them? Three and a half stars.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories, Joe Hill and NetGalley. How could i pass this up - Joe Hill + super short novella + amazing cover = you had me! This sounded pretty interesting as well and is worth the short amount of time it takes to read.

I found the first part of the story a bit flat, just building in anticipation of what is to come. The story gets going in the last scene and wraps up pretty quickly. Not much else to say. It wasn't mind-blowing, but still fun.

Ushers follows Martin Lorensen, a young man who has somehow survived two deadly disasters, as he's questioned by federal agents about his impossible luck. Through their interviews, Martin reveals a dark secret about death and those who guide us to it. While Hill's story treads familiar supernatural territory, he handles the subject with both humor and gravity, creating something that feels both eerie and oddly comforting in its meditation on mortality.

This was a pretty good horror short story! I went into this blind, and I'm glad I did, otherwise I feel like it would be easy to spoil. I do wish this was a full length novel though!

I really enjoyed this story and loved it even more the second time that I read it. It is a unique take on the idea of the Grim Reaper. A super quick read.

This was a fun ride. As per usual Joe Hill’s writing is captivating. I’ve seen a couple reviews saying they wished this was longer and politely- no.
It was far too predictable to be longer. It was perfect in the short form although I’m still not really sure about the confusing religious undertones 🤔 I’ll need to sit with it more but basically we are following a cop investigating a man who has managed to ‘Final Destination’ himself out of a bunch of large scale tragedies.

A testament to Joe’s skill in packing a ton of punch into a short story, Whispers is an engaging tale of two detectives getting to the bottom of how one individual has dodged disaster twice in his life.

One can argue that the story is predictable, a you-can-see-it-a-mile-away type yarn offering the usual beats. But you would be wrong! Seriously, the interaction between detective Duvall and suspect Martin is very fresh and stays throughout, and the ending, no matter how far ahead you see it coming, is a satisfying twist that further cements Joe’s status as a top author. Excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. A solid short story. Pretty prose with memorable quotes. A great little story but nothing that will probably stick with me for a long time. Has an eerie feeling but not my favorite Hill story out of the ones I’ve read. Not too much to say about this one due to how short it is. I do think it was perfect length for the story that it was. Predictable but fun ending.

Published by Amazon Original Stories on November 1, 2024

“Ushers” is a short story that Amazon is marketing to Kindle users. Non-Kindle readers might find it in an anthology at some point. With its supernatural focus, the story might fit broadly into the horror genre, although by that standard, the same might be said of the Bible. Unlike horror fiction of the slasher/monster variety, the story sends a message about life rather than encouraging readers to be frightened of death.

Martin Lorenson doesn’t see dead people, but his parents ran a hospice so he has seen many people die. Just before they die, he sees something else. The clue to what he sees is in the story’s title.

Marin has been fortunate to avoid his own death. In high school, he was home with diarrhea when a school shooter killed his classmates. At least, that’s the story he tells.

As the story begins, two police detectives want to know why Martin purchased a ticket for a passenger train that he didn’t board. The train derailed and killed a bunch of people. The detectives (Duvall and Oates, not to be confused with the 1970s singing duo who gained fame by performing insipid music) think Martin’s avoidance of death is suspicious, so they interview him.

Although the story is too short to permit much character development, Duvall is more interesting than your average fictional police detective. He has an adult daughter who, in the age of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, feels conflicted about being a Black woman whose father works in law enforcement. Duvall’s position is that cops can’t all be white or the nation would descend into apartheid. God knows there are Americans who would welcome that outcome.

Anyway, how is Martin so lucky that he twice avoided catastrophe? Joe Hill channels the creepy gene that he must have inherited from his father to provide an explanation that will appeal to fans of the supernatural.

The story’s ending has an unexpected twist, although its message — appreciate being alive while you still can — is far from original. As a short story (and this one is shorter than most of those in the Amazon Original Stories series), the story’s focus is tight, but Hill balances its focus on death with moments of humor and a message suggesting that something better awaits us on the other side. Religious readers (or those who believe in an afterlife for nonreligious reasons) might find the story comforting. I found it entertaining.

RECOMMENDED

This was an incredibly written short story written by the prince of horror. I loved the concept and genre bending style which at first seems to be a police procedural that begins to transform into something reminiscent of Final Destination meets City of Angels. A young man who has skirted disaster twice in his young life catches the eye of detectives working on a case of a train running off the rails and killing 28 people. When a woman comes forward stating that this young man told her not to board the train, the detectives hone in on him, trying to find a connection. Told in the format of police interviews, one formal and the second not so much, the pages practically turned themselves until the end which wasn’t so much of a surprise or a twist as I would have liked but was nevertheless satisfying. It is quite short at maybe 25 pages, but surprisingly works for this length. I would possibly like to see this theme explored in a novel form though later on down the line. It also gives off a lot of Doctor Sleep vibes which were fun to find running throughout and as that novel was my favorite read of 2024, certainly rewarded it some brownie points. All in all a wonderful shortie that packed a satisfying flavor punch that I wouldn’t mind revisiting.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. If you’re a fan of Joe Hill, you will definitely enjoy this book. I absolutely recommend this book to others!

Great short story that sent chills. The writing and pacing was just perfect. (And a Wings of Desire reference, a favourite movie of mine!)

Great premise, great writing, great world-building. I really enjoyed this, but I would have loved to read more from this world.

This would be such an amazing collaboration between Joe Hill and Stephen King if they wrote more about the protagonist, I'd love to see more of him.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a super short novella, about two detectives interviewing a suspect after a train derailment. This is a quick read, if you are looking for something that will get you hooked from line one and leave you wanting more .

I would love a full novel about this story!!

Great story! Go in blind and enjoy yourself. It’s impossible to say anything that won’t spoil the story and it’s so worth a read. Joe Hill does a phenomenal job in 30 pages of sending the message, live life and enjoy it. Best summary: be a mammal.

Who doesn't love Joe Hill? Ushers was just as amazing as his other longer stories! Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review!

I have a love hate relationship with short stories. Either nothing really happens OR the story ends too quickly leaving me wanting more. Ushers was perfect. I felt totally satisfied and melancholy and in wonder at the end. I could perfectly envision the "Ushers" and found the detectives and Martin to be believable characters. I think the purpose of short stories is to leave the reader with a specific feeling. That's kind of all there is room to do, and this story did just that. The last line was perfect. 5 stars!

Great short story! Very suspenseful and good twist for being 26 pages!! I loved this read, great for when you want something short and sweet and so creepy!!

That was a perfect little short story. Joe Hill consistently proves again and again that he has cemented a place in modern horror. Martin is an awesome dude and I loved the cyclical nature of the story. The supernatural entities in the story were well done and very creepy. While I love a good short story, I can’t wait for Hll’s next novel. This was dope.

Great short story by Joe Hill that I devoured in one sitting. I'm hoping it's a teaser for a collection to come! Very "Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz, but I'm not mad about that AT ALL. Loved how creepy the "Ushers" were described to be. Yes to this!