This is a traditional story about good and evil and being careful what you wish for. I liked it, but it didn't knock my socks off or anything.

*Audiobook from publisher

(4.5 Stars)

Thanks to #NetGalley for making this audiobook available for reading and reviewing.

This story was really good, more psychological thriller than horror. It is a very short story, but it doesn't lack for anything. There is superb character building, a familiar world, and a compelling plot.

This is the first story I've read by Owen King, but it surely will not be the last.

Owen King’s ‘Letter Slot’ is a clever and unsettling psychological horror story that lingers in the mind long after it ends. As part of The Shivers collection, it perfectly balances eerie tension with thought-provoking moral dilemmas, making it an engaging read (or, in my case, listen).

The premise is simple yet chilling: a boy sends a letter through a disused letter slot and unexpectedly receives a response. From there, the story unfolds in a way that is both slow-burning and deeply unsettling. The creeping dread builds beautifully, and while it never leans into outright terror or graphic horror, its psychological weight makes it just as haunting. I particularly enjoyed how King explores the consequences of a seemingly small action — especially the ethical twist surrounding naming someone you hate for a bit of luck.

The writing itself is strong, with well-developed characters and a steady pace that allows the tension to simmer, and the gradual buildup makes the ending all the more impactful. The narration by Grover Gardner was also excellent, adding an extra layer of atmosphere to the experience.

This was my first time reading Owen King, and I was impressed. , ‘Letter Slot’ was an engaging and eerie read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys psychological horror with a moral twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the alc.

Ok, in true King fashion (all of the Kings), this story was a bit supernatural and all a mind f... Imagine a letter slot that said you can gain luck if you tell them someone you hate. You get what you need (money, etc.) and in return, someone has tragedy befall them. It was the ending for me that blew my mind! I am not surprised given the author. This had to be one of my favorite stories in the Shivers collection!

What would you do for a little good luck?

In Letter Slot, Owen King crafts a chillingly surreal tale that feels like a quiet whisper at the back of your mind—one that grows louder with every page. The premise is deceptively simple, yet unbearably heavy: "I'll give you a bit of good luck, and in exchange, you give me a piece of paper with the name of the person in this world that you hate the most..."

Whose name would you write?

Blake, our reluctant protagonist, finds himself caught in a quiet storm of desperation and temptation, staring down that very choice. The mysterious letter slot isn’t just some urban legend—it’s an offer. A transaction. And the cost?

As Blake’s life begins to unravel in quiet, unsettling ways, he realizes this isn’t just about luck or hate. It's about consequence. About the seductive lure of an easy fix—and the impossible weight of living with the choices you make.

I don't know what I expected from a collection called The Shivers, but this story didn't quite hit the spot. I don't think it does cause shivers, its not scary, but then it's not the sort of story that's trying to be. It's trying to make you think.
I think it's a decent version of what it is, but I think I'd have liked it as a novella, with a little more room to be fully fleshed out. This felt a bit too brief to fully deliver.
I do enjoy Owen King's writing though, and I for sure will read more of his stories, even the short ones. This one did nothing wrong it just wasn't spectacular.

Owen King’s Letter Slot is part of The Shivers, a collection of haunting stories that reveal the otherworldly terrors all around us.
I really enjoyed Letter Slot, it is creepy enough to keep you alerted but not scary or graphic at all, which is perfect if you're like me and decide to start new audiobooks in the middle of the night. Grover Gardner did a great job at narrating this story, I'm intrigued to read more by Owen (I am already a big fan of his dad and brother).

* I'd like to thank Owen King, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Letter Slot is the fifth of five short stories in The Shivers collection releasing on April 15, 2025. What I like about these collections is that I can choose just one or read them all. I believe each one will be approximately 2.00 on Audible. Since my TBR at the moment is piled high, I chose only this one because it seemed most interesting to me and it’s been a long time since I’ve read this author.

Now for the story. It’s a prime example of “be careful what you wish for.” It’s about as perfect as a short story can be. The characters are well developed and the plot is intriguing. Grover Gardner is great as the narrator. The twist at the end is terrific! In the short story genre, this one is an easy five star.

This is a perfect example of the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Shiver me timbers, this was a fantastic short story! Owen King nailed this one and creeped me out. I believe everything free in life has consequences, leading to future backlash. The ending I didn't really see coming, and it gave me complete chills… The narrator did an amazing job and he pulls you straight into the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my audio ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Owen King for the chance to listen to this ALC!

. Owen King done an amazing job writing this and Grover Gardner done a great job narrating.

I found the story more psychologically creepy, rather than scary, with a realistic feel to it. A good quick read that will have you guessing how it’s going to end and maybe wondering what you would do if you were in the same situation.

Owen King was able to pull me in and keep my attention with his writing style. Despite being such a quick read the story had a good plot and the characters had depth. You really got a feel for them and the story in a short amount of time.

The narration by Grover Gardner fit the characters well and I was able to stay engaged the entire story.

If you’re looking for a good, scary-ish, short story… I was able to listen to this one in less than an hour and I enjoyed it.

Super excited for this collection!!! Letter Slot was eerie and quite creepy. I love these short reads/listens because they’re short, but SO creepy. I can’t wait to read the rest!

I enjoyed this quick read from Owen King. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the stories that will be included in this anthology. I'm also looking forward to seeking out more from this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this hour long story written by Owen King, and I also thought the narration was well done.

This story reminded me of one I read a long while back, and while the stories and the endings were vastly different, the premise was quite similar, trade good luck for yourself for the bad luck of someone you don't like.

You can get a summary of the story somewhere else, but I will tell you that the characters are endearing and that the modern setting was well developed for such a short piece. I've always loved that about Owen King. I feel that he writes characters and settings very well from what I've read of him, where I can clearly see the story in my mind.

To be honest, when I think about being in the same scenario of this story, I still wonder what I would do. I think this is what makes stories like this so entertaining and also has people growing morally, because they begin to question things for themselves.

I read this audiobook while doing chores and though I was interrupted (I have teen boys, many!) the story was entertaining enough to keep me engrossed to where I didn't have to go back and re-listen too much. IYKYK

I would definitely recommend this book to just about anyone with a spare hour because it's entertaining and thought provoking.

I think that I would have enjoyed this story more had I not read The Monkey by Stephen King first. This felt like a better version of that but because I already knew the story line some of the intrigue was lost on me.The twist at the end was great though.

I recommend this story if you’re looking for a quick read that will make you question things like morality and fate.

A fun, quick, and creepy read from Owen King that is part of a collection of short suspense/ light horror stories from Amazon.

This is pretty well-plotted for a very short story, and though it isn’t hard to tell where things are going pretty much from the start, the way the narrative unfolds is well-crafted and enjoyable.

This isn’t especially scary, but it’s got some suspense to it and is mercifully devoid of any gratuitous violence, for those who prefer their suspense/horror to be creepy rather than grotesque.