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.

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.