Really interesting premise & a lot of great characterization of the two main characters in very limited page-space. The gripe with short stories is that I am always left wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title released 11/1/24.

Great short story that manages to say enough in 29 pages, I wouldn’t have minded a longer story though. Perfectly eerie and tense.

I am probably a bit biased as I will read anything Joe Hill puts out, but this short story was a thrilling reprieve from the humdrum of everyday life! While the overall story is not anything completely unique, I still enjoyed it. The pacing flowed well, and this was one of those narratives that I wanted to sit down and read all at once.

Ushers
Joe Hill

4/5

I enjoyed this short. It's not a scary story, but it's a good one.
Detectives are interrogating a kid ... flavors of Final Destination ... This one's a deeper look at death itself.
I had a good time reading it.

4 / 5

*Thank you to NetGalleys Read Now*

I think this was maybe not the most effective short story.
I really didn't feel much of a connection to anything going on if l'm honest, which made the end, which guessed at about 60%, not very impactful.
I did *like* the characters, and the idea was interesting but not super original.
To be blunt, it's fine but probably won't be thinking about it after this week.

There’s nothing like a good horror short story, and Joe Hill’s "Ushers" is definitely a good horror short story.

Let’s start with the cover: vibrant, intriguing, just the right amount of creepy. There’s something about it that draws you right in. Kudos to the cover artist.

Now, onto the story. I admit I came in with a bias because I think Joe Hill is a fantastic author, and I’m a fan of his short stories particularly, but even amidst a great body of work, I think Ushers stands out.

In the span of just 29 pages, Martin Lorensen becomes an impressively memorable character — thoughtful, compassionate, wise beyond his years and yet still believably youthful character (I won’t name names, but there are other horror writers who I love but who seem to think that young folks these days still use words like “bodacious”) — and, perhaps, something more.

Twice, Martin appears to be on a deadly path, and twice he makes a narrow escape. Two federal agents interview him, wanting to know why.

"Martin Lorensen was either an extraordinarily lucky young man or extraordinarily *unlucky*, depending on how you wanted to look at it. Or—just possibly—luck didn’t figure into it at all."

Creepy, tense, and with a touch of humor that pulls the whole thing together, this short story is an enjoyable if slightly predictable tale. I’m not bothered by the predictability though; sometimes a story just needs to be what it is. Which, in this case, is an interesting take on a classic type of figure in horror — the story is only 29 pages so I won’t spoil which one, because I think it’s worth a read to find out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a copy of this story to review.

This was an interesting short story. I just felt it was long enough. The super natural elements really amped up at the end and it just felt unfinished. I loved the main character and it was an interesting different short story.

Ushers is a super short story by Joe Hill. Martin Lorensen is being investigated by two special agents for a train derailment and a shooting that occurred while he was in high school. There isn't much that I can say without spoiling the story because of how short it is, but it's great. No notes, read it, it'll take you 20 minutes. You won't regret it.

Ushers by Joe Hill is a gripping short horror story that delivers a quick, intense reading experience. Having read NOS4A2 a couple of years ago, I was highly impressed with Hill’s storytelling prowess, so I was eager to dive into this new work. I’m pleased to say that Ushers does not disappoint.

The story wastes no time getting started, quickly drawing readers in and building tension with Hill’s signature skill. It culminates in an unexpected and satisfying twist, making it ideal for anyone craving a sharp, chilling tale that can be devoured in a single sitting.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, well-crafted horror story, Ushers is worth the read. Joe Hill’s mastery of suspense and intrigue shines again in this short format.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Can a man walk away from more than one catastrophe and not be the cause of them?

Martin has done just that. And now 2 federal agents are there to investigate him. Anthony Duvall has been an agent long enough to know sometimes you just check the boxes and interview someone and sometimes - where there is smoke, there is fire. He isn't sure what's going on with Martin but he's sure he's not being totally honest.

Even though this is just a short, it packs a punch. I enjoyed this one as an audio and it was so good! The jokes landed perfect, the tension was tight and the twist was wonderful! I enjoy Joe Hill's work so much - and this was a great addition. Highly recommend!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Ushers by Joe Hill is a short horror story that can be enjoyed if you are looking for something quick to lit you up. I have read the author for the first time and I am quite impressed. The story picks up fast and ends with a wonderful twist. If you want to read something to finish within a night, then go ahead. This book is definitely going to entertain you.

I'm currently in the middle of NOS4A2 and really enjoying it when I spotted this short story. I'm fast becoming a short story fan and I'm definitely a Joe Hill fan. Instantly Joe Hill's writing draws you in and makes you care about characters that you've only met over a few pages. That is talent. This is one of the best short reads I've had the pleasure to come across this year. My only gripe... its too short!!! I absolutely want more of this story!!! Brilliant.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Craving another Joe Hill novella, I jumped in and grabbed this one and again, it did not disappoint!
It follows 2 detectives investigating a boy who has somehow been able to avoid being caught up in a school shooting at his school and also from boarding a train that ended up crashing.

‘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…better take a look around. You’re surrounded by people who didn’t die in school shootings and weren’t killed in train crashes. If that makes someone a criminal, you better call for backup.’ As soon as I had read the first few paragraphs, I knew I wasn't going to need to bookmark this one, I was clearly going nowhere until I had finished it. A fascinating and through provoking read about what happens when people die, destiny and making the most of each day. Another great way to start of your Joe Hill obsession or if you are just looking for a short captivating read. The advice from the main character of ‘It’s best to just…be a mammal. Eat as much fresh fruit as you can. Spend time with trees. Hug the people that you love. Accept that death is as natural as the rest of life. Dogs understand that. Cats understand that. Only humans have a hard time with it.’
will stay with me for a long time. #joehill #ushers #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #amazon #kindle #bookqueen #bookstagram #getlitsy #thestorygraph

What makes Ushers so gripping is Hill’s ability to balance character-driven storytelling with spine-tingling suspense. Martin’s affable, seemingly open demeanor contrasts sharply with the mounting tension in the agents’ questions. As the interview progresses, Hill expertly weaves in subtle clues and atmospheric details, hinting at a chilling revelation that will leave readers questioning the boundaries between luck, fate, and something far darker.

True to Hill’s style, the story doesn’t just scare—it also provokes thought. Beneath its eerie premise lies a meditation on mortality, survival, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. The ending lingers, haunting you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Short and sweet. This short story is a good one. Eerie like his father’s (Stephen King) writing but humorous as well. To say much more would give away the genius of this crisp tale. Give it a read.

A fun chilling story by Joe Hill. The ending was a bit predictable but the storytelling was engaging and kept me going throughout.

The short story is more complicated than it may seem. In order to be successful, the author needs to pull the reader in quickly and get them invested. Then, they need to keep it simple; it is short, you don’t have time to get into a heck of a lot of details, they don’t matter here, keep them for your full-length novels. Finally, and this might just be me, I love the “you got me moment;” I like to be hit at the end with something I didn’t see coming, but I should have.

Hill did a reasonable job with Ushers. I’m with you on the Martin guy, what is his real story? Just happens to not be where he was supposed to be when massive tragedies struck. There is more to this than meets the eye. He really did keep it simple, enough details to make the story work, but not so much that the crux of the story was lost. And it had a decent moment at the end, it worked and made sense, but I wanted something more.

Ushers is a good short story, not a great one; then again, the great ones are few and far between. What was it missing? I really don’t know, but there was something lacking.

*3.5 Stars

This feels like Joe Hill at his finest, he's crafted a wonderful short story that drives from beginning to end, each word holds weight and I liked that a lot. I love this fun period of short stories really having their moment.

I love Joe Hill so much, so my expectations were high for this short story. It did not disappoint! It’s written well, with character dialogue that’s believable, modern, and interesting. Plus the story was honestly super fascinating! I seriously could have a read a whole novel about this, not just a short story, and enjoyed it so much. Wonderful job!

Great short story!
Martin, a man only 23 years old, is "unofficially" being interviewed by detectives about his decision to NOT get on a bus that derailed--killing many. What the men are really curious about is the number of other times that Martin had escaped death, inexplicably.

His story is quite . . . unpredictable.

Recommended!

*I received an eCopy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my personal opinion.*