This was a bite sized novella that I absolutely devoured in about 20 minutes. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end! It was so unique and packed such a punch for such a short read. It's actually something I might come back to in a couple weeks to re-read.

Really clever and well done. Absolutely recommend!

Thank you Amazon first reads!

I enjoyed this short story the writing was engaging and kept me wanting to know what happened next. I am a fan of Joe hill and look forward to more from him in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

a very short, very weird and kind of creepy story. even though it was just under 30 pages long, it still
a) weirded me out
b) made me kinda sad!
maybe i need to get into more joe hill writing!

Holy crap! The last line of this book, woof. Not that I should be surprised, Joe Hill does this to me every single time. This was a cool concept that was executed amazingly. Ushers are under thirty pages, but somehow Hill stuffed an entire story into it. One that I had no idea how it was going to end, not even when he laid out it so nicely in the moment. I'm still not sure exactly what the Ushers were, but they were both cool and creepy, and I like that work on a scale system. This was a great quick, creepy read, and I cannot thank NetGalley enough for a chance to read it early. Though maybe don't read it at 9 am with your coffee like I did. That was an odd way to start my day because this book lingered with me, despite how short it was.

Small but mighty story! The author fit a full length novel into only 28 pages and it is incredible! Thrilled to have discovered this author.

I am so thankful to Amazon Publishing, Joe Hill, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

This is the second of Joe Hill’s short stories that I’ve read, and he has me wanting so much more!

His writing has me hooked, but not in a way that’s straight forward scary. This and The Pram were both eerie in a slow paced way. There wasn’t massive jumpscares, or ghosts, or anything like that but he is easily able to build an eerie scene and give chills right to the very end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the review copy of Ushers! I’ll certainly be bumping up the rest of his book very soon on the tbr

I've always had a little trouble with short stories as they mostly left me unsatisfied. That was not the case with Ushers. There was so much thought and thrill and detail put into the short 22 pages I didn't even look up until the end. This is a story that will definitely stick with me for awhile.

This is a great short story. I can see it really working in a high school English class for so many different things. Though the ending was pretty predictable the build up was great. Characters were real and relatable. Smooth dialog.

Joe Hill’s Ushers is a spine-chilling ride that showcases Martin Lorensen, a young counselor whose quick wit and mysterious luck have saved him from multiple deadly incidents. His rapid-fire responses and clever comebacks keep the FBI on edge, making them question if he’s a mere survivor or something darker. Hill expertly builds suspense, taking us from a tense interrogation to a jaw-dropping finale. For fans of horror and psychological thrills, Ushers is a pulse-pounding, quick read that leaves you breathless and craving more.

For a short story it was interesting. I like how they were call ushers. And how the boy can see them. And not help without the people. Thanks for writing it.

Wow! That was an incredibly impressive, well done story to fit into only 28 pages! Absolutely adding this author to my must read list!

Martin Lorensen has recently graduated from Boston college and is currently a councilor for disturbed children. This short story opens with Martin being interviewed by two detectives.

Martin has escaped death twice. Recently a derailed train that killed many people and injured even more. Also, when he was in high school when he survived a school shooting that claimed several lives. The detectives believe he is either very lucky or very guilty. Which will it be? You'll have to read this to find out.

Short stories aren't always my thing but I'll make the exception for Joe Hill. Though concise in its word count this still packed a decent punch. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my complimentary copy.

To me, the mark of a great short story is: does it leave you wanting more? Would you read a novella or novel length version of this story? In the case of Ushers, the answer is a resounding yes. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this short story. I really enjoyed this short story; it was very well written. Another great story from Joe Hill!

I haven’t read Joe Hill yet, so I was excited for this story. I was disappointed at how short it was, but that’s mostly because it ended too soon, it was a well written story and worked with how short it was. The twist, I did see it coming, but it was wonderful. I don’t want to summarize this one and give anything away, but I will say it has definite Stephen King vibes and was worth the quick read.

The perfect blend of banter, intruigue and spookiness for a fall night's read.

I'm a big fan of Joe Hill's work, particularly his short story collection Full Throttle, so I wasn't surprised that I also really enjoyed this read.

While the premise is dark the tone is light and comical until you don't even notice that it isn't anymore. Seamlessly shifting in tone despite being a ridiculously short read.

A cool and interesting short story about two cops questioning a young man who avoided two separate incidents that claimed a lot of lives. I don’t usually read short stories but I really enjoyed this. It hooked me straight away. The characters were amusing and the story was clever. I did guess the ending but only shortly before it was revealed. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy.

Actual Rating: 4.25/5

Joe Hill’s Ushers is a compact, eerie novella that’s both chilling and fun from start to finish. The story follows special agents Duvall and Oats as they interview Martin Lorensen, a charming character who’s miraculously survived two near-death experiences. Hill’s vivid attention to detail brings these characters to life in just a few pages, making the story feel rich despite its brevity.

The pacing is spot on, with a subtle shift in tone that creeps up, keeping you engaged and slightly on edge. While the twist is somewhat predictable, it’s immensely satisfying to watch it unfold. Short, sweet, and quintessentially Hill, Ushers is a delightful, eerie read that will please horror fans and newcomers alike.

This story was fantastically twisted. Best short story I read in a while. It made me laugh and also very creepy. 😳
Highly recommend

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for providing me an advanced reading copy for review