I really liked this short story from Joe Hill. I can't say too much about the story because it is so short but I did enjoy it.

Thanks to net gallery for this arch!

I went into this pretty blind, really only seeing the cover and title. Its a super engaging short thriller, I had a lot of fun with the twist and found myself enjoying the second interview much more.

I did find some of the writing a bit repetitive especially with the speech, a lot of “he said”, “they said”.

but overall a fun short story worth the read!

it was eerie and creepy. it made me laugh too because of how INSANELY GOOD this short novella was. i hate that it ended way too soon, i had to go back twice cause i wanted more lol. 4 stars!!

this was a frantically paced and well written little story that mixed the supernatural with real events in a nice way.
i didn’t know anything about the story so i really enjoyed how it unraveled and was told.

yes the ending was predictable but that didn’t take anything away from this and honestly there ist just so much suspense and slight horror that can be build in under 30 pages!


highly recommend for a fast but eerie read!

Absolutely Fantastic!!

Thank you to Joe Hill and his publishing team for sharing this on NetGalley 🙏

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for providing me an ARC copy via Netgalley for review.

I loved this short story. It was quick, fun, and had a great plot. The only downside is it ended so soon. I wanted more! If you enjoy quick, supernatural, short stories that make you question life, I definitely recommend this for you!

Rating: B+

Ushers is a quality short story by horror heavyweight Joe Hill, author of Locke and Key and N0S4R2.

Two detectives interview a man who, earlier in the day, "saved" two women by telling them to not get on the train. It's more of an eerie horror than an explicit one. The characters spend most of the novel in the one scene, yet are formed well enough that they each have distinct personalities. I really enjoyed the writing and the character's description of what he's seeing; I felt them come off the page, it was so easy to picture them in my mind and follow along this creepy journey.

I did feel like the ending was rushed especially given how the rest of the story was going, I would've appreciated just a few more pages or something to pad it out a little instead of just that abruptness.

Still, good story. I really enjoyed it.

I loved this story. I thought short format was the way to go for it, too, because it kept things nice and clean and completely cut you off. The subject matter was very interesting and made me think a lot. The characters were all likable and the writing was great. All in all, I have no complaints about this short story and would recommend it to anyone who likes horror.

Beautifully written short story! I was hooked to the plot from the get go, and it was a great reveal of the boy's special abilities, and its implications.
You can see where everything is going half way into the story, but still can't help crashing into the end with the characters.
Very well done and can't wait to read more from Joe Hill!

Joe Hill has a way with story telling. My only complaint about this short story is that I wish had been a full length novel. I feel like it has been too long since his last novel. The story of a “lucky” young man who the police mistrust is tinged with the supernatural. The very ending was perfect. I just wish it had been the ending of the first chapter of something more.

My first Joe Hill book and it will definitely not be my last! I loved his style of writing and it just had me gripped from the first paragraph! Definitely going to get more of his books based on this!

I didn't realize just HOW short this story was since I read it on my Kindle with no page number showing so the ending took me by a bit of a shock because it was suddenly over! I really did enjoy this though and honestly would love if more short stories following Martin

Another great short story by the incredibly talented Joe Hill! This one features a young man who can predict impending death by his ability to spot the ushers, as he calls them. The pacing, the tension, the back story - all very, very nicely done. If you've never read Joe Hill before, this story is a great introduction to his talent!

Ushers by Joe Hill is a short story and also my first read by Joe Hill. I was pleasantly surprised by this author. The story centers around a young man named Martin who counsels teenagers with mental health concerns. Martin has escaped death twice in incidents where dozens of people were killed and injured. He is now being questioned by two federal agents who think something suspicious is happening. Upon interviewing Martin for a second time, Martin reveals a secret to one of the agents, changing everything.

Overall, I gave this short story a 5 out of 5 stars. It held my interest all the way through. I loved that it had funny moments sprinkled throughout. There was a slow tension building in the story, but the author also made room for sadness and humanity, which I loved. You will enjoy this story if you love stories about the darker sides of life that mix in love, laughter, and humanity. It is surprisingly thought-provoking and I highly recommend it. Thank you Amazon Original Stories for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was my first horror book! Loved reading it!
First off, I did not know that the author, Mr. Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King. So silly of me.
The writing style was amazing. Loved how every page created suspence. The ending was so shocking! Like you wouldn't expect "this" was the reason. You will keep on thinking why the title is "Ushers", but then all the revelations come crashing down and you'll be left with goosebumps! I would love to read more by this author. This is a must read for all those trying to come out of a slump (like me hahahaha).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Joe Hill honestly never misses, does he? This is another perfect short story, balanced in the best possible way between word limits and keeping a plot contained and still managing to build a world and characters. There is a lot of content in this very, very small piece of work, and a lot of heart as well. Following a train crash, our main character, Martin Lorensen, is being interrogated by the police about his sudden and suspicious abandonment of his journey.

There is, of course, a lovely element of the supernatural to this book, and there's quite something hanging over the whole story from the start that lends a lovely vein of menace. The characters are thoughtfully written and well scoped for such a tiny story, and without going into too many spoilers, the ending is a slow realisation in the build up and then a crushing sense of dread following the initial clues laid out.

There is certainly an art to the short story, and Joe Hill has it downpat. I absolutely cannot wait to read his next release, as normal - I know it will be absolutely spectacular.

a story that brilliantly subverts reader expectations. The premise is intriguing: a young counselor who miraculously survived two deadly disasters is questioned by suspicious federal agents. The true strength lies in the brilliant verbal exchanges between Martin and the investigators, rich with tension and psychological nuances. Hill skillfully builds a crescendo during the interrogation, creating an atmosphere that transforms from subtle unease into something much darker and supernatural. What begins as an apparent investigative thriller reveals itself to be a haunting tale about fate and the price of defying it, culminating in an unexpected and poignant ending.

An excellent short story; a quick read, kept my attention throughout. Hill quickly brings the reader into the setting, establishes the crux of the story, and executes a satisfactory conclusion - all under 30 pages.

A solid short story with plenty of soul, decent prose, and a lingering unease. I wouldn't mind following Martin around a while longer.

I enjoyed this short story. Hill was able to draw pretty rich characters in a small timeframe. While I found it kind of predictable, I enjoyed the way the story was set up and progressed.