This was a quick little audiobook, but the subject was fascinating. The narrator did a fantastic job. While I think that the short story is great as it is, I would absolutely read a longer piece about seeing the ushers.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this short story.

This book reminds me of Odd Thomas a little with the creatures that show up when death is near. There has to be be someone or something that brings us to the Hear Acter. This books has the Ushers.
The narrator did a great job with the story and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a short story to make you think twice about death.

This is my Jam! Creepy and strange and totally unique. I only wish it had been longer. This has 400 pager written all over it- I didn’t find it exactly ‘scary’ but I was hooked from the first page nonetheless!

When I requested this I didn't realize it was a short story. I just saw the colorful cover and Joe Hill's name. I didn't read the description or anything that wasn't on the cover. So once I started listening and noticed it was only 56 mins long, I was confused but went with it after I went back to actually read the description.

The story was way too short but really good! Hopefully it Joe will expand it to a full novel because I wanted more.

Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for this audio ARC

Loved this little short story — I got chills at the ending!! Highly recommend. Joe Hill is hard to beat, and narration on the audio version was excellent as well.

I think this short story was paced really well and had a good balance of humor and thrills. It was a fun listen and I think Hill paces the short story well and with the limited about of pages created interesting and complex characters and plot

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

“It’s not illegal to get high on Jesus, is it?”

“Be a mammal.”

A cool novella. Reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone.

The book really set the atmosphere pretty effortlessly and the ending had a smooth transition too which was nice because both of these things can be difficult with such a short story.

I definitely think this one is worth checking out.

The audio narrator was a good match for this book too.

It's true that I don't exactly read a lot of short stories nor do I listen to a lot of audiobooks for that matter. Why would I want to listen to Ushers then? I've only recently discovered Joe Hill's writing, but I've quickly become a fan and I can't deny that I was completely intrigued by the premise. The main character escaping death twice, the hint at something darker at play... I simply couldn't resist adding this short story to my shelves, and I decided to opt for the audio version to help counter the fact that I've hardly listened to any audiobooks so far this year. And I have to say that I ended up having an excellent time listening to this story!

This audiobook is short and comes in at a little under one hour, and I listened to it in one sitting. This wasn't just because Ushers was short though, because the story managed to grab my attention from the beginning and I was intrigued throughout. In fact, I kind of wish this idea would have been used for a full novel instead of a short story, because Ushers definitely left me wanting for more! While not exactly original, I loved the idea behind the ushers and also how Martin comes in... And I wish I could have had more background and more details about Martin's life and the appearances of the ushers. That said, I'm still happy with what this short story did offer though, and the FBI interviews were a clever way to get to the point quickly and reveal the paranormal element.

As for the audiobook itself: the narrator Leon Nixon had a voice that was easy to listen to and I could appreciate the voice changes with the different characters. The story jumps right in the middle of the action with the interview, but his narration made it easy to follow the story and get an idea of the tone of the interview. The final twist was actually quite predictable though, which was a bit disappointing... But I can't deny that it wrapped up the story nicely. All in all Ushers turned out to be an engaging and suspenseful paranormal thriller short story that wasn't exactly as creepy as espected, but still packed a punch.

A creepy little brain-break of a story. This one gets at your psyche. It left me with a lingering chill and a million “what if” thoughts!

The audiobook is narrated by Leon Nixon. His voice feels fitting to the cop characterization. He is easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, Amazon Original Stories, and author Joe Hill for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been a fan of many of Joe Hill’s previous short stories. So I was excited to see he had a new one coming out. I really enjoyed this one. It was a quick, engaging listen. I thought the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life.

It’s hard to go into much detail without giving anything away. I’ll just say the cover really represents the story well! Though, this was short I think it will stick with me for a while. I was definitely creeped out! If you’re a fan of the movie Final Destination, I think you’ll enjoy this one a lot!

It's been a bit since the last Joe Hill novel (King Sorrow expected in 2025), but we have been treated to a few outstanding short stories such as The Pram and the recently released Ushers. The former as part of Amazon's Creature Feature Collection in 2023, while the latter is an outstanding short story release just after Halloween. Both outstanding editions to the Joe Hill library of stories.

Martin Lorensen is a twenty-three-year-old counselor for disturbed teenagers. He’s bright, compassionate, attractive, and outgoing. He’s also—and this is the most interesting thing—not dead. Martin has improbably survived not one but two deadly disasters that claimed dozens of lives. The kid is riding one hell of a lucky streak. Two federal agents think there is something darker at play. Now that they’ve arranged to interview Martin, they want answers. Martin is ready to share everything he knows. One thing is for certain: when it comes to escaping death, luck doesn’t figure into it at all.

From the outset, New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill captivated our minds with his once again masterful storytelling. His ability to build tension without any unnecessary fluff is evident throughout Ushers. With a short story, Hill crafts succinct lines that manage to convey deep emotion and vivid imagery without straying too far from the core mystery. The pacing is quick, yet thoughtful, ensuring we remain on edge even if for a short time as we form an emotion connection with Martin's plight.

While short stories are not always my cup-of-tea, Ushers scratched an itch that I didn't know I needed scratching. Hill tells a story worth reading in such a short time while also being able to develop characters that have a supernatural aura while also super relatable. A true testament to Hill's ability to craft a short tale in short story format.

Ushers is perfect in length as it tells a story with such purpose. However, one cannot wonder how this tale would be if drawn out a bit more into a novella or even full-length novel given its rich plotline and complex themes—there lies beauty in its brevity. The concise storytelling allows every word to resonate profoundly with ease. The shorter length allows us to read such stories between longer novels and take a breath.

I was lucky enough to pop in my earbuds and listen to the 56 minute story from narrator Leon Nixon. The only thing that could make a short story from Hill better is for it to be read to me with such conviction and ease. Nixon does a wonderful job helping build tension and mystery while narrating an extremely amazing tale.

Ushers by Joe Hill really delivers everything I was hoping from in a story by said author. A tale that packs a true punch with suspenseful storytelling from one of the great minds in the world of horror. This short story holds me over until I can dive deep into his next novel coming in 2025.

This book was just SO good! I wanted an entire novel of this premise even though I totally saw the twist coming. I really thought this was unique and a really twisted way to show what happens when you die.

Joe Hill is a master of the horror short story!

It's been awhile since I've read one of his stories or novels and I was glad to dive back into his writing. Ushers is a fast paced, twisty horror story of a man who somehow keeps escaping death.

The ending was the cherry on top, definitely pick this up for a little spooky tidbit.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this! It was too short, I definitely wanted more and I hope Joe Hill expands on this story. It reminded me of City of Angels and I enjoyed how it touched on the consequences we all face based on the decisions we make in life.

Martin Lorensen, a 23-year-old counselor for disturbed teenagers, has survived two deadly disasters, claiming dozens of lives. Two federal agents are interviewing him to understand if there's something darker at play, but Martin believes luck doesn't play a role.

I, first, saw this title come up on Amazon Prime First Reads and was intrigued by the author, the cover, and the synopsis. While this is only 29 page (or 56 minutes of listening on 1x speed), this short story horror packed a bone-chilling punch! How does Martin survive two deadly disasters you may ask...well, he can see the ushers. When you're going to die, you're never alone. Like theater ushers, guiding you to your seat in the dark, the ushers will be there to guide you to death.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC), as well as listen to an Advanced Listener's Copy (ALC), in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Like most of Joe Hill's books, I just wish there was more.

Certainly more on the psychological side of horror, this quick read gave chills in all the right places and kept a speedy pace throughout. Even though the end was predictable, it was such a very enjoyable read for the spooky season.

Perfect for those who are time pressed, love a hint of the Grim Reaper or just need something short and sweet to cleanse the palette.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Joe Hill for an advanced copy. Ushers is available now!

I couldn’t sleep, so I listened to a horror audiobook I found in my inbox. It wasn’t the scariest thing I’ve ever heard, but it was really well done and perfect for a late-night listen.

One of the most memorable parts was an interview with someone who had narrowly escaped death. The storytelling and atmosphere made it feel so real, like I was right there, hearing every intense detail. Even though it wasn’t terrifying, the unique structure and high production quality kept me hooked from start to finish.

Overall, it was a great experience for a sleepless night!

Thank you Joe Hill & Brilliance Publishing for this read.

This book was SO GOOD. I wished it was longer because it was so chilling. The perfect quick read to make a big impact and end on a last line that'll give you goosebumps.

It's best to go blind with this one! A short read but a good read!!

This was a fun super short and creepy story! I loved it. It reminded me a lot of Stephen King but still had Hill's unique flair and I love when they happens. Would recommend.