Member Reviews

This was not what I wanted at all. When I read a short story that is labeled as horror I want to be hooked. I spent the whole time wanting to dnf because I was so bored

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Decent creepy short story. As always I do wish it was longer but it was a good short read. I am excited to read the others in this short story series

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This was such a creepy, solid horror short story! It immediately grabbed me and I was hooked until the very end! I definitely will read more from Joe Hill from now on, and the audiobook was fantastic!

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Dennis Lange is a somewhat successful man whose life begins to fall apart when he is caught sexting one of his young college students. His wife Helena kicks him out so he goes to stay at an AirB&B when during one of his walks he sees a jackknife stuck into a tree, and decides to pull it out. This turns out to be another bad decision on the part of Dennis Lange.

The story was pretty good and kept me entertained, yet there wasn't any real character development for the MC and the ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd liked it to be.

I'd definitely recommend this story to those who are fans of Joe Hill, it's a good little story, or fans of horror in general.

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I was surprised how much this story felt rushed and confusing. I love Joe Hill's novels but not as big of a fan of his short stories. I will say that even though I had no idea what the hell was going on up until the end it still left me horrified. Please make these available for libraries and not limit them to Audible.

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eh, it was okay. the main male character was so gross and unlikeable and I do realize that was probably the point but it took me out.

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Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/15

Jackknife is another installation of the Amazon Original Collection - The Shivers. Sometimes I think that horror and short stories just completely go over my head. Jackknife is the story of Dennis, a professor who is about to lose everything over a scandal, when he comes across a tree that has a knife in it. Upon removal of the knife, it appears that the tree begins to move.

This story had a very interesting concept. I found Dennis to be a bit insufferable and I struggled to relate with him but I really though the idea of the moving tree was different. I think I understood the message that this story was trying to get across; though I wish the ending was as abrupt as it was. Super-fast paced book you will be hooked right from the start. I listened to this one via audiobook. It was a little bit more than an hour listen, so this is a perfect for that quick horror fix. The narrator - Robert Fass really brought this one to life for me. I loved his narration and i highly recommend checking out the audiobook!

Overall, this is a great addition to The Shivers Collection; I think that horror lovers are going to eat these stories up! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Joe Hill, Amazon Original Publisher and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

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I have never read anything by Joe hill and I have always wanted to. After reading this short story, I now know that I really need to pick up a full length novel by him.
This story was such an interesting and creepy one. It was about a creepy tree that seems to be in a different spot every time Dennis goes near it.
The way that Joe Hill came up with this concept is quite fascinating.

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Eerie fun little horror story.

A groomer is facing consequences of his creepiness holed up in the woods until he can figure out what to do. Unless the woods have other plans. 👀👀👀

I liked it.

Cw: cat death

Thanks to netgalley and brilliance pub

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Jackknife is a captivating short story from one of my faves, Joe Hill. This is a part of the Amazon Shivers Collection, which features works from some of the best Horror and Dark Fiction authors currently in the biz. After seeing the author list contributing to this collection, I knew it was one that I could not possibly miss. This is the first I've picked up and can't wait for more!

This story features a University Professor on the brink of losing everything after being caught up in a scandal, but through it all he discovers his deep will to live. It also has a terrifying tree and a touch of vigilante justice.

Joe Hill's writing never fails to capture my attention, and more importantly keep it. Once I started this one, I had to see it through. I wanted to know where exactly we were going with this unsettling concept. As short stories go, I feel like this is well executed. It gave me what I was hoping for, and as mentioned above, I'm excited to continue on with the collection.

Thank you, Brilliance Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to fans of Horror Short Fiction, and of course to fans of Joe Hill!

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I'm in love with Joe Hill's stories for over a decade and man, he still surprises me with his short stories.
The main character is piece of you know what, but there is do many men like him in the real world. We don't have to love him, or root for him, the things happen and the end is really what you need. I don't scare easily so it didn't scare me, but the ending was really chilling.

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I loved this story! It made me feel a looming, dark presence. Dennis had a bit of a scandal that ruined his life. While out he noticed a tree in the woods that had an old jackknife in it, and he removed the knife feeling that he lost everything and now he should have something. However, the knife has been keeping something evil at bay. This is a great short story by Joe Hill.

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I've read a few of Joe Hill's novels and enjoyed them. This wasn't my favorite story from him, but it was a good quick read. It was in line with his more gory stuff, and I tend to prefer the more psychological horror that he includes in some of his longer works. I'm interested to read the rest of the collection that this short story will be published in.

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I feel like this story was written in about 20 minutes and that’s why it felt so unfinished. Is it possible that I actually didn’t get the full version?! What was this ending, atrociously bad!? It’s not the most original plot either, just an evil killer tree, moving about, hanging people. If it was at least written in a creepier or original way, like from the pov of tree, this could be a better story. The main character is so unlikable, an absolute piece of poop, you just hope he gets what he deserves by the end. Maybe that’s why I didn’t like the narrator as well or maybe he was actually that good, that I really felt an active dislike towards him. I know that the short format of the story maybe the reason why this felt so incomplete and lacking in so many ways, but I’ve also read short stories that are fully fleshed. Unfortunately, this one is not one of those.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing me with the ALC.

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Firstly, thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my first approved audiobook! The narrator was fantastic and did a great job with the various characters, albeit the few there are, and maintained a great pace. Now, the story. Joe Hill is one of my favorite authors and this story is such a perfect example of why. I was immediately pulled into the mystery and couldn't wait to get that end. About the end: it did feel a little too sudden and a bit anticlimactic. Overall, though, it was a quick, fun, spooky read and I cannot wait for Joe Hills new novel. This a great story to whet your palate.

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There was absolutely nothing not to love about this. Part nature horror, part psychological horror this gives you just enough intensity and intrigue until you get to the roots!

This is a great opener to what will, I’m sure, be a great series of short horror stories.

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This is everything you would expect from a Joe Hill story. It was gnarly. It was humourous. It had a main character you weren't meant to like.

The plot was fun and felt like it would make a great TV episode. Due to being a short story it was quick, easy to read and packed a punch!

Overall this was a great read and has solidified Hill as being one of the best horror writers around!

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