Amazon Originals return with another horrifying collection of short stories in The Shivers Collection. With tales from some of horror‘s top writers, Joe Hill, Stephen Graham Jones, Grady Hendrix, Catriona Ward, and Owen King, The Shivers invite us into a world where the supernatural hides in plain sight.
The Shivers is a collection of haunting stories that reveal the otherworldly terrors all around us. Each tale is unique in it’s own way where things lurk within an old tree, get horrific visions of the future, stalk an idyllic beach, the lines blur between reality and the supernatural, and whisper through a letter.
Jackknife
Ruined by scandal, Dennis Lange is desperate to rebuild his reputation. His only chance may be selling a story of what lies within the roots of a cursed tree. The story may change his fortune–but will come with a deadly risk. This monstrous short story from New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill kicks off The Shivers Collection.
Dennis awakens something evil when he removes a decades-old jackknife from the trunk of a gnarled old sycamore. Once pinned in place—now thoughtlessly freed—the tree returns to its roots. An act of vigilante justice took place under its boughs long ago. But its taste for blood has only grown stronger…
While Hill has made a name for himself over the years–outside the shadow of his father–Hill’s tale brings back vibes from old school horror similar to Stephen King’s short stories from the 1970s and 1980s in Jackknife. An eerie mystery surrounding an old tree that brought fear to the pages of this collection. Jackknife delivers an awesome read with its atmospheric tension and satisfying, well-written ending. The tale pays homage to the haunting style of old-school horror that sticks with you long after the story concludes.
Jackknife is on Amazon as part of The Shivers Collection. The audiobook, narrated by Robert Fass, is available via Audible.
The Indigo Room
People always say don’t get caught up in office politics and they may be right. This chilling blend of workplace drama and true horror is a short story by New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones as part of The Shivers Collection.
When the lights go out and the slideshow begins, middle manager Jennifer has a disturbing vision: a headless colleague right across the boardroom table. Is it a trick of the light, or a vision of the future? She tries to brush it off and salvage the afternoon—but when her ex unexpectedly drops off her son at the office after school, suddenly her whole world takes an alarming turn.
The Indigo Room gave off huge Final Destination vibes while still giving off a unique feeling of its own. As a fan of premonition-style horror, this short story met that desire. While it may not break new ground and the ending left me a bit puzzled, it was still an enjoyable read. Its unique plot added something fresh to The Shivers Collection, making it perfect for the series.
The Indigo Room is on Amazon as part of The Shivers Collection. The audiobook, narrated by Kyla Garcia, is available via Audible.
The Blanks
Residents share an unspoken agreement with the island’s eerie inhabitants: steer clear of them, and life goes on peacefully. But in New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix‘s short story from The Shivers Collection, one boy can’t look away—and pays the price.
Jeckle Island offers Rachel’s children the chance to spend summers roaming wild and free, as long as they follow the rules. But when her son comes face to face with a terror they dare not speak of, she must prepare for their perfect world to change. Forever.
Hendrix brings one of the more disturbing stories to The Shivers Collection with The Blanks. The tale is truly terrifying in ways that are less jumpy and more eerie, unsettling and creepy. Hendrix strikes a cord at not only my fearful side, but emotional side that left me in awe after finishing the last page. The Blanks alone makes the entire collection worthwhile.
The Blanks is on Amazon as part of The Shivers Collection. The audiobook, narrated by Moniqua Plante, is available via Audible.
Night and Day in Misery
In the gloom of her hotel, a mother readies to rejoin her past. Feverish nightmares meet the chilling light of day in this haunting short story, as part of The Shivers Collection, from USA Today bestselling author Catriona Ward.
Room 17 was the last stop on her husband and son’s journey. Eight years after their deaths, Stella books the same room, hoping to commune with their memories. But as she tries to sleep, disturbing and urgent visions blur the lines between reality and the supernatural, and the other side sends a terrifying message.
Ward gives us a chilling grief-driven horror short story in Night and Day in Misery. From the start, I was hooked and just when I thought I knew where she was taking us, Ward threw in a twist that completely turned the story on its head, leaving me reeling with surprise. Catriona crafts a twisty, horrifying, and grief-driven short story that was a fitting addition to The Shivers Collection.
Night and Day in Misery is on Amazon as part of The Shivers Collection. The audiobook, narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, is available via Audible.
Letter Slot
A helping hand, a fateful cost. In this ominous short story, as part of The Shivers Collection, from New York Times bestselling author Owen King, the cost of living keeps rising—and it collects payment from the soul.
Sensing his mother’s failing health, a struggling teenager pours out his worries in a letter and drops it through the mail slot of an abandoned show house. He’s surprised when a response arrives, promising good fortune for the price of just one name: someone he hates. He’d give anything for his mother. But the true cost may be more than he’s willing to pay.
Letter Slot is quite a deep tale with a truly dark twist. While not outright scary, this short story is undeniably unsettling, with a creeping tension that lingers long after the final sentence. Much like Joe Hill‘s Jackknife, Owen King’s Letter Slot carries echoes of their father’s storytelling ability. However, Owen’s unique voice shines through with a cleverly crafted ending that I didn’t see coming.
Letter Slot is on Amazon as part of The Shivers Collection. The audiobook, narrated by Grover Gardner, is available via Audible.
