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.
Ushers is available on Amazon as well as Audible.
