🕯️ Book Review: Ushers: A Short Story by Joe Hill (Kindle Edition)
A haunting meditation on fate, survival, and the eerie forces that shape our lives—Joe Hill delivers a compact yet emotionally resonant thriller that blends supernatural horror with psychological depth.
🧠 Overview
Published in November 2024, Ushers is a 29-page Kindle short story by Joe Hill, the acclaimed author of Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, and The Fireman. The story follows Martin Lorensen, a 23-year-old counselor who has improbably survived two mass-casualty events—a school shooting and a train derailment. His uncanny luck draws the attention of two federal agents who suspect something more than coincidence.
As the investigation unfolds, Martin reveals his ability to see mysterious beings he calls “ushers”—ethereal entities who appear at the moment of death to collect souls. What begins as a formal interview turns into a chilling revelation about the cost of foreknowledge and the burden of survival.
✨ Key Themes & Highlights
- 👁️ Supernatural perception: Martin’s ability to see “ushers” adds a mystical layer to the story’s exploration of mortality
- 🧠 Survivor’s guilt and suspicion: The narrative probes the psychological toll of living through tragedy—and being questioned for it
- 🕵️ Dual narrative structure: The story unfolds through two interviews, one formal and one personal, building tension and emotional complexity
- 💬 Character depth: Martin is portrayed with quiet strength and melancholy, while Agent Duvall’s subplot adds unexpected emotional weight
“Death arrives wearing not a black hood and carrying a scythe, but dressed in a sooty cassock with iridescent pigeon wings.” — Bookishelf review
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.22/5 from over 24,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the story’s atmospheric tension, emotional resonance, and elegant structure
- 🧾 Some compare it to Final Destination meets Unbreakable, with a touch of Odd Thomas for its supernatural flair
- 💬 “Unsettling, emotional, and masterfully structured… the kind of read that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.” — Erica Robyn Reads review
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At under 30 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as a vignette rather than a full-length thriller
- 📚 Dark themes: Includes references to mass-casualty events and death—may be intense for sensitive readers
- 🧾 Ambiguous morality: Leaves readers questioning whether Martin’s gift is a blessing, a curse, or something more sinister
🏁 Final Verdict
Ushers is a chilling and thought-provoking short story that showcases Joe Hill’s talent for blending horror with human vulnerability. With its eerie premise, layered characters, and emotional punch, it’s a must-read for fans of supernatural fiction and psychological suspense.
