The Blanks

The Shivers Collection

De: Grady Hendrix

Narrado por: Moniqua Plante

Residents have an unspoken pact with the island’s unnatural inhabitants: ignore them, live happily. But in New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix’s thrilling short story, 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.

Grady Hendrix’s The Blanks is part of The Shivers, a collection of haunting stories that reveal the otherworldly terrors all around us. Once you know, there’s no going back. Read or listen to each story in one unsettling sitting.

©2025 by Grady Hendrix. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Price of Paradise

This was a short story, an Amazon Original about about a much sought after island vacation with a dark secret. What happens is noted in the description. Story is a good one with excellent, heartfelt narration. I knew what was going to happen, but it was still a good short listen. A quote from one of my favorite shows applies-Stargate SG1, The Nox noted that the very young do not always do as they are told. Paradise isn't all it is cracked up to be.

The devastating cost of willful ignorance...

I'm huge Grady Hendrix fan and I loved this short story—short and sweet and hits you right in the gut! Definitely could be a very creepy full length book (hint hint!). What starts as an easy breezy family summer vacation ends with devastating consequences and lives forever changed. Themes of parental guilt, truths we ignore, secrets we keep, lies we tell ourselves and the choices and sacrifices people make for the sake of comfort, for appearances, to maintain a facade of normalcy—all simmer right beneath the surface.

The narrator, Moniqua Plante, gave an absolutely stellar performance. It was totally immersive and visceral. She perfectly captured Rachel's blissful ignorance and denial that any of this is actually happening (no spoilers!), until it really IS happening. And then she tears your heart out with Grady's words.

Messed up in the Best Way

These shorts get me through until Grady Hendrix releases another novel. Took me a bit to warm up to for some reason, but it’s one of those stories you need to read more than once. There is Shirley Jackson The Lottery quality.

My new Stephen king

This was so suspenseful and so scary and wonderful. I love king, but sadly, I understand he only has so many more stories to tell. Hendrix is the new/ next KING. Still can’t wait for ST’s may release

Ending will make you angry.

Book was super intense, and kept my interest. Would not have read if I knew, it didn’t have a HEA. I don’t like books that are not happily ever after. I don’t understand how a mother would not fight for her children.

best one in the lot

Grady Hendrix never disappoints. The other stories in the series were good, but this one stands head and shoulders above them all. My fave for sure.

The narrator is amazing.

The narrator captured my mind instantly and I was able to sink into the story. I love when the narrator has that magic to help the author bring the story to life. The author is a favorite and I truly appreciate his talent. I just wish there was more !

terrible name dropping in the first half

maybe the worst Grady Hendrix, i’m blown away by how not good this is. don’t pay for this

nothing special

this story was meh, and I didn't especially love the narrators voice. I mean you know it was fine, but just not one of my favorites. I don't like when narrators have that quiver in their voice. If I could do it over I would skip it.

Eh

I couldn't help but feel like this story kind of droned on and never got to a really good point in its plot. I think the setting of the book could've been so good but fell kind of flat.