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The Edge of Life
Imagine opening your front door one morning only to have your life horribly ripped apart.
In a moment, you're implicated in the murder of your entire family and hounded by something not of this world.
And the very thing that did this to you is now asking for something more-
Your faith.
In a moment, you're implicated in the murder of your entire family and hounded by something not of this world.
And the very thing that did this to you is now asking for something more-
Your faith.
22 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2012
54 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Joe Hart
52 books1,381 followersJoe Hart is the Edgar Award-winning and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of seventeen novels including The River Is Dark, Obscura, The Last Girl, and Or Else. His work has been optioned for film and translated into eight languages. He lives with his family in Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 22, 2024
Very frustratingly scary! Something you would never wish to happen.
A man is approached by a stranger. He makes him an offer that he cannot refuse.
You will never guess what this is about.
Five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A man is approached by a stranger. He makes him an offer that he cannot refuse.
You will never guess what this is about.
Five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 26, 2017
Wow! This story had an unsettling tone and was pretty thrilling for a short read. Currently an Amazon freebie!
January 18, 2015
Great story. After reading it, I remembered that this isn't the first Joe Hart's story I've read. I read Singularity too and I liked it.
The Edge of Life starts with a short scene from the end making sure we know where the character would end up at some time near the end, but not explaining why. Then it switches back to the beginning with this:
Even when you know where he will end up, the story manages to draw you in completely and you find yourself waiting for the next thing in store for him.
I thought I knew where it leads. You know, the usual whether it is real or not. However, it manages to be more surprising than that.
The Edge of Life starts with a short scene from the end making sure we know where the character would end up at some time near the end, but not explaining why. Then it switches back to the beginning with this:
“When you shut this door, your family will be dead. By appearances, they will have been killed by your hand. When I am gone, the police will receive an anonymous phone call directing them here.”The main character then goes to set the things right.
Even when you know where he will end up, the story manages to draw you in completely and you find yourself waiting for the next thing in store for him.
I thought I knew where it leads. You know, the usual whether it is real or not. However, it manages to be more surprising than that.
October 17, 2015
Pretty intense short story reminiscent of Button, Button: Uncanny Stories by Richard Matheson. Good stuff!
November 22, 2014
What would you do to save your family?
Great story. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the very surprising ending.
Great story. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the very surprising ending.
January 18, 2015
3.5 Stars
Imagine you and the family are home. You're all off in different sections of the house and everyone one is making their own noises in the background. The door bell rings and you answer it. There's this freaky little man on your doorstep and he basically says "Hey there! So, I just killed your whole family, BUT if you're a good little man I'll give them life again if you kill someone else for me". You automatically think this guy is off his rocker. First off, who goes to someone's house and says something like that? Second, you know yourself. You would not and could not kill an innocent person for any reason. You shut the door,turn around, and realize your house has gone quiet. Not the types of quiet where maybe things are in a lull, but that silence that tells you that you are the only living being in the house. Are you really sure you couldn't kill another human being to save your own children?
This was an excellent little short story! This year I decided I wanted to read at least 52 short stories/novellas. The number of them I have is starting to get out of control. This recently came up on my feed when friend read it. She rated it 5 stars, so I thought it was worth at least a try. I was not disappointed. For me, short stories tend to have an unfinished feel to them. I didn't get that at all from this. More titles by Hart will definitely make their way to my TBR pile.
Imagine you and the family are home. You're all off in different sections of the house and everyone one is making their own noises in the background. The door bell rings and you answer it. There's this freaky little man on your doorstep and he basically says "Hey there! So, I just killed your whole family, BUT if you're a good little man I'll give them life again if you kill someone else for me". You automatically think this guy is off his rocker. First off, who goes to someone's house and says something like that? Second, you know yourself. You would not and could not kill an innocent person for any reason. You shut the door,turn around, and realize your house has gone quiet. Not the types of quiet where maybe things are in a lull, but that silence that tells you that you are the only living being in the house. Are you really sure you couldn't kill another human being to save your own children?
This was an excellent little short story! This year I decided I wanted to read at least 52 short stories/novellas. The number of them I have is starting to get out of control. This recently came up on my feed when friend read it. She rated it 5 stars, so I thought it was worth at least a try. I was not disappointed. For me, short stories tend to have an unfinished feel to them. I didn't get that at all from this. More titles by Hart will definitely make their way to my TBR pile.
June 7, 2013
This one really does grab you from the beginning and has you hooked up to the end.
This is the second short story that I have read by Mr Hart and I have to say that in both instances, Mr Hart displayed a great imagination and also the more elusive ability to put his ideas on paper in a way that makes you want to read more.
5 STARS
This is the second short story that I have read by Mr Hart and I have to say that in both instances, Mr Hart displayed a great imagination and also the more elusive ability to put his ideas on paper in a way that makes you want to read more.
5 STARS
July 3, 2013
First short from Joe Hart. I read Lineage a few months ago, and it was a great novel. Seems Mr. Hart is a versatile author. I will be checking out more of his work for sure. This short story was seemless in execution, and a doozy of a tale. I recommend it.
September 7, 2014
Whoa! This short story would be brilliant in full novel format, what a fantastic concept and book! Really captured me quickly and sucked me in. I swear I was holding my breath a few times.
Imagine.
You open your front door and because you did things will never be the same again. A man on the doorstep who hails from darker places has a few errands for you to run. Things you would never consider except your family's lives depend upon it.
Would you do what the black eyed man on your doorstep tells you to do?
Fantastically engaging read, packs a lot of intense story into this short book. So gutted it wasn't a full novel.
If you see this one, get it, read it then tell me what you would have done.
August 25, 2015
This elusive 5 star rating is well deserved by Joe Hart for the amazing short The Edge of Life. This story is perfect. Well written, atmospheric, and character driven. This truly terrifying premise will send chills down your spine. I highly recommend this short story by Joe Hart. I think he has a real gift and if you are a fan of Tales from the Darkside or the Outer Limits this story will be perfect for your lunch hour.
Pick up this short story here.
September 14, 2020
Enjoyed and intense.
Creepy story, however, it is somewhat realistic. Good v Evil. Found myself skimming to see what was going to happen. Look forward to other work by Mr. Hart.
Creepy story, however, it is somewhat realistic. Good v Evil. Found myself skimming to see what was going to happen. Look forward to other work by Mr. Hart.
December 27, 2020
Have Fath
I really liked this little story. A mans family is killed and he is told that if he has faith he will get them back. I liked the ending too.
I really liked this little story. A mans family is killed and he is told that if he has faith he will get them back. I liked the ending too.
April 28, 2018
Outstanding Short Story!
This is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read! The author manages to pack so many excellent lines into the work that I finally stopped highlighting so that I wouldn’t end up highlighting the entire story. Very, very good story!
This is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read! The author manages to pack so many excellent lines into the work that I finally stopped highlighting so that I wouldn’t end up highlighting the entire story. Very, very good story!
March 28, 2020
Like a movie manuscript!
This was a delightful little story. A nightmarish tale of destiny taking charge of your life, just sweeping you away into the unknown. A claustrophobic rollercoaster of never ending proportions!
This was a delightful little story. A nightmarish tale of destiny taking charge of your life, just sweeping you away into the unknown. A claustrophobic rollercoaster of never ending proportions!
April 22, 2014
No beating about the bush with this short story; an ordinary man, at home with the wife and kids, opens his door and hell is unleashed. He is immediately faced with an horrendous choice, commit acts of terrible violence or lose his entire family. There is a rather slewed morality going on here but also an horrific snowball effect as violence leads to violence.
This story certainly pulls you through, wanting, indeed needing, to know the outcome. There is a twist and then a little extra twist at the end for good measure.
This story certainly pulls you through, wanting, indeed needing, to know the outcome. There is a twist and then a little extra twist at the end for good measure.
June 19, 2015
Lovely little horror story. I was hooked the moment I read this line: "I had no idea what waited for me on the stoop when I opened my front door that morning. If I had known, I would have barricaded the entry, thrown every piece of furniture against the door, and hunkered down with my family to wait out the thing that knocked politely and wouldn’t go away."
I love this story, I loved the ending, and I love the questions that are lingering in my mind about the little man with the black suit and hat. And I'm praying he never shows up on my doorstep ... If he hasn't already.
I love this story, I loved the ending, and I love the questions that are lingering in my mind about the little man with the black suit and hat. And I'm praying he never shows up on my doorstep ... If he hasn't already.
December 1, 2015
Knock knock..... don't you dare open the door
A lovely sunny day at home with the family. Children being their naughty selves, wife going about her work, when there is a knock on the door. You unassumingly open the door to find a stranger. Suddenly your whole life changes.Are you willing to you trade your soul for the lives of your family? How far will you go to protect them?
An absolutely fantastic short story that had me hooked till the end. A neat little package of a thriller that will certainly creep you out.
A lovely sunny day at home with the family. Children being their naughty selves, wife going about her work, when there is a knock on the door. You unassumingly open the door to find a stranger. Suddenly your whole life changes.Are you willing to you trade your soul for the lives of your family? How far will you go to protect them?
An absolutely fantastic short story that had me hooked till the end. A neat little package of a thriller that will certainly creep you out.
January 13, 2014
This was the first time I have ever read anything by Joe Hart, but man does it leave me wanting to read more. As soon as I read the opening lines, I knew that this was going to be one that either I loved or hated. No in between. I was on the edge the whole time, and without giving anything away, it was packed with excitement, terror, and dread.
Definitely will be checking out more from this author!
Definitely will be checking out more from this author!
Read
March 7, 2014This was a fantastic short story, with the most mouth watering parts at the beginning and the end. The premise and suspense makes you speed through the story, always unsure of what is happening next but needing to know what the endgame is, much like the main character. And the ending is a huge payoff, something you trust the author will provide while reading since he shows such great skill in plot and in prose. Like any good ending, the finish is just a new beginning.
March 30, 2014
This was a fantastic short story which kept me on the edge of the seat throughout. The fear and anguish in the protagonist was tangible, which made the story feel alive. I am looking forward to reading more work from this author.
August 13, 2016
This was a free book off Amazon and admittedly not my normal genre but it was free so why not.
What a pleasant surprise the book passed all my expectations and I enjoyed it very much.
I will be certainly looking to read more of his work.
What a pleasant surprise the book passed all my expectations and I enjoyed it very much.
I will be certainly looking to read more of his work.
July 3, 2013
What I liked most about this story was that it gave no easy answers. You never find out what's lies and what's the truth, and who is an agent of evil or good. Leaves you wondering, which I like =)
April 17, 2014
Short short story that wasn't really scary but a decent good-night read.
August 10, 2014
short but really interesting read :)
January 18, 2015
Brilliant, chilling short story (a free Kindle).
September 20, 2015
Wow
This tale might have been short but it definitely sent a clear message. Sometimes it takes bad to do good.
This tale might have been short but it definitely sent a clear message. Sometimes it takes bad to do good.
February 14, 2016
Really creepy. And while it was also extremely short, it felt longer while reading it, if that makes any sense at all.
February 27, 2016
This is a strong 3 because the plot was unique to me and there was a strong uncertainty throughout the entire short story concerning the real reason the protagonist did the things he did.
August 13, 2019
Well thank god this was a short story because it was so predictable. Haven't we seen this cliché so many times that it is so boring. The writing was nice though but the story was boring.
March 18, 2020
You know when you’ve stood in line for hours to ride the coolest rollercoaster just to be disappointed because it lasted a mere 30 seconds? That was this book. Super short but super good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews