ATTENTION, Please hide at the back of the store immediately.
I'm at a Bluemart, on a diaper run with my kids, when I hear the message over the loudspeakers. The other shoppers descend into a panic. And so do I. There was a tornado warning earlier--is it about it hit us?
But as more messages come over the speakers, it seems to be something else entirely. Attention, please stay out of sight of security cameras. Attention, please hide all food and open wounds.
My husband, kids, and I scramble for a hiding place. But I hear something coming down the aisle, and I can't help thinking-
I like retail centric horror and zombies so of course I couldn't not read this book once it came to my attention.
I really enjoyed the story and the characters which were compelling and easy to root for but I wish it hadn't been told in so many alternating first person POVs. I thought that the settings were well utilized, and the characters' progression made sense. Overall, I thought it was a very well executed low commitment zombie story.
Nehu, Mike, Amy, Ethan, Pat and Henry are all at the supermart getting groceries. Thence the intercom blares out a message for all the customers.
They don’t know what to do with the orders, but they panic and run. They are following the instructions of the intercom blaster.
At times they are frozen in their tracks and forced into disarray as they watch the pandemonium that is a free-for-all, and all around them. The store is in total chaos. They don’t know what to do with their own feet at times.
The intercom keeps going off and they keep trying to run away from the workers who work in the store.
This is the worst situation they have ever experienced and they are not even able to hide decently because of the fact that they are just so afraid.
Blair Daniels is an absolutely amazing writer. I’ve purchased some of her books and I never thought about reading them, right away.
But now that I’ve read Attention, Shoppers, and I see how good it is, I intend to read them all. I’m putting them on my reading list.
I just hope they are as good as this book. The book is not perfect, but it’s still pretty good and well written. I think it’s a very good book so I’ll be giving it…
I was very happy to see one of Blair Daniels' best stories get revised and expanded into a full book. The story has very strong The Mist vibes, though with zombies. It was suspenseful, in a dark way, as the mystery slowly unfolds and the real horror is revealed. There are many clever moments, some gore, and a lot of suspense. However, I would have really liked to have seen more from the POV of the (people who turned into) zombies themselves, especially since they are mentioned in a moving way in the end. It would have been nice to have their viewpoint along with the other characters'.
In any case, I really enjoyed this story and had a hard time putting it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Imagine it, you're in the grocery store, doing your regular, mundane thing. And then an alarming messages comes over the intercom. Is it a tornado? Something worse? As you stand in confusion, the messages continue, getting more and more strange. And then you see it. One of them anyway. You run for cover, safety, something . . .
I absolutely love it when an author takes a piece of everyday boring life and fluid it on its head, turning into horror. I'm not usually a Dan of zombie stories, in fact, I steer clear for the most part. But this was intriguing.
It's a well written short novel with excellent characters. Suspense and thrilling twists kept me captivated. Editing errors annoyed me, for which I was forced to remove a star from my rating. Still, I highly recommend this book.
I've read a lot of Blair Daniels' work, and I thought this was one of her stronger pieces! A full standalone story gave us time to get to know the characters and have some resolution, which I appreciated, and I thought the plot was interesting and well-written. My only critiques would be that the characters at some point felt inconsistent, and there were some foreshadowing/mysteries that never got resolved, but these didn't really detract from the story. I'd definitely recommend this if you're a fan of longer-form nosleep-style stories, or looking for an engaging read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Short but really enjoyable read that was basically about zombies in Walmart. I really enjoyed how well we got to know the characters throughout the story even though it was short, it made the story far more compelling than it otherwise would have been. I wish it was longer and gave a few more answers/details but overall just a fun read! ✋🏻🧟♀️🚰🛒
originally read this as a short story in one of this authors books and they turned it into a book. not a bad premises. imagine shopping in a store and an announcement comes on the intercom telling you to get to the back of the store and stay out of the open. a group of shoppers get to live that. who gets to make it out alive?
I typically don't like reading books that switch from multiple perspectives, but this one was really enjoyable and fitting for the plot. I could visualize the story so well and almost see it as a show. The way that Blair Daniels depicts action scenes is amazing
The book was good. It was exhausting, consuming, smothering. You felt like every turn was the wrong one. Every minute you survived you were on borrowed time. The different POV’s around the store was a nice touch. It offered multiple perspectives and personalities. Everyone had something to live for … or die for.
The rating would have been higher but, it’s just not my type of book. Wish details were a bit more expanded on. End was good though!
Attention, Shoppers is the second book in Everyday Horror short stories by Blair Daniels. Attention, Shoppers grabbed my attention from the first page and never let go. I love books like Attention, Shoppers and cannot get enough. I want them to go on forever never ending.
The world-building in Attention, Shoppers is awesome. I just wish it had been longer. I can’t wait to read more stories in the Everyday Horror series. Attention, Shoppers held on to its secrets right up until the end. The moment I started reading Attention, Shoppers I was hooked. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the book until I had read the last page.
The suspense of what was happening to the employees at Bluemart kept me hanging on wanting to know what was causing them to act like that. Attention, Shoppers may be a short story but it sure does pack a big punch.
The writing style is awesome. It reminds me so much of Stephen King, how he grabs your attention and dangles it in your face, and just when you think he is going to drop the ball the tension and suspense ramp up, and when you least expect it bam it hits you in the face and you are off racing to the end again waiting for more.
Attention, Shoppers reminds me of Stephen King’s The Mist but without the zombies but it also reminds me of The Walking Dead because of the zombies and the characters. I only had one teeny tiny problem with Attention, Shoppers is that it is too short. I would love to have read more and get to know the characters better. Oh, I do love Attention, Shoppers very much.
Attention, Shoppers reminds me of Stephen King’s The Mist because they are trapped in a grocery store the Bluemart. At first, you, the reader have no idea what is happening but neither do the customers.
Imagine shopping at night when the store is about to close and a warning comes over the loudspeaker telling you not to leave the story to move to the back of the store. Then you are told that it is a tornado. Then the employees start acting strange and doing strange things and the next thing you know you are being chased through the store and running for your life.
If you are a fan of Stephen King, The Mist, or The Walking Dead then I highly suggest that you grab a copy of Attention, Shoppers today for a horrifying experience!
I discovered Blair Daniels's writing on, of all places, Reddit; being a sucker for good-quality horror fiction, I happened upon one of their serialised stories on the r/nosleep subReddit.
Since then, I've been hooked to Blair's writing for its perfect balance of engaging prose, solid plotlines and great ideas. The originality in every story I read has been remarkable, given just how difficult it is to get horror fiction right.
All of this and more is present in Attention Shoppers (the shorter version of which I had read on Blair's Reddit). Blair, true to form, scares the bejeezus out of their readers, and does so in a sustained manner. The dread builds gradually and stealthily, and you don't even realise that you're reading with a knot in your stomach and while holding your breath.
Most importantly, Attention Shoppers is such an addictive read, which is the hallmark of Blair's writing. I could not stop till I had finished. I would 10/10 recommend this to anyone who wants to read great horror fiction and have their blood run cold! Cannot wait to read more of Blair's long-format writing as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ATTENTION, SHOPPERS: Please hide at the back of the store immediately.
I'm at a Bluemart, on a diaper run with my kids, when I hear the message over the loudspeakers. The other shoppers descend into a panic. And so do I. There was a tornado warning earlier--is it about it hit us?
But as more messages come over the speakers, it seems to be something else entirely. Attention, shoppers: please stay out of sight of security cameras. Attention, shoppers: please hide all food and open wounds.
My husband, kids, and I scramble for a hiding place. But I hear something coming down the aisle, and I can't help thinking-
This is how we die.
What an absolutely brilliant read. Loved the plot and storyline that kept me gripped. Wonderful well fleshed out characters. I can't wait to read what the author does next.
I read a complimentary advanced copy of the book and this is my honest voluntary review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Told from multiple POVs, the book begins with cryptic warnings broadcast over the intercom of a "Bluemart" instructing patrons to hide in the back of the store and avoid employees and security cameras.
I enjoyed the Reddit short story that grew into this longer tale, and Blair Daniels is a consistently high quality writer, so I wanted to check this out. I'm also enjoying seeing Daniels explore longer formats.
However, the novella format just didn't work for me here. I found the chapters after the first (a modification of the original short story) to be tedious and uninteresting, and ended up quitting after a third of the book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I've read a lot of Blair Daniels, including the short story this novella is based on, and tend to really enjoy her work. Attention, Shoppers is one of those stories that opens up very strongly and makes you crave more. Sadly, I feel like it didn't work as well this time in the longer form. It seems like Blair was trying to give the fans what they wanted but didn't necessarily have a fully fleshed-out plan. It ended up feeling somewhat flat and formulaic after the initial scares are over. That said, it's a quick read and still enjoyable but there is much better out there from her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve been following Blair since the first Don’t Scream. Her power to connect daily trivia in ordinary people’s life to fear in an unconventional way.
Details inside the grocery store takes anyone who’s been to any “mart” right into the book to be with the characters who I could relate to in many ways. My favorite part of the book is how these regular people’s lives are valued instead of being used as pawns. A big plus especially for a horror story.
If anything needs to be approved, to me it’s perhaps the ending which I found a bit abrupt. More like a short story than a novel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As a huge fan of all her work, I jumped at the chance to read this extended version of a story I had previously read. The view points from the different characters made the situation definitely more interesting and immersive to see how the events unfolded for each of the unfortunate people standing together when the first message comes over the loud speakers. It was very easy to picture everything that was going on, and leaving one constantly wondering what is going to happen next. Excellent read as always, and look forward to more of her work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
”However, at this time, it appears that the only ones who have gone "feral" are the workers at these locations.”
Imagine you’re shopping at your local Walmart, then all of a sudden an employee comes on the intercom telling you “attention shoppers, please head to the back of the store, stay away from the windows, and cover any wounds and don’t speak to any Walmart employee” how freaked out would you be? I know my anxiety would be on 100000% especially if I had my daughters with me 👀 this book was a fun, creepy, zombie apocalyptic read. I really love Blair Daniel’s books, she really knows how to creep you out😂 I always say, these big retail corporations don’t care about their employees and after reading this book…that’s a big YUP on that lol
A tornado is coming to Bluemart… or something worse. Why would they lock everyone inside? Maybe because whatever’s happening inside is worse than what’s happening outside.
This cool zombie novella is made even more believable & engaging by the victims trying to figure out what’s causing this instead of just going full apocalyptic commando lol. Might seem like too many perspectives but the different 1st person POVs fleshed out the story and heightened the tension.
The reveal of why the Bluemart employees became zombified was a hideously perfect critique of today’s BS capitalist hustle culture.
I'm an absolute sucker for novels set in one location - Inside Number Nine is my favourite TV show! - so I was already sold on this novel before starting it. It's short and sweet, with an interesting cast of characters, both likeable and unlikeable and packs in a lot of action. The writing style is nice and clean and well-paced, and it's a quick and fun read - perfect for reading on the sofa with a cuppa, and easily read in one sitting.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I've been a fan of Blair's work for awhile and was excited to see this story fleshed out from a reddit post of theirs that I had really enjoyed - it certainly lived up to my expectations. The characters are well written and believable, the atmosphere is creepy and tension-filled, and the story is engaging and fun. It gave me Dawn of the Dead and Sorry to Bother You vibes while still feeling fresh and original. I couldn't put it down!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Attention Shoppers is a gripping short story that wastes no time pulling you in. Told through multiple POVs, it follows everyday people grabbing last-minute items before closing time—until a chilling announcement over the store intercom changes everything: “Attention shoppers, please hide at the back of the store immediately.”
What starts as confusion quickly spirals into fear. Is it a tornado? A virus? Something worse? The story masterfully builds tension with each new announcement, and the lack of clear answers only adds to the dread. I found myself just as anxious and confused as the characters, clinging to every word, trying to figure out what was really happening.
This story keeps you on edge from start to finish, blurring the line between the mundane and the terrifying. With an atmosphere of growing panic and mystery, Attention Shoppers leaves you desperate for more—and dreading what might come next.
Blair Daniels has done it again with another short horror. I went it with high expectations and they were met. She delivers everytime and it's like she gets better with each horror story she writes. This book is a total page turner and it just pulled me in from the very first page until the last, I loved it. Definitely recommending this if you're a horror fan and into zombie apocalypse scenarios.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I've been a fan of Blair Daniel's NoSleep stories for years and this book definitely lives up to her reputation.
Her storytelling is on point, with just the right amount of suspense and creepiness. The characters are interesting, the twists keep you guessing, and the eerie vibes are perfect.
If you love a good scare, you’ll love this book. It’s gripping, exciting, and everything you’d want from a horror novel. Five stars all the way!
This is not my first experience reading Blair Daniels’ work and it truly did not disappoint. The perspective the story is told in is a totally fresh take and it kept me glued to the pages. I didn’t plan on finishing this one in one sitting but before I knew it I was at the last page and hungry for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
fun little zombie apocalypse story. i do have some issues with how this book is categorized
for one …. it is in no way a collection of short stories. it is one story from multiple points of view. i also don’t understand why this was under the LGBT+ category. it really isn’t gay at all. one girl is bi but currently dating a man, and one lady mentions she has a gay daughter. that’s it. both the couples are hetero. so kind of disappointed by that
I don't read too many zombie related books, so I was pleasantly surprised and how much I enjoyed this. We have changing POVs, but there's only a handful of characters, so it never felt jarring, and each one was unique for the most part from the others. The catalyst for said zombies was a fun idea, something I wouldn't be surprised by in big corporations! If you're looking for a quick, fun zombie book, this one is worth the time. 4 stars for entertainment.
Blair Daniels has done it again, kept me on the edge of my seat, needing to know how it all turns out. In a mega department store, the public address system comes alive and says: "Attention, shoppers! Move to the back of the store. This is not a drill!" After some confusion, the remaining people follow the instructions. All too soon, it's apparent that something is terribly wrong. You see, the employees of "Blue Mart" are attacking the customers...and killing them.