Smashed. Wrecked.. Gone...

by Jason Nickey

What starts as a night of celebration ends up in a battle for survival when Carol and her husband, Phil, see a strange creature on the road and wreck their truck.

Genres: Short Stories

29 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2024

Reviews

[renee w · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 glorious ⭐️ Phil and Carol McCarthy, head out for a night of celebration. When they suddenly wrecked their truck things take a turn, survival instincts kick in and memories come flying back . Nickey has executed yet another incredible story with twists like no one else can execute . I highly recommend this and all his work to everyone !

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief twists into something far darker here, where loss doesn’t just haunt, but it distorts reality itself. Unsettling and emotional, it blurs the line between mourning and madness

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought it was good and then BAM, killer twist ending.

[Stuart Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Nickey never fails to impress!!

[Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn’t ask for your attention it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.From the first page, Smashed. Wrecked… Gone… feels like standing in front of a fogged-up mirror, knowing something is on the other side… and realizing it’s already watching you. Jason Nickey delivers a psychological horror that’s raw, claustrophobic, and deeply unsettling in the best way.
This isn’t jump-scare horror.
This is slow rot horror.
The kind that seeps under your skin and lives there.
Nickey plays with themes of loss, destruction, and the terrifying erosion of identity. The pacing is relentless short, sharp moments that feel like fragments of a mind coming apart. Every chapter adds pressure. Every page feels like something is being taken from you… and you don’t even realize what until it’s already gone.
What really makes this book hit is how personal it feels. The horror isn’t some distant monster it’s grief, memory, regret, and the quiet realization that some things can’t be fixed once they’re broken. By the end, I just sat there like… wow.
That ending? Absolutely wrecked me.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing spin on a very used trope by this talented author and in the brief space of a short story! I cannot reveal what the trope is to not spoil it, but believe me it is good!

Once again, the author manages to create such an emotional build up, right to the end with an amazing twist that is testament to the author’s talent. The narrator of the audiobook Carietta Dorsch is also a contributor to how great this story is!

If you haven’t read anything by this author, this is a perfect story to start from!

Thanks to the author for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.

[J.M. Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook version of this (The narrator did an incredible job, if you’re into audiobooks go give it a listen))

This is an eerie, beautifully written short. Phil and Carol get into a wreck and a strange creature wreaks havoc. This story is full of twists, and woven in flashbacks, and an incredible, heart-wrenching twist!

[Abbaswillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series so far. This was going to be a 3.5 star read for me until the last couple pages. I did not see that coming! I am a big horror fan and it's hard for me not to predict an ending but this time I did not. This series is a great collection of unique quick reads. A must add to your horror TBR !

[Meredith Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version. Its a very quick story, and starts out present day with a husband and wife who's kids are grown and out of the house, but flashes between the present and the past to when the kids are younger and still at home. The story had a surprise ending that broke my heart.

[Nicole Rubbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple is traveling one night and a strange creature appears on the road and wrecks their vehicle. What happens next is unexpected and twisted.
Jason Nickey's work is consistently great. This short story is part of an upcoming group of stories and I can't wait to see what else he comes up with.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love grief horror stories

[William Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the new audiobook… wow, what a ride!

[Erin Sterett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, with a hell of a twist at the end!

[Lauren Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg the ending!!!!!! Loved this short quick read!!!! This author can really pull off a twist ending!!!!

[Mel Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fast, gut punch of story. Great narration. I Highly recommend for anyone and everyone!

[Niamhyyy12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Great short read, the twist at the end was good! I really enjoyed these short stories! Sad that I’ve read them all 😩

[Bigbookgeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story goes hard and really plays with your mind, as Jason Nickey is quite good at doing. Loads of emotion and fright packed into the pages, a great horror short!

[ChanaReadsHorror · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story was written so well.The audiobook narrator was also amazing.
This story was done so well I was hooked from the start and when the ending hit, IT HIT. If you are looking for something to read that will jump start you back into reading, this is one you will want to check out.
I was given a copy of the audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review