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The Garage
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07JLH89Y9
The only thing more frightening than driving down a deserted stretch of road in the middle of the night is realizing that you’re not alone.
It’s 1996 and high school sweethearts, Zoe and Stefano, are enjoying a valentine’s night in when Zoe realizes she is about to miss her midnight curfew. Worried about losing her car privileges, she jumps into her Ford Escort and begins the long and dark drive home. Meanwhile, Stefano is caught off guard by a troubling psychic premonition of blood – lots of blood.
As the clock ticks down to midnight, Zoe comes to the bone-chilling realization that she has a bigger problem than answering to her strict father about the time.
Will Zoe and Stefano survive the night?
If you like paranormal thrillers, don’t miss this fast paced short story.
The only thing more frightening than driving down a deserted stretch of road in the middle of the night is realizing that you’re not alone.
It’s 1996 and high school sweethearts, Zoe and Stefano, are enjoying a valentine’s night in when Zoe realizes she is about to miss her midnight curfew. Worried about losing her car privileges, she jumps into her Ford Escort and begins the long and dark drive home. Meanwhile, Stefano is caught off guard by a troubling psychic premonition of blood – lots of blood.
As the clock ticks down to midnight, Zoe comes to the bone-chilling realization that she has a bigger problem than answering to her strict father about the time.
Will Zoe and Stefano survive the night?
If you like paranormal thrillers, don’t miss this fast paced short story.
26 pages, ebook
Published October 20, 2018
77 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 13, 2021
The only thing more frightening than driving down a deserted stretch of road in the middle of the night is realizing that you’re not alone.
The garage by J. Dispenza
I seem to be in the minority on this one.
I..did not like this. Nor did I understand it at all.
The book is a thriller. The plot concerns Zoe and Stefano, two young sweethearts who just want to cuddle up on Valentine's day evening.
Stefano is a bit different than your average dude because he has visions. He can sometimes see images of what's to come.But the images are not always as clear as they could be.
And that night he has an image Zoe is in terrible danger.
That is all I will say. Did not enjoy. Found it off..I mean almost the whole story takes place in a car, in Zoe's mind, driving home. I did like that at first..the imagery..stopping at red lights..having this eerie sensation of being watched..I liked that. W hat woman who has ever driven late at night alone, through town would not relate?
But..suffice to say I hated the direction it shifted in. I disliked the gore. I disliked the misdirection of plot. I disliked the utter abruptness of the ending..I was like "that's it"?
Sorry but not for me..good..great writing..eerie story as it began be fore changing into a story that wasn't for me.
The garage by J. Dispenza
I seem to be in the minority on this one.
I..did not like this. Nor did I understand it at all.
The book is a thriller. The plot concerns Zoe and Stefano, two young sweethearts who just want to cuddle up on Valentine's day evening.
Stefano is a bit different than your average dude because he has visions. He can sometimes see images of what's to come.But the images are not always as clear as they could be.
And that night he has an image Zoe is in terrible danger.
That is all I will say. Did not enjoy. Found it off..I mean almost the whole story takes place in a car, in Zoe's mind, driving home. I did like that at first..the imagery..stopping at red lights..having this eerie sensation of being watched..I liked that. W hat woman who has ever driven late at night alone, through town would not relate?
But..suffice to say I hated the direction it shifted in. I disliked the gore. I disliked the misdirection of plot. I disliked the utter abruptness of the ending..I was like "that's it"?
Sorry but not for me..good..great writing..eerie story as it began be fore changing into a story that wasn't for me.
September 19, 2023
The Garage is a short story, quick read that is mostly set inside a car. Zoe is celebrating Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend when she realizes the time. Her father had told her that the next time she missed curfew; she would be grounded.
Stefano, her sweetheart, kisses her goodbye, but he gets a psychic flash that something will happen to her. He tries to tell her, but she is in such a hurry that, she does not get the full message of what he was trying to tell her. The story, set in her car, is a psychological replay of her night, and the last thing Stefano tells her. Although slightly suspenseful, it is really not a good story.
Stefano, her sweetheart, kisses her goodbye, but he gets a psychic flash that something will happen to her. He tries to tell her, but she is in such a hurry that, she does not get the full message of what he was trying to tell her. The story, set in her car, is a psychological replay of her night, and the last thing Stefano tells her. Although slightly suspenseful, it is really not a good story.
October 27, 2020
A young girl must be home by curfew or face the wrath of her father. As she's driving home along the lonely roads she realizes she is being followed. What could be more frightening?
This short story just wasn't for me. It had the potential to be a great horror story but it fell very flat towards the ending. The beginning and middle were good and creepy but completely fizzled out. My opinion only so many of you may really appreciate the way it was written.
I sadly have given a rating of 2 1/2 Fizzled 🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
This short story just wasn't for me. It had the potential to be a great horror story but it fell very flat towards the ending. The beginning and middle were good and creepy but completely fizzled out. My opinion only so many of you may really appreciate the way it was written.
I sadly have given a rating of 2 1/2 Fizzled 🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
May 27, 2022
This book was pretty good. I was able to get it for free on Amazon and I'm glad I did. It was well written and the pacing was great for a short story. I doubt this book was based off a true story but it was still interesting. I would recommend for a quick read.
March 19, 2020
This short read kept you guessing. Several unexpected twists in a short amount of time. Suspense was built up nicely.
February 28, 2022
Sweet, short, suspenseful. I wish it had lasted longer!
March 17, 2020
I love the way the author builds up the tension in the story. I would definitely recommend for those who enjoy a quick mysterious and chilling read. It captured my attention until the last word!
September 20, 2020
Spooky good
This is a quick spooky read! I loved the suspense when Zoe finally gets into the garage, and the ending was perfect
This is a quick spooky read! I loved the suspense when Zoe finally gets into the garage, and the ending was perfect
September 4, 2019
Great short horror read
Young girl, goes to see her boyfriend, on Valentine's day. She realized that she might be late for her curfew. Boyfriend, who has psychic visions, follows her home. Unexpected ending.
Young girl, goes to see her boyfriend, on Valentine's day. She realized that she might be late for her curfew. Boyfriend, who has psychic visions, follows her home. Unexpected ending.
September 30, 2020
Love it
This book kept my interest. I really thought she was being followed by someone else. Need to read this book the ending will surprise you.
This book kept my interest. I really thought she was being followed by someone else. Need to read this book the ending will surprise you.
November 22, 2020
Love it!!!
It's thrilling, quite creepy that supernatural quirk and totally 90's like it's so something teenagers of that time would do. Lastly, that unfortunate demise, well call me crazy but I just find it hilarious. I mean, what gives? 😂
It's thrilling, quite creepy that supernatural quirk and totally 90's like it's so something teenagers of that time would do. Lastly, that unfortunate demise, well call me crazy but I just find it hilarious. I mean, what gives? 😂
December 1, 2019
Well written short story with a lesson........If you're a psychic I guess you should work at developing your gift so that you see the whole picture.
April 20, 2020
What a thrilling bite-sized tale! The writing works well for this genre of short story, and the pacing and plotting are superb. As the story unfolded it's drama, I was delighted to find it was unexpected in almost every way. I'm glad I downloaded this for free on Amazon. I will be interested in reading a full length novel in the future from this writer.
August 14, 2020
Trebleclef heart...
Was a good fast read not very deep or detailed but as I said a fast 27 page read and enjoyable
Was a good fast read not very deep or detailed but as I said a fast 27 page read and enjoyable
July 11, 2023
This is a great quick, short psychological thriller of a story with a twist at the end you may not see coming. Anyone who loved the storytelling of the late, great Richard Laymon will appreciate this fun little romp of horror. Well done, Ms. Dispenza, well done. I will definitely be looking to read more from this author
May 2, 2020
Pretty good edge of your seat read.
July 14, 2018
Very fun fast read😀
December 10, 2018
Unconventionally scary, with an entirely unexpected ending. Awesome.
October 12, 2020
Spooky!
This twisty tale is a satisfying nugget that causes the reader to want more of Ms. Dispenza’s work. She has a flair for amping up the suspense that cries for longer form writings. Well done!
This twisty tale is a satisfying nugget that causes the reader to want more of Ms. Dispenza’s work. She has a flair for amping up the suspense that cries for longer form writings. Well done!
December 22, 2020
Great short story. Perfect for bedtime reading. Enjoyed the twist at the end.
July 22, 2018
Excellent short read with unexpected twists all the way through!
December 14, 2020
I chose this free short story on Amazon. Why is it that whenever I get a free book from Amazon, it’s usually not good? Can someone tell me? Like seriously! How did this story get so many good reviews? Maybe the idea behind was interesting, schmaybe, no not really, either way that ending was too unbelievable!
Questions/Comments:
Stick with one POV per scene for stories like this. There’s a single time after Zoe’s father (an unimportant side character) goes back into the house and the POV changes from Zoe’s to her father’s.
Zoe thought the fact Stefano had visions was hot…. Because why not?
Picture this: Zoe is driving in an area where there are no streetlights and it’s dark. There is tall grass on both sides of the street. If she’s driving fast, why does it seem unlikely she would have seen, much less noticed, “shadows up ahead”? A “moving object emerging from the tall grass.” It was a fox. Foxes are small, it was dark, she was driving fast… Need I say more?
When she arrives at home, she’s sitting in the garage because she’s scared about the stranger who’d been following her. Surprise! That stranger is magically right outside her driver-side door and has been standing, not doing anything, no knocking on her window, no talking, no acknowledging that she’s in the car or who he is. Several minutes go by and the stranger continues to just stand there. Why? Who knows?! Turns out the stranger is Stefano. Which makes even less sense as to why he just stood.
The way Stefano dies is hilarious because it makes no sense, is unbelievable, and outrageous. Listed below are the steps he followed to kill himself.
1. Step one: Hit the garage button to close the door and sneak out from under it. No worries, I’ve done that before myself.
2. Step two: Tangle himself in a hose. Apparently, while standing at the entrance/exit of the garage, he presses the button to close it and realizes he’s somehow now tangled in a hose. Where did that hose come from? The hose fairy of course!
3. Step three: Untangle himself from the hose. So he gets his foot out and tosses the hose to the side which ends up hitting a bucket that’s sitting on some cardboard boxes.
4. Step four: Knock the bucket over. The bucket falls and catapults a small hatchet. Where had the hatchet been exactly? No clue. Must have been a magical hatchet fairy. You have to keep up!
5. Step five: Stab himself with the hatchet. The hatchet flies through the air and lands right in Stefano’s larynx. How it managed to get that much momentum to fly through the air? Again, no clue.
6. Step six: Close the garage door. While all this craziness is going on, the garage door closes on his foot. Of course, it does. What year is this taking place in? Was there no sensor?
7. Step seven: Die. So Stefano somehow ends up being too far from the garage button even though he’d just closed it, so he dies.
8. End result? The next installment of “Final Destination” had now been created. Well done.
Questions/Comments:
Stick with one POV per scene for stories like this. There’s a single time after Zoe’s father (an unimportant side character) goes back into the house and the POV changes from Zoe’s to her father’s.
Zoe thought the fact Stefano had visions was hot…. Because why not?
Picture this: Zoe is driving in an area where there are no streetlights and it’s dark. There is tall grass on both sides of the street. If she’s driving fast, why does it seem unlikely she would have seen, much less noticed, “shadows up ahead”? A “moving object emerging from the tall grass.” It was a fox. Foxes are small, it was dark, she was driving fast… Need I say more?
When she arrives at home, she’s sitting in the garage because she’s scared about the stranger who’d been following her. Surprise! That stranger is magically right outside her driver-side door and has been standing, not doing anything, no knocking on her window, no talking, no acknowledging that she’s in the car or who he is. Several minutes go by and the stranger continues to just stand there. Why? Who knows?! Turns out the stranger is Stefano. Which makes even less sense as to why he just stood.
The way Stefano dies is hilarious because it makes no sense, is unbelievable, and outrageous. Listed below are the steps he followed to kill himself.
1. Step one: Hit the garage button to close the door and sneak out from under it. No worries, I’ve done that before myself.
2. Step two: Tangle himself in a hose. Apparently, while standing at the entrance/exit of the garage, he presses the button to close it and realizes he’s somehow now tangled in a hose. Where did that hose come from? The hose fairy of course!
3. Step three: Untangle himself from the hose. So he gets his foot out and tosses the hose to the side which ends up hitting a bucket that’s sitting on some cardboard boxes.
4. Step four: Knock the bucket over. The bucket falls and catapults a small hatchet. Where had the hatchet been exactly? No clue. Must have been a magical hatchet fairy. You have to keep up!
5. Step five: Stab himself with the hatchet. The hatchet flies through the air and lands right in Stefano’s larynx. How it managed to get that much momentum to fly through the air? Again, no clue.
6. Step six: Close the garage door. While all this craziness is going on, the garage door closes on his foot. Of course, it does. What year is this taking place in? Was there no sensor?
7. Step seven: Die. So Stefano somehow ends up being too far from the garage button even though he’d just closed it, so he dies.
8. End result? The next installment of “Final Destination” had now been created. Well done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2020
In such a short space of story the author definitely built up the suspense and had us questioning every little thing! In the end, it turned out to be something so completely different to what we expected that I think I'm still digesting what happened.
I honestly expected this to be like so many urban legends I've read so I was pleasantly surprised with how this one turned out! The ending was just CRAZY.
The only criticism I have is that we didn't really get introduced to Zoe, who the story focused around, and we were left to imagine her in our own mind. I feel the author could have taken an extra few lines to describe her.
I honestly expected this to be like so many urban legends I've read so I was pleasantly surprised with how this one turned out! The ending was just CRAZY.
The only criticism I have is that we didn't really get introduced to Zoe, who the story focused around, and we were left to imagine her in our own mind. I feel the author could have taken an extra few lines to describe her.
August 14, 2021
El detalle está en que podría ser una historia muy buena, pero no me gustó la manera de resolver los hechos.
Se hubiese podido sacar más provecho a que en realidad fuese un extraño quien entra a la casa de la protagonista, y aumentar así el nivel de tensión para que allí aparezca Stefano, pero no fue así. En lo personal, siento que faltó un poco más.
Se hubiese podido sacar más provecho a que en realidad fuese un extraño quien entra a la casa de la protagonista, y aumentar así el nivel de tensión para que allí aparezca Stefano, pero no fue así. En lo personal, siento que faltó un poco más.
December 16, 2023
The Garage wasn’t the worst thing I’ve read, but it was predictable and on the boring side. Nothing really happened except Zoe’s prophetic dream coming true. Based on the description, I expected a lot more, but it was anti-climatic.
November 3, 2018
Suspenseful short story written by a friend. Has hints of The Twilight Zone. Excellent read.
June 3, 2020
It should of been longer.
I would make 11 year old's read this book, it was way to short for me. I think it could of longer.
I would make 11 year old's read this book, it was way to short for me. I think it could of longer.
April 8, 2022
Nice
A very good short story! I loved the ending. Well written, and I loved the characters. Even if we only got to see them for a couple dozen pages. :)
A very good short story! I loved the ending. Well written, and I loved the characters. Even if we only got to see them for a couple dozen pages. :)
March 5, 2023
Don't read right before bed.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews