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.

Blank, indeed.

I'm a die-hard Grady Hendrix fan, but The Blanks felt more like a writing prompt than a finished story. Just when things were ramping up, the story mumbled “never mind” and wandered off.

And Moniqua Plante’s narration? Yikes. Every line was delivered like she was clutching pearls in a bad courtroom drama. It was so overcooked, I half expected the next chapter to be sponsored by stale wine and emotional manipulation.

If Hendrix wrote this as a lark, I hope he had fun — but as a listener, I sure didn’t.

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 !

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.

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.

Disappointing

A build up to more questions…and I’m a fan of his work. Bummer. The Shivers collection was a big meh.