The Blanks

The Shivers Collection

By: Grady Hendrix

Narrated by: 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.

Just finished and I am not okay …

… but that’s the point of the story, right? How in the heck does Grady Hendrix get the narrator’s voice so right because I swear I’ve met this family a dozen times. Mild spoiler: parents, brace yourselves.

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.

Pretty fun!

Took a long while for the story to really kick in, but I was looking for spooky and this hit the mark!

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.

Ending will make you angry.

Book was super intense, and kept my interest. Would not have read if I knew, it didn’t have a HEA. I don’t like books that are not happily ever after. I don’t understand how a mother would not fight for her children.

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 !

Wish it could continue..

This was very good. Unfortunately it ended too soon and I wanted it to continue! Who is the real monster?

Excellent Short Horror story!

Well written, great narrator very entertaining! Excellent for young readers as well, 11 years plus. Grady Hendrix just knows how to creep with the creepy!

New twist!

I liked the fact that the characters didn’t do what was expected and it was a new twist, which can be hard to find when all you read is horror. Packed a quick punch!!