These Cold Strangers

We Could Be Heroes

By: J.T. Ellison

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 1 hr and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a chilling tale about how a reporter’s deep dive into a viral video challenges her preconceived notions of what being a hero really means.

When she recognizes the heroic stranger in a sensationalized news video, Addison Blake plans to use the information to her career’s advantage. That means returning to the hometown she left behind ten years ago, but her ambitions are more important than the ghosts of her past. She’s focused on breaking this story—as long as it doesn’t break her first.

J.T. Ellison’s These Cold Strangers is part of We Could Be Heroes, a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.

©2023 J.T. Ellison. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Okay Listen

I wasn't sure I would like this, but the writing and characters won me over. Good read and listen. I really enjoyed the performance by Brittany Pressley. This was my first time reading just J.T. Ellison, but I have read her "A Brit In The FBI" series with Catherine Coulter.

Good story albeit a little predictable

Enjoyed this brief read on my morning walk! Initially I was in suspense, but quickly put 2 and 2 together 🤔🤓! Well worth the low price of FREE!

A short tale.

A short tale about differ murders. It begins with a girls family being murdered by her boyfriend. She later moves away and becomes a writer. She then finds a video that goes viral of a guy she knew in high school that saved a man. She wants the story. So she goes to her hometown to see if he will give her the story. But he doesn't want to. While in her hometown, she finds out there are multiple women missing. And she ends up getting a little bit cozy with the guy whose video ended up viral. But, things take a turn for the worst.

Twists & Turns

A short Amazon, original with plenty of twists, and turns to keep you guessing. I think it takes a great storyteller to tell a good story in a short length.

Fantastic Short Story

Fantastic short story with layers of betrayal and mayhem.
Part of the Kindle Unlimited catalog.

Hero in disguise

The Good Samaritan. Considered a hero. Addison wants to drag him into the spotlight. Heroes come in many disguises.
…
Addison is a journalist looking to interview the hero who saved a man on the street. As a journalist she needs a groundbreaking story to further her career. She returns home where memories surface about that horrible incident in her families home.
…
These short stories pack a thriller punch. J.T. Ellison wrote a chilling story about a hero in disguise. This was the perfect piece to introduce a new author. Now I have to find a blacklisted book similar to this one to read.

Applause applause applause

Most audible original shorts, I find, are mildly entertaining. To my delight, Cold Strangers piles mysteries upon mysteries upon mysteries. Answering every question brought forth, the story feels complete. The pace is steady, No part feels rushed or drawn out. The characters are likeable. Their behaviors make sense. Not once did I roll my eyes. Genre seems to be Mystery.

Terrific narration. The accents feel natural. The tone is consistent with the story.

Such a Tough Life

Enjoyed reading that Madison persevered after the tragic death of her father mother and sister just to wind up in the hands of a known criminal. If there's such a thing as dumb luck, she has buckets of it.

3.5 Stars 🌟

This book is one of five stories in an anthology about heroes. I've been going through each of the stories fairly quickly and have enjoyed each of them. This one however is probably my least favorite so far. While I think it was supposed to be a psychological thriller, the format made it difficult for it to completely ensnare the reader. I think the shorter length did not give the author sufficient time to set the stage and build up the suspense necessary for this to be a successful thriller.

It felt more superficial and did not have the time to really build up the framework for this to make sense. It was kind of at the limit of my believability scale. Also, the character development felt rushed and I never really felt like I was rooting for the female protagonist. I wasn't rooting against her, I just didn't really feel any level of investment other than thinking, "Seriously?" when I realized what was happening.

I listened to this on audio and think that Brittany Pressley did a fine job. She was another first time author for me. All in all I have enjoyed this anthology.

WOW!!

An unexpected thrill and reveal!

This collection is a winner. Not very often do I enjoy EVERY. SINGLE. short story like this. Easy five stars to 3 of 5 stories in terms of entertainment. I decide not to bump some up for a little ranking to the collection.

Addison Blake is a blogger/journalist but needs a big story for a permanent position with The Post. A man becomes an overnight sensation when he helps save a life of an unconscious famous photographer. The event was caught on camera but nobody knows who this hero is. Addison thinks she recognizes his face.

Back in her small hometown of Marchburg, VA, Addison must relive her family's tragic past once more while chasing a story that could change her life.

This shorty is a riveting shocker. A must-read!!😱

🎧 Brittany Pressley! 1h 34m/63 pages