Dig

By: Dan Dillard

Narrated by: Mary Lake

For seven generations, a member of the Gates family has been digging the same hole, drawn to the task by a force none of them can explain. What waits at the bottom of that hole could end the world. Loretta is the latest in the Gates bloodline, and having no children, she will be the last.

Rusty Clemmons is home for his twentieth high school reunion. He is rethinking life and trying not to dwell on the past. He notices changes in his hometown of Smithville...strange behaviors, the odd smell. Everything points back to the hole Loretta Gates is digging. As the evil boils to the surface, Rusty must decide if he should help...or if he should run.

©2014, 2024 Daniel P Dillard (P)2025 Daniel P Dillard

Delightful

DIG is a masterclass in atmospheric horror, blending grit, grief, and the grotesque into a dark tale that lingers long after the final word. Dillard’s writing is razor sharp-his dialogue-as always-flows with such natural cadence it feels overheard rather than written, and his scene-setting is effortless yet immersive. You don’t just read his world; you fall into it, clawing your way through layers of dirt and dread alongside the characters.

The story itself is a chilling exploration of what lies buried-physically and psychologically-and Dillard refuses to pull punches. The pacing is tight, and the emotional undercurrent runs deep, giving the horror weight without ever slowing the momentum.

Mary Lake’s narration is the perfect match for Dillard’s prose. Her performance is steady, compelling, and emotionally rich. She brings the characters to life with clarity and nuance, never overplaying the horror but letting it breathe in just the right moments.

Together, Dillard and Lake deliver a haunting, high-quality experience that feels professional, personal, and profoundly disturbing in all the right ways. DIG isn’t just a horror story. It’s a descent.

Highly enjoyable!

A great story by the author and brought to life with amazing narration by Mary Lake.