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Duke
Duke was always a good boy but when an ominous cloud rises out of the darkness something happens that changes everything. "As he lies in his doghouse, he begins to hear the high-pitched humming grow louder and louder until his ears perk up. He slowly stands and cocks his head in the direction of where it is coming from before he emits a low threatening growl. His body stiffens as if to alert his owner of an unknown dangerous presence. However, when the sound becomes almost deafening, he peeks out and sees the huge black cloud circle around his owner’s house."
25 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
M.D. LaBelle
100 books121 followersM.D. LaBelle is an award-winning author crowned by her readers as Queen of mind-gripping psychological thrillers, horror, romance, mystery and fantasy. She is also the 2025 BookTok Indie Author Awards winner in 4 categories, has won numerous other awards and has written over 80 books in many genres.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 21, 2025
Duke by M.D. LaBelle
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow!! This is an intense and grief filled short thriller story. Duke is the loving family dog who changes drastically when he’s strangely infected.
This is a short story that is super engaging and very well written!
I listened to the audio version and it was a great way to “read” this story. Very entertaining!
*I recommend reading/listening to this fast book!*
Everyone loves dogs… right? 🐶🐾🩸
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow!! This is an intense and grief filled short thriller story. Duke is the loving family dog who changes drastically when he’s strangely infected.
This is a short story that is super engaging and very well written!
I listened to the audio version and it was a great way to “read” this story. Very entertaining!
*I recommend reading/listening to this fast book!*
Everyone loves dogs… right? 🐶🐾🩸
December 28, 2025
Duke is a short story about a faithful family dog that is suddenly swarmed by a horde of mosquitos as it lounges in the summer air. They bite, crawl, and menace the dog for mere seconds before disappearing as quickly as they came. Later, when his owner attempts to feed him, Duke responds by nearly biting her finger off, but not in an angry manner, just a mishap that goes wrong. But when she goes to town to have her wound looked at it is when Duke shows off his ‘new’ self, and the carefree mutt’s next victim is an innocent rabbit.
As it turns out, the mosquitos have left something within him through their bites and in the crevices that they explored during the swarm. Something that changes him and he begins to act like a dog that has been bitten by a rabid fox. With the difference being, Duke seems to switch from cute and cuddly to a terror on a dime.
The next bite that he takes from his master is far worse than just what he’d done to her finger, and he doesn’t stop there. It’s just too bad that he didn’t bury his toy when he was done with her, because her family has to experience it when Duke drags the carcass across the front yard to them.
What happens next? Pick up M.D. Labelle’s short story and enjoy it for yourself! I’ve read short stories by other authors before and I found Duke, Who’s My Good Boy to be a very enjoyable read.
As it turns out, the mosquitos have left something within him through their bites and in the crevices that they explored during the swarm. Something that changes him and he begins to act like a dog that has been bitten by a rabid fox. With the difference being, Duke seems to switch from cute and cuddly to a terror on a dime.
The next bite that he takes from his master is far worse than just what he’d done to her finger, and he doesn’t stop there. It’s just too bad that he didn’t bury his toy when he was done with her, because her family has to experience it when Duke drags the carcass across the front yard to them.
What happens next? Pick up M.D. Labelle’s short story and enjoy it for yourself! I’ve read short stories by other authors before and I found Duke, Who’s My Good Boy to be a very enjoyable read.
April 23, 2026
Duke by M. D. LaBelle is one of those short reads that lingers longer than you expect. What starts as a simple story about a loyal dog quickly shifts into something far more eerie and unsettling. The moment the mysterious black cloud appears, the tone changes completely, and you can feel the tension build through Duke’s reactions.
What I appreciated most was how the story is told through Duke’s perspective. His instincts, his alertness, and his protective nature make the danger feel real even before we fully understand it. The humming sound and the slow approach of the unknown threat were described in a way that genuinely gave me chills.
It’s a compact story, but it doesn’t feel rushed. Instead, it focuses on mood and suspense, letting the reader sit in that growing sense of dread. If you enjoy supernatural hints mixed with emotional depth and animal centered storytelling, this is definitely worth your time.
What I appreciated most was how the story is told through Duke’s perspective. His instincts, his alertness, and his protective nature make the danger feel real even before we fully understand it. The humming sound and the slow approach of the unknown threat were described in a way that genuinely gave me chills.
It’s a compact story, but it doesn’t feel rushed. Instead, it focuses on mood and suspense, letting the reader sit in that growing sense of dread. If you enjoy supernatural hints mixed with emotional depth and animal centered storytelling, this is definitely worth your time.
April 23, 2026
This story stands out because it uses a dog’s instincts as the lens for something supernatural. Duke isn’t just a background pet he’s the emotional core of the narrative. His reactions to the strange humming and the looming black cloud are what drive the suspense.
The writing is simple but effective, especially in building tension. I found myself imagining the scene vividly: the quiet night, the rising sound, and that unnatural presence circling the house. It creates a strong sense of unease without needing overly complicated descriptions.
My only wish is that it were a bit longer. The concept is intriguing enough that I wanted more exploration of the mysterious force. Still, for a short read, it delivers a solid and memorable experience.
The writing is simple but effective, especially in building tension. I found myself imagining the scene vividly: the quiet night, the rising sound, and that unnatural presence circling the house. It creates a strong sense of unease without needing overly complicated descriptions.
My only wish is that it were a bit longer. The concept is intriguing enough that I wanted more exploration of the mysterious force. Still, for a short read, it delivers a solid and memorable experience.
April 23, 2026
What makes this story work so well is its restraint. It doesn’t try to over explain the mystery, which actually makes the black cloud feel more threatening. The unknown is what drives the fear.
Duke as a character is incredibly compelling. His loyalty and instinct to protect his owner add emotional weight to the story. You’re not just reading about a strange event you’re experiencing it through a creature that senses danger before humans do.
The humming sound detail was especially effective. It builds gradually and creates a sense of inevitability, like something is coming and cannot be stopped. For such a short piece, it’s impressively immersive.
Duke as a character is incredibly compelling. His loyalty and instinct to protect his owner add emotional weight to the story. You’re not just reading about a strange event you’re experiencing it through a creature that senses danger before humans do.
The humming sound detail was especially effective. It builds gradually and creates a sense of inevitability, like something is coming and cannot be stopped. For such a short piece, it’s impressively immersive.
April 23, 2026
This is a great example of how a simple premise can be turned into something gripping. The idea of a dog sensing something unnatural isn’t new, but the execution here feels fresh and focused.
The pacing is tight, and the tension builds steadily from the first strange sound to the appearance of the cloud. I liked how the story didn’t rely on dialogue but instead leaned into atmosphere and sensory detail.
Duke’s protective instincts are the heart of the story, and they make the stakes feel personal. Even though it’s a short read, it manages to create both suspense and emotional connection.
The pacing is tight, and the tension builds steadily from the first strange sound to the appearance of the cloud. I liked how the story didn’t rely on dialogue but instead leaned into atmosphere and sensory detail.
Duke’s protective instincts are the heart of the story, and they make the stakes feel personal. Even though it’s a short read, it manages to create both suspense and emotional connection.
April 23, 2026
There’s something deeply unsettling about this story, and I think it comes from how ordinary everything feels at the start. A quiet home, a loyal dog and then something unnatural creeps in.
The black cloud is described just enough to spark your imagination without fully defining it, which makes it more frightening. The sense of dread builds through Duke’s behavior, and that perspective makes the story stand out.
It’s the kind of short read that doesn’t rely on jump scares but instead creates a slow, creeping tension. By the end, I was left thinking about what exactly that presence was and that lingering mystery is what makes the story effective.
The black cloud is described just enough to spark your imagination without fully defining it, which makes it more frightening. The sense of dread builds through Duke’s behavior, and that perspective makes the story stand out.
It’s the kind of short read that doesn’t rely on jump scares but instead creates a slow, creeping tension. By the end, I was left thinking about what exactly that presence was and that lingering mystery is what makes the story effective.
July 23, 2025
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
This definitely had Cujo vibes. Even so, i enjoyed it. Duke was an adorable family dog, and something went wrong. The descriptions were very nasty, and you can definitely feel a mother's worry through the story. Not only that, you definitely have that feeling of dread as things progress. For a short story, it was rather good! The ending was definitely something to pull at your heartstrings.
This definitely had Cujo vibes. Even so, i enjoyed it. Duke was an adorable family dog, and something went wrong. The descriptions were very nasty, and you can definitely feel a mother's worry through the story. Not only that, you definitely have that feeling of dread as things progress. For a short story, it was rather good! The ending was definitely something to pull at your heartstrings.
February 21, 2025
Duke was a good boy, until he wasn't. When Duke growls at his owner Jenny, and bites her finger, she knows something is wrong. Only she doesn’t realise just how wrong.
This was a short, heart-breaking story and it really packed a punch. Poor Duke didn't want to be a bad boy. And he looks a lot like my Max, so it definitely hit home for me.
This was a short, heart-breaking story and it really packed a punch. Poor Duke didn't want to be a bad boy. And he looks a lot like my Max, so it definitely hit home for me.
February 18, 2026
Duke is a loving family dog that is infected with something evil and quickly turns into a monster. Reminds me of Cujo, with the villain being a pet that has no control over his urges and causes harm to those he loves. A quick, gory read that will have you looking at your dog in a different light! The narrator does a good job and adds a lot to the story.
March 18, 2025
A short, creepy horror story about a dog who was once such a good dog until something invests him.
Everything goes wrong when Duke gets infested by a swarm of bugs. He starts to become crazed and once he has the taste of blood, there's nothing else he wants.
Everything goes wrong when Duke gets infested by a swarm of bugs. He starts to become crazed and once he has the taste of blood, there's nothing else he wants.
July 13, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Gabrielle Moore.
This is a creepy, fantastic story. Duke is typically a good boy, well loved and adored by his family. That is until late one night, a black cloudy mist comes to visit.
This is a creepy, fantastic story. Duke is typically a good boy, well loved and adored by his family. That is until late one night, a black cloudy mist comes to visit.
March 22, 2025
A short little gory story the poor dog he was a good boy except when he wasn’t. After a mysterious cloud surround there farm Duke is infested with something that every so often drives him mad.
October 25, 2025
For a quick story this was solid work. Just what was needed right before Halloween . If your an animal lover especially dogs may it may be a hard read for you.
September 25, 2025
Duke was the perfect dog and everybody’s best friend and then one day he changed. This story was short but filled with blood and death. How would you handle it if your beloved pet suddenly started growling and trying to bite you? How would you protect your family and yourself? Jenny is faced with this dilemma. Great short story and perfect ending.
December 28, 2025
A Quick, gory, heart wrenching, scary, to the point read. Duke was a good boy til he wasn’t! Duke looks a lot like my Moose 🖤
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews