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Dig
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26The soil on Crow Island holds secrets, and they’re ready to be unearthed.
J.H. Markert returns with a surreal horror novel perfect for fans of Graveyard Shift and What Moves the Dead.
Eight years ago, a boy took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. That odd, troubled boy, Jericho Dodd, has been dead and buried in his father’s yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow Island has been a dark and unsettling place.
When Jericho’s father begins digging up the past he buried, a compulsion to dig sweeps over the island and soon everyone else is obsessively churning up dirt, desperate to uncover buried secrets. The compulsion leads to violence and as neighbors turn against each other, the island’s famous tupelo honey, harvested from trees deep in a swamp, changes too.
As dread and paranoia seep up from the ground, it becomes clear that the island itself needs something from its residents–before it digs itself apart for good.
Be careful what you unearth from the dirt before this surreal horror novel can worm its way into you, too.
J.H. Markert returns with a surreal horror novel perfect for fans of Graveyard Shift and What Moves the Dead.
Eight years ago, a boy took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. That odd, troubled boy, Jericho Dodd, has been dead and buried in his father’s yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow Island has been a dark and unsettling place.
When Jericho’s father begins digging up the past he buried, a compulsion to dig sweeps over the island and soon everyone else is obsessively churning up dirt, desperate to uncover buried secrets. The compulsion leads to violence and as neighbors turn against each other, the island’s famous tupelo honey, harvested from trees deep in a swamp, changes too.
As dread and paranoia seep up from the ground, it becomes clear that the island itself needs something from its residents–before it digs itself apart for good.
Be careful what you unearth from the dirt before this surreal horror novel can worm its way into you, too.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 24, 2026
14 people are currently reading
11493 people want to read
About the author
J.H. Markert
8 books939 followersAlso writes under James Markert.
J. H. Markert is a producer, screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville.
J. H. Markert is a producer, screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 19, 2025
Can you dig it???? Dig: A Thriller is dark, creepy, atmospheric, addictive, chilling, and horrific! To quote the author "I dug it."Dig: A Thriller was instantly gripping and I loved the eerie vibe which flowed throughout the book! This book also has dread, a whole lot of digging, acts of violence, and an ominous feel. I was drawn to this book like bees to honey. I could not put it down! J.H. Markert did not disappoint! You can feel that something isn't quite right, but what???
Crow Island has a dark and checkered past which involves slavery and violence. Those who live on the island come from families that have lived there for generations. The island is full of secrets tht run deep. To get to them, you might need to dig! Eight years ago, Jericho Dodd, a young and strange boy, picked up an axe and murdered a dozen people. When his father begins to dig, something is unleashed which causes those on the island to feel a compulsion to dig and acts of violence ensue...
As I mentioned this book was addictive and hard to put down. I loved the creepy and supernatural elements of the book. I also loved the folklore element of Boo Hags. You will need to read for yourself to find out more. I enjoyed the characters and how fleshed out they were from the overworked stressed Sheriff, to Amy, the twin of one of the victims of Jericho Dodd, and to Nate, Jericho's brother. I felt for all of them and rooted for them. As the book progresses all will be put to the test in one way or another.
I enjoyed how this book slowly gets under the reader's skin. I love books where you can feel the dread. You know how movies utilize music to build the suspense or to get viewers heart rates elevated? Most of us know the Jaws song that lets you know the shark is about to make an appearance, or the music in Star Wars, or the music in Halloween that lets us know Michael Myers is about, you get the picture. You might not be able to get the buzzing of bees out of your mind with this book! I thought J.H. Merkert did a great job of building the suspense and getting my heart rate elevated in Dig: A Thriller.
Dark, unsettling, addictive, well thought out, perfectly paced, and hard to put down!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Crow Island has a dark and checkered past which involves slavery and violence. Those who live on the island come from families that have lived there for generations. The island is full of secrets tht run deep. To get to them, you might need to dig! Eight years ago, Jericho Dodd, a young and strange boy, picked up an axe and murdered a dozen people. When his father begins to dig, something is unleashed which causes those on the island to feel a compulsion to dig and acts of violence ensue...
As I mentioned this book was addictive and hard to put down. I loved the creepy and supernatural elements of the book. I also loved the folklore element of Boo Hags. You will need to read for yourself to find out more. I enjoyed the characters and how fleshed out they were from the overworked stressed Sheriff, to Amy, the twin of one of the victims of Jericho Dodd, and to Nate, Jericho's brother. I felt for all of them and rooted for them. As the book progresses all will be put to the test in one way or another.
I enjoyed how this book slowly gets under the reader's skin. I love books where you can feel the dread. You know how movies utilize music to build the suspense or to get viewers heart rates elevated? Most of us know the Jaws song that lets you know the shark is about to make an appearance, or the music in Star Wars, or the music in Halloween that lets us know Michael Myers is about, you get the picture. You might not be able to get the buzzing of bees out of your mind with this book! I thought J.H. Merkert did a great job of building the suspense and getting my heart rate elevated in Dig: A Thriller.
Dark, unsettling, addictive, well thought out, perfectly paced, and hard to put down!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Review of advance copy received from Author
I dug it.
October 10, 2025
This is probably the scariest book ever written- nay, the scariest book that will ever BE written... about honey.
The sudden death of the Reverend Dodd, finding him with a stump hand covered in honey, and ultimately finding his diary will uncover the secrets about the massacre 8 years ago on the island. His 10 year old son killed a dozen people with an ax, ending with his suicide. Ten years old, yes, but also 6 feet tall. There was always something not right about that kid. The Sheriff, the reverend, his older brother Nate (now a teacher) and Nate's girlfriend at the time, Amy, who is also the twin sister of one of the victims.
As they put together what happened in the past with the sudden death of the reverend now, there is more and more about monsters, about the island itself, and red crows.
This has heavy Stephen King and Jurassic Park vibes. I can say that JH Markert's horror novels have exquisite pacing, and this is certainly no different. They are creepy, with great dialogue and reveals at just the right moment. You won't want to go to bed until you finish.... and once you finish you won't want to go to bed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. Book to be published March 24, 2026.
The sudden death of the Reverend Dodd, finding him with a stump hand covered in honey, and ultimately finding his diary will uncover the secrets about the massacre 8 years ago on the island. His 10 year old son killed a dozen people with an ax, ending with his suicide. Ten years old, yes, but also 6 feet tall. There was always something not right about that kid. The Sheriff, the reverend, his older brother Nate (now a teacher) and Nate's girlfriend at the time, Amy, who is also the twin sister of one of the victims.
As they put together what happened in the past with the sudden death of the reverend now, there is more and more about monsters, about the island itself, and red crows.
This has heavy Stephen King and Jurassic Park vibes. I can say that JH Markert's horror novels have exquisite pacing, and this is certainly no different. They are creepy, with great dialogue and reveals at just the right moment. You won't want to go to bed until you finish.... and once you finish you won't want to go to bed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. Book to be published March 24, 2026.
December 10, 2025
Dig drops you onto Crow Island, a fictional coast near Savannah that feels real enough to raise goosebumps. The Geechee and Gullah folklore is not window dressing. It is the heartbeat of this story. Boo hags, haints, rituals — they are alive on these pages. And yes, I fully went down the rabbit hole on boo hags and immediately regretted it because nothing prepares you for a skin-shedding spirit that rides your sleeping body and steals your breath. If that doesn’t terrify you, I cannot help you.
This book blends horror, history, supernatural dread, generational trauma, and buried family secrets until you have no choice but to dig for the truth right alongside the characters. Every layer uncovers another lie and another echo from centuries past. Markert handles it with intention. The human darkness and the otherworldly darkness show up with no apology.
I’m not gonna lie — this one got under my skin. I had nightmares. I switched to daytime reading like a coward and still couldn’t look away. Markert, a Kentucky author with a fearless storytelling style, built a world soaked in atmosphere and dread. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your dreams, or what would happen if your worst one came true, Dig belongs on your list immediately.
This book blends horror, history, supernatural dread, generational trauma, and buried family secrets until you have no choice but to dig for the truth right alongside the characters. Every layer uncovers another lie and another echo from centuries past. Markert handles it with intention. The human darkness and the otherworldly darkness show up with no apology.
I’m not gonna lie — this one got under my skin. I had nightmares. I switched to daytime reading like a coward and still couldn’t look away. Markert, a Kentucky author with a fearless storytelling style, built a world soaked in atmosphere and dread. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your dreams, or what would happen if your worst one came true, Dig belongs on your list immediately.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for giving me access to this ARC!
The premise of this book is very interesting, but unfortunately, I was not a fan of the way it was executed.
The three main characters--Amy, Nate, and Sheriff Kilbourne--were all theoretically interesting, but despite the book focusing very heavily on digging deep into their characters, all three of them felt somewhat...surface level to me. They did not feel particularly like real people who existed beyond this story, despite the depth the author tried to give them. Sheriff Kilbourne particularly does not have an arc that makes much sense or feels particularly satisfying by the conclusion.
A smaller gripe, but as a teacher Nate was set up immediately as an unlikable character. Part of his background is that he is a middle school teacher who is being placed on leave for grabbing a student hard enough to leave a bruise in order to stop a bullying incident. This is seemingly added to make Nate question if he might "snap" like his brother, but this never goes anywhere, is barely brought up, and Nate does not grow or experience introspection over it at all. More over, the fact that he *grabbed a middle student hard enough to leave a bruise* is treated as a nonissue that only became an issue because the student came from a wealthy family. The only other time it is brought up by Lauren, it is framed as something valiant and she says she told the principal if Nate went, she would also quit, thus saving him from suspension. Again, speaking as a middle school teacher, that entire chain of events is completely ridiculous and I am not a fan. I think it's just an example of knowing too much about what I'm reading, but I can assure you that's not how that would go at all and did not endear me to Nate at all. The fact that it leads absolutely no where and contributes virtually nothing to the book other than making Nate unlikable from the jump does not help.
Sheriff Kilbourne did not have to be a POV character. His arc does not feel meaningfully concluded at all. Moreover, he became a little annoying because the narrative changed between referring to him as Sheriff Kilbourne, Laurence, and Laurence Kilbourne seemingly at random. This wouldn't be jarring at all if it was how characters were referring to him, but this is happening within his own POV chapters.
Amy is interesting in theory and could have been set up for something great, but like Kilbourne he arc doesn't meaningfully go anywhere. More egregiously, she gets an epilogue boyfriend to try and compensate for it.
The plot is incredibly repetitive. It's unfortunate because again the premise and the reality of what was happening was all really cool.
The worst part for me is that in this Southern Gothic novel where characters are living on plantations the only living and named black character falls into the Magical Negro trope. The author tries to reckon with the violent and racist past of the descendants of racist slave owners, but it falls incredibly flat...and then to have that on top of a character falling into one of the most well known racist tropes in fiction? This seriously needed a black sensitivity reader or something because handled correctly, much like the plot and this flat cardboard characters, this could have been REALLY INTERESTING if handled correctly.
The premise of this book is very interesting, but unfortunately, I was not a fan of the way it was executed.
The three main characters--Amy, Nate, and Sheriff Kilbourne--were all theoretically interesting, but despite the book focusing very heavily on digging deep into their characters, all three of them felt somewhat...surface level to me. They did not feel particularly like real people who existed beyond this story, despite the depth the author tried to give them. Sheriff Kilbourne particularly does not have an arc that makes much sense or feels particularly satisfying by the conclusion.
A smaller gripe, but as a teacher Nate was set up immediately as an unlikable character. Part of his background is that he is a middle school teacher who is being placed on leave for grabbing a student hard enough to leave a bruise in order to stop a bullying incident. This is seemingly added to make Nate question if he might "snap" like his brother, but this never goes anywhere, is barely brought up, and Nate does not grow or experience introspection over it at all. More over, the fact that he *grabbed a middle student hard enough to leave a bruise* is treated as a nonissue that only became an issue because the student came from a wealthy family. The only other time it is brought up by Lauren, it is framed as something valiant and she says she told the principal if Nate went, she would also quit, thus saving him from suspension. Again, speaking as a middle school teacher, that entire chain of events is completely ridiculous and I am not a fan. I think it's just an example of knowing too much about what I'm reading, but I can assure you that's not how that would go at all and did not endear me to Nate at all. The fact that it leads absolutely no where and contributes virtually nothing to the book other than making Nate unlikable from the jump does not help.
Sheriff Kilbourne did not have to be a POV character. His arc does not feel meaningfully concluded at all. Moreover, he became a little annoying because the narrative changed between referring to him as Sheriff Kilbourne, Laurence, and Laurence Kilbourne seemingly at random. This wouldn't be jarring at all if it was how characters were referring to him, but this is happening within his own POV chapters.
Amy is interesting in theory and could have been set up for something great, but like Kilbourne he arc doesn't meaningfully go anywhere. More egregiously, she gets an epilogue boyfriend to try and compensate for it.
The plot is incredibly repetitive. It's unfortunate because again the premise and the reality of what was happening was all really cool.
The worst part for me is that in this Southern Gothic novel where characters are living on plantations the only living and named black character falls into the Magical Negro trope. The author tries to reckon with the violent and racist past of the descendants of racist slave owners, but it falls incredibly flat...and then to have that on top of a character falling into one of the most well known racist tropes in fiction? This seriously needed a black sensitivity reader or something because handled correctly, much like the plot and this flat cardboard characters, this could have been REALLY INTERESTING if handled correctly.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A character-driven horror that takes place on a creepy island. The island quite literally feels like a cast member. The suspense and dread build quickly to a razor-sharp conclusion. The drive of the island's history and lore were so intriguing.
Read
January 8, 2026Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of the book
Guys. I'm doing it again. I feel terribly sorry, but I'm dnfing again. Whilst the concept of being traumatized by honey sounds intriguing the book just didn't hook me enough and reading it started feeling like a chore.
Wasn't for me
Guys. I'm doing it again. I feel terribly sorry, but I'm dnfing again. Whilst the concept of being traumatized by honey sounds intriguing the book just didn't hook me enough and reading it started feeling like a chore.
Wasn't for me
November 22, 2025
Dig by J.H. Markert takes place on an island off the coast of GA near Savannah and the island seems to have tremors- earthquakes… something and now everyone is digging, the local priest has a massive heart attack after chopping off his hand, and his son is back to collect his remains. Eight years ago, a boy named Jericho Dodd took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. Dodd has been dead and buried in his father's yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow island hasn't been the same since. The real terror doesn’t come from what’s on the surface it’s what’s buried beneath. As a grieving father, Rev. Dodd, starts to dig the secrets start rising like something that never wanted to stay dead.
Dig is atmospheric, haunting, and gives an inescapable touch of the supernatural. Boo hags, crows bees and Southern Gothic. Thanks to netgalley and crooked lane books for the E-Arc.
Dig is atmospheric, haunting, and gives an inescapable touch of the supernatural. Boo hags, crows bees and Southern Gothic. Thanks to netgalley and crooked lane books for the E-Arc.
October 19, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to J.H. Markert and NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dig centres on the perspectives of three characters, all of whom are in some way connected to Crow Island and the devastating massacre that occurred 8 years prior, where a boy named Jericho wreaked havoc with an axe. As inhabitants of the island begin giving in to the inexplicable urge to dig, both literally and figuratively, Jericho's presence lingers heavy and rotten in the air, leaving those who knew him believing that he was never truly dead and buried.
There are some fantastic threads in this story, and I found myself intrigued by the links this novel made to the slave trade, uncovering Crow Island's agricultural and financial bounties as being made off the backs of slaves, who have, over time, been erased from history. This was a powerful addition to the story, and the character of Mr Passafume acts as the sole reminder of the black workers who were exploited. I think it would have been great to have more black characters, as it means the only black character is quasi-magical and the point of supernatural knowledge for all the white characters, which does somewhat play into the 'Magical Negro' trope. However, Mr Passafume's backstory is interesting and helps to flesh out his character.
This story hits with increasing moments of shocking violence, which creates the feeling of reality slowly being broken down. I found the boo hags to be unnerving, and I liked the emphasis on their tall, unnatural forms, intelligent dark eyes, and their moments of predatory, inhuman speed. There is a moment where Amy, the sole survivor in her family of Jericho's massacre, is alone in her home trying to survive the night against one of these creatures, and it was the most unnerving moment I felt in the entire novel.
This book was imaginative, creepy, and played its slow descent into madness very well, but there were times that I wanted more of an emotional arc. Amy and the Sheriff's stories never quite reached the same emotional heights for me as Nate's story, as he had to come to terms with the crimes his brother Jericho committed and his relationship to him. Jericho, an unnaturally large 10-year-old whose birth caused the death of him and Nate's mother, is truly tragic. He does not talk, is hated by everyone around him, and seems to have been 'born bad', but despite all this, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He never even had a chance, never had any kindness from those around him, so it made me want the story to have more of an emphasis on this tragic nature, more than a single realisation from Nate towards the end.
I would say that Dig is definitely worth reading. It has some moments and ideas that will make you feel on edge, and while I found the final third of the book didn't uphold the same tension, all the questions in this book are very well answered and reasoned, which leaves you feeling very satisfied. I will say, I wouldn't have minded leaving on a more mysterious note!
Thank you to J.H. Markert and NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dig centres on the perspectives of three characters, all of whom are in some way connected to Crow Island and the devastating massacre that occurred 8 years prior, where a boy named Jericho wreaked havoc with an axe. As inhabitants of the island begin giving in to the inexplicable urge to dig, both literally and figuratively, Jericho's presence lingers heavy and rotten in the air, leaving those who knew him believing that he was never truly dead and buried.
There are some fantastic threads in this story, and I found myself intrigued by the links this novel made to the slave trade, uncovering Crow Island's agricultural and financial bounties as being made off the backs of slaves, who have, over time, been erased from history. This was a powerful addition to the story, and the character of Mr Passafume acts as the sole reminder of the black workers who were exploited. I think it would have been great to have more black characters, as it means the only black character is quasi-magical and the point of supernatural knowledge for all the white characters, which does somewhat play into the 'Magical Negro' trope. However, Mr Passafume's backstory is interesting and helps to flesh out his character.
This story hits with increasing moments of shocking violence, which creates the feeling of reality slowly being broken down. I found the boo hags to be unnerving, and I liked the emphasis on their tall, unnatural forms, intelligent dark eyes, and their moments of predatory, inhuman speed. There is a moment where Amy, the sole survivor in her family of Jericho's massacre, is alone in her home trying to survive the night against one of these creatures, and it was the most unnerving moment I felt in the entire novel.
This book was imaginative, creepy, and played its slow descent into madness very well, but there were times that I wanted more of an emotional arc. Amy and the Sheriff's stories never quite reached the same emotional heights for me as Nate's story, as he had to come to terms with the crimes his brother Jericho committed and his relationship to him. Jericho, an unnaturally large 10-year-old whose birth caused the death of him and Nate's mother, is truly tragic. He does not talk, is hated by everyone around him, and seems to have been 'born bad', but despite all this, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He never even had a chance, never had any kindness from those around him, so it made me want the story to have more of an emphasis on this tragic nature, more than a single realisation from Nate towards the end.
I would say that Dig is definitely worth reading. It has some moments and ideas that will make you feel on edge, and while I found the final third of the book didn't uphold the same tension, all the questions in this book are very well answered and reasoned, which leaves you feeling very satisfied. I will say, I wouldn't have minded leaving on a more mysterious note!
October 25, 2025
I really DIG this book! I am giving it all the stars. I was held in rapt attention. My eyes never leaving the page. The pages flicking as if possessed. The atmospheric setting was pure perfection. It elevated the creep factor tenfold. The characters fully formed, they grabbed you and pulled you into the chapters. Playing off each other, bouncing ideas, and trying to keep everyone safe. Have you ever heard of a Boo Hag? I had not before I dug in. I did go down the google rabbit hole of Georgia folklore. Freaking myself out and understanding all of the ways in which you can protect yourself from this horrifying creature. I will leave the details for when you crack open this cover. I still have chills running down my spine, my breathing heavy, my heart pounding, as I imagine Crow Island and its dark past.
Crow Island is named after a bird that has not shown itself in years. Mystifying everyone as to where this name came from. It is a small community that depends upon one another, yet it was built upon slave labor. There have been stories that the island has been cursed starting with the disappearance of the Natives that once called this place home. It has been eight years since Jericho Dodd wreaked havoc with his ax. He was only ten and already surpassing 6' tall. He was not a normal boy; there have always been whispers about Jericho. That people can feel him in the air. It has been 8 years, yet the earthquakes are increasing, the air is changing, and everyone is whispering yet again about Jericho. The words DIG are floating across the heavy air and the people are listening. Holes begin to pop up across the island, people appear possessed, and Amy is noticing that something just isn't right. When Reverend Dodd calls her in distress, she streaks across the field to his home. Only to find him dead, with a jar of this year's Tupelo Honey next to him. This first death causes a domino effect. People are becoming violent, digging for the truth in their backyard. Determined to find what? That is the question.
I just want to do this review justice and get the point across that this is a must read that you need to DIG into. The folklore runs as thick as honey down the pages. Tugging you into the story. Witnessing the horror swirling around the characters. If you want a book that has you researching Boo Hags, the feeling that someone is chasing you, the need to find the truth, this is the book for you. Thank you to J.H. Markert for another stunner and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy.
Crow Island is named after a bird that has not shown itself in years. Mystifying everyone as to where this name came from. It is a small community that depends upon one another, yet it was built upon slave labor. There have been stories that the island has been cursed starting with the disappearance of the Natives that once called this place home. It has been eight years since Jericho Dodd wreaked havoc with his ax. He was only ten and already surpassing 6' tall. He was not a normal boy; there have always been whispers about Jericho. That people can feel him in the air. It has been 8 years, yet the earthquakes are increasing, the air is changing, and everyone is whispering yet again about Jericho. The words DIG are floating across the heavy air and the people are listening. Holes begin to pop up across the island, people appear possessed, and Amy is noticing that something just isn't right. When Reverend Dodd calls her in distress, she streaks across the field to his home. Only to find him dead, with a jar of this year's Tupelo Honey next to him. This first death causes a domino effect. People are becoming violent, digging for the truth in their backyard. Determined to find what? That is the question.
I just want to do this review justice and get the point across that this is a must read that you need to DIG into. The folklore runs as thick as honey down the pages. Tugging you into the story. Witnessing the horror swirling around the characters. If you want a book that has you researching Boo Hags, the feeling that someone is chasing you, the need to find the truth, this is the book for you. Thank you to J.H. Markert for another stunner and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy.
November 2, 2025
I loved the start of this book- the premise had me hooked from page one- we’re on an island off the coast of GA near Savannah and the island seems to have tremors- earthquakes… something and now everyone is digging, the local priest has a massive heart attack after chopping off his hand, and his son is back to collect his remains. As Nate gets off the boat he sees Amy, the twin of his old flame who died during the island massacre years earlier- and they both agree something is REALLY wrong, and the more the DIG into it the more they realize people are unearthing more than dirt, they’re digging up lies, secrets, betrayal, and a very large skeletons in someone’s closet. The more people dig, the harder it is for them to understand what exactly they’ve found.
The beginning was *chefs kiss* so much crazy happening and all connecting, you can bet I was all in trying to figure it out- and about half way, I did. My only qualm with this book is how rushed the ending felt while trying to tie up ends and get our MCs to the conclusion. I wish it had been a little longer to spend that time to really dig into that ending- I think it needed a bigger shovel, and a little more depth. Otherwise- another fantastic book by JH Market.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning was *chefs kiss* so much crazy happening and all connecting, you can bet I was all in trying to figure it out- and about half way, I did. My only qualm with this book is how rushed the ending felt while trying to tie up ends and get our MCs to the conclusion. I wish it had been a little longer to spend that time to really dig into that ending- I think it needed a bigger shovel, and a little more depth. Otherwise- another fantastic book by JH Market.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
Dark, foreboding and fast paced. This is easily one of the best horror novels I’ve read all year. It starts running and chapter one and doesn’t stop, for the entire book.
Amy is one of the survivors of a brutal massacre on an island off the coast of Georgia. Nate is the brother of the child who committed that horrible crime. Nate fled the island after the massacre to escape the trauma. Amy stayed to try and rebuild her life. Now both are trying to figure out the collective madness and events that are unfolding on the island while also piecing together what really happened before.
The pacing is absolute perfection and this books grips you from beginning to end. Our timeline shifts back and forth while explaining the events leading up to the brutal massacre on the island, to the current horrors happening. It’s done so masterfully and kept me locked in the whole novel.
My only critique is that a few things got a little weird in the end (a unicorn??) but that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the novel. Anyone who wants a page turning horror oozing with dread, the supernatural and some folklore thrown in will enjoy this one.
Amy is one of the survivors of a brutal massacre on an island off the coast of Georgia. Nate is the brother of the child who committed that horrible crime. Nate fled the island after the massacre to escape the trauma. Amy stayed to try and rebuild her life. Now both are trying to figure out the collective madness and events that are unfolding on the island while also piecing together what really happened before.
The pacing is absolute perfection and this books grips you from beginning to end. Our timeline shifts back and forth while explaining the events leading up to the brutal massacre on the island, to the current horrors happening. It’s done so masterfully and kept me locked in the whole novel.
My only critique is that a few things got a little weird in the end (a unicorn??) but that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the novel. Anyone who wants a page turning horror oozing with dread, the supernatural and some folklore thrown in will enjoy this one.
November 12, 2025
ARC
this book is a mixed bag. Very atmospheric, with folk lore and deep tragic history all while island bound. The islanders have deeps roots, and a shared tragedy that seems to live in every one of their stories.
The writing reminds me of Steven King—-very detailed and almost too wordy. But with very beautiful imagery and wording that builds up the suspense the deeper you go. Much like the premise of the book, the further you “dig” into the story the more complexity you are given.
I struggled a little with how much info was dumped all at once, so many characters and history and so much happening all at once. I almost fees like the author was a bit disjointed in telling this tale and couldn’t focus on one solid plot line. There were stories inside of stories and so many strange occurrences you felt pulled all over this novel.
It was a good story, which would probably make a great mini series , but overall a bit too disjointed for me
this book is a mixed bag. Very atmospheric, with folk lore and deep tragic history all while island bound. The islanders have deeps roots, and a shared tragedy that seems to live in every one of their stories.
The writing reminds me of Steven King—-very detailed and almost too wordy. But with very beautiful imagery and wording that builds up the suspense the deeper you go. Much like the premise of the book, the further you “dig” into the story the more complexity you are given.
I struggled a little with how much info was dumped all at once, so many characters and history and so much happening all at once. I almost fees like the author was a bit disjointed in telling this tale and couldn’t focus on one solid plot line. There were stories inside of stories and so many strange occurrences you felt pulled all over this novel.
It was a good story, which would probably make a great mini series , but overall a bit too disjointed for me
November 5, 2025
This is so so so so good! It’s perfect for spooky season and I wish everyone could have read this for Halloween. This story begins with a massacre that rattles a small island town, but the real terror doesn’t come from what’s on the surface it’s what’s buried beneath. As a grieving father, Rev. Dodd, starts to dig the secrets start rising like something that never wanted to stay dead. This is horror at its best. It’s sharp, eerie and dripping with atmosphere. There is a creeping sense that the land itself is alive and it’s just been lying in wait for someone to disturb it. This isn’t just scary its haunting. Dig is a story that will stick with you and make you think twice before digging too deep…and speaking of digging be sure and look up what a boo hag is.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is March 4, 2025
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is March 4, 2025
February 8, 2026
Thank you so much to @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for this e-ARC! (and @jamesmarkert74)
If J. H. Markert writes it, I’ll read it. It could be a grocery list and I’d be game. Luckily, Dig is far more interesting than a grocery list. Markert is truly a master of horror. This book honestly had it all: supernatural horror, suspense, gore, and an excellently eerie and atmospheric setting. From the onset you are dropped onto an island that this dripping with dread and truly feels alive. Markert is excellent with the pacing of his books, and Dig was no different. This was a fast paced and wild ride and I couldn’t get enough. Every aspect of this book was well thought out and well written. The characters were superb, the dialogue was intense and interesting, and the reveals were flawlessly timed. The story is so impeccably layered and filled with horror, history, generational trauma, and family secrets, and you have no choice but to dig alongside the characters for the truth. This book is equal parts addicting and terrifying and I loved every second and every word. The pages are dripping with thick folklore which was one of my favorite parts and it is truly the perfect southern gothic horror. I am imploring you to read this book, you will not regret it.
If J. H. Markert writes it, I’ll read it. It could be a grocery list and I’d be game. Luckily, Dig is far more interesting than a grocery list. Markert is truly a master of horror. This book honestly had it all: supernatural horror, suspense, gore, and an excellently eerie and atmospheric setting. From the onset you are dropped onto an island that this dripping with dread and truly feels alive. Markert is excellent with the pacing of his books, and Dig was no different. This was a fast paced and wild ride and I couldn’t get enough. Every aspect of this book was well thought out and well written. The characters were superb, the dialogue was intense and interesting, and the reveals were flawlessly timed. The story is so impeccably layered and filled with horror, history, generational trauma, and family secrets, and you have no choice but to dig alongside the characters for the truth. This book is equal parts addicting and terrifying and I loved every second and every word. The pages are dripping with thick folklore which was one of my favorite parts and it is truly the perfect southern gothic horror. I am imploring you to read this book, you will not regret it.
October 24, 2025
This was a dark and atmospheric story about an island haunted by its own tragic past. The author blended elements of folktale horror and reality beautifully, creating a story that felt both timeless and deeply unsettling. The writing was fantastic, rich in tension and eerie imagery and there were several moments that genuinely gave me chills.
If I had to point out a downside, the pacing was a little uneven in places, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. This was a haunting, well crafted tale that lingered with me long after I finished reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
If I had to point out a downside, the pacing was a little uneven in places, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. This was a haunting, well crafted tale that lingered with me long after I finished reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 26, 2026
What a ride!!!!!! What doesn’t this book have for a horror reader. It’s exceptionally well written. I haven’t had a book make my heart pound in forever.
Huge fan of this book.
Be prepared for me to be obnoxious about how much I loved it on socials.
Huge fan of this book.
Be prepared for me to be obnoxious about how much I loved it on socials.
November 26, 2025
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.
I might give this a touch higher than a 3 ... maybe 3.25 stars.
Here's the thing. At certain points, I loved the story, and at others I didn't.
My description of the book would be complete "chaos," but even so, that was not always a bad thing. A bit like how I liked the story, and I didn't.
Let's start with what I liked about the book. I liked how it started ... with a bang. Which led us to our main characters, who were, more or less, Amy Barnes, Nate Dodd, Sheriff Lawrence Kilbourne and Mr. Passafume. The story pivots around them, and their POVs, and it was the characters that kept me reading. I can safely say they saved the story for me.
What I didn't love was the exaggerated, fantastical feel of how the story evolved. It wasn't at all what I expected when the book started, and it evolved into something hard to take seriously. It did create a dangerous environment for our characters, which provided suspense, but I found it a bit disappointing overall. AND what happened to Jericho? He was a great boogieman, who had existed and never seemed to go away, even though he had been long dead (or was he?), but the ending left me unsatisfied in relation to him.
Overall, though, I liked it enough to say that I will read another from this author. This was my first book by him, and I liked his writing and character development, which is always one of the most important things to me.
I might give this a touch higher than a 3 ... maybe 3.25 stars.
Here's the thing. At certain points, I loved the story, and at others I didn't.
My description of the book would be complete "chaos," but even so, that was not always a bad thing. A bit like how I liked the story, and I didn't.
Let's start with what I liked about the book. I liked how it started ... with a bang. Which led us to our main characters, who were, more or less, Amy Barnes, Nate Dodd, Sheriff Lawrence Kilbourne and Mr. Passafume. The story pivots around them, and their POVs, and it was the characters that kept me reading. I can safely say they saved the story for me.
What I didn't love was the exaggerated, fantastical feel of how the story evolved. It wasn't at all what I expected when the book started, and it evolved into something hard to take seriously. It did create a dangerous environment for our characters, which provided suspense, but I found it a bit disappointing overall. AND what happened to Jericho? He was a great boogieman, who had existed and never seemed to go away, even though he had been long dead (or was he?), but the ending left me unsatisfied in relation to him.
Overall, though, I liked it enough to say that I will read another from this author. This was my first book by him, and I liked his writing and character development, which is always one of the most important things to me.
November 30, 2025
The Nightmare Man had me cemented as a Markert fan, so I was beyond excited for this, I ran straight to Netgalley so thank you!
This was fantastic, I loved this, Crow Island stained with the blood of a serial killer past and a father that decides to dig in, but the digging has more of a effect than just upsetting people with questions…
When he starts some weird compulsion causes everyone to just star digging deep into closets they might should have left alone. I love the chaos and tension that this whole idea adds, some force pushing these people to dig and know, its that same paranoia and chaos that spirals out of Needful Things in a way that has me a bit obsessed and frantic just like the characters.
Things get dark as people are attacked and killed and a mystery that Amy does not understand, how can she not only survive this unseeable force but survive those and their secrets around here??
This was fantastic.
This was fantastic, I loved this, Crow Island stained with the blood of a serial killer past and a father that decides to dig in, but the digging has more of a effect than just upsetting people with questions…
When he starts some weird compulsion causes everyone to just star digging deep into closets they might should have left alone. I love the chaos and tension that this whole idea adds, some force pushing these people to dig and know, its that same paranoia and chaos that spirals out of Needful Things in a way that has me a bit obsessed and frantic just like the characters.
Things get dark as people are attacked and killed and a mystery that Amy does not understand, how can she not only survive this unseeable force but survive those and their secrets around here??
This was fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love to dig. Love it. Not so much in the physical way with the dirt, but moreso in the metaphorical way. If you're like me and giddy at the thought of a good deepdive or secret revelation, J.H. Markert's Dig is probably for you!
A claustrophobic story set on isolated Crow Island, Dig explores a small town that becomes obsessed with digging into long-buried secrets, disrupting their peaceful facade built after years of burying tragedy. They also become obsessed with digging actual dirt. Like, everywhere. We follow a handful of narrators that know this island better than anyone, who are most capable of understanding why the world around them seems to be changing with each strike of a spade. Fusing Indigenous myth with historical accounts of corruption, Dig invites us to see the other side of this island, for better or for worse.
What a banger of a concept. There are not enough stories about dirt out there. I can only think of comparable zombie stories, but the "zombies" in this book are much more plain than most. This small town was the perfect backdrop for a story about secrets and a desperate hunt for knowledge, offering a similar tension to when you spot your neighbour staring at you through their curtains. Chilling stuff. I was particularly fond of the intertwining theme of needing control or feeling as though your purpose is not your own. Losing your agency is one of the scariest things I could think of, and seeing it executed well in horror is always a joy.
There are, however, two stars missing from this rating. Let me tell you why.
There's a lesson I learned in film school that I feel can apply to any kind of storytelling (and yes, I know nobody likes to hear about people who went to film school, but bear with me). That is show, don't tell. I fear one of the overarching issues with this book, one that extended into most of my minute critiques, was a lack of showing and a whole lot of telling. I would come across many conversations that went something like this:
A: [explanation of a discovery]
B: Wow, so... that means Option 1 is happening?
A: No,that actually means Option 2 is happening, and here are all of the clues that determine that.
Sometimes, that's the best way to get a point across. But an overuse of the structure tends to subdue the horror and the mystery more than Markert may have intended. The dread of a good horror or thriller novel is built in what is left unsaid, what the reader can put together in those moments where they need to put the book down and reflect on the bombshell that they've uncovered. I did not experience as much of that in Dig as I would have hoped.
The over-explaining seemed to cross into our character's backstories as well. The first 30 pages of this book are full of exposition that could have been fed to us in smaller doses. It read like an outline -- here's all of the lore for all of the characters, and then the plot laid out afterwards. I don't think anything would have been lost by revealing some of these quirks and secrets later, especially since revealing secrets is the name of the game in this one.
That seems like a lot of critique for a book I didn't dislike, but honestly, none of it was very bothersome because I was too busy being enamoured by the world and the concept. There's a second lesson I learned in film school (bear with me again) that I think reflects my feelings about this book perfectly -- your medium tells your story. I don't think this story is most effective as a book. With a need for more discreet storytelling and maybe a bit more runtime to drop in backstory more thoughtfully, this story would be lifechanging as a limited series or a movie.
But it isn't that, so I will rate it accordingly with what it is. A great concept, a great world, and a satisfactory execution.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for providing me a digital ARC!
A claustrophobic story set on isolated Crow Island, Dig explores a small town that becomes obsessed with digging into long-buried secrets, disrupting their peaceful facade built after years of burying tragedy. They also become obsessed with digging actual dirt. Like, everywhere. We follow a handful of narrators that know this island better than anyone, who are most capable of understanding why the world around them seems to be changing with each strike of a spade. Fusing Indigenous myth with historical accounts of corruption, Dig invites us to see the other side of this island, for better or for worse.
What a banger of a concept. There are not enough stories about dirt out there. I can only think of comparable zombie stories, but the "zombies" in this book are much more plain than most. This small town was the perfect backdrop for a story about secrets and a desperate hunt for knowledge, offering a similar tension to when you spot your neighbour staring at you through their curtains. Chilling stuff. I was particularly fond of the intertwining theme of needing control or feeling as though your purpose is not your own. Losing your agency is one of the scariest things I could think of, and seeing it executed well in horror is always a joy.
There are, however, two stars missing from this rating. Let me tell you why.
There's a lesson I learned in film school that I feel can apply to any kind of storytelling (and yes, I know nobody likes to hear about people who went to film school, but bear with me). That is show, don't tell. I fear one of the overarching issues with this book, one that extended into most of my minute critiques, was a lack of showing and a whole lot of telling. I would come across many conversations that went something like this:
A: [explanation of a discovery]
B: Wow, so... that means Option 1 is happening?
A: No,that actually means Option 2 is happening, and here are all of the clues that determine that.
Sometimes, that's the best way to get a point across. But an overuse of the structure tends to subdue the horror and the mystery more than Markert may have intended. The dread of a good horror or thriller novel is built in what is left unsaid, what the reader can put together in those moments where they need to put the book down and reflect on the bombshell that they've uncovered. I did not experience as much of that in Dig as I would have hoped.
The over-explaining seemed to cross into our character's backstories as well. The first 30 pages of this book are full of exposition that could have been fed to us in smaller doses. It read like an outline -- here's all of the lore for all of the characters, and then the plot laid out afterwards. I don't think anything would have been lost by revealing some of these quirks and secrets later, especially since revealing secrets is the name of the game in this one.
That seems like a lot of critique for a book I didn't dislike, but honestly, none of it was very bothersome because I was too busy being enamoured by the world and the concept. There's a second lesson I learned in film school (bear with me again) that I think reflects my feelings about this book perfectly -- your medium tells your story. I don't think this story is most effective as a book. With a need for more discreet storytelling and maybe a bit more runtime to drop in backstory more thoughtfully, this story would be lifechanging as a limited series or a movie.
But it isn't that, so I will rate it accordingly with what it is. A great concept, a great world, and a satisfactory execution.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for providing me a digital ARC!
February 8, 2026
While I have not read all of the horror work by J. H. Markert (or James Markert if you're nasty) since he shifted gears from writing historical fiction, I have dipped my toes into some of his work, specifically 2023's The Nightmare Man and 2024's Sleep Tight. I certainly enjoyed them and would gladly put him in the more modern crop of great horror writers that have come along in the last 10-15 years, but I could not say that any of them specifically grabbed me in a way that I was glued to the book. That has all changed with the forthcoming release of Dig. In fact, you could say that I dig the book quite a lot (hey, I'm a dad and I'm gonna rock the dad jokes what can I say?).
Jokes aside, I can say without hyperbole that Dig is my favorite of his work thus far. The book wastes absolutely no time taking your hand and pulling you onto the runaway train that it is and once it starts within the first few pages, it doesn't let up until the very end. I've mentioned in past reviews that I am not a speedy reader, so whereas someone may finish the 300+ pages here within a night or two, it takes me a bit longer. But when I say there were nights where I couldn't wait to finish work and crawl into bed and read there are no jokes involved. I found myself thinking about where the story might take me next and couldn't wait to dig back in (and apologies again).
The story itself is not hard to describe, at least the first stages. Eight years ago, the good Reverend Dodd's younger son Jericho snapped and went on an axe-murdering spree killing several of the locals on Crow Island, including his brother's girlfriend Bridget and her family, leaving only her twin sister Amy behind. While Nate, Reverend Dodd's other son and Jericho's brother, flees the island, Amy remains given the fact that her family has owned the island for generations. So when Reverend Dodd is found dead with his right hand evidently lopped off and other strange occurrences start on the island coinciding with Nate's return, it's clear something is amiss.
To go any further into the plot would be reckless of me as a reviewer, especially since the twists and turns the story takes as you dig into it (did it again) is an important part of the journey. The only potential spoiler-ish thing I will mention is a brief conversation that ties the book into the overarching universe that Markert has built that I popped for.
Markert flies through the story at a nearly breakneck pace, with most chapters lasting between two to six pages and each chapter bouncing between different characters as well. The layout and pacing keeps everything moving at a perfect pace throughout and keeps you invested as you wait to see what happens next to each specific POV that you are given.
Overall, I can't help but think that this is Markert's finest book to date (of the ones I've read of course). While the previous books I've read of his would rank around a 3.5 to a 4.25 star rating, Dig has quickly surpassed the both of them to become the first 5 Star book of his.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review and opinion.
Jokes aside, I can say without hyperbole that Dig is my favorite of his work thus far. The book wastes absolutely no time taking your hand and pulling you onto the runaway train that it is and once it starts within the first few pages, it doesn't let up until the very end. I've mentioned in past reviews that I am not a speedy reader, so whereas someone may finish the 300+ pages here within a night or two, it takes me a bit longer. But when I say there were nights where I couldn't wait to finish work and crawl into bed and read there are no jokes involved. I found myself thinking about where the story might take me next and couldn't wait to dig back in (and apologies again).
The story itself is not hard to describe, at least the first stages. Eight years ago, the good Reverend Dodd's younger son Jericho snapped and went on an axe-murdering spree killing several of the locals on Crow Island, including his brother's girlfriend Bridget and her family, leaving only her twin sister Amy behind. While Nate, Reverend Dodd's other son and Jericho's brother, flees the island, Amy remains given the fact that her family has owned the island for generations. So when Reverend Dodd is found dead with his right hand evidently lopped off and other strange occurrences start on the island coinciding with Nate's return, it's clear something is amiss.
To go any further into the plot would be reckless of me as a reviewer, especially since the twists and turns the story takes as you dig into it (did it again) is an important part of the journey. The only potential spoiler-ish thing I will mention is a brief conversation that ties the book into the overarching universe that Markert has built that I popped for.
Markert flies through the story at a nearly breakneck pace, with most chapters lasting between two to six pages and each chapter bouncing between different characters as well. The layout and pacing keeps everything moving at a perfect pace throughout and keeps you invested as you wait to see what happens next to each specific POV that you are given.
Overall, I can't help but think that this is Markert's finest book to date (of the ones I've read of course). While the previous books I've read of his would rank around a 3.5 to a 4.25 star rating, Dig has quickly surpassed the both of them to become the first 5 Star book of his.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review and opinion.
November 28, 2025
From the outset,
Dig
by J.H. Markert pulls you straight onto an island that feels truly alive with such creeping dread. The dark history of the island and its eerie folklore settle in quickly, giving this horror tale a weight that makes every page turn feel even more unsettling. Dig set its hooks in early and never let up.
Eight years ago, a boy took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. That odd, troubled boy, Jericho Dodd, has been dead and buried in his father’s yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow Island has been a dark and unsettling place.
When Jericho’s father begins digging up the past he buried, a compulsion to dig sweeps over the island and soon everyone else is obsessively churning up dirt, desperate to uncover buried secrets. The compulsion leads to violence and as neighbors turn against each other, the island’s famous tupelo honey, harvested from trees deep in a swamp, changes too.
As dread and paranoia seep up from the ground, it becomes clear that the island itself needs something from its residents–before it digs itself apart for good.
Crafting a horror or thriller story just right a lot of times relies on the setting itself, what Markert does with Dig does just that. The tale has a real sense of place, an island that has a gradual sense of dread throughout that creeps in over the course of the story. The island's past history, including the slavery and plantation economy, gives depth the horror vibes, using folklore to grab us and hold on tight. Truly atmospheric and chilling.
Dig has a great pace to it, quick enough to appease the thriller reader in me, and slow enough to generate the unease I want to feel in a horror story. When reading a story like this it's important to grab me early on and Markert grabs me from the start and doesn't let go. I was horrified, while also guessing the entire time, a balance that can be hard to achieve, but the author makes it seem easy.
While basing a supernatural horror story on an island with a massacre involved is not groundbreaking storytelling, Markert definitely makes this story his own. Adding the digging elements along with honey, whoever thought honey could make you so uneasy?, the story felt super fresh and thrilling from start to finish. This is what makes stories like this so special.
Dig by J.H. Markert takes some familiar pieces of horror stories and twists them into something truly fresh and thrilling. The creeping dread and fantastic setting makes this book a chilling and horrifying read. Markert keeps the tension tight and the atmosphere heavy, keeping me hooked to the end. It's the kind of horror story that sticks with you, no pun intended, long after you close the book.
Dig hits bookstores everywhere on Crooked Lane Books from March 24, 2026.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Dig from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Eight years ago, a boy took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. That odd, troubled boy, Jericho Dodd, has been dead and buried in his father’s yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow Island has been a dark and unsettling place.
When Jericho’s father begins digging up the past he buried, a compulsion to dig sweeps over the island and soon everyone else is obsessively churning up dirt, desperate to uncover buried secrets. The compulsion leads to violence and as neighbors turn against each other, the island’s famous tupelo honey, harvested from trees deep in a swamp, changes too.
As dread and paranoia seep up from the ground, it becomes clear that the island itself needs something from its residents–before it digs itself apart for good.
Crafting a horror or thriller story just right a lot of times relies on the setting itself, what Markert does with Dig does just that. The tale has a real sense of place, an island that has a gradual sense of dread throughout that creeps in over the course of the story. The island's past history, including the slavery and plantation economy, gives depth the horror vibes, using folklore to grab us and hold on tight. Truly atmospheric and chilling.
Dig has a great pace to it, quick enough to appease the thriller reader in me, and slow enough to generate the unease I want to feel in a horror story. When reading a story like this it's important to grab me early on and Markert grabs me from the start and doesn't let go. I was horrified, while also guessing the entire time, a balance that can be hard to achieve, but the author makes it seem easy.
While basing a supernatural horror story on an island with a massacre involved is not groundbreaking storytelling, Markert definitely makes this story his own. Adding the digging elements along with honey, whoever thought honey could make you so uneasy?, the story felt super fresh and thrilling from start to finish. This is what makes stories like this so special.
Dig by J.H. Markert takes some familiar pieces of horror stories and twists them into something truly fresh and thrilling. The creeping dread and fantastic setting makes this book a chilling and horrifying read. Markert keeps the tension tight and the atmosphere heavy, keeping me hooked to the end. It's the kind of horror story that sticks with you, no pun intended, long after you close the book.
Dig hits bookstores everywhere on Crooked Lane Books from March 24, 2026.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Dig from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked this book. The setting immediately stood out to me, and the characters were likable and interesting.
Dig is set on Crow Island, a place haunted by a brutal axe massacre that occurred eight years earlier. Although the boy responsible, Jericho Dodd, has long been dead and buried, the island has never quite recovered. When Jericho’s father begins digging up what he once buried, a strange compulsion spreads across the island, driving residents to dig obsessively into the soil and into their own buried secrets. As paranoia and violence escalate, the island itself begins to feel like an active force, demanding something from those who live there.
I especially enjoyed the verisimilitude devices throughout the novel, which helped suspend my disbelief even with such speculative elements at play. The descriptions were beautiful, smooth, and well done, and the interiority was strong throughout. The dialogue felt realistic, and the characters’ emotions and motivations were well balanced, giving real life to every character, even the minor ones.
This is a multiple POV book, and it really works. Each perspective adds depth to the story without ever feeling like you are jumping around. The tone felt very Southern folk gothic horror. I loved the atmosphere, and I thought the way the pacing and urgency built toward the end of the book worked beautifully as the tension intensified.
The novel felt like a Stephen King book, but tighter in its narrative, with more likable characters and more realistic dialogue. At times, it felt like a hazy dreamland, almost like Silent Hill mixed with Practical Magic. I am not entirely sure why that comparison fits for me, but it does.
My only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more payoff with the antagonist. The character is built up in a way that made me want to know more, especially about his motives and interior conflict. There seemed to be something unresolved there, and while that may have been intentional on the author’s part, I personally wanted a little more insight.
Readers who are sensitive to themes of child loss may find this book triggering. As expected for a horror novel, there is violence, but it never reaches splatterpunk levels. For me, it was just the right amount.
Overall, this book was scary, creepy, and suspenseful, and it kept me engaged the entire time. I would recommend Dig to readers who enjoy Southern folk horror, supernatural and speculative elements, and horror with a strong thriller feel. Think John Grisham meets Stephen King meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Dig is set on Crow Island, a place haunted by a brutal axe massacre that occurred eight years earlier. Although the boy responsible, Jericho Dodd, has long been dead and buried, the island has never quite recovered. When Jericho’s father begins digging up what he once buried, a strange compulsion spreads across the island, driving residents to dig obsessively into the soil and into their own buried secrets. As paranoia and violence escalate, the island itself begins to feel like an active force, demanding something from those who live there.
I especially enjoyed the verisimilitude devices throughout the novel, which helped suspend my disbelief even with such speculative elements at play. The descriptions were beautiful, smooth, and well done, and the interiority was strong throughout. The dialogue felt realistic, and the characters’ emotions and motivations were well balanced, giving real life to every character, even the minor ones.
This is a multiple POV book, and it really works. Each perspective adds depth to the story without ever feeling like you are jumping around. The tone felt very Southern folk gothic horror. I loved the atmosphere, and I thought the way the pacing and urgency built toward the end of the book worked beautifully as the tension intensified.
The novel felt like a Stephen King book, but tighter in its narrative, with more likable characters and more realistic dialogue. At times, it felt like a hazy dreamland, almost like Silent Hill mixed with Practical Magic. I am not entirely sure why that comparison fits for me, but it does.
My only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more payoff with the antagonist. The character is built up in a way that made me want to know more, especially about his motives and interior conflict. There seemed to be something unresolved there, and while that may have been intentional on the author’s part, I personally wanted a little more insight.
Readers who are sensitive to themes of child loss may find this book triggering. As expected for a horror novel, there is violence, but it never reaches splatterpunk levels. For me, it was just the right amount.
Overall, this book was scary, creepy, and suspenseful, and it kept me engaged the entire time. I would recommend Dig to readers who enjoy Southern folk horror, supernatural and speculative elements, and horror with a strong thriller feel. Think John Grisham meets Stephen King meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 10, 2026
If you like your horror dark, atmospheric, and soaked in Southern Gothic dread, Dig will absolutely get under your skin. From page one, Markert drags you onto Crow Island—an eerie island off the coast of Georgia that feels alive, restless, and hungry. Earthquakes rumble, people feel an uncontrollable urge to dig, a reverend dies in a truly WTF manner (honey, a severed hand, a diary 👀), and the shadow of an axe massacre committed by a ten-year-old boy who was six feet tall still rots the air eight years later. Yeah… it’s that kind of book.
This is character-driven horror done right. Nate—the brother of the boy who committed the massacre—was the emotional core for me. His arc, grappling with guilt, grief, and the question of whether his brother was born evil or made that way, was tragic and compelling. Amy, the sole survivor of her family, delivers one of the most nerve-shredding scenes in the book (boo hags + being alone at night = NO THANK YOU). Add in red crows, folklore, bees, monsters that move too fast, and an island history rooted in slavery and buried violence, and the tension just keeps tightening. Heavy Stephen King vibes with a splash of Jurassic Park chaos, and pacing that makes it impossible to stop reading—even when you desperately want sleep.
That said, while the setup was chef’s kiss and the atmosphere immaculate, the final stretch felt a little rushed compared to the razor-sharp buildup. I wanted just a bit more emotional depth for certain characters and maybe a slightly more mysterious ending. Still, all the threads come together in a way that feels satisfying and earned. Creepy, imaginative, unsettling, and deeply immersive—Dig proves once again that Markert knows exactly how to make a setting feel like a monster of its own.
✨ Dark. Foreboding. Fast-paced.
✨ An island that demands secrets.
✨ Horror that burrows under your skin.
Highly recommend if you love atmospheric horror with lore, dread, and teeth 🖤📚
This is character-driven horror done right. Nate—the brother of the boy who committed the massacre—was the emotional core for me. His arc, grappling with guilt, grief, and the question of whether his brother was born evil or made that way, was tragic and compelling. Amy, the sole survivor of her family, delivers one of the most nerve-shredding scenes in the book (boo hags + being alone at night = NO THANK YOU). Add in red crows, folklore, bees, monsters that move too fast, and an island history rooted in slavery and buried violence, and the tension just keeps tightening. Heavy Stephen King vibes with a splash of Jurassic Park chaos, and pacing that makes it impossible to stop reading—even when you desperately want sleep.
That said, while the setup was chef’s kiss and the atmosphere immaculate, the final stretch felt a little rushed compared to the razor-sharp buildup. I wanted just a bit more emotional depth for certain characters and maybe a slightly more mysterious ending. Still, all the threads come together in a way that feels satisfying and earned. Creepy, imaginative, unsettling, and deeply immersive—Dig proves once again that Markert knows exactly how to make a setting feel like a monster of its own.
✨ Dark. Foreboding. Fast-paced.
✨ An island that demands secrets.
✨ Horror that burrows under your skin.
Highly recommend if you love atmospheric horror with lore, dread, and teeth 🖤📚
October 31, 2025
On Crow Island, the past doesn’t stay buried…it digs back. 💀
Dig- by J.H. Markert
🪦Blurb🪦
Eight years ago, a boy took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. That odd, troubled boy Jericho Dodd, has been dead and buried in his father's yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow Island has been a dark and unsettling place.
When Jericho's father begins digging up the past he buried, a compulsion to dig sweeps over the island and soon everyone else is obsessively churning up dirt, desperate to uncover buried secrets. The compulsion leads to violence and as neighbors turn against each other, the island's famous tupelo honey, harvested from trees deep in a swamp, changes too.
As dread and paranoia seep up from the ground, it becomes clear that the island itself needs something from its residents-before it digs itself apart for good.
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
Beneath the sugar and honey, Crow Island festers.
There’s something foul blooming on Crow Island, and it’s not just in the swamp. Years after Jericho Dodd’s bloody rampage, his grieving father starts digging…literally. It’s not long after that everyone begins clawing at the dirt, desperate to exhume something they can’t quite name.
Dig is full of southern gothic decay with honey turned sour, roots thick with memory, and a creeping sense that the land itself is tired of being patient. It crawls under your skin like a toxic fever dream…thick with humidity, guilt, and the slow rot of secrets gone too long unspoken. By the time the last shovel hits dirt, you’ll realize Crow Island was never cursed..it was simply telling the truth.
Hands down one of the BEST Horror reads of the year.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the Author for allowing me to ARC read this gripping, terrifyingly fun read.
Dig- by J.H. Markert
🪦Blurb🪦
Eight years ago, a boy took up an axe and slaughtered a dozen people. That odd, troubled boy Jericho Dodd, has been dead and buried in his father's yard for years, but ever since that massacre, Crow Island has been a dark and unsettling place.
When Jericho's father begins digging up the past he buried, a compulsion to dig sweeps over the island and soon everyone else is obsessively churning up dirt, desperate to uncover buried secrets. The compulsion leads to violence and as neighbors turn against each other, the island's famous tupelo honey, harvested from trees deep in a swamp, changes too.
As dread and paranoia seep up from the ground, it becomes clear that the island itself needs something from its residents-before it digs itself apart for good.
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
Beneath the sugar and honey, Crow Island festers.
There’s something foul blooming on Crow Island, and it’s not just in the swamp. Years after Jericho Dodd’s bloody rampage, his grieving father starts digging…literally. It’s not long after that everyone begins clawing at the dirt, desperate to exhume something they can’t quite name.
Dig is full of southern gothic decay with honey turned sour, roots thick with memory, and a creeping sense that the land itself is tired of being patient. It crawls under your skin like a toxic fever dream…thick with humidity, guilt, and the slow rot of secrets gone too long unspoken. By the time the last shovel hits dirt, you’ll realize Crow Island was never cursed..it was simply telling the truth.
Hands down one of the BEST Horror reads of the year.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the Author for allowing me to ARC read this gripping, terrifyingly fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A triumph of creepy, exciting, complex and intelligent storytelling! J. H. Markert keeps coming up with new, completely standalone ways to explore his fictional world of Lalaland, the realm of dreams and nightmares - and "Dig" is the darkest, most intricate exploration so far! Superb in every way, especially in relation to characters (a large cast), lore (of coastal Georgia's Gullah Geechee), atmosphere (so tangible you can cut it with a knife), and pacing (perfectly placed brief interludes providing the readers with much needed breathers), flawlessly plotted and beautifully structured from start to finish, "Dig" is clearly a masterclass in epic, ambitious, and awe-inspiring writing!
Reminiscent of Stephen King at its best, complete with nods to Markert's previous works (such as subtle and not-so-subtle references to "Mister Lullaby" and "The Nightmare Man"), the book embraces a wide variety of horror themes: Faustian bargains, the heroic return of the prodigal son, past tragedy haunting the whole town (an island in this case), flesh-hungry creatures (the Boo Hags of aforementioned lore), creepy children, supernaturally induced trauma, mysterious and weirdly compulsive behaviors, horrific pregnancy, serial killers, people banding together for their last stand, imagination going haywire and affecting reality - there's something for everyone here, all tied together by a sin committed far back in the past. Beautiful imagery, detailed wording, non-stop suspense, stories within stories - what's not to like?
Finishing the book, I felt so satisfied! The ending is grim and dark, yet with a teaser of hope as well. I highly recommend the story to everyone who loves reading about past, unresolved tragedies spilling into the present, and upending everything - in a big way! This is a must-read!
Reminiscent of Stephen King at its best, complete with nods to Markert's previous works (such as subtle and not-so-subtle references to "Mister Lullaby" and "The Nightmare Man"), the book embraces a wide variety of horror themes: Faustian bargains, the heroic return of the prodigal son, past tragedy haunting the whole town (an island in this case), flesh-hungry creatures (the Boo Hags of aforementioned lore), creepy children, supernaturally induced trauma, mysterious and weirdly compulsive behaviors, horrific pregnancy, serial killers, people banding together for their last stand, imagination going haywire and affecting reality - there's something for everyone here, all tied together by a sin committed far back in the past. Beautiful imagery, detailed wording, non-stop suspense, stories within stories - what's not to like?
Finishing the book, I felt so satisfied! The ending is grim and dark, yet with a teaser of hope as well. I highly recommend the story to everyone who loves reading about past, unresolved tragedies spilling into the present, and upending everything - in a big way! This is a must-read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Strange things are starting to happen on Crow Island — an isolated stretch of land known for its tupelo honey, its Geechee folklore, and Jericho, the unsettling giant of a child who went on a murder spree one Fourth of July eight years ago.
Amy Barnes, whose family owns the island, gets a late‑night call from Reverend Dodd telling her to contact his son Nathaniel and tell him to dig. Sensing something is horribly wrong, Amy rushes to Dodd’s house but she’s too late. He’s dead. His hand has been severed and coated in honey. His yard is torn up with frantic holes. And he’s been obsessively sketching red crows… which would be odd anywhere, but especially here, since Crow Island hasn’t seen a single crow in centuries.
Sheriff Lawrence quickly finds himself in over his head as more islanders develop the same compulsive urge to dig, frantically releasing clouds of dirt into the air and unearthing disturbingly large bones. And if those bones belong to who they fear they do, the island is about to face a reckoning unlike anything in its long, haunted history.
I really loved this book. I appreciated its slow burn and the way Markert gradually revealed the tangled relationship between the characters and the island, which feels like a character in its own right. The history of the bees, the quest to create truly pure tupelo honey, the honey house no one but the beekeeper can enter, the small earthquakes growing in frequency and intensity… it all builds with this steady, uncanny pressure. You may think you know where it’s headed, but trust me, you won’t guess everything.
It’s atmospheric, strange, and deeply rooted in place... the kind of Southern‑gothic‑adjacent horror that seeps under your skin. Crow Island has secrets, and watching them rise to the surface was an absolute treat.
Amy Barnes, whose family owns the island, gets a late‑night call from Reverend Dodd telling her to contact his son Nathaniel and tell him to dig. Sensing something is horribly wrong, Amy rushes to Dodd’s house but she’s too late. He’s dead. His hand has been severed and coated in honey. His yard is torn up with frantic holes. And he’s been obsessively sketching red crows… which would be odd anywhere, but especially here, since Crow Island hasn’t seen a single crow in centuries.
Sheriff Lawrence quickly finds himself in over his head as more islanders develop the same compulsive urge to dig, frantically releasing clouds of dirt into the air and unearthing disturbingly large bones. And if those bones belong to who they fear they do, the island is about to face a reckoning unlike anything in its long, haunted history.
I really loved this book. I appreciated its slow burn and the way Markert gradually revealed the tangled relationship between the characters and the island, which feels like a character in its own right. The history of the bees, the quest to create truly pure tupelo honey, the honey house no one but the beekeeper can enter, the small earthquakes growing in frequency and intensity… it all builds with this steady, uncanny pressure. You may think you know where it’s headed, but trust me, you won’t guess everything.
It’s atmospheric, strange, and deeply rooted in place... the kind of Southern‑gothic‑adjacent horror that seeps under your skin. Crow Island has secrets, and watching them rise to the surface was an absolute treat.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m always excited when I see another J.H. Markert book getting published. He’s an auto buy for me. I don’t even read the descriptions anymore, I just buy them and know that I’m going to love the story. I think they get better every time. This one was awesomely weird and I had no idea where it was going… until I read about the black deer with the orange and red antlers. I almost screamed out loud, “That’s from Lalaland!” I cannot explain how much I love when authors link their books to previously written books that aren’t part of a series. Stephen King is pretty well known for that and it always makes me feel like I’m discovering some treasure no one else knows about. In Dig, we got little nuggets from Mister Lullaby and The Nightmare Man. I would be so ecstatic if he continued this trend because I’d love to see more of Lalaland, especially now that I know there are doors elsewhere in the world.
As far as the characters, there was a really great cast. I love the prodigal-son-returns-to-save-the-day stories, especially when no one realizes they needed him to return (and most of them want him to leave). I know it’s an old trope, but it’s a favorite of mine. And I really liked the inclusion of the blue bottles. My husband has been saving blue bottles for me since last year for my own bottle tree. I seriously felt like Markert was inside of my head for this whole story. It’s everything I needed and I had such a hard time putting it down. I loved, loved, loved it!
And in case you’re wondering, the answer is yes. I did immediately go buy a $30 jar of Tupelo honey.
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
As far as the characters, there was a really great cast. I love the prodigal-son-returns-to-save-the-day stories, especially when no one realizes they needed him to return (and most of them want him to leave). I know it’s an old trope, but it’s a favorite of mine. And I really liked the inclusion of the blue bottles. My husband has been saving blue bottles for me since last year for my own bottle tree. I seriously felt like Markert was inside of my head for this whole story. It’s everything I needed and I had such a hard time putting it down. I loved, loved, loved it!
And in case you’re wondering, the answer is yes. I did immediately go buy a $30 jar of Tupelo honey.
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
November 23, 2025
I have found myself super drawn to the thriller (with horror elements) genre recently, so I am so glad I requested this on NetGalley! I really enjoyed it! Dig by J.H. Markert was dark, eerie, and incredibly addicting.
There is a sense of unease and tension woven through every chapter, every moment, which hooked me from page one and never let up until the end. The setting is presented as one thing, but it quickly devolves into something way creepier than I was expecting. It begins as a quiet, coastal community but eventually you learn that its history is soaked in secrets, violence, and sooooo much honey.
Markert builds the atmosphere of this book masterfully. It is moody, depressive, supernatural, and so freaking creepy I had to read with the lights on. The folklore elements were a huge standout, and I loved how the story balanced reality and the supernatural without making you suspend your beliefs too much.
Every single character felt fleshed out, flawed, and worth rooting for as the island starts to unravel around them. What impressed me the most, however, was how the suspense sneaks up on you without realizing it until it’s too late. There is a rising sense of panic happening constantly. While I found some smaller moments dragged on more than I prefer, the atmosphere and character development more than makes up for it.
Dig by J.H. Markert is chilling, weird, immersive, and perfect for readers who are wanting to dip their toes into the horror genre. If you like your thriller books to have a sprinkle of horror, folklore, and dread mixed in, this is absolutely worth your time!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC!
There is a sense of unease and tension woven through every chapter, every moment, which hooked me from page one and never let up until the end. The setting is presented as one thing, but it quickly devolves into something way creepier than I was expecting. It begins as a quiet, coastal community but eventually you learn that its history is soaked in secrets, violence, and sooooo much honey.
Markert builds the atmosphere of this book masterfully. It is moody, depressive, supernatural, and so freaking creepy I had to read with the lights on. The folklore elements were a huge standout, and I loved how the story balanced reality and the supernatural without making you suspend your beliefs too much.
Every single character felt fleshed out, flawed, and worth rooting for as the island starts to unravel around them. What impressed me the most, however, was how the suspense sneaks up on you without realizing it until it’s too late. There is a rising sense of panic happening constantly. While I found some smaller moments dragged on more than I prefer, the atmosphere and character development more than makes up for it.
Dig by J.H. Markert is chilling, weird, immersive, and perfect for readers who are wanting to dip their toes into the horror genre. If you like your thriller books to have a sprinkle of horror, folklore, and dread mixed in, this is absolutely worth your time!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first book by J.H. Markert, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation as unsettling, creepy, and downright spooky. There is a lot of death, gore, and truly skin crawling descriptions and this book had me pulling my feet under the covers while reading in bed
The setting was one of my favorite parts. Crow Island feels so real, with that classic small town on an island vibe where everyone knows everyone. As new characters were introduced, it honestly felt like you knew them too, which made everything that unfolded even more disturbing
One thing I really loved was the central theme of digging. Not just digging up secrets or the past, but actual, physical digging. Everyone is digging. Even the POVs you want to trust are driven by this overwhelming compulsion, and what they’re all slowly uncovering becomes more unsettling the clearer the bigger picture gets. Once you really start to dig (wink) into what’s happening, you realize there’s so much more at play, and it becomes strangely addictive to unravel
While the horror leans more into the supernatural, I actually found the scariest part to be how the people of the island are affected. How paranoia spreads and neighbors slowly turn on one another. That creeping sense of distrust and loss of community was far more terrifying than any single gruesome moment (and there were plenttyyyy of gruesome moments)
Overall, let’s just say I may be avoiding honey for the foreseeable future (which is to say… forever). I’m giving this 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The setting was one of my favorite parts. Crow Island feels so real, with that classic small town on an island vibe where everyone knows everyone. As new characters were introduced, it honestly felt like you knew them too, which made everything that unfolded even more disturbing
One thing I really loved was the central theme of digging. Not just digging up secrets or the past, but actual, physical digging. Everyone is digging. Even the POVs you want to trust are driven by this overwhelming compulsion, and what they’re all slowly uncovering becomes more unsettling the clearer the bigger picture gets. Once you really start to dig (wink) into what’s happening, you realize there’s so much more at play, and it becomes strangely addictive to unravel
While the horror leans more into the supernatural, I actually found the scariest part to be how the people of the island are affected. How paranoia spreads and neighbors slowly turn on one another. That creeping sense of distrust and loss of community was far more terrifying than any single gruesome moment (and there were plenttyyyy of gruesome moments)
Overall, let’s just say I may be avoiding honey for the foreseeable future (which is to say… forever). I’m giving this 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
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