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Diggum
When personal tragedy strikes, some men pray. Other men despair. This man goes to war.
Meet Diggum, the local graveyard caretaker, who lives in a small cottage at the edge of the lot. Diggum has spent most of his life angry with God, whom he blames for the devastating house fire that cost Diggum his family.
But Diggum has a secret. It is a secret he will carry to his own grave. It is a secret that he hopes will finally get him his ultimate revenge on God.
Diggum is a short tale of dark horror from the mind of Isaac Thorne, a nice man who simply wants to provide you with a few fun frights. His story is one of rage and revenge. At some point in our lives we all ask the "why" question. Diggum demands an answer.
Meet Diggum, the local graveyard caretaker, who lives in a small cottage at the edge of the lot. Diggum has spent most of his life angry with God, whom he blames for the devastating house fire that cost Diggum his family.
But Diggum has a secret. It is a secret he will carry to his own grave. It is a secret that he hopes will finally get him his ultimate revenge on God.
Diggum is a short tale of dark horror from the mind of Isaac Thorne, a nice man who simply wants to provide you with a few fun frights. His story is one of rage and revenge. At some point in our lives we all ask the "why" question. Diggum demands an answer.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2016
39 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Thorne
14 books249 followersIsaac Thorne is a Middle Tennessee man who has, over the course of his life, developed a modest ability to spin a good yarn. Really. He promises.
He considers himself a lover of books, music, movies. His philosophy on his life is that it's all one giant experiment.
He considers himself a lover of books, music, movies. His philosophy on his life is that it's all one giant experiment.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 21, 2018
A quick novelette about a creepy cemetery caretaker that plays out like an episode of Tales from the Darkside. Written with the affectation of the southernly gravedigger himself, the tone is set right away and holds steady, slowly building towards a sinister and satisfying conclusion. The book itself costs 99 cents (for my Kindle) and took me 40 minutes to read. You’d be hard-pressed to find that much entertainment for a dollar anywhere else.
April 30, 2019
Diggum is not an ordinary caretaker. He lost his beloved ones and decided to see how is to live in God's skin. I could say that he is a cool practical guy if he would not be a killer. He just doesn't want that anyone pokes nose in his business until he is doing his "special collection. " The author uses his dark sense of humor and good narrative style in this book too, pushing readers to read between lines until the end of this book. Yes, it is creepy and not for weak nerves, but it could not be different. Diggum is in the mission, until the last day at his workplace.
February 28, 2018
My plan was to listen to the audiobook version of Diggum while cleaning my office, but I was so engrossed in the story that all I could do was sit down and hang on every word.
This is one of those stories that's hard to review without ruining the story for someone that hasn't read it. So I'll just say if you like cemeteries, sharp axes, blood, and guts, you won't be disappointed. The last scene is terrifying, and the final images and words will probably be playing over in my mind for days.
I haven't read any of Isaac Thorne's other works yet, but I will. If they're anything like Diggum, I'll be a Thorne fan for a long while.
This is one of those stories that's hard to review without ruining the story for someone that hasn't read it. So I'll just say if you like cemeteries, sharp axes, blood, and guts, you won't be disappointed. The last scene is terrifying, and the final images and words will probably be playing over in my mind for days.
I haven't read any of Isaac Thorne's other works yet, but I will. If they're anything like Diggum, I'll be a Thorne fan for a long while.
November 21, 2019
Diggum is a gravedigger on a mission (I don't want to spoil the story). Rest assured it is a great read. The build up was sinister, his back story harrowing. The story is written from a first-person point of view and you soon build up a sense of who the character is.
I found the narrative realistic and intriguing, not over complicated. The story is unsettling in places, but hey, that’s horror. Not for the faint of heart. If you like horror than you need to read Diggum. I enjoyed and couldn't put it down.
I found the narrative realistic and intriguing, not over complicated. The story is unsettling in places, but hey, that’s horror. Not for the faint of heart. If you like horror than you need to read Diggum. I enjoyed and couldn't put it down.
December 17, 2018
Sometimes when reading a short story/novella, I tend to be left wanting more. Thorne's Diggum, however, packs everything I need into tight, quick read that's impossible to put down once started. Diggum possesses the perfect amount of character development, allowing the reader to feel empathy for its main character (despite his shortcomings) in such a brief tale. Capped off with a perfectly terrifying ending, Diggum is a must-read for any horror fan.
March 19, 2022
Gripping read
I loved the voice of the character, which came through so strongly.
I could almost hear his shovel biting into the earth.
This is a cracker of a short story; you'll want to read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
I loved the voice of the character, which came through so strongly.
I could almost hear his shovel biting into the earth.
This is a cracker of a short story; you'll want to read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
June 13, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5.
"Diggum" is the local gravedigger who had lost his wife and son years previously in a fire. Angry with God, he exacts revenge on those he buries.
I found this one oddly relatable in some ways, particularly the pain that comes along with losing loved ones way too soon. However, I can say for a fact that while I shared Diggum's sentiments I definitely wouldn't have handled things the way he did 😅.
If you're desperate for a quick, slow-burning horror read, look no further! This atmospheric story will have you shook to your core, while at the same time make you think about what happens after we die and about who is burying us when we do.
"Diggum" is the local gravedigger who had lost his wife and son years previously in a fire. Angry with God, he exacts revenge on those he buries.
I found this one oddly relatable in some ways, particularly the pain that comes along with losing loved ones way too soon. However, I can say for a fact that while I shared Diggum's sentiments I definitely wouldn't have handled things the way he did 😅.
If you're desperate for a quick, slow-burning horror read, look no further! This atmospheric story will have you shook to your core, while at the same time make you think about what happens after we die and about who is burying us when we do.
January 11, 2023
Ah! I loved it. Creepy short story centered around a gravedigger in a small county cemetery. He spends his time getting revenge in the only way he knows how against God for the death of his family. I loved the ending.
Narration:
Thorne narrates this himself. I love the gravelly voice he chose for Diggum as well as the affect for delivery. It’s a great fit for the story.
Narration:
Thorne narrates this himself. I love the gravelly voice he chose for Diggum as well as the affect for delivery. It’s a great fit for the story.
April 25, 2018
Good, engaging story about a graveyard caretaker who spends his time digging up the graves of the recently deceased. It's written in the first person, which works great, but the main character's voice could have been dialed back a bit.
June 3, 2021
Creepy and gross but I couldn't stop listening. (Listened to the audio book narrated by the author himself).
November 29, 2023
My first read from Thorne and one I can highly recommend!
Diggum is a unique and unsettling read that demands to be consumed in one sitting.
This short tale packs one hell of a punch, and I look forward to more of this talented author's work.
Diggum is a unique and unsettling read that demands to be consumed in one sitting.
This short tale packs one hell of a punch, and I look forward to more of this talented author's work.
February 22, 2019
Diggum is the main character in Isaac Thorne’s short dark horror tale. Diggum is down on his luck. He’s lost his home, his wife, and his daughter in a fire. And, due to the tragic hand he was dealt, he’s also lost his faith in God. If he ever had it.
Unable to deal with his grief in a healthy fashion, Diggum decides to take a job as a caretaker in a cemetery, believing life has no meaning anyway. We’re all born. We all die. May as well bury a few more. But Diggum’s psychosis goes deeper than that (pun apparently not intended). He wants to punish God for not resurrecting his wife and daughter, and sending them through the pearly gates of heaven.
He starts by digging up, dismembering, and burning the corpses of those he’s already buried. But, soon the sick thrill of watching and smelling burning flesh isn’t enough of a macabre aphrodisiac for Diggum. When others get in the way—or he thinks they might get in the way—he brutally slaughters them with an axe before burying their body parts in a plot reserved for his own interment.
But something strange starts happening. Some of the body parts just don’t want to burn. Eerie eyes begin glaring at him; he sees sandpapered hands clawing at the dirt edges of gravesite after a massive fire that should have scorched them to ashes.
Diggum is snapped out of his nonchalance and for the first time begins to feel very real, very raw fear. Maybe, just maybe, God has begun extracting His own measure of justice; His own vengeance; His own pound of flesh.
Written in the first person and in the vernacular of an uneducated man, Thorne’s dark tale packs a powerful punch. Unnerving and even disturbing at times in its graphic detail, it is nonetheless well-written, and at times terrifying. Refreshingly, the manuscript—from an editing standpoint—is clean and polished.
Perhaps not for the faint of heart, but definitely recommended for all dark horror enthusiasts.
Unable to deal with his grief in a healthy fashion, Diggum decides to take a job as a caretaker in a cemetery, believing life has no meaning anyway. We’re all born. We all die. May as well bury a few more. But Diggum’s psychosis goes deeper than that (pun apparently not intended). He wants to punish God for not resurrecting his wife and daughter, and sending them through the pearly gates of heaven.
He starts by digging up, dismembering, and burning the corpses of those he’s already buried. But, soon the sick thrill of watching and smelling burning flesh isn’t enough of a macabre aphrodisiac for Diggum. When others get in the way—or he thinks they might get in the way—he brutally slaughters them with an axe before burying their body parts in a plot reserved for his own interment.
But something strange starts happening. Some of the body parts just don’t want to burn. Eerie eyes begin glaring at him; he sees sandpapered hands clawing at the dirt edges of gravesite after a massive fire that should have scorched them to ashes.
Diggum is snapped out of his nonchalance and for the first time begins to feel very real, very raw fear. Maybe, just maybe, God has begun extracting His own measure of justice; His own vengeance; His own pound of flesh.
Written in the first person and in the vernacular of an uneducated man, Thorne’s dark tale packs a powerful punch. Unnerving and even disturbing at times in its graphic detail, it is nonetheless well-written, and at times terrifying. Refreshingly, the manuscript—from an editing standpoint—is clean and polished.
Perhaps not for the faint of heart, but definitely recommended for all dark horror enthusiasts.
February 9, 2017
My original Diggum audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Going into this with no expectations as I have never read or listened to a book by Isaac Thorne, but I have followed him on Twitter for some time. So I think I have an idea of what to expect, however not really sure. Isaac Thorne decided to narrate his own book. I have listened to disastrous author narrated books in the past and I have listened to exception ones as well. So I have learned that finding an author narrated book is not always cause for concern.
Diggum is a short horror story that takes place in a cemetery. Diggum is the name of caretaker or grave-digger or whatever they're called. Diggum is on a mission. What that is I will not say. I will say that ending made me do a double take because I was not expecting what happened.
This not extreme horror. This is old school style that makes you fill in most of the blanks to come to your own conclusion. While I wanted to know more about why Diggum was doing what was doing. I still found this listen quite enjoyable.
I am happy to report that Thorne's performance was not bad at all. He used a southern-style accent and a voice that sounded a lot like Billy Bob Thorton in Sling Blade. This fit perfectly with what my imagination came up with. However, there was some background noise throughout the recording. It was a white noise of sorts that didn't detract very much from the story. There was also at lease two instances of what sounded like a car driving by, which was strange.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Going into this with no expectations as I have never read or listened to a book by Isaac Thorne, but I have followed him on Twitter for some time. So I think I have an idea of what to expect, however not really sure. Isaac Thorne decided to narrate his own book. I have listened to disastrous author narrated books in the past and I have listened to exception ones as well. So I have learned that finding an author narrated book is not always cause for concern.
Diggum is a short horror story that takes place in a cemetery. Diggum is the name of caretaker or grave-digger or whatever they're called. Diggum is on a mission. What that is I will not say. I will say that ending made me do a double take because I was not expecting what happened.
This not extreme horror. This is old school style that makes you fill in most of the blanks to come to your own conclusion. While I wanted to know more about why Diggum was doing what was doing. I still found this listen quite enjoyable.
I am happy to report that Thorne's performance was not bad at all. He used a southern-style accent and a voice that sounded a lot like Billy Bob Thorton in Sling Blade. This fit perfectly with what my imagination came up with. However, there was some background noise throughout the recording. It was a white noise of sorts that didn't detract very much from the story. There was also at lease two instances of what sounded like a car driving by, which was strange.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
January 1, 2018
Next time you drive by a cemetery, take a look. A good look. Does it creep you out? Does it make you wonder what's in there? What's under the earth? Read Diggum, it makes cemeteries even creepier.
It's a short story but not too short. It takes its time to feel the earth between its fingers. It takes its time to make the fear creep up on you.
This is the tale of a gravedigger, who came to live in a small cottage in the cemetery after fire took his family. Well, he's got a place to live, and a job to do now, and he does it with a dedication. A little too much dedication.
You see, he doesn't just draw the line at shoveling the earth on top of the grave. Oh no, he has more to do than that. Even if people try to stop him.
Quietly, darkly grim, this tale is measured, elegant, and ready to bury you in fear before patting the earth neatly down on top.
It's a short story but not too short. It takes its time to feel the earth between its fingers. It takes its time to make the fear creep up on you.
This is the tale of a gravedigger, who came to live in a small cottage in the cemetery after fire took his family. Well, he's got a place to live, and a job to do now, and he does it with a dedication. A little too much dedication.
You see, he doesn't just draw the line at shoveling the earth on top of the grave. Oh no, he has more to do than that. Even if people try to stop him.
Quietly, darkly grim, this tale is measured, elegant, and ready to bury you in fear before patting the earth neatly down on top.
November 14, 2019
I got a chuckle out of Diggum's dark humor. The main character had a very consistent, folksy voice. He was twisted in his logic, and his goal of burning remains so they didn't go to God was intriguing. Told in first person, it was a little window into the crazy old, murderous, cemetery caretaker's head. I won't give it away, but the ending is a paranormal treat. And I got some good laughs. Worth a dollar or a pound to purchase this quick read!
October 17, 2020
Creepy
An imaginative and original tale about a man’s crusade against God.
I loved the voice of Diggum, the narrator. I could hear him speak, and his tone and pace were perfect for conveying his character.
This is a dark tale, superbly told, with a very imaginative plot that builds sneakily to its logical conclusion.
An imaginative and original tale about a man’s crusade against God.
I loved the voice of Diggum, the narrator. I could hear him speak, and his tone and pace were perfect for conveying his character.
This is a dark tale, superbly told, with a very imaginative plot that builds sneakily to its logical conclusion.
October 20, 2016
Absolutely superb
Terrific tale. Beautifully written and difficult to put down. If I could have given this more than 5 stars I would. Really looking forward to reading more from this author.
Terrific tale. Beautifully written and difficult to put down. If I could have given this more than 5 stars I would. Really looking forward to reading more from this author.
June 27, 2017
A thrilling story that had me hooked from the start. The writing is exquisite and the tension is maintained throughout. Highly recommended.
February 5, 2017
Didn't think I'd like this book.
At first I couldn't get interested in this book. But when I got to the section with the eye my interest returned. So where the first half of this seemed slow the second half made up for it. It turned out better than I thought it would.
At first I couldn't get interested in this book. But when I got to the section with the eye my interest returned. So where the first half of this seemed slow the second half made up for it. It turned out better than I thought it would.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews