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Dig Two Graves: An Anthology Vol. II
Volume Two of an anthology devoted to revenge in all of its nastiest forms. From a house that isn't quite what it seems, to a man and his "love muscle." It is all contained in these blood soaked pages. Sit back and let these twenty two authors take you on a vengeance filled ride straight to man's darkest desire... the desire to get even. Mercy is unheard of, and tolerance is left in the dust. This book will please the darkest of hearts, and ignite feelings once left unexplored.
- GenresHorror
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2019
6 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Pete Mesling
22 books18 followersPete Mesling's silhouette can, on rare occasions, be glimpsed prowling the watery byways of Seattle, Washington, where he lives with his wife and daughter, whose nickname is taken from a character in a Boris Karloff film.
Publishing highlights include his debut short-story collection (None So Deaf—which garnered praise from such luminaries as Kealan Patrick Burke, Jay Bonansinga, Nancy Kilpatrick, John Everson, John R. Little, and Paul Kane—as well as his new collection Jagged Edges & Moving Parts.
Mesling has also had the pleasure of working directly with the late Richard Matheson on an online retrospective of his career in film and television. He has sold fiction and poetry to such publications as All-American Horror of the 21st Century, the First Decade: 2000 - 2010 (sharing a table of contents with David Morrell, Bentley Little, Paul Tremblay, Jack Ketchum, Steve Rasnic Tem, Thomas F. Monteleone, Sam Weller, Norman Prentiss, Tim Pratt, Sarah Langan, Nick Mamatas, Livia Llewellyn, Weston Ochse, Wayne Allen Sallee, Cody Goodfellow, F. Paul Wilson, et al.); Best New Zombie Tales, Vol. 2 (Books of the Dead Press); Black Ink Horror (volumes 6 and 7); Night Terrors (Blood Bound Books); The Literary Hatchet (issues 15 and 22); Dig Two Graves, Vol. 2 (Death’s Head Press); several anthologies from April Moon Books; and the Poetry Showcase series from the Horror Writers Association.
Pete Mesling is also the official Clive Barker proofreader for Gauntlet Press, from Everville onward.
Publishing highlights include his debut short-story collection (None So Deaf—which garnered praise from such luminaries as Kealan Patrick Burke, Jay Bonansinga, Nancy Kilpatrick, John Everson, John R. Little, and Paul Kane—as well as his new collection Jagged Edges & Moving Parts.
Mesling has also had the pleasure of working directly with the late Richard Matheson on an online retrospective of his career in film and television. He has sold fiction and poetry to such publications as All-American Horror of the 21st Century, the First Decade: 2000 - 2010 (sharing a table of contents with David Morrell, Bentley Little, Paul Tremblay, Jack Ketchum, Steve Rasnic Tem, Thomas F. Monteleone, Sam Weller, Norman Prentiss, Tim Pratt, Sarah Langan, Nick Mamatas, Livia Llewellyn, Weston Ochse, Wayne Allen Sallee, Cody Goodfellow, F. Paul Wilson, et al.); Best New Zombie Tales, Vol. 2 (Books of the Dead Press); Black Ink Horror (volumes 6 and 7); Night Terrors (Blood Bound Books); The Literary Hatchet (issues 15 and 22); Dig Two Graves, Vol. 2 (Death’s Head Press); several anthologies from April Moon Books; and the Poetry Showcase series from the Horror Writers Association.
Pete Mesling is also the official Clive Barker proofreader for Gauntlet Press, from Everville onward.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 28, 2020
A horror anthology full of revenge stories: how could I go wrong? Dig Two Graves:An Anthology Vol. II presents a wide variety of horror styles, and this becomes a negative. When I hang out on social media and people ask for horror book recs, 99% of the time they’re asking after a certain style: atmospheric, creepy, outdoorsy, extreme (“torture-porn”), gritty urban horror, etc. Most of this book is in the creepy, moderately violent vein, and then out of nowhere there’s an extremely graphic story. Given that different people tend to like vastly different horror styles, it might have been better to save that story for another anthology. Just so you know where I’m coming from, I’m okay with lots of blood and guts as long as it feels like it serves the story, rather than the other way around.
Content note: Well I mentioned the one “extreme horror” story, so you know there’s over-the-top violence and sex right there. Other random things from other stories: slurs, domestic violence, animal harm, sexual content, child death, rape, partner rape, and quasi-incest.
In Wesley Southard’s “Catalog,” Andy Ricci has plenty of reason to want revenge on more than one person. When he receives a mysterious catalog in the mail, he becomes obsessed with it. But he won’t let his wife, Donna, see what’s in it. (Mild plot point: Donna’s on crutches and has a hard time walking, but she “leapt over” a body at one point.)
Cameron Trost’s “It Starts with Insects” was intriguing, but it doesn’t fulfill the actual act of revenge–it ends too early. What’s that about??
Gerri R. Gray’s “Ailurophobia” (extreme fear of cats) involves a house full of cats and their dead owner. When a single father and his daughter move in, she wants a kitten like the one that shows up on her windowsill–but her father is very upset by the idea. The narrative has odd pacing, and some of the disturbances in the house seem a bit odd or random.
Cameron Kirk’s “The Writer” has a man being interviewed by a writer about a horrible event in his life and the things that came afterward. This is told as if we’re hearing everything the old man says to the writer, but none of the replies. It really works well.
Mawr Gorshin’s “Violation” disappointed me. A naked woman emerges from the woods in front of a car with three young men in it, and they immediately rape and kill her. (We’re given to understand later in the story that this is not unusual behavior for any random car full of men?) Unfortunately I can’t really get into my beef with it without spoiling everything.
Susan E. Abramski’s “Spider Lace” introduced us to a Dr. Matthew Crandall, who’s trying to make a hybridized type of spider silk that will replace many items we use today. When one of his spiders starts talking to him, things get weird. This one is a little clumsy, and there’s too much speechifying on the spider’s part. The action portions of the story are good, though.
Mark Lumby’s “Into the Clouds” sees Peter and his father, Henry, going up in a hot air balloon. Only Henry starts acting very strangely. This is… an odd one. It definitely has a really horrifying moment in it.
Lucas Milliron’s “Meat” was… silly. The main character, Trent, is the most over-the-top, ridiculous stereotype of the painfully, destructively self-righteous vegan chef. He’s a buffoon, really, and it detracts from what could have otherwise been a genuinely horrifying story. He keeps super-gluing offensive posters over the window of a nearby restaurant that serves meat, and is driving that restaurant’s chef-owner, Carver, mad. One little hole: how is Trent still moving and acting like normal for hours after having a boiling soup poured over his legs?
David L. Tamarin’s “What Did You Do to the Children?” is the “extreme” horror story that seems so out of place in this volume. A depraved man and a depraved woman meet each other at a movie theater, start torture-killing people together, and then the man’s equally depraved past comes into play. There are a handful of little plot holes throughout it–it feels like the author was so focused on the violence that he wasn’t really worried about the other details adding up.
Lori Tiron-Pandit’s “The Maiden of the Triangle” is an unusual story about a forest spirit that gets disturbed by people cutting down her trees, and how her curse wends its way into the lives touched by her. This one is a little relaxed in its pace, and I liked the concept.
Pete Mesling’s “InPerson” starts with Gerald receiving a video chat from his ex-wife, Patricia. It seems like someone has attacked her, and he has to figure out where she is and save her. He recruits an old friend of his to help him track down the location, and things get interesting. The direction revenge takes may not be what you’re expecting.
G. Allen Wilbanks’ “Abandoned” gives us a typical-and-satisfying tale of revenge after a young woman is raped and killed in an abandoned house.
Thomas Vaughn’s “The Tulpa” introduces us to serial killer Tommy Velasco, and his starry-eyed fanbase (“Velasco’s Vixens”). I’m a bit surprised that the judge lets him wear sunglasses at his own trial, which makes for a certain plot-hole (he has a mirror hidden in them that lets him watch the young women at the back of the courtroom).
“The Ninja and the Night” is authored by Sergio “ente per ente” Palumbo, and edited by Michele Dutcher. It’s… odd. The writing style is very new to me. It’s interesting, but also awkward. A ninja must enter a very well-guarded mansion in order to ruin the life of the daimyo. The background and method involved is where things get interesting.
Duane Bradley’s “Seymour Must Be Destroyed” didn’t really appeal to me. Walter Krelborn’s undersized penis (named Seymour) runs away to Hollywood, and Walter, along with a woman he meets, must defeat Seymour as he develops more and more power. It’s… mostly just surreal and silly, and I’m not really sure how it fits in a revenge-themed book.
David Owain Hughes’ “For the Love of Shakespeare” is an interesting story. Edmund must look after his half-man, half-monster brother Edgar, who is also insane and, before he was chained in the attic, used to eat children.
Finally, “The Pain, the Heat, the Blood,” by Betty Rocksteady, is surreal and odd. A woman is trying to hide away from everyone, and she’s living in her dead father’s house. When her brother shows up and is abusive, things get bizarre.
This isn’t my favorite horror anthology, and there are a few stories that feel out of place. But it has some good stuff in it as well.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/09/r...
Content note: Well I mentioned the one “extreme horror” story, so you know there’s over-the-top violence and sex right there. Other random things from other stories: slurs, domestic violence, animal harm, sexual content, child death, rape, partner rape, and quasi-incest.
In Wesley Southard’s “Catalog,” Andy Ricci has plenty of reason to want revenge on more than one person. When he receives a mysterious catalog in the mail, he becomes obsessed with it. But he won’t let his wife, Donna, see what’s in it. (Mild plot point: Donna’s on crutches and has a hard time walking, but she “leapt over” a body at one point.)
Cameron Trost’s “It Starts with Insects” was intriguing, but it doesn’t fulfill the actual act of revenge–it ends too early. What’s that about??
Gerri R. Gray’s “Ailurophobia” (extreme fear of cats) involves a house full of cats and their dead owner. When a single father and his daughter move in, she wants a kitten like the one that shows up on her windowsill–but her father is very upset by the idea. The narrative has odd pacing, and some of the disturbances in the house seem a bit odd or random.
Cameron Kirk’s “The Writer” has a man being interviewed by a writer about a horrible event in his life and the things that came afterward. This is told as if we’re hearing everything the old man says to the writer, but none of the replies. It really works well.
Mawr Gorshin’s “Violation” disappointed me. A naked woman emerges from the woods in front of a car with three young men in it, and they immediately rape and kill her. (We’re given to understand later in the story that this is not unusual behavior for any random car full of men?) Unfortunately I can’t really get into my beef with it without spoiling everything.
Susan E. Abramski’s “Spider Lace” introduced us to a Dr. Matthew Crandall, who’s trying to make a hybridized type of spider silk that will replace many items we use today. When one of his spiders starts talking to him, things get weird. This one is a little clumsy, and there’s too much speechifying on the spider’s part. The action portions of the story are good, though.
Mark Lumby’s “Into the Clouds” sees Peter and his father, Henry, going up in a hot air balloon. Only Henry starts acting very strangely. This is… an odd one. It definitely has a really horrifying moment in it.
Lucas Milliron’s “Meat” was… silly. The main character, Trent, is the most over-the-top, ridiculous stereotype of the painfully, destructively self-righteous vegan chef. He’s a buffoon, really, and it detracts from what could have otherwise been a genuinely horrifying story. He keeps super-gluing offensive posters over the window of a nearby restaurant that serves meat, and is driving that restaurant’s chef-owner, Carver, mad. One little hole: how is Trent still moving and acting like normal for hours after having a boiling soup poured over his legs?
David L. Tamarin’s “What Did You Do to the Children?” is the “extreme” horror story that seems so out of place in this volume. A depraved man and a depraved woman meet each other at a movie theater, start torture-killing people together, and then the man’s equally depraved past comes into play. There are a handful of little plot holes throughout it–it feels like the author was so focused on the violence that he wasn’t really worried about the other details adding up.
Lori Tiron-Pandit’s “The Maiden of the Triangle” is an unusual story about a forest spirit that gets disturbed by people cutting down her trees, and how her curse wends its way into the lives touched by her. This one is a little relaxed in its pace, and I liked the concept.
Pete Mesling’s “InPerson” starts with Gerald receiving a video chat from his ex-wife, Patricia. It seems like someone has attacked her, and he has to figure out where she is and save her. He recruits an old friend of his to help him track down the location, and things get interesting. The direction revenge takes may not be what you’re expecting.
G. Allen Wilbanks’ “Abandoned” gives us a typical-and-satisfying tale of revenge after a young woman is raped and killed in an abandoned house.
Thomas Vaughn’s “The Tulpa” introduces us to serial killer Tommy Velasco, and his starry-eyed fanbase (“Velasco’s Vixens”). I’m a bit surprised that the judge lets him wear sunglasses at his own trial, which makes for a certain plot-hole (he has a mirror hidden in them that lets him watch the young women at the back of the courtroom).
“The Ninja and the Night” is authored by Sergio “ente per ente” Palumbo, and edited by Michele Dutcher. It’s… odd. The writing style is very new to me. It’s interesting, but also awkward. A ninja must enter a very well-guarded mansion in order to ruin the life of the daimyo. The background and method involved is where things get interesting.
Duane Bradley’s “Seymour Must Be Destroyed” didn’t really appeal to me. Walter Krelborn’s undersized penis (named Seymour) runs away to Hollywood, and Walter, along with a woman he meets, must defeat Seymour as he develops more and more power. It’s… mostly just surreal and silly, and I’m not really sure how it fits in a revenge-themed book.
David Owain Hughes’ “For the Love of Shakespeare” is an interesting story. Edmund must look after his half-man, half-monster brother Edgar, who is also insane and, before he was chained in the attic, used to eat children.
Finally, “The Pain, the Heat, the Blood,” by Betty Rocksteady, is surreal and odd. A woman is trying to hide away from everyone, and she’s living in her dead father’s house. When her brother shows up and is abusive, things get bizarre.
This isn’t my favorite horror anthology, and there are a few stories that feel out of place. But it has some good stuff in it as well.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/09/r...
August 20, 2022
I previously reviewed the first volume of Death’s Head Press’s revenge anthology, so I was excited to dig deep into volume two. This anthology felt even more violent and even more in-your-face than volume one. While I could happily watch John Wick slaughter bad guys for hours, more isn’t always better; sometimes it’s just more.
I’m not easily triggered, but I needed to distance myself from a few of the stories in this collection. In others, some over the top element didn’t work for me. There were, however, several stories that I really enjoyed, and I appreciated seeing several women authors included. Both volumes together do a thorough exploration of the topic of revenge.
The anthology includes the following stories:
“Catalog” by Wesley Southard
A mysterious catalog gives a father the means to deliver patriotic retribution.
“It Starts with Insects” by Cameron Trost
A budding young scientist plans to extrapolate his experiments to eliminate his mother’s abusive boyfriend.
“Ailurophobia” by Gerri R. Gray
The move into an extreme cat lady’s house, spells catastrophe for a feline-fearing father.
“Father of Lies” by Gary Power
Music promoter Frank may be drunk on success, but he can’t escape his past misdeeds, a binding contract, or a long-forgotten groupie.
“Impact” by Delphine Quinn
The dark web provides a treasure trove of tools for revenge, but a quick pivot and a solid Plan B make all the difference.
“Movie Night” by M Ennenbach
A survivor re-enacts her kidnapping and torture.
“Streaming Murder” by Jack Bantry
After witnessing brutal attacks via streaming video footage, friends attempt to deliver pay back.
“Party Tricks” by Charlotte Platt
Revenge, reckoning, and pest control comes into play at a party.
“The Writer” by Cameron Kirk
A grieving father tells his tale of loss and revenge to a young writer in order to immortalize his murdered wife and daughter.
“Violation” by Mawr Gorshin
When a witch puts groups of young men to the test, failure means karmic retribution.
“Spider Lace” by Susan E. Abramski
A scientist attempts crossbreeding to create a special spider silk, but his research subject has its own agenda.
“Into the Clouds” by Mark Lumby
In an attempt to get closer to the spirit of his dead wife, a man and his son go on a hot air balloon ride to soar close to the heavens.
“Meat” by Lucas Milliron
Vegan chef Trent’s feud with another restaurant owner takes a dark turn.
“What Did You Do to the Children?” by David L Tamarin
A man finds both his soulmate and his destruction in a woman who catches his eye at the movie theater. “I met my angel at a grind house midnight screening of Bloodsucking Freaks in a dirty syringe-filled theatre with cheap torn seats and the smell of decay and vomit.”
“The Maiden of the Triangle” by Lori Tiron-Pandit
Luckily, the maiden’s curse comes with a grace period.
“InPerson” by Pete Mesling
A troubling communication from his ex-wife has Gerald ready to give her a hand.
“Abandoned” by G. Allen Wilbanks
Two buddies hang out in an abandoned house said to be haunted by a woman who’d been brutally murdered there.
“The Tulpa” by Thomas Vaughn
A serial killer’s latest groupie may not be the adoring vixen he’s expecting.
“The Ninja and the Night Sergio ‘ente per ente’” by Palumbo Seymour
In a world where honor and sacrifice are powerful weapons, a woman enlists the help of young ninja to avenge her family.
“Must Be Destroyed” by Duane Bradley
A renegade body part wreaks havoc. This humorous piece reminded me of a vintage King Missile tune.
“For the Love of Shakespeare” by David Owain Hughes
A monstrous tale of sibling rivalry.
“The Pain, the Heat, the Blood” by Betty Rocksteady
After experiencing abuse at the hands of both her father and her partner, a woman learns to love herself and fight back against a new threat.
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, child abuse, mental illness, animal abuse, torture, rape, graphic sex, filicide, cannibalism, necrophilia
Note: “What Did You Do to the Children?” is certain to generate a strong reaction in the reader. This story has a ton of disturbing facets, which made me want to wash my brain after reading it. The story does contain some interesting twists, but please reference the trigger warnings before diving in. Similarly, there were a lot of things I liked about “Ailurophobia,” but my cats are my furry children, and I have a hard time reading stories that involve any type violence involving felines.
Of this collection of twenty-two tales of revenge, my favorites are as follows: “Party Tricks” by Charlotte Platt, “For the Love of Shakespeare” by David Owain Hughes, and “The Pain, the Heat, the Blood” by Betty Rocksteady
In “Party Tricks,” a character’s kink is nicely turned into a red flag. The protagonist thinks he’s at the top of the magical food chain, bringing what he thinks is prey to be devoured at a party. The supernatural slant adds a fun element to the story.
The triumph of the protagonist of “The Pain, the Heat, the Blood” is a win for all underdogs. The weird elements of the story meld nicely with the emotion. I really liked the self-acceptance theme.
“For the Love of Shakespeare” is a play on the evil twin trope. One brother, favored by his Shakespeare-loving mother, becomes a burden on his sibling. The twists made this one especially entertaining.
This is anthology features a huge range of stories from the absurdly funny to the weird to the horrific. While I adored some of the stories, others were a complete miss for me. Those who love to push the envelope with their fiction may fall deeply in love with this collection.
March 12, 2020
There's plenty of variety in this anthology from both new and seasoned writers. Stories run the gamut from thriller, comedy, extreme horror, and the downright bizarre.
At 300+ pages, this book is a steal!
At 300+ pages, this book is a steal!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews