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Bury Your Demons: A Short Story
Faced with his wife's horrific actions, Keith has a choice. He can report her actions to the police, or he can help her cover it up. The decision he makes will set the course for his life.
Sometimes, your demons don't stay buried.
Sometimes, your demons don't stay buried.
16 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2024
17 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
October 23, 2024
While it was a pretty enjoyable read and the writing was polished, I feel like I've read various iterations of this story, by other authors, before and there wasn't quite enough meat to it to make it really memorable.
January 19, 2026
3.5 stars. This was ok. I could see the twist coming right from the start, but it didn't take away from the overall impact. Lots of eeriness, uncertainty, and nightmarish situations plagued our lead, Keith. I liked the general ugliness of the premise and it maintained a good pace. I do think this needed to be a little longer to further establish some of the intensity of the circumstances. Not by a ton, but just maybe another handful of pages would've made this short story feel more complete. And I really questioned the brief sexual content here, too. I read smutty books and extreme horror almost daily, and there are many cases where content like that is warranted. Here, due to the length and all the other plot points flying around, it just felt forced and unnecessary. But, still, overall, this was good. I didn't have a good initial experience with Timothy King's Seven Rabbits, but this was a much better outing.
May 24, 2025
BURY YOUR DEMONS [2024] By Timothy King
My Review 4.0 Stars
Timothy King’s debut novel “Seven Rabbits” [2024] was released a little over a year ago on the last day of March. This compelling short horror story was published nearly six months later in August 2024. I had been really impressed by this new author’s outstanding first book (“a brutal vigilante justice story”) and purchased this short horror story confident that I would not be disappointed.
I have always enjoyed short stories, and I appreciate the fact that an author who demonstrates the talent to write exceptional full-length novels may never grasp the very different skill set that renders a well written short story. King demonstrates the innate talent and flexibility necessary to move fluidly between both mediums.
“Bury Your Demons” is a gripping read from the beginning sentence. The reader identifies with the distressed Keith, the chief protagonist and first-person narrator. He is inconsolable and in such misery that he is “desperate for relief”. It is in sharp relief that we first glimpse Susan, sitting still as a statue, her posture perfect, and her face completely expressionless. Keith’s response to her stoic absence of feeling infuriates Keith due to the “sheer absurdity” of it. The reader feels his frustration and rage radiating from him like an electric current. The reader sees Susan through his haunted eyes.
In Keith’s emotional state of utter anguish and near hysteria he implores his wife to tell him why. His emotional outburst is a constellation of hatred, rage, shocked disbelief, and an overriding grief. The reader knows that Keith’s wife has committed such an atrocious act that it has broken her husband into shattered little pieces. We feel for his pain and impatiently await the offense that has broken his will, drained his rage and left him but a husk of his prior self. It is only at this point that Susan risks reaching out and attempting to soothe the savage beast. Keith is docile and spent when Susan issues a command for Keith to (look at her) and to pull himself together because there is a “clean up” needed. Her voice is devoid of any emotion, and her callous gaze upon him is disorienting.
Keith is unable to comprehend what his wife is telling him, and he looks around, sees a pool of blood, and in his mind images of playing “this little piggie” with his daughter flash which then unleashes a wave of physical pain which tears through his body.
Keith, our tortured husband and father of a little girl whose remains have been delegated to him to bury in a deep hole. He watches his wife stare at him with a slack, emotionless expression as she rolls their little girl into the rug from the dining room. Dried blood cakes Ruth’s body, and she strips off her bloody clothing which land in a heap at her feet. She unceremoniously kicks them in the hole. Keith predictably falls to pieces when tasked with burying the corpse of his lifeless little girl into the open grave,
Susan remains the voice of reason and prompts him to erase evidence and to shower together to wash away the blood and the dirt. The devastated Keith is simply moving through the motions. His body is wracked by the horror and the rage that is still just beneath the surface. His guilt is palpable for not saving his daughter, and he seethes with the impotence he feels.
The author has controlled the plot of the story and maneuvered the reader like a talented puppeteer. The setup is never felt until the trapdoor opens, and the reader is plummeted into the light of truth. It is only at the unsettling conclusion of this tale of horror that the author’s talent for misconception and redirection can be applauded.
OUTSTANDING SHORT HORROR STORY FROM TIMOTHY KING
My Review 4.0 Stars
Timothy King’s debut novel “Seven Rabbits” [2024] was released a little over a year ago on the last day of March. This compelling short horror story was published nearly six months later in August 2024. I had been really impressed by this new author’s outstanding first book (“a brutal vigilante justice story”) and purchased this short horror story confident that I would not be disappointed.
I have always enjoyed short stories, and I appreciate the fact that an author who demonstrates the talent to write exceptional full-length novels may never grasp the very different skill set that renders a well written short story. King demonstrates the innate talent and flexibility necessary to move fluidly between both mediums.
“Bury Your Demons” is a gripping read from the beginning sentence. The reader identifies with the distressed Keith, the chief protagonist and first-person narrator. He is inconsolable and in such misery that he is “desperate for relief”. It is in sharp relief that we first glimpse Susan, sitting still as a statue, her posture perfect, and her face completely expressionless. Keith’s response to her stoic absence of feeling infuriates Keith due to the “sheer absurdity” of it. The reader feels his frustration and rage radiating from him like an electric current. The reader sees Susan through his haunted eyes.
In Keith’s emotional state of utter anguish and near hysteria he implores his wife to tell him why. His emotional outburst is a constellation of hatred, rage, shocked disbelief, and an overriding grief. The reader knows that Keith’s wife has committed such an atrocious act that it has broken her husband into shattered little pieces. We feel for his pain and impatiently await the offense that has broken his will, drained his rage and left him but a husk of his prior self. It is only at this point that Susan risks reaching out and attempting to soothe the savage beast. Keith is docile and spent when Susan issues a command for Keith to (look at her) and to pull himself together because there is a “clean up” needed. Her voice is devoid of any emotion, and her callous gaze upon him is disorienting.
Keith is unable to comprehend what his wife is telling him, and he looks around, sees a pool of blood, and in his mind images of playing “this little piggie” with his daughter flash which then unleashes a wave of physical pain which tears through his body.
Keith, our tortured husband and father of a little girl whose remains have been delegated to him to bury in a deep hole. He watches his wife stare at him with a slack, emotionless expression as she rolls their little girl into the rug from the dining room. Dried blood cakes Ruth’s body, and she strips off her bloody clothing which land in a heap at her feet. She unceremoniously kicks them in the hole. Keith predictably falls to pieces when tasked with burying the corpse of his lifeless little girl into the open grave,
Susan remains the voice of reason and prompts him to erase evidence and to shower together to wash away the blood and the dirt. The devastated Keith is simply moving through the motions. His body is wracked by the horror and the rage that is still just beneath the surface. His guilt is palpable for not saving his daughter, and he seethes with the impotence he feels.
The author has controlled the plot of the story and maneuvered the reader like a talented puppeteer. The setup is never felt until the trapdoor opens, and the reader is plummeted into the light of truth. It is only at the unsettling conclusion of this tale of horror that the author’s talent for misconception and redirection can be applauded.
OUTSTANDING SHORT HORROR STORY FROM TIMOTHY KING
August 15, 2024
Keith is torn between doing the right thing or helping his wife out. She's done something terrible and now it's time to cover it up. Little does Keith know that what his wife was saying was actually right.
This is a 16 page short story that is filled with emotions, horror, and nastiness. Would you do the right thing? Or would you try to cover up your wrongs? If you're looking for a quick gut to the punch read with some spooky stuff, check this quick read out!
This is a 16 page short story that is filled with emotions, horror, and nastiness. Would you do the right thing? Or would you try to cover up your wrongs? If you're looking for a quick gut to the punch read with some spooky stuff, check this quick read out!
August 13, 2024
I've read Seven Rabbits from Timothy and enjoyed it. So I was looking forward to this short story. I have to say for a short story it packs a lot of punch. It's creepy as heck.
All I can say without spoiling the story is, that sometimes your demons can't be buried and will come back to haunt you!
All I can say without spoiling the story is, that sometimes your demons can't be buried and will come back to haunt you!
August 12, 2024
kids are the worst
August 20, 2024
A thrilling supernatural short with a great premise and an even better execution: a father finds that the mother has killed the daughter, and complete emotional and physical mayhem ensues. The pace is spot on, the situations graphic and nicely described, the dialogue a bit stilted but perfectly adequate for this kind of story. The ending was rather predictable; still, it was a pleasure to read (if you're a horror fan, that is) and it definitely whet my appetite for more of Timothy King's short stories. Recommended!
April 25, 2025
At just under 20 pages, this is a very quick read. But the story still had enough pages to pack a punch. I wouldn't have minded if the story had been longer (with a little more backstory for the characters) but at the same time, those extra pages could have taken away from the impact of the events. But in the end, it was still a story that made me want to read more of the author's work.
December 25, 2025
This was a potent story. It stats off with a bang, throwing the reader right into the deep end, with an intense set up. And just when you think you know what's going to happen, the world just turns upside down. Very effective story telling.
August 12, 2024
A chilling fast paced read that packs a punch. Although this story is short, it’s filled with haunting moral dilemma, ultimate tragedy, and the sad truth of “What if this awful act was justified?”
Overall, this was a quick, well deserved 5 star read
Overall, this was a quick, well deserved 5 star read
October 25, 2024
Dang, this was so chilling I wanted it to be a longer story!!
“I did what I had to do.”
A terrible turn of events leads a husband and wife to hide their crimes. Things take a twist when their actions come back to haunt them.
Such a good supernatural tale from an up and coming author!
“I did what I had to do.”
A terrible turn of events leads a husband and wife to hide their crimes. Things take a twist when their actions come back to haunt them.
Such a good supernatural tale from an up and coming author!
March 9, 2025
This may be a short story, but it definitely packed a punch! I was waiting for the twist, and I was not disappointed! Gory and horrific. The ending was so good, definitely made me want to see what happens next with Charlotte.
August 9, 2024
Best short story I’ve read in a long time. The atmosphere Timothy creates is creepy, the storyline is scary, and the characters seem to come to life on the page. The emotions from the father are raw, and real. This is a must read short story for horror fans!
August 31, 2024
This was a cool and creepy short story. Really enjoyed it! I could have read so much more by this author. He writes so smoothly.
November 19, 2024
A quick read full of heartbreak and terror. This story was gripping and the gore was used effectively. You can't help but feel for the poor dad.
July 27, 2025
actually terrifying. do it again
August 12, 2024
Short creepy story about a father whose daughter is killed by his wife, and they bury her in the garden. She doesn’t stay buried for long…..
July 21, 2025
Bury your demons
Ok so I’ve only just recently discovered Timothy King (I know it’s criminal) so when I saw this is currently FREE to download on zon, I jumped straight to it!
Keith comes home to the most horrific scene, his daughter’s cold body on the floor and his wife covered in blood…she had to do it though, that thing wasn’t really her daughter... Keith has to make the decision but will it cost him everything?
Wow for 16 pages this was unreal, it was creepy, gorey and left you with that sense of unease!
It had the impact & usually with short reads like this you don’t want them to end, but I was happy to leave that creepy little read where it was! 🫣😅
Makesure to grab this whilst you can! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ok so I’ve only just recently discovered Timothy King (I know it’s criminal) so when I saw this is currently FREE to download on zon, I jumped straight to it!
Keith comes home to the most horrific scene, his daughter’s cold body on the floor and his wife covered in blood…she had to do it though, that thing wasn’t really her daughter... Keith has to make the decision but will it cost him everything?
Wow for 16 pages this was unreal, it was creepy, gorey and left you with that sense of unease!
It had the impact & usually with short reads like this you don’t want them to end, but I was happy to leave that creepy little read where it was! 🫣😅
Makesure to grab this whilst you can! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 12, 2024
When I found out that Timothy King was writing another story, I got super excited because I loved his debut book so much that I needed to read more of his writing!
Bury Your Demons is a short 16-page novella that starts with someone unalived right off the bat.
I couldn't stand the wife/mother. She was void of any emotions or remorse whatsoever for what she had done.
The emotions from the husband/dad tore me up.
Timothy King once again nailed another amazing story in very few pages and pulled all kinds of emotions from me.
I think this short story would be fantastic as a horror short film.
I can't wait to see what Timothy brings us next!
Bury Your Demons is a short 16-page novella that starts with someone unalived right off the bat.
I couldn't stand the wife/mother. She was void of any emotions or remorse whatsoever for what she had done.
The emotions from the husband/dad tore me up.
Timothy King once again nailed another amazing story in very few pages and pulled all kinds of emotions from me.
I think this short story would be fantastic as a horror short film.
I can't wait to see what Timothy brings us next!
September 24, 2024
When I found out Timothy had another piece out, I grabbed it and put it on my TBR. My biggest disappointment was that it is so short. I truly hope this is part of a larger project, because it reads like it is.
This 13-page short is a small glimpse into a single night of horror. It hints at a larger scheme at play, and I hope that one day we get to learn more about it.
It was a great haunting read. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a glimpse at Timothy's writing style. I look forward to more from him in the future.
This 13-page short is a small glimpse into a single night of horror. It hints at a larger scheme at play, and I hope that one day we get to learn more about it.
It was a great haunting read. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a glimpse at Timothy's writing style. I look forward to more from him in the future.
January 4, 2025
Okay this short story was great! Talk about little micro doses of haunting details that lead up to a totally unpredicted ending. I’m not going to lie, at first I thought Keith killed Susan when he was shaking her with the bloody blouse. I love it when I get the ending wrong. This was very well written and the descriptions and actions all made me feel eerie and uncomfortable right to the end. The ending truly shocked me because dang was that good payback! Loved this short story, definitely would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
This story may be just under 15 pages, but it’s an intense ride from start to finish. It’s tough to review something so short without giving too much away, but I’ll try my best: we get a glimpse into how a couple deals with the consequences of the wife’s actions while also diving deep into the husband’s thought process. Be warned—there’s a child involved, so if stories featuring harm to children are a trigger, this one might not be for you.
December 7, 2024
Bury Your Demons by Timothy King
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a sad and disturbing short horror novella. It’s a very deeply emotional story, and even though it’s super short, it gets the strong points across. It starts out with a bang and doesn’t let up on intensity! It’s got some creepiness as well! The author does a great job with this book!
*It’s a nice read, when you want something super short and fantastic!!*
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a sad and disturbing short horror novella. It’s a very deeply emotional story, and even though it’s super short, it gets the strong points across. It starts out with a bang and doesn’t let up on intensity! It’s got some creepiness as well! The author does a great job with this book!
*It’s a nice read, when you want something super short and fantastic!!*
March 13, 2025
Coming in at 16 pages, this short story packs a punch! This is my second read by Timothy King. I read Seven Rabbits which I recommend! I actually wish Bury Your Demons was a longer read. Almost felt like I was reading one of the last chapters of a book. I have lots of questions which almost made me rate it 4 stars. Overall, it was a creepy, fun read! Since it also left me wanting more I decided to bump it up to 5 stars😀 It was thrilling and terrifying!
July 18, 2025
Very short book and I mean short 16 pages , straight to the point .
A mother (Susan) has killed their 8 yr old daughter (Charlotte) claiming it's not her . The father (Keith) is in utter disbelief at what he just witnessed. In his delirium listens to his wife's orders to bury her in the garden . But within a few hours plans take an unexpected turn .
⭐ 4.5/5
Wished it was longer but the fear factor was there
A mother (Susan) has killed their 8 yr old daughter (Charlotte) claiming it's not her . The father (Keith) is in utter disbelief at what he just witnessed. In his delirium listens to his wife's orders to bury her in the garden . But within a few hours plans take an unexpected turn .
⭐ 4.5/5
Wished it was longer but the fear factor was there
August 10, 2024
Get ready to be creeped out, totally invested, and completely shocked! An immersive story that captivates you within the first paragraph. Timothy King has knocked it out of the park with this short, chilling tale of a father’s worst nightmare! Follow along as Keith goes through the most devastating night of his life. You’ll be with him as he mentally struggles with the horrendous events that have just unfolded in his own home. Isn’t home supposed to be your safe place? Not for Keith!
August 12, 2024
Bury Your Demons is one of the best short stories I’ve read in a long while. It drops you straight into the action where Keith is coming to terms with something unspeakable that his wife has done…
The story is 16 pages, but in those 16 pages is a surprising amount of action and raw emotion, and King gets a really creepy atmosphere going: it might be hot today, but you’ll get chills.
The story is 16 pages, but in those 16 pages is a surprising amount of action and raw emotion, and King gets a really creepy atmosphere going: it might be hot today, but you’ll get chills.
August 18, 2024
What would you do if you found that your wife did something absolutely horrific, life changing, and tragic? Would you immediately report her to the police, or would you go along with her and help her try to cover it up?
Keith lives this moment, and has to decide what to do. His wife Susan has performed possibly the worst thing that anyone could possibly do, and is adamant that she NEEDED to do this act. Why would anyone need to do this?? HOW could anyone do this?? And how is Keith going to move forward from this?
This is an extremely short story, but it is packed full of harrowing and terrifying moments and situations. There was one moment that I kind of thought was unnecessary and felt like it took away from the story a bit, but I still absolutely loved this quick and uneasy read.
I just regret reading it right before bed. 😂
Keith lives this moment, and has to decide what to do. His wife Susan has performed possibly the worst thing that anyone could possibly do, and is adamant that she NEEDED to do this act. Why would anyone need to do this?? HOW could anyone do this?? And how is Keith going to move forward from this?
This is an extremely short story, but it is packed full of harrowing and terrifying moments and situations. There was one moment that I kind of thought was unnecessary and felt like it took away from the story a bit, but I still absolutely loved this quick and uneasy read.
I just regret reading it right before bed. 😂
August 15, 2024
highly recommend!
How could you do this to me!? Whyyyyyy?! 😭😭😭
Bury Your Demons
By: Timothy King Author
5/5 🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦
I absolutely loved this short story! The ending had my jaw on the ground for several minutes. I was immersed the entire time and grew attached to the MC pretty quickly. Great read!
How could you do this to me!? Whyyyyyy?! 😭😭😭
Bury Your Demons
By: Timothy King Author
5/5 🪦🪦🪦🪦🪦
I absolutely loved this short story! The ending had my jaw on the ground for several minutes. I was immersed the entire time and grew attached to the MC pretty quickly. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews