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The Mad and the Macabre
The Mad & The Macabre...
Two novellas, previously only available as hardcover limited editions, now joined together into one affordable package!
KUTTER by Jeff Strand
Charlie Stanlon is a serial killer. A ghastly, vicious sociopath who chains women to a table in his basement and tortures them to death. He has no friends. He has no family. He despises his co-workers. His only pleasure in life is to cause pain and terror.
Until the day he finds an adorable Boston Terrier and takes it home...
REMAINS by Michael McBride
On May 21st, 2008, seven graduate students in Religious Studies set out from the University of Colorado in search of God. Armed with only their faith and the scriptures, they traveled to the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. None of them were ever heard from again.
On November 13th, 2010, their families set off to recreate their final days in hopes of discovering their fate...
Editions
Trade Paperback: 6 x 9, has a beautiful 12 point full color cover, 60lb. natural vellum stock, and the first 100 copies are signed by the authors.
Two novellas, previously only available as hardcover limited editions, now joined together into one affordable package!
KUTTER by Jeff Strand
Charlie Stanlon is a serial killer. A ghastly, vicious sociopath who chains women to a table in his basement and tortures them to death. He has no friends. He has no family. He despises his co-workers. His only pleasure in life is to cause pain and terror.
Until the day he finds an adorable Boston Terrier and takes it home...
REMAINS by Michael McBride
On May 21st, 2008, seven graduate students in Religious Studies set out from the University of Colorado in search of God. Armed with only their faith and the scriptures, they traveled to the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. None of them were ever heard from again.
On November 13th, 2010, their families set off to recreate their final days in hopes of discovering their fate...
Editions
Trade Paperback: 6 x 9, has a beautiful 12 point full color cover, 60lb. natural vellum stock, and the first 100 copies are signed by the authors.
- GenresHorror
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
96 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Strand
230 books2,229 followersBram Stoker Award-winning author of a bunch of demented books, including PRESSURE, DWELLER, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS, AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER, MY PRETTIES, the official novelization of ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, and lots of others!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 5, 2013
This collection containins two separate novellas by two different authors: Jeff Strand and Michael McBride. They were originally available as limited hardcover and the authors combined forces for this Kindle release.
Jeff Strand's "Kutter" deals with a serial killer who comes across a hurt Boston Terrier that he names Kutter. The man's growing love for his new friend reduces his urge to collect victims every two months. For those familiar with Strand's humorous side, there is very little humor here. He plays it straight, even invoking a sappy, sentimental mood with an unusual dark undertone. The story's style seemed like an aborted child of Fangboy + Dweller. The main character isn't as likable as his dog and as the reader we don't want anything bad happening to Kutter. The ending is awkward and out of sync with the rest of the story and yet it fits, somehow.
"Remains" by Michael McBride deals with a small group trying to find out what happened to their relatives on Mount Isolation in Colorado. Bones have been found with some sort of strange microbiological creature. I had a hard time getting into this story until the final 30% or so, but wow, it ends very strong with a disturbing climax.
Overall, an engaging, slightly above average read from two talented writers. I'd lean toward "Kutter" as the slightly better story. Each story is 50% of the Kindle locations. 3.5 stars rounded down. Would recommend checking out the authors other works first before reading this one.
Jeff Strand's "Kutter" deals with a serial killer who comes across a hurt Boston Terrier that he names Kutter. The man's growing love for his new friend reduces his urge to collect victims every two months. For those familiar with Strand's humorous side, there is very little humor here. He plays it straight, even invoking a sappy, sentimental mood with an unusual dark undertone. The story's style seemed like an aborted child of Fangboy + Dweller. The main character isn't as likable as his dog and as the reader we don't want anything bad happening to Kutter. The ending is awkward and out of sync with the rest of the story and yet it fits, somehow.
"Remains" by Michael McBride deals with a small group trying to find out what happened to their relatives on Mount Isolation in Colorado. Bones have been found with some sort of strange microbiological creature. I had a hard time getting into this story until the final 30% or so, but wow, it ends very strong with a disturbing climax.
Overall, an engaging, slightly above average read from two talented writers. I'd lean toward "Kutter" as the slightly better story. Each story is 50% of the Kindle locations. 3.5 stars rounded down. Would recommend checking out the authors other works first before reading this one.
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January 25, 2011The Mad and the Macabre contains two novella-length stories from veteran horror writers, one from Jeff Strand and one by Michael McBride.
“Kutter” by Jeff Strand is about Charlie, a very successful serial killer. Charlie is so successful because he has rules that he always follows without exception. He keeps to just one victim every other month. He chooses someone that will (usually) not be missed. Charlie hasn’t been caught in three years….but he’s also a loner. He keeps to himself at work, doesn’t date, and has no friends. One night while walking through a park Charlie finds an injured dog. Initially he passes it by but thinking there might be a reward he brings the Boston Terrier home. Charlie cleans him up and feeds him and decides to make up flyers to post around the neighborhood, but when no one claims the dog, his co-worker Alicia suggests he keep the dog….and he does. Charlie names him Kutter and slowly begins to spoil him rotten. Charlie loves the dog and Kutter loves Charlie. What happens to Charlie over the next few weeks and months is nothing short of amazing. He becomes more social and even forgets about hunting for victims. Unfortunately, Charlie’s past will eventually catch up to him.
“Remains” by Michael McBride tells the story of family members left to deal with their loved ones’ disappearance in the Colorado Rockies. A group of graduate students who went into the wilderness in the hopes of finding God or some proof of his existence, disappeared two years ago and no trace of them was ever found. Now a former detective has found a strange microorganism on a bone found by a rancher. After confirming it as a potential clue to the group’s fate, the family members gather at the camp where the students were last seen and begin a fresh search. The students believed, based on Biblical passages, that the fallen angels were cast down to Earth and into Hell in the Rockies. Gabriel, Cavanaugh and the others follow the leads of their missing relatives and embark on a methodical search based on the students’ research and the sudden and strange find. Are the kids still alive? Are they dead? Did they find what they were looking for?
Both stories are heart-wrenching. Jeff Strand has taken the old story of a boy and his dog and turned it on its ear. Charlie actually becomes a sympathetic character. There was a point in the story that was positively cringe-inducing but it proves to be an excellent vehicle for the story’s conclusion. “Kutter” also has a nice little twist to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. “Remains” is a quasi-religious-based horror/sci-fi story, which I did enjoy for the most part. McBride manages to keep the mystery of the students’ disappearance until the very end, which makes for one hell of a page-turner. While the story is well-written and suspenseful throughout, its conclusion is something I’ve seen and heard in TV shows on The History Channel and National Geographic Channel, and I was a little disappointed. Besides the one flaw in the conclusion of “Remains” The Mad and the Macabre was an excellent read. Recommended.
Contains: violence, gore and sexual situations
Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund
“Kutter” by Jeff Strand is about Charlie, a very successful serial killer. Charlie is so successful because he has rules that he always follows without exception. He keeps to just one victim every other month. He chooses someone that will (usually) not be missed. Charlie hasn’t been caught in three years….but he’s also a loner. He keeps to himself at work, doesn’t date, and has no friends. One night while walking through a park Charlie finds an injured dog. Initially he passes it by but thinking there might be a reward he brings the Boston Terrier home. Charlie cleans him up and feeds him and decides to make up flyers to post around the neighborhood, but when no one claims the dog, his co-worker Alicia suggests he keep the dog….and he does. Charlie names him Kutter and slowly begins to spoil him rotten. Charlie loves the dog and Kutter loves Charlie. What happens to Charlie over the next few weeks and months is nothing short of amazing. He becomes more social and even forgets about hunting for victims. Unfortunately, Charlie’s past will eventually catch up to him.
“Remains” by Michael McBride tells the story of family members left to deal with their loved ones’ disappearance in the Colorado Rockies. A group of graduate students who went into the wilderness in the hopes of finding God or some proof of his existence, disappeared two years ago and no trace of them was ever found. Now a former detective has found a strange microorganism on a bone found by a rancher. After confirming it as a potential clue to the group’s fate, the family members gather at the camp where the students were last seen and begin a fresh search. The students believed, based on Biblical passages, that the fallen angels were cast down to Earth and into Hell in the Rockies. Gabriel, Cavanaugh and the others follow the leads of their missing relatives and embark on a methodical search based on the students’ research and the sudden and strange find. Are the kids still alive? Are they dead? Did they find what they were looking for?
Both stories are heart-wrenching. Jeff Strand has taken the old story of a boy and his dog and turned it on its ear. Charlie actually becomes a sympathetic character. There was a point in the story that was positively cringe-inducing but it proves to be an excellent vehicle for the story’s conclusion. “Kutter” also has a nice little twist to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. “Remains” is a quasi-religious-based horror/sci-fi story, which I did enjoy for the most part. McBride manages to keep the mystery of the students’ disappearance until the very end, which makes for one hell of a page-turner. While the story is well-written and suspenseful throughout, its conclusion is something I’ve seen and heard in TV shows on The History Channel and National Geographic Channel, and I was a little disappointed. Besides the one flaw in the conclusion of “Remains” The Mad and the Macabre was an excellent read. Recommended.
Contains: violence, gore and sexual situations
Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund
April 19, 2013
A great duet of novellas from 2 of the best in the biz.
Kutter by Jeff Strand is an amusing tale of a serial killer and his best friend. Told from the killers point of view as only Strand can do.
Remains by Michael McBride takes a group out in the wilderness in search of seven grad students who have disappeared on a remote mountain range.
Both of these novellas were very entertaining in their own ways although both very differnet. Fast and fun reads. Highly Recommended.
Kutter by Jeff Strand is an amusing tale of a serial killer and his best friend. Told from the killers point of view as only Strand can do.
Remains by Michael McBride takes a group out in the wilderness in search of seven grad students who have disappeared on a remote mountain range.
Both of these novellas were very entertaining in their own ways although both very differnet. Fast and fun reads. Highly Recommended.
January 1, 2011
Mine is signed by both authors.
Two authors, two novellas. One tells a tale of a mad psychopath, the other delves into a macabre secret best left alone.
Two authors, two novellas. One tells a tale of a mad psychopath, the other delves into a macabre secret best left alone.
August 11, 2011
5 stars for the first tale KUTTER by Jeff Strand & 3 stars for the other REMAINS by Michael McBride. More detailed review coming soon.
August 17, 2012
I really like Jeff Strand's books. I look forward to seeing new releases from him on a regular basis!
December 31, 2014
Kutter - five stars
Remains - two point five stars. This one was a great read up until the horrible ending that made me regret wasting my time on it.
Remains - two point five stars. This one was a great read up until the horrible ending that made me regret wasting my time on it.
Want to read
July 24, 2013If anything happens to the cute pup I'm going to HATE this.
April 19, 2011
Love Kutter
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews