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Kutter
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.
A 30,000-word novella from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of PRESSURE, DWELLER, and WOLF HUNT.
"KUTTER is easily the most perfect blending of dark (REALLY dark) humor, horror, and psychological suspense that Strand has produced to date." -- Elizabeth A. White.
Previously included in THE MAD & THE MACABRE.
...until the day he finds an adorable Boston Terrier and takes it home.
A 30,000-word novella from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of PRESSURE, DWELLER, and WOLF HUNT.
"KUTTER is easily the most perfect blending of dark (REALLY dark) humor, horror, and psychological suspense that Strand has produced to date." -- Elizabeth A. White.
Previously included in THE MAD & THE MACABRE.
101 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
48 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Strand
226 books2,203 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 - 30 of 73 reviews
August 13, 2014
While on a hunt, serial killer Charlie finds an injured dog in the park, brings him home, and names him Kutter. Hilarity ensues and Charlie's life is changed forever.
This is the twenty-fifth book in my Kindle Unlimited Experiment. For the 30 day trial, I'm only reading books that are part of the program and keeping track what the total cost of the books would have been.
One of the benefits of this somewhat misguided KU experiment of mine is that I get to try a lot of authors for free. Jeff Strand is swiftly becoming one of my new favorites.
Kutter is the age-old story of a man and his dog. Only this time, the man is a serial killer. The way Kutter transforms Charlie is hilarious but still pretty plausible. As Charlie takes baby steps toward normalcy, things from his past start floating to the surface and he has some decisions to make.
Much like Stalking You Now, Kutter is hilarious without becoming silly. Strand points out some of the absurdities involved with being a serial killer in clever ways. His writing reminds me of a more serious Christopher Moore.
Even though it's largely a dark humor novel, there are a couple tender moments in the book, especially if you're a dog lover.
The novella continues to be my preferred delivery system for horror and Jeff Strand is proving to be a great delivery man. Four out of five stars.
Current Kindle Unlimited Savings Total: $130.85.
This is the twenty-fifth book in my Kindle Unlimited Experiment. For the 30 day trial, I'm only reading books that are part of the program and keeping track what the total cost of the books would have been.
One of the benefits of this somewhat misguided KU experiment of mine is that I get to try a lot of authors for free. Jeff Strand is swiftly becoming one of my new favorites.
Kutter is the age-old story of a man and his dog. Only this time, the man is a serial killer. The way Kutter transforms Charlie is hilarious but still pretty plausible. As Charlie takes baby steps toward normalcy, things from his past start floating to the surface and he has some decisions to make.
Much like Stalking You Now, Kutter is hilarious without becoming silly. Strand points out some of the absurdities involved with being a serial killer in clever ways. His writing reminds me of a more serious Christopher Moore.
Even though it's largely a dark humor novel, there are a couple tender moments in the book, especially if you're a dog lover.
The novella continues to be my preferred delivery system for horror and Jeff Strand is proving to be a great delivery man. Four out of five stars.
Current Kindle Unlimited Savings Total: $130.85.
January 15, 2021
Water did not leak from eyes, but it threatened to many times. this is one of the few authors that can make me laugh and wanna cry in the same sentence.
I really didn't expect much from this book, but I have a soft spot for the canines. and an even softer spot for the serial killers (apparently)
I really didn't expect much from this book, but I have a soft spot for the canines. and an even softer spot for the serial killers (apparently)
January 22, 2015
4.5* I have to keep rearranging my top three Strand books because he keeps writing more of them. It's very frustrating.
I loved this story about a serial killer and his dog. I sympathized with the evil bastard. I imagine it's no easy task to write a villainous character who your readers will end up liking or feeling sorry for.
Something about the tone of the story reminded me of Dweller. I'm not sure exactly what it was but if you read Dweller and didn't cry at the end then you have no soul.
I digress. The ending of Kutter fell a little flat for me but other than that it was awesome. Highly recommended comedy horror.
I loved this story about a serial killer and his dog. I sympathized with the evil bastard. I imagine it's no easy task to write a villainous character who your readers will end up liking or feeling sorry for.
Something about the tone of the story reminded me of Dweller. I'm not sure exactly what it was but if you read Dweller and didn't cry at the end then you have no soul.
I digress. The ending of Kutter fell a little flat for me but other than that it was awesome. Highly recommended comedy horror.
September 17, 2013
I was in the mood for novellas yesterday, so I decided to read this one as it came to me highly recommended. I loved it!
Any fans of Jeff Strand already know about his black humor and this book was no exception. Take a cold serial killer that loves to torture women, put him together with a stray, injured dog and hilarity ensues. Only Jeff Strand could have you pulling for the serial killer by the end. That's what makes him so special. Highly recommended to fans of black humor!
Any fans of Jeff Strand already know about his black humor and this book was no exception. Take a cold serial killer that loves to torture women, put him together with a stray, injured dog and hilarity ensues. Only Jeff Strand could have you pulling for the serial killer by the end. That's what makes him so special. Highly recommended to fans of black humor!
May 25, 2020
This author was recommended to me by several people after I inquired about dark humor horror writers similar to Grady Hendrix. One person specifically noted that I should start with Kutter. After reading the laugh out loud synopsis, I was sure I needed to get my hands on a copy of this as soon as possible . Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that only 85 physical copies had been printed and if I wanted to obtain a secondhand copy, I would need to shell out close to $100!
My only options were ebook and audio, which were both inexpensive, but there was only one place I could purchase them from and it’s a business I try not to support. Alas, I caved. I mean, it’s the story of a serial killer softened by an injured Boston Terrier. How could I possibly walk away from this book?
I listened to the audio of this novella and it was less than 3 hours long. It was very entertaining, although it did feel a lot more like a comedy than horror. This is not a scary book but it’s a fun read, for sure. Some disturbing imagery does take place. That’s the worst of it. Somehow the author managed to make me root for the killer and then question myself as a human being.
I was vacillating between a 3.5 and 4 star rating here but the ending was cause for celebration and I settled upon the even number. This helped me get a good feel for how the author writes and I am definitely interested in reading more of his work.
My only options were ebook and audio, which were both inexpensive, but there was only one place I could purchase them from and it’s a business I try not to support. Alas, I caved. I mean, it’s the story of a serial killer softened by an injured Boston Terrier. How could I possibly walk away from this book?
I listened to the audio of this novella and it was less than 3 hours long. It was very entertaining, although it did feel a lot more like a comedy than horror. This is not a scary book but it’s a fun read, for sure. Some disturbing imagery does take place. That’s the worst of it. Somehow the author managed to make me root for the killer and then question myself as a human being.
I was vacillating between a 3.5 and 4 star rating here but the ending was cause for celebration and I settled upon the even number. This helped me get a good feel for how the author writes and I am definitely interested in reading more of his work.
August 19, 2013
I had insomnia last night and got my Kindle out to read this book. It's novella length, just long enough for me to finish the book and get drowsy. I enjoyed every minute of this story about a cold-hearted, methodical serial killer who rescues a Boston Terrier and slowly morphs into an empathetic human being who brushes up his social skills and attempts to live a normal life. The ending is perfect. I love the way Jeff Strand combines the humor and gruesome in his books. I look forward to everything he writes, long or short.
October 26, 2016
Is it possible to feel sympathy for a serial killer? It's a tough thing to pull off, but Strand succeeds in this sharp little novella.
July 9, 2017
Finally, a protagonist I can identify with. I mean... wait.... uh...
Well, if I'm being serious, I kinda did. Loved this book. Humorous and touching. And I loved Kutter.... I miss my dog.
O stars for my review, but 5 Big Ole Stars of Fun for this novella.
Well, if I'm being serious, I kinda did. Loved this book. Humorous and touching. And I loved Kutter.... I miss my dog.
O stars for my review, but 5 Big Ole Stars of Fun for this novella.
December 26, 2016
This is the only writer I know that could possibly pull off making a.serial killer feel relateable. I liked this book for the most part but it seemed to be missing Strands notorious humor. It still made for a.unique and one of a kind read and I appreciate it being offered as a kindleunlimited.
July 28, 2016
Review of KUTTER by Jeff Strand
The very best factor in this book is the character evolution. The next best factor is the delightful dogs (yes, all of them, even the meanies). Those two factors alone would satisfy me. But author Jeff Strand, who thoroughly knows what he's about before he sets to the keyboard, additionally gives us a wonderful story which leavens serious horror with humor, empathy, suspense, and a neat turning-of-tables as the protagonist (initally an unfeeling, almost robotic, individual whose only excitement comes from an odd version of serial killing) is confronted emotionally by a pesky co-worker, a new lady, his found dog's former owner, and physically by two fear-inducing men with mean dogs and a serious agenda.
I would have read this novel just because of the author. I would have read it just because of "Kutter," the Boston Terrier. The gift of character evolution brought the story to an entirely new high level for me. Love it.
The very best factor in this book is the character evolution. The next best factor is the delightful dogs (yes, all of them, even the meanies). Those two factors alone would satisfy me. But author Jeff Strand, who thoroughly knows what he's about before he sets to the keyboard, additionally gives us a wonderful story which leavens serious horror with humor, empathy, suspense, and a neat turning-of-tables as the protagonist (initally an unfeeling, almost robotic, individual whose only excitement comes from an odd version of serial killing) is confronted emotionally by a pesky co-worker, a new lady, his found dog's former owner, and physically by two fear-inducing men with mean dogs and a serious agenda.
I would have read this novel just because of the author. I would have read it just because of "Kutter," the Boston Terrier. The gift of character evolution brought the story to an entirely new high level for me. Love it.
December 31, 2014
Classic Jeff strand. This one had a perfect balance between dark humor and horror, at least in my opinion it did, it was a little lighter on the humor than most of his work. This is the story of how a cold blooded heartless serial killer falls in love with a cute little puppy and it changes his entire life, I would suspect something like this from Jeff strand would be more humor but the topic is taken seriously and is well written, as is all his work.
September 5, 2013
Jeff Strand is such an amazing writer. Anyone that could take a story about a serial killer & insert a stray dog to twist this story into an emotional adventurous heart warming story is a phenomenal writer!
November 23, 2017
OK, disclaimer time. I love Jeff Strand's work, and I love Boston terriers. We had one we picked up as a stray when I was a kid (that was going to stay in the garage JUST ONE NIGHT to be out of the rain, and lived with us many years after that :-), and we now have the second rescue that my wife and I have had together, who is the sweetest bundle of neuroses imaginable.
And man, did he nail the personality of the breed, spot on. Only a Boston terrier could rehabilitate a serial killer like Charlie (don't think that's a spoiler considering it is hinted at in the summary). This book is funny, touching, at times creepy, and just plain fun. Highly recommended for fans of dark humor, and especially dog lovers.
And man, did he nail the personality of the breed, spot on. Only a Boston terrier could rehabilitate a serial killer like Charlie (don't think that's a spoiler considering it is hinted at in the summary). This book is funny, touching, at times creepy, and just plain fun. Highly recommended for fans of dark humor, and especially dog lovers.
July 29, 2017
Wow, Jeff Strand can certainly make you go 'awww' for a serial killer. Charlie seems to be a classic sociopath, and a serial killer. (Think Dexter, without the coolness quotient and the wicked sense of humour)
However, his life changes when he inadvertently ends up rescuing a dog he eventually gets round to calling 'Kutter'.
Short book, and not too much of character development. But Strand tells his story cleverly and manages to keep you hooked through the story.
However, his life changes when he inadvertently ends up rescuing a dog he eventually gets round to calling 'Kutter'.
Short book, and not too much of character development. But Strand tells his story cleverly and manages to keep you hooked through the story.
March 23, 2017
Not my favorite Strand story... seemed mostly pointless and without the twisted humor his stories usually have.
September 21, 2013
***SPOILER ALERT****
This is a sweet little story that could be a study of how sociopath/serial killers are formed by their environment and not by DNA. Who would have thought That simply saving a lost, cold, injured little cute dog would change a serial killer, who had tortured women for days in his basement prior to killing them.
At first I felt the story was a bit far fetched. However, after re-thinking, I realized that the story is more believable than what I had originally thought. I wish I had the words to explain exactly how I feel about this story...as I said before, a statement of how all of our actions are influenced by our environment more than our DNA. If any of you are fans of Dexter, you will see a similarity in these two stories.
Or, perhaps it is a matter of maturity. Maybe the main character would not have responded to the dog the same way, 7 years prior to the time he found the dog. Maybe he would have taken the dog to a vet and told them just to find him a home or "whatever". I know Dexter's first wife and step children and then his own child did not fulfill the need he had to kill, but a few years later, his love interest has damaged his "Dark Passenger". It's extremely interesting to me (both Kutter and Dexter)
It is a sweet story with loads of humor. The killer's love for his dog shows no bounds.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the horror genre with a bit of a humorous twist and a heart-felt ending.
I look forward to reading more of Jeff Strand's stories!!
This is a sweet little story that could be a study of how sociopath/serial killers are formed by their environment and not by DNA. Who would have thought That simply saving a lost, cold, injured little cute dog would change a serial killer, who had tortured women for days in his basement prior to killing them.
At first I felt the story was a bit far fetched. However, after re-thinking, I realized that the story is more believable than what I had originally thought. I wish I had the words to explain exactly how I feel about this story...as I said before, a statement of how all of our actions are influenced by our environment more than our DNA. If any of you are fans of Dexter, you will see a similarity in these two stories.
Or, perhaps it is a matter of maturity. Maybe the main character would not have responded to the dog the same way, 7 years prior to the time he found the dog. Maybe he would have taken the dog to a vet and told them just to find him a home or "whatever". I know Dexter's first wife and step children and then his own child did not fulfill the need he had to kill, but a few years later, his love interest has damaged his "Dark Passenger". It's extremely interesting to me (both Kutter and Dexter)
It is a sweet story with loads of humor. The killer's love for his dog shows no bounds.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the horror genre with a bit of a humorous twist and a heart-felt ending.
I look forward to reading more of Jeff Strand's stories!!
March 24, 2017
At no point in my life did I ever think that I would root for a character in a book as vile as Charlie. He's a serial killer who targets women to torture and murder! If anything, I should hate him, and at first I did. As the story progressed, I found myself being more tolerant of his actions, all due to his care and affection for a little Boston terrier that he happens to find under a park bench one night and decides to keep. Most of us have a soft spot when it comes to loving an animal, right?
Charlie sort of reminded me of Dexter. He has his set of rules in place to keep himself from getting caught, though he didn't have the benefit of an adoptive parent who taught him to only harm bad people. Charlie is much more charming than Dexter and prefers to take his time, while Dexter is quick.
This was a short, and fun story to read. It definitely appeals to a morbid sense of mind, but there is humor to take away from it. Jeff Strand is a master of blending horror and humor and it appeals to morbid curiosities quite well. I listened to the audible version that was narrated by Jack Clancy. The narration was very well done and Clancy was a perfect choice to voice Charlie.
Charlie sort of reminded me of Dexter. He has his set of rules in place to keep himself from getting caught, though he didn't have the benefit of an adoptive parent who taught him to only harm bad people. Charlie is much more charming than Dexter and prefers to take his time, while Dexter is quick.
This was a short, and fun story to read. It definitely appeals to a morbid sense of mind, but there is humor to take away from it. Jeff Strand is a master of blending horror and humor and it appeals to morbid curiosities quite well. I listened to the audible version that was narrated by Jack Clancy. The narration was very well done and Clancy was a perfect choice to voice Charlie.
January 25, 2020
It was entertaining. At first it was disturbing but then when he got his dog he become a totally different person. But then your past can't be hidden long
March 8, 2020
A short and humorous, twisted tale from the master of humorous and twisted. A very Strand short. And that’s a good thing.
August 18, 2023
This was a perfect book. From start to finish this story gave you everything. We have a serial killer who gets a soft side for a dog he finds and nurses back to health. This is a short one so I think details will spoil this one so I’ll say that we get to almost start to like Charlie, and then are reminded he is a serial killer. This ending was also perfect. Loved Jeff’s books for many years and no idea why it took so long to read this one. Awesome Jeff, just perfect
August 28, 2013
Brainycat's 5 "B"s:
blood: 3
boobs: 1
bombs: 0
bondage: 3
blasphemy: 1
Bechdel Test: FAIL
Deggan's Rule: FAIL
Gay Bechdel Test: FAIL
A novella that reads very, very quickly. I suppose it has too many chapters to be a short story though. This book was cute, but so totally implausible I couldn't get behind the protagonist. At the beginning of the book, he's a serial killer who also has Asperger's, though he's highly functional. Then he finds a hurt puppy, nurses him back to health and in the process learns empathy, develops relationships with people and loses interest in finding and killing young women.
Yeeaaah, riiiiiiight. This whole premise flies in the face of decades of research into psychopathology without any reasoning - as a reader, I'm expected to believe in magical healing puppy powers but no logical basis for why the protagonist changed is ever given. It didn't make sense. The ending was disappointing, too, it was too obvious what was going to happen and when the inevitable finally played out I wasn't sure if I was more relieved I was finished or if I was disappointed in how poorly it played out.
The book is written in first person, so it has lots of short words and small sentences, which makes the protagonist sound more learning disabled than mildly autistic, but the evidence provided in the story makes it highly unlikely he's got any kind of learning disability. Again, more implausibility I couldn't get behind. The kindle edition does not have any typos or grammatical errors that I noticed. It's a very easy and quick read; if you like puppies or contemporary serial killer shorts it might be worth a few minutes if it goes on sale.
blood: 3
boobs: 1
bombs: 0
bondage: 3
blasphemy: 1
Bechdel Test: FAIL
Deggan's Rule: FAIL
Gay Bechdel Test: FAIL
A novella that reads very, very quickly. I suppose it has too many chapters to be a short story though. This book was cute, but so totally implausible I couldn't get behind the protagonist. At the beginning of the book, he's a serial killer who also has Asperger's, though he's highly functional. Then he finds a hurt puppy, nurses him back to health and in the process learns empathy, develops relationships with people and loses interest in finding and killing young women.
Yeeaaah, riiiiiiight. This whole premise flies in the face of decades of research into psychopathology without any reasoning - as a reader, I'm expected to believe in magical healing puppy powers but no logical basis for why the protagonist changed is ever given. It didn't make sense. The ending was disappointing, too, it was too obvious what was going to happen and when the inevitable finally played out I wasn't sure if I was more relieved I was finished or if I was disappointed in how poorly it played out.
The book is written in first person, so it has lots of short words and small sentences, which makes the protagonist sound more learning disabled than mildly autistic, but the evidence provided in the story makes it highly unlikely he's got any kind of learning disability. Again, more implausibility I couldn't get behind. The kindle edition does not have any typos or grammatical errors that I noticed. It's a very easy and quick read; if you like puppies or contemporary serial killer shorts it might be worth a few minutes if it goes on sale.
Please note: I don't review to provide synopses, I review to share a purely visceral reaction to books and perhaps answer some of the questions I ask when I'm contemplating investing time and money into a book.
August 9, 2016
I enjoyed the dark humor and audacity of Jeff Strand's Kutter but couldn't help feeling it would have been better as a longish short story. Don't get me wrong, I read it in one sitting and enjoyed myself but I felt it peaked when That scene was so suspenseful and brilliantly executed it made the rest of the (still good) ending seem a bit anticlimactic. But you have to give credit where it's due, and any author who can convincingly make the reader root for a serial killer over the innocent victim trapped in the basement AND want him to keep the dog has got my interest.
I very much want to jump right into another Jeff Strand book but don't want to risk "author fatigue" so I'll just quickly reach for a handy Joe R. Lansdale book instead.
3.5
I very much want to jump right into another Jeff Strand book but don't want to risk "author fatigue" so I'll just quickly reach for a handy Joe R. Lansdale book instead.
3.5
April 27, 2020
What can I say.
I have never had a book about a serial killer make me tear up, well, before now I haven’t. It was more tears for the dog but still. This is definitely different from your average serial killer book but it was definitely a good read. The killer finds a dog & the dog actually makes him a better person. You kinda feel bad for the killer at the end. This is a good book, but don’t take my word for it...READ IT.
I have never had a book about a serial killer make me tear up, well, before now I haven’t. It was more tears for the dog but still. This is definitely different from your average serial killer book but it was definitely a good read. The killer finds a dog & the dog actually makes him a better person. You kinda feel bad for the killer at the end. This is a good book, but don’t take my word for it...READ IT.
August 3, 2014
Serial killer Charlie lives for one thing in life: to get a woman down in his basement so he can end her life. This all changes when he stumbles on a starving, freezing, injured Boston Terrier and decides to take it home on the off chance of a reward. The story becomes touching as they spend more time together and the changes Charlie goes through because of it.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
November 11, 2017
Jeff Strand is quickly becoming my go to author when i need a dose of dark humor! not every writer can make people sympathetic for a serial killer, but he pulls it off. And shows how any person can be better with a dog in their life.
May 21, 2020
Would they suspect him, though? Would they suspect the guy with the cute dog was a killer? Yeah, probably. Charlie still had to admit he was kind of creepy.
They were simply junkies, girls strung out on their luck with little to know friends or families that’ll notice their absences from the darkened corners of towns. Yet every two months on the 24th, one girl would mistake the wrong man for someone safe to trust, to follow and find themselves strapped to a table, alone and frightened in a basement from Hell. He would meticulously slash at their flesh, opening some superficial wounds to bandage; prolonging suffering for days even weeks at a time before he would find comfort in their passings. There were some that would find no inner strength to survive, and the weeks he longed for would dwindle to mere days or even a few fleeting hours with them. He was a cruel man who needed the torment, who craved the exhilaration of inflicting pain into traumatized souls. The man who could hold the slim rope of life and death to the twenty-one victims, Charlie Stanlon.
He felt fine. He’d had fun. And it was a much safer kind of fun than torturing and murdering a woman in his basement.
He was the average forty-two year old bachelor, holding down an unfavorable job in exchange for a survivable income. Although he appeared beyond normal to the outside looking in, he was anything but the kind and sometimes bizarre coworker. With a sickening fascination with fellow employee Alicia, a gorgeous freckled red head, he felt little empathy or longing towards anything, until the night he stumbled upon a shivering and injured Boston Terrier While hunting for his next Victimin a lonely park. Towards the beginning the dog meant little to him, a mere inconvenience with the promise of a hefty reward if his owner appeared, yet as time trickled past he began the attachment daze to the little dog. Naming him Kutter, he bonded over the month of having him, and even acquired a girlfriend, Elizabeth after a blind date from work succeeded. With his life seemingly turned around, a Victim from eight months ago would come to haunt him, leading him towards his final downfall. As her brother’s appeared into the scene it took months for them to corner him, and their dogs to tear into Kutter, leaving a bloody, torn body on the floor. I’m exchange for his dog’s survival, he admitted to the crimes he had committed, thankful beyond words Kutter lives.
Charlie Stanlon held the dead woman and wept.
They were simply junkies, girls strung out on their luck with little to know friends or families that’ll notice their absences from the darkened corners of towns. Yet every two months on the 24th, one girl would mistake the wrong man for someone safe to trust, to follow and find themselves strapped to a table, alone and frightened in a basement from Hell. He would meticulously slash at their flesh, opening some superficial wounds to bandage; prolonging suffering for days even weeks at a time before he would find comfort in their passings. There were some that would find no inner strength to survive, and the weeks he longed for would dwindle to mere days or even a few fleeting hours with them. He was a cruel man who needed the torment, who craved the exhilaration of inflicting pain into traumatized souls. The man who could hold the slim rope of life and death to the twenty-one victims, Charlie Stanlon.
He felt fine. He’d had fun. And it was a much safer kind of fun than torturing and murdering a woman in his basement.
He was the average forty-two year old bachelor, holding down an unfavorable job in exchange for a survivable income. Although he appeared beyond normal to the outside looking in, he was anything but the kind and sometimes bizarre coworker. With a sickening fascination with fellow employee Alicia, a gorgeous freckled red head, he felt little empathy or longing towards anything, until the night he stumbled upon a shivering and injured Boston Terrier While hunting for his next Victimin a lonely park. Towards the beginning the dog meant little to him, a mere inconvenience with the promise of a hefty reward if his owner appeared, yet as time trickled past he began the attachment daze to the little dog. Naming him Kutter, he bonded over the month of having him, and even acquired a girlfriend, Elizabeth after a blind date from work succeeded. With his life seemingly turned around, a Victim from eight months ago would come to haunt him, leading him towards his final downfall. As her brother’s appeared into the scene it took months for them to corner him, and their dogs to tear into Kutter, leaving a bloody, torn body on the floor. I’m exchange for his dog’s survival, he admitted to the crimes he had committed, thankful beyond words Kutter lives.
Charlie Stanlon held the dead woman and wept.
June 26, 2022
Oh man. I just hate you, Jeff Strand. I'm not weeping, you're weeping. I want to trust the police, I really do.
I honestly was not quite sure what to expect before starting this story about a serial killer who one day brings home an injured little dog. But I found in reading this novella, I felt all sorts of things: humor, hopefulness, anxiety, tenderness, fear, and sorrow. For me it was a really interesting and wonderful story. Of course, I am a small dog owner, so perhaps my reactions to this book are a little stronger and more deeply felt than someone who doesn't have an emotional response to stories involving dogs. But our main protagonist, Charlie, did not start off as a dog person either, so you never know how you're going to feel by the end of this story.
The ending was a roller coaster with lots of action. A somewhat quick conclusion... a quick conclusion in need of a little more detail for my taste. Would it kill you to give me an epilogue, Jeff Strand??!! This girl needs some confirmation because I feel like I'm left hanging and do not want to say good-bye so abruptly to this man and his dog that I've allowed into my life. sigh.
This story was more of a character study than anything - I highly recommend it to anyone, understanding that it may hit more closely to home for lovers of dogs. It was a fast and fun read, but I suggest you have your tissues handy because life gets messy, and endings are not always wrapped up nicely with a pretty bow.
I honestly was not quite sure what to expect before starting this story about a serial killer who one day brings home an injured little dog. But I found in reading this novella, I felt all sorts of things: humor, hopefulness, anxiety, tenderness, fear, and sorrow. For me it was a really interesting and wonderful story. Of course, I am a small dog owner, so perhaps my reactions to this book are a little stronger and more deeply felt than someone who doesn't have an emotional response to stories involving dogs. But our main protagonist, Charlie, did not start off as a dog person either, so you never know how you're going to feel by the end of this story.
The ending was a roller coaster with lots of action. A somewhat quick conclusion... a quick conclusion in need of a little more detail for my taste. Would it kill you to give me an epilogue, Jeff Strand??!! This girl needs some confirmation because I feel like I'm left hanging and do not want to say good-bye so abruptly to this man and his dog that I've allowed into my life. sigh.
This story was more of a character study than anything - I highly recommend it to anyone, understanding that it may hit more closely to home for lovers of dogs. It was a fast and fun read, but I suggest you have your tissues handy because life gets messy, and endings are not always wrapped up nicely with a pretty bow.
November 7, 2018
“A heartwarming story about a serial killer and his dog.” It’s a phrase you would never imagine yourself saying, yet I stand by this statement as it refers to Jeff Strand’s darkly comical book Kutter. This isn’t just a story about dead prostitutes and abandoned dogs, it’s also about the human condition examined through the point of view of someone completely removed from it, serial killer and socially awkward desk jockey Charlie Stanton. Watching Charlie discover empathy and emotional connection through the logic and reasoning of an introverted sociopath is both touching and amusing in Strand’s tight prose, enough so that the reader just might find themselves rooting for guy who occasionally disposes of body parts in a nearby lake. Most importantly, however, this is a story of how everyone is capable of redemption, no matter how many women they torture in their soundproof basement. Like I said, heartwarming.
August 27, 2019
This is how a novella should be! Very fast-paced, great characterization, lots of humor, just enough exposition that was needed for the story to be told (as opposed to what's needed to fatten out a story), a wonderful dynamic between lead and dog, and somehow I immediately sympathized with Charlie (a serial killer and torturer of women). Jeff's humor was spread throughout, like always, and I loved the third-person narration filled with constant inner-conflict that I imagine a psychopath (sociopath?) would sound like.
The final pages took me by surprise, and at one point I may have yelled out, "Man, fuck you Jeff!" But while I wanted a different ending, Jeff stayed true to the story and gave it the ending that Charlie needed and deserved.
The final pages took me by surprise, and at one point I may have yelled out, "Man, fuck you Jeff!" But while I wanted a different ending, Jeff stayed true to the story and gave it the ending that Charlie needed and deserved.
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February 19, 2022Unbelievable! Jeff Strand is truly a weird and talented writer. I cannot believe he made me actually sympathize with a sadistic serial killer. At the beginning of this book, Charlie is the most repulsive of human beings - a man who finds pleasure in causing pain to others and places no value on any life but his own. And, then came Kutter. I'm not sure someone as psychotic as Charlie could really let in the love of a dog, but I'm completely positive that there are plenty of dogs out there that could love Charlie even if most people couldn't. I also know for certain that if you let a dog love you, you can't help but be a better person. Charlie definitely becomes the guy who is trying "to be the person his dog thinks he is". Great story with great narration by Jack Clancy.
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