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Dweller
When Toby Floren was eight years old, he discovered a monster living in the woods behind his house. A ghastly, frightening creature with claws, fangs, and a taste for human flesh. As he ran out of the forest, Toby felt that he'd been lucky to escape with his life. Years later, Toby finds comfort with the creature. It's his own special secret--something that nobody else in the world knows about. Somebody to talk to. Somebody to confide in. Sure, Toby has concerns about his own sanity, but really, what boy wouldn't want to be best friends with a monster in the woods, especially if he's being tormented by bullies? The creature, who he names Owen, may be the answer to his problems... From Jeff Strand, the author of PRESSURE, comes the story of a macabre, decades-long friendship. A relationship that will last their entire lives, through times of happiness, tragedy, love, loss, madness, and complete darkness. DWELLER. The lifetime story of a boy and his monster.
326 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
226 people are currently reading
6109 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Strand
229 books2,210 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 379 reviews
September 25, 2018
Dear Dr. Jill,
as a psychiatrist, you come highly recommended by freaks and weirdos. Yes, I'm allowed to say that because I am one of them.
There are two reasons why I finally decided to contact you about my problems.
The first is that I was guaranteed that you will never, ever share any information I give you with anybody else. The second is that sign on your desk that says:
Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself.
That means you must be a Metallica fan, as well.
I was eight years old when I met my monster. I don't want you to confuse this with some metaphorical thing - I mean a flesh, blood, large talons and sharp teeth monster. I don't know what he is and I doubt I'll ever find out.
Of course, at that age, I ran away screaming.
But then, when I was fifteen, I accidentally stumbled upon his cage. It was a difficult time in my life. I'm a skinny guy and I got bullied a lot. At first, I just wanted to get a picture of him, proof to the world that he really existed. But I didn't share that information, because he was my monster, and mine alone.
And then there was the incident in the woods with the two bullies, the guns and the knife...well, I don't really want to get into that just yet.
But I became friends with the monster. I called him Owen.
I lacked social skills and didn't really make any other friends, but Owen was always there for me. I wasn't afraid any more and we trusted each other.
And then I met my first girlfriend. After a while, I wanted to share Owen with her, I needed them to get along. That was a mistake. A huge one.
And as I got older, Owen was the only constant in my life.
I met my wife after my parents passed away. I love her so much. I love our kids so much. But there was this accident, you see, something beyond anybody's control. So she took them away. I don't even know where they are.
How did everything become so fucked up in my life, especially after I was so happy?
Why can't she understand that Owen is my best friend?
Am I becoming an alcoholic?
I have to go, before I ramble too much about my so called life. Please let me know if we can set up a meeting. I don't get reception when I'm with Owen, so please leave a message if I don't answer.
I need to sort things out, before everything ends in tragedy.
Yours
Toby Floren
as a psychiatrist, you come highly recommended by freaks and weirdos. Yes, I'm allowed to say that because I am one of them.
There are two reasons why I finally decided to contact you about my problems.
The first is that I was guaranteed that you will never, ever share any information I give you with anybody else. The second is that sign on your desk that says:
Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself.
That means you must be a Metallica fan, as well.
I was eight years old when I met my monster. I don't want you to confuse this with some metaphorical thing - I mean a flesh, blood, large talons and sharp teeth monster. I don't know what he is and I doubt I'll ever find out.
Of course, at that age, I ran away screaming.
But then, when I was fifteen, I accidentally stumbled upon his cage. It was a difficult time in my life. I'm a skinny guy and I got bullied a lot. At first, I just wanted to get a picture of him, proof to the world that he really existed. But I didn't share that information, because he was my monster, and mine alone.
And then there was the incident in the woods with the two bullies, the guns and the knife...well, I don't really want to get into that just yet.
But I became friends with the monster. I called him Owen.
I lacked social skills and didn't really make any other friends, but Owen was always there for me. I wasn't afraid any more and we trusted each other.
And then I met my first girlfriend. After a while, I wanted to share Owen with her, I needed them to get along. That was a mistake. A huge one.
And as I got older, Owen was the only constant in my life.
I met my wife after my parents passed away. I love her so much. I love our kids so much. But there was this accident, you see, something beyond anybody's control. So she took them away. I don't even know where they are.
How did everything become so fucked up in my life, especially after I was so happy?
Why can't she understand that Owen is my best friend?
Am I becoming an alcoholic?
I have to go, before I ramble too much about my so called life. Please let me know if we can set up a meeting. I don't get reception when I'm with Owen, so please leave a message if I don't answer.
I need to sort things out, before everything ends in tragedy.
Yours
Toby Floren
October 7, 2020
That was good and well, sad 😕. I’m going to go off and cry now for my own reasons!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 18, 2017
An awkward eight year old boy named Toby sees a Bigfoot-like creature in the woods one day, starting a friendship that lasts a lifetime...
I've been a fan of Jeff Strand's and a cheap ass for a long time so I snapped this up for the princely sum of ninety-nine cents one day. It's not as polished as his later works but still quite enjoyable. It features a lot of what I loved in later works like Kumquat.
Dweller is a coming of age tale about an outcast boy and his friendship with a flesh-eating monster that lives in the forest behind his house. Their friendship weathers death, age, death, alcoholism, death, and death. There's also some death...
Yeah, this is as dysfunctional a tale as I've ever read but it has some touching moments. Toby repeatedly puts Owen, the monster, ahead of everything else and repeatedly pays the price. Bullies and loved ones alike meat their fate in Owen's jaws and talons. There's a George R.R. Martin level of heart-breaking killings in this, interspersed with humor and some great character moments.
Jeff Strand is one of my go-to guys and this book is a great example of his blend of humor and horror. Three out of five stars.
I've been a fan of Jeff Strand's and a cheap ass for a long time so I snapped this up for the princely sum of ninety-nine cents one day. It's not as polished as his later works but still quite enjoyable. It features a lot of what I loved in later works like Kumquat.
Dweller is a coming of age tale about an outcast boy and his friendship with a flesh-eating monster that lives in the forest behind his house. Their friendship weathers death, age, death, alcoholism, death, and death. There's also some death...
Yeah, this is as dysfunctional a tale as I've ever read but it has some touching moments. Toby repeatedly puts Owen, the monster, ahead of everything else and repeatedly pays the price. Bullies and loved ones alike meat their fate in Owen's jaws and talons. There's a George R.R. Martin level of heart-breaking killings in this, interspersed with humor and some great character moments.
Jeff Strand is one of my go-to guys and this book is a great example of his blend of humor and horror. Three out of five stars.
February 4, 2012
Jeff Strand does an amazing job with this book.
Young Toby encounters a monster in the woods, but when he tells his family no one will believe him.
So begins a lifelong relationship between Toby and the monster.
The reason I say Jeff Strand did an amazing job is twofold. First, you really care for Toby, even though his relationship with the monster takes some nasty turns (and when I say nasty, I mean VERY nasty). You can't help but feel sorry for him. Second, you really care for the monster although he does some horrific things. Mr. Strand brings an humanity to the monster that I didn't expect, but it worked.
In my opinion, this story isn't really scary in the usual way. What's scary about it is how far these two will go to maintain their friendship, above ALL else. I know people say this all the time, but I couldn't put this book down. It is fast paced and well written and best of all, it is a fascinating story that will keep you engaged.
Young Toby encounters a monster in the woods, but when he tells his family no one will believe him.
So begins a lifelong relationship between Toby and the monster.
The reason I say Jeff Strand did an amazing job is twofold. First, you really care for Toby, even though his relationship with the monster takes some nasty turns (and when I say nasty, I mean VERY nasty). You can't help but feel sorry for him. Second, you really care for the monster although he does some horrific things. Mr. Strand brings an humanity to the monster that I didn't expect, but it worked.
In my opinion, this story isn't really scary in the usual way. What's scary about it is how far these two will go to maintain their friendship, above ALL else. I know people say this all the time, but I couldn't put this book down. It is fast paced and well written and best of all, it is a fascinating story that will keep you engaged.
December 8, 2021
“You tended to quit doing things after the bad times and not the good times.”
The last time I remember crying when I read a book was when I still lived in Washington state. I was a new mom and decided I was going to read Tuesdays with Morrie. I sobbed like a baby. Seriously. I sprawled across the couch and cried for a good hour. Every time I'd think about one passage, in particular, I'd start bawling all over again.
Dweller also made me cry. Maybe not for an hour...and definitely not sprawled across the couch like some French girl drawn by Leonardo DiCaprio. No, nothing that spectacular. But this amazing story wrought an actual physical reaction...and that's pretty incredible. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE was a true story. DWELLER is a fictional monster story.
How in the heck did Jeff Strand manage to evoke that kind of emotion from me with fictional horror?
Guess you'll just have to read DWELLER and find out!
At its core, DWELLER is a beautifully told coming-of-age novel about life-long friendship and how the decisions we make - good, bad, or otherwise - shape our entire lives. It's poignant, tragic, heartfelt, and completely gripping. I hope you'll all choose to give this charming story a read. I genuinely loved it.
Even through the tears.
Available in e-book and paperback formats on Amazon.
April 24, 2012
If you ever happen to want to befriend a Bigfoot/Dweller there are rules.
1)You must not run away from the animal when you first sight it out of fear.
2)Make sure you have no stings attached, no family and no women.
3)Relocate the beast miles from humans.
4)Cover your tracks and make sure it's not following you home and you are not leading people to it.
5)Never trust anyone with you're secret.
6)Never get personal, when push comes to shove and things don't go by the the rules you need to execute the beast swiftly and efficiently.
7)Last point from the time of befriending and until execution of the beast do not consume intoxicants or drugs, You must be in control!
This was a coming of age and a coming of retirement story. Boy and beast wonderful, there are a few nice stories and movies out there, The Bfg by Dahl and the movies Bigfoot and the Henderson's and recently Where The Wild Things Are. Hold on let me rewind what I said a second and there are also stories of The Boy and Beast that are scary stories, where the beast kills and things turn tragic.
We watch Toby the boy grow through his youth to a man and deteriorate through old age. We follow him receiving brutal beating from school bullies and loosing his virginity to his first Love quite late in his youth.
This story follows his rather complicated friendship with the Bigfoot kind of beast friend of his. Jeff Strand the author, has written a engrossing plot that hooks you in and keeps you turning pages. This was a Bram Stoker award nominee and has got loads of great feedback from friends. The boy/man and beast story not made for Disney but created for an adult audience, Strand serves up plenty of blood and love. He defines the story in being a dark poignant story of friendship and horror instead of becoming just another boy and beast Disney-like story of friendship. This story is one that stays with you thoughts and is written well.
One lesson you can take away from this, or maybe a few lessons, tread carefully in dangerous relationships, how long can you keep it a secret? When matters get beyond your control how are you going to end it?
If you happen to befriend any beasts tread carefully and during and until the end of the friendship, do not consume alcohol or take drugs you must always be in control!
There is also a little country song for Dweller on a book trailer showing here.
1)You must not run away from the animal when you first sight it out of fear.
2)Make sure you have no stings attached, no family and no women.
3)Relocate the beast miles from humans.
4)Cover your tracks and make sure it's not following you home and you are not leading people to it.
5)Never trust anyone with you're secret.
6)Never get personal, when push comes to shove and things don't go by the the rules you need to execute the beast swiftly and efficiently.
7)Last point from the time of befriending and until execution of the beast do not consume intoxicants or drugs, You must be in control!
This was a coming of age and a coming of retirement story. Boy and beast wonderful, there are a few nice stories and movies out there, The Bfg by Dahl and the movies Bigfoot and the Henderson's and recently Where The Wild Things Are. Hold on let me rewind what I said a second and there are also stories of The Boy and Beast that are scary stories, where the beast kills and things turn tragic.
We watch Toby the boy grow through his youth to a man and deteriorate through old age. We follow him receiving brutal beating from school bullies and loosing his virginity to his first Love quite late in his youth.
This story follows his rather complicated friendship with the Bigfoot kind of beast friend of his. Jeff Strand the author, has written a engrossing plot that hooks you in and keeps you turning pages. This was a Bram Stoker award nominee and has got loads of great feedback from friends. The boy/man and beast story not made for Disney but created for an adult audience, Strand serves up plenty of blood and love. He defines the story in being a dark poignant story of friendship and horror instead of becoming just another boy and beast Disney-like story of friendship. This story is one that stays with you thoughts and is written well.
One lesson you can take away from this, or maybe a few lessons, tread carefully in dangerous relationships, how long can you keep it a secret? When matters get beyond your control how are you going to end it?
If you happen to befriend any beasts tread carefully and during and until the end of the friendship, do not consume alcohol or take drugs you must always be in control!
There is also a little country song for Dweller on a book trailer showing here.
January 5, 2022
Let me take a few moments to weep and cry for something very unusual.
There is a reason why I don't watch or read stuff about friendly monsters. Because I know how it normally ends. And this one broke my heart. The unlikely friendship between Toby and the creature from the woods felt very emotional. Yep, there was blood and murder, (lots of them, actually) but it didn't take away my fondness towards the creature and something must be really wrong with me to feel that way.
Why would you need human friends if you have Owen? Toby and Owen's decade long friendship will definitely make you root for them.
There is a reason why I don't watch or read stuff about friendly monsters. Because I know how it normally ends. And this one broke my heart. The unlikely friendship between Toby and the creature from the woods felt very emotional. Yep, there was blood and murder, (lots of them, actually) but it didn't take away my fondness towards the creature and something must be really wrong with me to feel that way.
Why would you need human friends if you have Owen? Toby and Owen's decade long friendship will definitely make you root for them.
Want to read
May 17, 2017This is currently on special offer for the next two days - $1.28 in the States and £0.99p in the UK.
January 20, 2014
Jeff Strand lived in Ohio for a number of years and yet it's apparent that he didn't research* the Ohio Sasquatch before writing this book. Unlike the creature portrayed in Dweller, the line of Sasquatch native to Ohio does not have a mouth full of gnarly teeth and flesh-ripping talons. And the Ohio Sasquatch most certainly doesn't eat people! The Ohio Sasquatch is an herbivore and not savage in any way. In fact, you'll see Sasquatch all over Ohio lending a helping hand in various human communities, ladling out hearty homemade stews at local soup kitchens, working together to build playgrounds in poor neighborhoods, and serving as volunteer firefighters. This is not to say that there aren't lines of Sasquatch that fit Strand's description. They're just not found in Ohio. If he'd added one minor detail regarding the Sasquatch's origins in this book, it would have proved to be much more believable. Simply changing the title to A Kentucky Sasquatch in Ohio would have lent the work the authenticity it so desperately needs.
But how was the story? Early on, I suspected this was going to be basically a retelling of Stephen King's Carrie. Just substitute Sasquatch for telekinesis. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn't to be the case. I won't say any more than that. Pick it up and see for yourself what it's all about. You won't be disappointed.
*The only alternative to Strand's not having researched the Ohio Sasquatch is that he wrote this book to intentionally demonize them. Based on Strand's generally amicable online presence, I can't see this as being a realistic proposition.
But how was the story? Early on, I suspected this was going to be basically a retelling of Stephen King's Carrie. Just substitute Sasquatch for telekinesis. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn't to be the case. I won't say any more than that. Pick it up and see for yourself what it's all about. You won't be disappointed.
*The only alternative to Strand's not having researched the Ohio Sasquatch is that he wrote this book to intentionally demonize them. Based on Strand's generally amicable online presence, I can't see this as being a realistic proposition.
January 27, 2011
Toby is a young, friendless, socially awkward boy relentlessly picked on by two school bullies. His only friend is a monster he meets in the woods and names Owen. Dweller follows Toby as he meanders his way through life trying to maintain a sort of ��normal” life and maintaining his friendship with the man-eating monster who is his best pal.
Dweller isn’t an extraordinarily deep book and Toby is a bit of a mess but it’s touching, vaguely disturbing and very readable. Toby screws up big-time on more than one occasion and Owen screws up too but they’re always there for each other despite it all. I liked the fact that Toby was followed around by guilt and that Owen wasn’t painted as a thoroughly evil monster and that the book follows them as they grow older. Their friendship always came across as real and genuine.
If you’re looking for a monster book with heart this one is for you.
Dweller isn’t an extraordinarily deep book and Toby is a bit of a mess but it’s touching, vaguely disturbing and very readable. Toby screws up big-time on more than one occasion and Owen screws up too but they’re always there for each other despite it all. I liked the fact that Toby was followed around by guilt and that Owen wasn’t painted as a thoroughly evil monster and that the book follows them as they grow older. Their friendship always came across as real and genuine.
If you’re looking for a monster book with heart this one is for you.
September 12, 2018
As a boy, Toby saw a creature in the woods, but his parents convinced him it was all in his imagination. As a teenager, Toby saw the creature again. This time he decided to befriend the creature. They would have each other for friendship, but at a great cost.
A coming of age horror novel. Toby and his creature friend, who he names Owen, have a highly dysfunctional relationship. After all, Toby is a human and Owen is, well, not a human. He is sorta, maybe, Bigfoot's cousin. Despite that, they manage to maintain a secret friendship over the span of 50 years, so that's something.
This is an easy, fast read. Oddly, it touches on a variety of emotions. Sometimes depressing. Sometimes humorous. Often disturbing. Good for fans of horror that enjoy a little humor with their gore.
A coming of age horror novel. Toby and his creature friend, who he names Owen, have a highly dysfunctional relationship. After all, Toby is a human and Owen is, well, not a human. He is sorta, maybe, Bigfoot's cousin. Despite that, they manage to maintain a secret friendship over the span of 50 years, so that's something.
This is an easy, fast read. Oddly, it touches on a variety of emotions. Sometimes depressing. Sometimes humorous. Often disturbing. Good for fans of horror that enjoy a little humor with their gore.
February 13, 2012
Dweller is one of the more unusual monster stories, more than once I felt my heart squeeze itself in my body because the story makes you feel for both the human and the creature for different reasons. After reading many crazy horror books through the years it was nice to finally enjoyed liking the monster this time, Owen reminded me of a big yeti but unlike most yetis he had a great sense of humor, at least what we could see of it. I instantly liked him even though he did some very bad things I was constantly worried about his own well being, humans are delicate with their easily to pull off limbs and soft flesh to slash but they can also be cruel and destructive before anything else. I wouldn’t call this horror even though there are some intense scenes and there is blood shed but Strand manages to make it about relationships and how we choose to live our life and our dynamics with others. For Toby that other was Owen, a tall, hairy, sharp clawed and toothed monster that he found in a forest that one time when he went further than he was allowed. Toby got chased by some bullies plenty of times and there were kids who didn’t like him. But there was way to make them go away, a way that would haunt Toby for the rest of his life
The story progresses though a few decades, we first meet Toby when he’s just a kid and continue on his journey as his life changes through new jobs, relationships, marriage, children, deaths… as his life continues so does his strange relationship with Owen, I’m gong to keep this review brief and spoiler free if I can, the less I knew about this story the better it felt as I read it, some things shocked me while others made me sad with worry. Be prepared to care for the flesh eater, keep a tissue nearby as you might need it, it’s an intense story with a heart that spellbinds the reader from page one. Little boy and his monster are real in this book and not all of their adventures are fun, some turn into tragic events that change their lives forever.
- Kasia S.
The story progresses though a few decades, we first meet Toby when he’s just a kid and continue on his journey as his life changes through new jobs, relationships, marriage, children, deaths… as his life continues so does his strange relationship with Owen, I’m gong to keep this review brief and spoiler free if I can, the less I knew about this story the better it felt as I read it, some things shocked me while others made me sad with worry. Be prepared to care for the flesh eater, keep a tissue nearby as you might need it, it’s an intense story with a heart that spellbinds the reader from page one. Little boy and his monster are real in this book and not all of their adventures are fun, some turn into tragic events that change their lives forever.
- Kasia S.
April 1, 2011
This book was really more like 6 or 7 stars, but alas the format limits me. I think in terms of storytelling, character development, flawless natural dialogue, plot nuances and depth this book is absolutely incredible. I read a fair amount and this is definitely the best book I've read in a long long time. I hope Jeff Strand has a great long prolific career just so there are more books like this one out in the world. I highly recommend this one.
April 9, 2014
4.5 stars
Dweller is a fantastic read, though I wouldn't necessarily classify it as horror. More like a disturbing drama, at times heart-warming, at others heart-wrenching. But always with an undercurrent of mental instability and a dreariness that festers like a disease. This is where Dweller's horror dwells, in this undercurrent, and it flows through a lifetime of loneliness tempered with unhealthy coping mechanisms.
SPOILER ALERT:
I have a feeling this book will stay with me. I found the story itself predictable. We see the life of a social pariah who befriends what most would call a monster, but what others might see as the true hero of the novel. The only twist (for me) was the least credible part of the story.
Despite predictability and, in the one instance, believability issues, I found myself completely engrossed in Dweller. This would normally warrant 4 stars from me, but Strand accomplishes a feat here that I would not have thought possible: he kept me fully captivated in what I found a predictable story while only giving snippets and "glimpses" (independent scenes and dialogue, more-or-less) from the lead's life from childhood to mid-sixties. I cannot stress the magnitude of this accomplishment. Strand manages to make readers feel a full spectrum of emotion for both Toby and Owen, two unique personalities who we may not always agree with but, despite their oddities, always understand. Used in a sort of minimalistic way, Strand's strength of voice, word selection, dialogue and plot construction evince true mastery of the art.
I see Dweller as so much more than horror--a thinking man or woman's kind of horror, with true depth, not trumped up for shock value, but the equivalent of Baby Bear's porridge to Goldilocks: just right.
Dweller is a fantastic read, though I wouldn't necessarily classify it as horror. More like a disturbing drama, at times heart-warming, at others heart-wrenching. But always with an undercurrent of mental instability and a dreariness that festers like a disease. This is where Dweller's horror dwells, in this undercurrent, and it flows through a lifetime of loneliness tempered with unhealthy coping mechanisms.
SPOILER ALERT:
I have a feeling this book will stay with me. I found the story itself predictable. We see the life of a social pariah who befriends what most would call a monster, but what others might see as the true hero of the novel. The only twist (for me) was the least credible part of the story.
Despite predictability and, in the one instance, believability issues, I found myself completely engrossed in Dweller. This would normally warrant 4 stars from me, but Strand accomplishes a feat here that I would not have thought possible: he kept me fully captivated in what I found a predictable story while only giving snippets and "glimpses" (independent scenes and dialogue, more-or-less) from the lead's life from childhood to mid-sixties. I cannot stress the magnitude of this accomplishment. Strand manages to make readers feel a full spectrum of emotion for both Toby and Owen, two unique personalities who we may not always agree with but, despite their oddities, always understand. Used in a sort of minimalistic way, Strand's strength of voice, word selection, dialogue and plot construction evince true mastery of the art.
I see Dweller as so much more than horror--a thinking man or woman's kind of horror, with true depth, not trumped up for shock value, but the equivalent of Baby Bear's porridge to Goldilocks: just right.
October 14, 2014
This story about a boy and his bigfoot was good, not great. More comedy than horror, but not really laugh-out-loud funny. Mildly amusing.
I'd give this a solid 3.5 stars. Well written, but twice as long as the concept deserved - a book half as long would've probably been twice as good. I did think the ending was perfect, though. Recommended, but not essential.
I'd give this a solid 3.5 stars. Well written, but twice as long as the concept deserved - a book half as long would've probably been twice as good. I did think the ending was perfect, though. Recommended, but not essential.
October 13, 2025
4.5 stars. Boy, this was a lot deeper than I anticipated. And I'm not quite sure that I've ever read a book that spanned almost 60 years like this, either. I've read so many unique and interesting tales of monsters having some sort of connection with humans in various ways. Hell, I've written a bunch of books like that, too. But it really takes a mammoth-sized effort to make it work in such a way that doesn't feel like it's all just a reason to have a monster involved. Jeff Strand fully kept the focus on our lead, Toby, and everything from his perspective. The weeks, years, and decades acknowledged, even at times briefly, but all giving full context to the strange creature, Owen. And how it was equal parts mysterious but intriguing, savior and enemy, confidant and adversary, but all things necessary to keep Toby intact. He developed this gorgeous codependence with Owen and the friendship had such heart that it hurt me to see the bad times hit, hoping for more of the good to balance it out. Every single interaction had meaning. You could get a clear idea of where Jeff Strand was going to take everything, which was fine. It wasn't so much the main plot points here that were on display, but the emotionality of the entire lifetime of our main character and his cryptid friend which was up front and beautiful. It was a bit of a long journey, which possibly could have been tightened up and shortened a bit, but there was very little not to like about this book. What can I say further about Jeff Strand at this point? I've quickly become a huge fan and his works continue to astound me.
December 25, 2011
A couple of years ago I read Strand's novel Pressure, and at last count, I am still the lone reviewer to have given that a one-star rating.
I simply couldn't buy into the main character's actions.
It was enough to put me off him, but then Dweller came along, and again I couldn't ignore the praises heaped upon it.
I guess I'm the only one around here who doesn't love his works. I'll give him this: he does pace his stories extremely well, and I did burn through both of his novels because I had to see how things would pan out (and because of the plethora of 5-star reviews here).
But there is one thing I cannot get past, and this has driven me nuts through both of his novels:
His lead characters are IDIOTS.
I can tolerate characters with faults, but I can't tolerate character traits that make no sense.
I'm rating this one 2, because I did like the story flow, but with characters I simply can't buy into, I can't see me reading him again.
I simply couldn't buy into the main character's actions.
It was enough to put me off him, but then Dweller came along, and again I couldn't ignore the praises heaped upon it.
I guess I'm the only one around here who doesn't love his works. I'll give him this: he does pace his stories extremely well, and I did burn through both of his novels because I had to see how things would pan out (and because of the plethora of 5-star reviews here).
But there is one thing I cannot get past, and this has driven me nuts through both of his novels:
His lead characters are IDIOTS.
I can tolerate characters with faults, but I can't tolerate character traits that make no sense.
I'm rating this one 2, because I did like the story flow, but with characters I simply can't buy into, I can't see me reading him again.
November 11, 2013
There are so many wonderful coming of age tales I can think of at this moment, stories in which a young lad finds his first love or a group of friends discovers ancient evil and battles it with the power of their unbreakable bond and the uncompromising power of innocence and friendship... or there is this one. The tale of a boy and his monster.
I read this book after reading Pressure, also an amazing novel by the talented Jeff Strand, and even though the styles were polar opposites, the books were equally fantastic. This book starts with a bang and unfolds with the perfect pacing only a master storyteller can achieve with such apparent ease. I cared about the characters, even the creature, and found myself really hoping that everything worked out for the best for all involved.
Dweller was full of surprises; laced with Strand's patented sense of humor and the occasional horrifying moments one would expect from a creature feature.
I strongly recommend reading this one when you have a couple of days off so you don't have to put it down.
I read this book after reading Pressure, also an amazing novel by the talented Jeff Strand, and even though the styles were polar opposites, the books were equally fantastic. This book starts with a bang and unfolds with the perfect pacing only a master storyteller can achieve with such apparent ease. I cared about the characters, even the creature, and found myself really hoping that everything worked out for the best for all involved.
Dweller was full of surprises; laced with Strand's patented sense of humor and the occasional horrifying moments one would expect from a creature feature.
I strongly recommend reading this one when you have a couple of days off so you don't have to put it down.
October 6, 2014
like Toby's life, this story just seem to fly by! it's a good, quick read. I didn't find it very horrifying but I kept picturing Owen as Bruno from Labyrinth. LOL! I know, not exactly but that's what kept popping in my mind!
February 20, 2017
This story and these characters will stay in my mind for a long, long time. I'm absolutely sure of that. An unlikely friendship that spans several decades, and blood...so much blood.
It's not really a horror, in the true sense of the word. It's touching, heart rending, poignant and tragic. There's a lot of humor, though. And the bodies do pile up.
Strand is now on my "I'll read anything by him" list.
It's not really a horror, in the true sense of the word. It's touching, heart rending, poignant and tragic. There's a lot of humor, though. And the bodies do pile up.
Strand is now on my "I'll read anything by him" list.
May 6, 2022
I am absolutely GUTTED!!!! 😭
I love this book so much....even though I am emotionally wrecked! Possibly, my favorite coming of age stories!!!
I love this book so much....even though I am emotionally wrecked! Possibly, my favorite coming of age stories!!!
July 15, 2012
A thoroughly fleshed out read of the life and goings-on of Toby, a child, who found Owen, the creature, whose family was killed in the forest. I love the way the author alienated Toby with the bullying and the fear of his father. Toby's ruminations of killing aliens and the child-like thoughts even as he grew up made him somewhat endearing. A quick read that flowed very well. A tale of a twisted friendship; one of them just happens to be a monster. Recommended.
July 19, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! The great story telling, unique plot and most importantly, how much it touched my heart makes this one of my favorite reads of 2015.
February 9, 2016
I've never read anything quite like this before, in fact I am stunned by what I see as one of the most amazing horror...come fantasy...come friendship..come relationship stories I have ever read. Toby Floren is bullied at school and his whole world changes when he meets a monster in the woods near his home, a monster that becomes his best pal and life long friend. Let's face it what would life be without true friendship and we follow Toby from his young innocent years to the twilight of his life. In that time we laugh with him, we get to know (and love) his monster friend Owen, and we see Toby confronting his life situations and how (with the help of Owen) he deals with all the issues that challenge him. It makes for fantastic reading at times brutal, at times funny but always entertaining and from the heart...well done Mr Strand a truly great accomplishment and one I will remember for a very long time...
July 18, 2010
After reading Dweller by Jeff Strand (author of Pressure) I have decided that I want a monster BFF/pet. I have a cat, but she doesn’t hug me, or say my name, or even communicate with me through our own made-up sign language. She doesn’t like to eat people though, so I suppose that’s a good thing.
The first time Toby Floren sees the monster in the woods, he is only 8-years-old and he flees in terror. Seven years later, at age 15, Toby is an outcast. When he encounters the monster this time, his loneliness leads him to befriend it. Toby names him Owen and ventures into the woods frequently to vent his problems to him and to feed him treats (his favourite is ice cream). To Toby, being best friends with a real-life monster is great, except for Owen’s occasional cravings for more substantial, bloodier, treats….
The plot is like a gory version of Harry and the Hendersons, because this is also a tale of a friendship with a Bigfoot-type creature – albeit a Bigfoot with huge fangs and claws. But there are only a few gory scenes; the focus is on the bond between Toby and Owen. And Strand interchanges the dark, intense scenes with humorous ones. He had me laughing several times while reading.
Instead of the novel taking place over the course of a day, week or month, like most novels, Dweller spans Toby’s entire lifetime. But since it isn’t an epic length (only 292 pages), Strand uses a unique method of writing, where he provides “glimpses” of what happens over the years. Usually just a few paragraphs of a funny or important event and sometimes only a line or snippet of dialogue, making Toby’s life seem like it’s flying by and the pace move quickly.
Any horror fan can relate to the main character, Toby, for his desire to have a monster as a best friend. And although Owen is a monster, and the cause of most of the bloodshed in the novel, he is portrayed as a loveable pet. Strand makes the existence of this creature - and even his friendship with a human - plausible. I became attached to both of these characters throughout the course of the novel and was touched by the bond they share.
Dweller is one of the best novels I’ve read. It manages to be funny, scary, gory, sad, happy and touching at the same time. All horror fans, animal lovers or Harry and the Hendersons fans must read this book – actually I think everyone should read this, regardless of literary preference. But beware: it’s a tearjerker.
Read more of my reviews at http://littlemisszombie.blogspot.com
The first time Toby Floren sees the monster in the woods, he is only 8-years-old and he flees in terror. Seven years later, at age 15, Toby is an outcast. When he encounters the monster this time, his loneliness leads him to befriend it. Toby names him Owen and ventures into the woods frequently to vent his problems to him and to feed him treats (his favourite is ice cream). To Toby, being best friends with a real-life monster is great, except for Owen’s occasional cravings for more substantial, bloodier, treats….
The plot is like a gory version of Harry and the Hendersons, because this is also a tale of a friendship with a Bigfoot-type creature – albeit a Bigfoot with huge fangs and claws. But there are only a few gory scenes; the focus is on the bond between Toby and Owen. And Strand interchanges the dark, intense scenes with humorous ones. He had me laughing several times while reading.
Instead of the novel taking place over the course of a day, week or month, like most novels, Dweller spans Toby’s entire lifetime. But since it isn’t an epic length (only 292 pages), Strand uses a unique method of writing, where he provides “glimpses” of what happens over the years. Usually just a few paragraphs of a funny or important event and sometimes only a line or snippet of dialogue, making Toby’s life seem like it’s flying by and the pace move quickly.
Any horror fan can relate to the main character, Toby, for his desire to have a monster as a best friend. And although Owen is a monster, and the cause of most of the bloodshed in the novel, he is portrayed as a loveable pet. Strand makes the existence of this creature - and even his friendship with a human - plausible. I became attached to both of these characters throughout the course of the novel and was touched by the bond they share.
Dweller is one of the best novels I’ve read. It manages to be funny, scary, gory, sad, happy and touching at the same time. All horror fans, animal lovers or Harry and the Hendersons fans must read this book – actually I think everyone should read this, regardless of literary preference. But beware: it’s a tearjerker.
Read more of my reviews at http://littlemisszombie.blogspot.com
February 26, 2017
Credit where credit is due, Dweller does not tread the well worn path most seasoned horror fans will be assuming after 30 pages. Instead, it becomes a life-long story of an unlikely friendship, with a large side-serve of mental health issues. And it's kind of like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
Jeff Strand is instantly recognisable. Not by face. But by his writing. If I was to blind read five novels, and four of them were by Strand, I'd be able to pick it was by him at least 80% of the time. Except I obviously wouldn't be blind, because then how would I be able to read? And now that I think about it, wouldn't chance dictate I'd get it right 4 our of 5 times if he actually wrote 4 of the 5 non-identified novels. Ugh. Making this point is way too hard. I should probably just walk out my back door, through the forest which grows up to my back yard line and consult with my Bigfoot-like friend who lives in a cave three or four miles away. He'll be able to help me work out what I was trying to say. Or maybe not. He is, after all, a Bigfoot-like creature whose receptive language skills aren't too bad, but his expressive language skills need a fair amount of work. I know, maybe I should take that pretty woman down the road to meet him. She's a teacher. Maybe she'll be able to help him do more than just sign at me. Hmm. Or maybe not. Last time I took someone to meet my friend, things didn't turn out so well ...
If that last paragraph in any way, shape or form appealed, you're ready for Dweller. Of course, if Strand actually wrote the above, it wouldn't be a single paragraph reading like a stream of consciousness.
For one, there would be way more paragraphs.
And for two, the sense of a main POV protagonist who just does not quite fit in with the world around him would be far more effectively conveyed.
Which is why Strand is a well-paid author whose style (if not his face) is instantly recognisable, and I'm a non-paid reviewer who should be in bed by now, rather than trying to find a slightly irregular way of saying the same ol' thing about what I'm reviewing.
Long-winded review short: Dweller is good. Though for mine, its not as good as what some of the other prominent reviews here have suggested. Expectations played a part in that, but at the same time, I found it difficult to truly buy into the level of stupidity Toby displayed on a regular basis - regardless of the obvious issues he had.
3 Friends Who Can't Stay the Night for Dweller.
Jeff Strand is instantly recognisable. Not by face. But by his writing. If I was to blind read five novels, and four of them were by Strand, I'd be able to pick it was by him at least 80% of the time. Except I obviously wouldn't be blind, because then how would I be able to read? And now that I think about it, wouldn't chance dictate I'd get it right 4 our of 5 times if he actually wrote 4 of the 5 non-identified novels. Ugh. Making this point is way too hard. I should probably just walk out my back door, through the forest which grows up to my back yard line and consult with my Bigfoot-like friend who lives in a cave three or four miles away. He'll be able to help me work out what I was trying to say. Or maybe not. He is, after all, a Bigfoot-like creature whose receptive language skills aren't too bad, but his expressive language skills need a fair amount of work. I know, maybe I should take that pretty woman down the road to meet him. She's a teacher. Maybe she'll be able to help him do more than just sign at me. Hmm. Or maybe not. Last time I took someone to meet my friend, things didn't turn out so well ...
If that last paragraph in any way, shape or form appealed, you're ready for Dweller. Of course, if Strand actually wrote the above, it wouldn't be a single paragraph reading like a stream of consciousness.
For one, there would be way more paragraphs.
And for two, the sense of a main POV protagonist who just does not quite fit in with the world around him would be far more effectively conveyed.
Which is why Strand is a well-paid author whose style (if not his face) is instantly recognisable, and I'm a non-paid reviewer who should be in bed by now, rather than trying to find a slightly irregular way of saying the same ol' thing about what I'm reviewing.
Long-winded review short: Dweller is good. Though for mine, its not as good as what some of the other prominent reviews here have suggested. Expectations played a part in that, but at the same time, I found it difficult to truly buy into the level of stupidity Toby displayed on a regular basis - regardless of the obvious issues he had.
3 Friends Who Can't Stay the Night for Dweller.
June 29, 2011
FAVORITE BOOK OF 2010
For me, this was probably the most complete and wholly satisfying horror novel I've read in years. I can usually find something in any book that doesn't sit right with me or a section that I think could have used some work, but with "Dweller", Jeff Strand has written a perfect story. The last time I remember a reading experience this nostalgic and magical, was with Robert R. McCammon's "Boy's Life".
Author Jeff Strand's writing flows very smoothly and is laced with layers of dark humor. He has a real insight into the mind of his characters, and at times feels so intimate it is as if Strand is only repeating factual information that was told to him in reality instead of writing a fictional story. He is a tremendously gifted storyteller, not afraid to delve into the darker mechanisms that traditionally define the horror genre. Strand's characters never have it easy and you constantly feel their struggle throughout their painful journey. This author is really a delight to read.
While I enjoyed Strand's last book, "Pressure", this new one, "Dweller", is even better and so far, my favorite book of 2010. I was such a fan of this novel that I went out and bought the beautifully produced limited edition hardcover from Dark Regions Press. Like Robert McCammon's "Boy's Life", this is a book I want to preserve and share with my kids for years to come. My new rule now... If Jeff Strand writes it, I buy it!
For me, this was probably the most complete and wholly satisfying horror novel I've read in years. I can usually find something in any book that doesn't sit right with me or a section that I think could have used some work, but with "Dweller", Jeff Strand has written a perfect story. The last time I remember a reading experience this nostalgic and magical, was with Robert R. McCammon's "Boy's Life".
Author Jeff Strand's writing flows very smoothly and is laced with layers of dark humor. He has a real insight into the mind of his characters, and at times feels so intimate it is as if Strand is only repeating factual information that was told to him in reality instead of writing a fictional story. He is a tremendously gifted storyteller, not afraid to delve into the darker mechanisms that traditionally define the horror genre. Strand's characters never have it easy and you constantly feel their struggle throughout their painful journey. This author is really a delight to read.
While I enjoyed Strand's last book, "Pressure", this new one, "Dweller", is even better and so far, my favorite book of 2010. I was such a fan of this novel that I went out and bought the beautifully produced limited edition hardcover from Dark Regions Press. Like Robert McCammon's "Boy's Life", this is a book I want to preserve and share with my kids for years to come. My new rule now... If Jeff Strand writes it, I buy it!
September 4, 2012
To those clueless few unaware of Jeff Strand, he's known for his trademark blend of whacky humor and twisted horror and he's been doing his thing successfully for years now. Before the Leisure Books meltdown, he'd published two horror novels from them, Pressure and Dweller, and I'm ashamed to admit I'd just now gotten around to reading this amazing (and to-date, my favorite) novel. The book opens up in 1946, in Ohio, where a group of postwar soldiers are out on a camping trip with their girlfriends...and fighting for their lives as bloodthirsty creatures attack and maul most of them, even as they kill some of the monsters in order to survive. Flash forward to 1953 and we're introduced to nerdy Toby Floren, who's the regular target of vicious bullies. One day during a long walk deep into the woods he happens upon a cave, and while exploring, he discovers a nightmarish creature, hairy, with long claws and razor-sharp teeth...but they become good friends. Toby is happy to finally have a good friend, possibly a best friend, and when the merciless and cruel bullying continues, he finds himself confronted in the woods by the bullies, who'd followed him almost to the cave where his monster-friend dwells.
Ummm, not to give TOO much away but you can perhaps glean what might've happened next. Needless to say, Toby continues to foster his most unlikely and bestial friendship with the creature he'd dubbed Owen, and their friendship spans many years, and into adulthood, as Toby remains in the same small town, buying a home near the woods, so he can be close to his best friend. Even as he tries to have a normal life, career, and lovelife, his bizarre friendship with Owen remains solid, and while sweet, like most things, the choices we make in life come with a cost...and sometimes the cost is high...way too high. Yes, friendship and choices in life are ultimately the big themes in this novel, along with moments of utter hilarity and horror, done in such a way that only Strand can pull off. The novel closes with a mid-sixties Toby, trying to piece together the way his latter years ended up, his ailing health and some bright spots, not the least of which is his unflagging devotion to his best friend, Owen. Unfortunately, like in life, some good things come to an end...and some good things just get all fucked up. MUST read!
Ummm, not to give TOO much away but you can perhaps glean what might've happened next. Needless to say, Toby continues to foster his most unlikely and bestial friendship with the creature he'd dubbed Owen, and their friendship spans many years, and into adulthood, as Toby remains in the same small town, buying a home near the woods, so he can be close to his best friend. Even as he tries to have a normal life, career, and lovelife, his bizarre friendship with Owen remains solid, and while sweet, like most things, the choices we make in life come with a cost...and sometimes the cost is high...way too high. Yes, friendship and choices in life are ultimately the big themes in this novel, along with moments of utter hilarity and horror, done in such a way that only Strand can pull off. The novel closes with a mid-sixties Toby, trying to piece together the way his latter years ended up, his ailing health and some bright spots, not the least of which is his unflagging devotion to his best friend, Owen. Unfortunately, like in life, some good things come to an end...and some good things just get all fucked up. MUST read!
February 13, 2023
Dweller is the tale of a beautiful blooming friendship between man and beast. The monster is at odds with his savage tendencies and the human Toby faces the strife of human life and the fallibility of human nature.
The story showcases perfectly a heartwarming relationship between a man and a man-eating beast. It's striking and relatable on this note because it portrays a genuine love for animals, which all animal owners know well.
This isn't a traditional horror story, it's more of a heartwarming tale of friendship with an otherworldly creature (similar to that of ET) and an account of one man's struggles in a rather unexceptional life who just so happens to be close friends with a monster. With a dash of horror thrown in for good measure of course.
It very much feels thematically like a family horror movie with an older intended demographic and a more realistic setting, if that sounds fun to you give this book a shot. You won't regret it.
⚠️MAJOR SPOILERS IN THE SECTION BELOW ONLY⚠️:
--------------------------------------------------------------
My biggest fault with this book is a plot hole near the very end of the book
Toby's son Garrett returns to see his father and announces he is now having a son of his own. He requests to see the monster only to immediately attempt to kill it, his reasoning for this was to protect his son. This doesn't make sense to me since Garrett lived 4 hours away, hence his family was in no danger of the monster. So this whole thing just seems out of character for Garrett and makes him come off as a dick. It is for these problems with characterization and plot holes I must deduct points from my final review score. I would still however recommend this book even with these flaws in mind.
The story showcases perfectly a heartwarming relationship between a man and a man-eating beast. It's striking and relatable on this note because it portrays a genuine love for animals, which all animal owners know well.
This isn't a traditional horror story, it's more of a heartwarming tale of friendship with an otherworldly creature (similar to that of ET) and an account of one man's struggles in a rather unexceptional life who just so happens to be close friends with a monster. With a dash of horror thrown in for good measure of course.
It very much feels thematically like a family horror movie with an older intended demographic and a more realistic setting, if that sounds fun to you give this book a shot. You won't regret it.
⚠️MAJOR SPOILERS IN THE SECTION BELOW ONLY⚠️:
--------------------------------------------------------------
My biggest fault with this book is a plot hole near the very end of the book
Toby's son Garrett returns to see his father and announces he is now having a son of his own. He requests to see the monster only to immediately attempt to kill it, his reasoning for this was to protect his son. This doesn't make sense to me since Garrett lived 4 hours away, hence his family was in no danger of the monster. So this whole thing just seems out of character for Garrett and makes him come off as a dick. It is for these problems with characterization and plot holes I must deduct points from my final review score. I would still however recommend this book even with these flaws in mind.
May 31, 2011
I had heard mention of "Dweller" on Horror Aficionados repeatedly over the past year or so and had it in my "to-read" list but was never compelled to read it. I finally downloaded a copy of it to my Kindle and...
Wow. Just wow. I just finished reading Dweller and what an emotional roller coaster.
I was in tears by the time this novel finished. It's hard for me to express in words exactly how much I enjoyed this book. Jeff Strand has a gift for making you "feel" the connection between Toby and Owen. You're not merely reading a story about the lifelong friendship between a lonely man and a lonely forest creature - but you're experiencing the depth of that loneliness. I so wanted a "happily ever after" for these two. *sigh
Toby was hilarious! His overactive imagination and snarkiness kept me so engaged in the story and made me adore him all the more. And Owen captured my heart with his facial expressions and hand gesture that conveyed his feelings much better than any words could. I absolutely loved the "Glimpses". Genius!
I really don't know why this story is classified as a horror because I didn't view it as one but nonetheless, it will go down as one of my favorite horror novels to date.
Wow. Just wow. I just finished reading Dweller and what an emotional roller coaster.
I was in tears by the time this novel finished. It's hard for me to express in words exactly how much I enjoyed this book. Jeff Strand has a gift for making you "feel" the connection between Toby and Owen. You're not merely reading a story about the lifelong friendship between a lonely man and a lonely forest creature - but you're experiencing the depth of that loneliness. I so wanted a "happily ever after" for these two. *sigh
Toby was hilarious! His overactive imagination and snarkiness kept me so engaged in the story and made me adore him all the more. And Owen captured my heart with his facial expressions and hand gesture that conveyed his feelings much better than any words could. I absolutely loved the "Glimpses". Genius!
I really don't know why this story is classified as a horror because I didn't view it as one but nonetheless, it will go down as one of my favorite horror novels to date.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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