Kutter

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise of *Kutter* at first—serial killer adopts dog, hijinks ensue? But Strand’s writing and Clancy’s narration turn what could’ve been a one-joke gimmick into something sharply observed and genuinely funny. Clancy’s performance is the standout here; he nails Charlie’s detached, almost academic approach to murder, then pivots seamlessly to the whiplash of him baby-talking Taffy mid-dismemberment. The contrast is dark magic. The production is clean, with no distracting audio quirks, though I’d have loved a touch more atmospheric sound design during the kill scenes to heighten the absurdity. That said, the novella’s brevity works against it in spots. The middle act sags slightly as Charlie’s internal monologue circles the same “dog ownership is weird” beat, and the ending—while satisfying—feels rushed, like Strand hit his word count and called it. Still, the sheer audacity of the premise (and its execution) makes *Kutter* a memorably twisted listen. It’s not for everyone—if you’re squeamish about animal harm (even off-page) or black humor that doesn’t blink, steer clear. But if you’ve ever wanted to hear a killer debate the ethics of raw food diets while planning a hit, this is your audiobook.