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Kristopher Rufty
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Jagger Paperback – February 16, 2015

by Kristopher Rufty (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 120 ratings
Other than the trailer park left to her by her deceased daddy, Amy's favorite treasure is Jagger, her 180-pound bullmastiff. One day while she is away, Clayton, her best friend’s scumbag boyfriend sneaks into her yard and takes the dog. His prize fighting pit bull was killed during its last match, costing a lot of bad people a lot of money. To make up for his dog's losses, and to save his own life, Clayton enlists the help of a medical student dropout to turn Jagger into a killing machine by pumping him full of experimental drugs and muscle enhancers. Now Jagger is a monster, a beast that can't feel pain, with an unquenchable thirst for blood. He quickly breaks out of his pen and starts making his way home, tearing apart anyone in his path on his way to the one he feels has betrayed him the most—Amy. "JAGGER is Kristopher Rufty's best work to date. It's a harrowing journey into the heart of rural darkness that readers won't soon forget." - Bryan Smith, author of Slowly We Rot and Strange Ways "Kristopher Rufty's latest will lunge snapping for your jugular! Not for the faint of heart, JAGGER is full of sharp teeth and the tang of blood. Fans of Rufty's will rejoice!" - Ronald Malfi, author of December Park "This is as visceral and gut wrenching as horror gets.” - Hunter Shea, author of The Montauk Monster and Island of the Forbidden "Jagger is a fleshed out, vicious and brutal novel that shows humanity at its worst. It’ll rip at your heartstrings and burrow under your skin. It’ll piss you off. Yeah, it’s filled with violence and scumbags that deserve what’s coming to them, but at the same time it’s got feeling and tenderness, which is what makes this such a fantastic and wicked read. So buckle in for this generation’s Cujo." -David Bernstein, author of The Unhinged and Witch Island "A 'roid raging, modern canine Frankenstein's monster, Jagger will never be your beast of burden. In the fine tradition of killer dog novels like CUJO and HELL HOUND, JAGGER ends up being far more tender than a book with this much bloody mayhem has any right to." --Adam Cesare, author of Video Night and The Summer Job
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  1. Print length
    338 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 16, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1508517967
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1508517962
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 16, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 338 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1508517967
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1508517962
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 120 ratings

About the author

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Kristopher Rufty

Kristopher Rufty

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Kristopher Rufty lives in North Carolina with his three children and pets. He’s written over twenty novels, including ALL WILL DIE, THE DEVOURED AND THE DEAD, DESOLATION, THE LURKERS and PILLOWFACE. When he’s not spending time with his family or writing, he’s obsessing over gardening and growing food.

His short story DARLA'S PROBLEM was included in the Splatterpunk Publications anthology FIGHTING BACK, which won the Splatterpunk award for best anthology. THE DEVOURED AND THE DEAD was nominated for a Splatterpunk award.

He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more about Kristopher Rufty, please visit: www.kristopherrufty.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
120 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be among Rufty's best works, with one customer describing it as the best killer dog story they've read. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting it's fast-paced at the end.

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ReadabilityStory qualityPacing
16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great and fun read, with one customer noting it's better than Cujo, while another describes it as titillating.

"Jagger was a great read, full of surprises and twists...." Read more

"...Overall Great read" Read more

"It was a fun read but it took a long while to get started. I did enjoy it though and while you can see the end coming here are some surprises...." Read more

"...It can't help but touch or titillating the reader. ENJOY!" Read more

13 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's story, with one describing it as a terrifying tale of a good dog gone bad, while another notes it's full of surprises.

"Jagger was a great read, full of surprises and twists...." Read more

"...Like Ketchum's work, Jagger is reality based and the focus is on the characters rather than the plot...." Read more

"...Characters are developed and you can care for them and relate to them. Only real complaint the ending just ends. No resolution or info...." Read more

"...I RECOMMEND this SCARY yet sad story. It can't help but touch or titillating the reader. ENJOY!" Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced at the end while others note it starts slowly.

"...Fast paced at the end. The cover art by Frank Walls is a winner. Highly recommend. Another great horror novel by Rufty is The Lurkers." Read more

"It was a fun read but it took a long while to get started. I did enjoy it though and while you can see the end coming here are some surprises...." Read more

"...Fast paced action,lots of Gore." Read more

"...Characters were flat and the story kind of felt forced and rushed." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Moniquea N
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beware of Dog!!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Jagger was a great read, full of surprises and twists. It had it's highs and lows, and let me just say that the lows(sad parts) were really messed up!! I found myself feeling sorry for almost everyone who fell victim to the killer pooch, but felt even worse for Jagger who was a big softy turned rabbid maniac. Definitely a story worth reading!!
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  • Adlux
    4.0 out of 5 stars .
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Kept me glued to my seat page after page. As an animal lover I felt her pain losing her beloved pet. However I felt Amy never really knew the real reason why Jagger became a vicious killing machine and that's what bothered me. Overall Great read
    One person found this helpful
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  • Alonzo Bodden
    3.0 out of 5 stars It was a fun read but it took a long while to get ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It was a fun read but it took a long while to get started. I did enjoy it though and while you can see the end coming here are some surprises. Definitely a fun read
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  • Scott Wilcox
    5.0 out of 5 stars Laymon writes a Ketchum novel
    Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    After reading a few of his books it is clear that Kristopher Rufty is heavily influenced by Richard Laymon. With Jagger this situation takes an interesting turn; what if Richard Laymon wrote a Jack Ketchum novel?

    Like Ketchum's work, Jagger is reality based and the focus is on the characters rather than the plot. There is plenty of bloody violence, but rather than get a visceral thrill from it the reader is concerned for the characters (well, some of them) and doesn't want them to meet a gory end. The tragedy of Jagger, a dog tortured in to madness, is handled well and really tugs at the heartstrings.

    It is a cliche to describe a book as "more mature", so I will avoid that by saying Jagger is a departure from the other writings of Mr. Rufty's that I've read. 5 stars, highly recommended.
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  • J. Poulos
    4.0 out of 5 stars Big Dog Goes Bad
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Jagger has some similarities to another "large dog goes on a rampage" book. Jagger is original in that it relates to dogfighting and illegal drug labs that are a problem in America. A loser kidnaps a huge yet friendly dog and after some alterations, dog becomes a killing machine. Characters are developed and you can care for them and relate to them. Only real complaint the ending just ends. No resolution or info. Maybe there will be a Jagger 2 but that is my complaint
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  • J Quick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Your Dogs Will Hate this Book, but You Won't...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    If you have and love dogs, this book is going to be painful. Let's get that out of the way right up front. What Kristopher Rufty has done here is tap into that animal lover in all of us, so that even as Jagger becomes the monster mentioned in the book's description, you feel for him. You root for him to snap out of it, even as the situation looks more and more dire.

    And that's where he gets you: Rufty allows that hope to build all the way until the book's conclusion. Seeing how sweet Jagger starts off his life makes the knife in your heart twist that much harder and sink that much deeper.

    The frightening part? In large measure, this could be happening anywhere right now. The small-town feel makes it feel like you live there, which then makes you want to find the people doing this nearby and let Jagger loose on them. When you're done with the book, if you own dogs, they're going to be annoyed at you: you're going to end up hugging and loving on them until they give you that distinctly doggy look of "what are you doing? Leave me alone..."

    Rufty consistently gives you something good to keep you occupied and dig you out of your comfort zone, and Jagger is no exception. If you've never read his work before, this is a wonderful place to start. If you've read his other stuff, grab this one now; you won't be disappointed!
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  • Kitty
    3.0 out of 5 stars Boring.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I expected better from Rufty. "Jagger" was a little gory and a bit gross here and there but not really a great story. Characters were flat and the story kind of felt forced and rushed.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jagger
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This was an extremely hard book to read . So many feelings. I have owned several dogs myself and I understand how you can merge them into your life. Somehow they can become more a part of your life than even family members. I have heard them called "my baby" by some,so I understand the loss Amy feels. Having owned a Lab/Mastiff mix I know their size is very intimidating , but they are by nature both gentle yet protective breeds. It's more than a little scary to think of one turning into such a killing machine. I believe it was more instinct than actual thought that sends Jagger back in search of Amy. I RECOMMEND this SCARY yet sad story. It can't help but touch or titillating the reader. ENJOY!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant characters.
    Absolutely thrilling and a real page turner
    Treat yourself to a master author.....never a dull moment.
    Highly recommended.
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  • Adrian Shotbolt
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's a dog's life.
    Reviewed in Australia on March 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Christopher Rufty teams up with Sinister Grin Press, and the results are as expected, superb. Fans of Kings Cujo will find plenty to enjoy here. Some good character building before Jagger starts chowing down on folk! Highly recommended. 5 stars. Dig it.
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  • Rêvvâ Tênâg
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in Australia on June 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It takes over 150 pages before the action starts. In that time you're introduced to a few characters that you will choose to either like or dislike, and I guess it helps you to form whatever attachment you can to that person before they may get malled by a vicious dog!
    I get the strange feeling the author likes boobs - a lot - and are constantly on his mind. We read about the nipples and details for the breasts of every female character in the story several times over!
    I felt like this book was probably best suited for males to read? Too bad I'm a female. And too bad there was nothing nice to be said about the male's physique for any of the male characters! The descriptions we do receive for some of the men aren't exactly sexy - quite the opposite actually!
    Despite the cover of the book being scarier than the story for the most part, the content is still very readable and is able to maintain your interest until the end.
    There's a bit of grossness, gore, humour (couldn't help but laugh about the chickens!), regular characters who have faults so you're able to relate to them, oh, and plenty of boobs - with nipples!
    There are also over 300 pages to this story.
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  • Susan Audsley
    4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the book, not an award-winning book but a good time waster. Jagger I found was reminiscent of lassie come home but with gore fest attitude and no happy ever after.
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  • Allan
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyable read but with some extremely odd moments and a bit of a washy climax.
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