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Michigan Chillers #19
Drummond Island Dogman
On Drummond Island in Michigan, Jackson Porter and Delaney Granger are about to unravel the mystery and uncover the horrifying truth about the half-man, half-dog creature known as Dogman.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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120 people want to read
About the author
Johnathan Rand
119 books301 followersChristopher Wright is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2022
I'm surprised it took nineteen books for Johnathan Rand to write a Michigan Chiller about the Dogman. In real life, sightings of a half-man, half-dog creature have been reported in the Lower Peninsula since at least 1887, and in 2006 the mythical beast found its way into book three of Johnathan Rand's Adventure Club series, The Haunted Schoolhouse. In Drummond Island Dogman, the trouble begins with fifth-graders Jackson Porter and Delaney Granger puttering around the island on Jackson's off-road vehicle (ORV). Delaney moved to Drummond Island recently, and Jackson wants to show her the natural beauty and surprises of its wilderness areas. Jackson can identify most of the island's animals by their tracks in the dirt, but he's stumped when Delaney spots a set of tracks way too big for a raccoon, coyote, or wolf. An uneasy feeling urges him to quickly remount the ORV with Delaney and head home. Little does Jackson know he has just saved both their lives.
Jackson's instinctive nervousness persists in the coming days, and we know what's triggering it: interspersed with his narrative are chapters describing the movements of the Dogman, a carnivore who has sought refuge on Drummond Island to escape the population boom of southern Michigan. The Dogman thinks like a human, but with the physical strength and speed of a predatory jungle animal. Eating mainly discarded leftover human food and dead animals, he's biding his time until he catches a human alone, one large enough to satisfy the Dogman's craving for meat. Unfortunately for Jackson, the Dogman has keyed in on him and isn't about to forget his scent.
As numerous unsubstantiated reports pop up of Dogman sightings on Drummond Island, Jackson's unease increases, but he and Delaney don't truly believe the legend. The two of them still go exploring on his ORV, but Jackson realizes this is a potentially fatal mistake when they end up face to face with the Dogman miles from the safety of home. The seven-foot-tall creature is furry and musclebound, with feral, violent eyes, and teeth that can tear a human asunder within seconds. Jackson is shellshocked that the Dogman is real, but he and Delaney have no time to gawk if they are to survive an encounter with a carnivore who hasn't eaten in days. Jackson slams the ORV accelerator to the floor, nearing sixty miles per hour as the Dogman lopes after them at top speed. This confrontation can only end in death, but will it be Jackson and Delaney meeting a grisly fate...or has the Dogman seen the last of its days?
Drummond Island Dogman is the best Michigan Chiller since at least Calumet City Copper Creatures. The story moves at a good pace and doesn't take liberties with basic logic. As usual, Johnathan Rand inserts a sly reference to other Michigan Chillers; this time it's Aliens Attack Alpena and Dinosaurs Destroy Detroit, on page fifty-one. Dwayne Harris's cover illustration depicts a Dogman every bit as savage as described in the story; it's some of Harris's most impressive work for the series. A side note: in the Dogman story from The Haunted Schoolhouse, the legendary creature is spelled "dog-man", whereas in this book it's one word, and capitalized. The minor stylistic change is probably an improvement, if only a slight one. Johnathan Rand has cleaned up his erratic punctuation and grammar by this stage of his career, and while he isn't the smoothest writer, Drummond Island Dogman is a good pure adventure novel, and I'm excited for the next Michigan Chillers book, Lair of the Lansing Leprechauns. I hope you'll join me there.
Jackson's instinctive nervousness persists in the coming days, and we know what's triggering it: interspersed with his narrative are chapters describing the movements of the Dogman, a carnivore who has sought refuge on Drummond Island to escape the population boom of southern Michigan. The Dogman thinks like a human, but with the physical strength and speed of a predatory jungle animal. Eating mainly discarded leftover human food and dead animals, he's biding his time until he catches a human alone, one large enough to satisfy the Dogman's craving for meat. Unfortunately for Jackson, the Dogman has keyed in on him and isn't about to forget his scent.
As numerous unsubstantiated reports pop up of Dogman sightings on Drummond Island, Jackson's unease increases, but he and Delaney don't truly believe the legend. The two of them still go exploring on his ORV, but Jackson realizes this is a potentially fatal mistake when they end up face to face with the Dogman miles from the safety of home. The seven-foot-tall creature is furry and musclebound, with feral, violent eyes, and teeth that can tear a human asunder within seconds. Jackson is shellshocked that the Dogman is real, but he and Delaney have no time to gawk if they are to survive an encounter with a carnivore who hasn't eaten in days. Jackson slams the ORV accelerator to the floor, nearing sixty miles per hour as the Dogman lopes after them at top speed. This confrontation can only end in death, but will it be Jackson and Delaney meeting a grisly fate...or has the Dogman seen the last of its days?
Drummond Island Dogman is the best Michigan Chiller since at least Calumet City Copper Creatures. The story moves at a good pace and doesn't take liberties with basic logic. As usual, Johnathan Rand inserts a sly reference to other Michigan Chillers; this time it's Aliens Attack Alpena and Dinosaurs Destroy Detroit, on page fifty-one. Dwayne Harris's cover illustration depicts a Dogman every bit as savage as described in the story; it's some of Harris's most impressive work for the series. A side note: in the Dogman story from The Haunted Schoolhouse, the legendary creature is spelled "dog-man", whereas in this book it's one word, and capitalized. The minor stylistic change is probably an improvement, if only a slight one. Johnathan Rand has cleaned up his erratic punctuation and grammar by this stage of his career, and while he isn't the smoothest writer, Drummond Island Dogman is a good pure adventure novel, and I'm excited for the next Michigan Chillers book, Lair of the Lansing Leprechauns. I hope you'll join me there.
July 13, 2021
Decided to read one more of these Chillers books. This is a werewolf one, so how could I not pick this newer Michigan Chillers entry? (Dogman / Werewolf... same difference)
First up, the cover art. I actually dig the design of the creature. It's a bit more unique-looking than your typical werewolf. I like the more human features such as the long fingernails.
However, I'm not a fan of CGI. I'm even less a fan of BAD CGI.
So, yeah... cool concept but terrible method of illustration and horrible execution of the design. Much like the actual book itself...
I'm not going to get into the plot of this book because, well, there really isn't one. A couple of kids are exploring Drummond Island, and encounter some werewolf... ahem, *Dogman* tracks. They know this because of some sixth sense the protagonist apparently has.
What follows was actually slightly interesting and unexpected for a Chiller book... Mr. Rand writes from the monster's POV. The chapters alternate between the kids and the "Dogman" stalking them in the woods, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. We get plenty of detail on how hungry he is and how determined he is to eat some humans for lunch. But he's also smart, and can't give himself away or be spotted by anyone, he has to get the timing right.
So, kind of cool that Rand did something different. Never before have I read a Chillers book that was partially written from the Villain's perspective.
When our protagonist is narrating the story, not really much happens. Him and his friend literally don't do anything except wonder if the Dogman is really real, do some research on him, wander around the woods so we can get more of...
...The Dogman's perspective, watching the kids from between the trees, waiting for the perfect moment, his stomach growling with hunger, but then steps on a branch and alerts the kids to his presence
Back and forth we go with very, very little progression of anything. This book becomes repetitive quite quickly and there is NEVER any suspense because our protagonists always seem to know when the Dogman is near whether or not he steps on a branch and the Dogman also seems to severely lack in cunning, malevolence, superhuman strength and speed.... you know, all the stuff a good monster / villain should have.
I got bored pretty quickly with this book. If you want to read how it ends, and how they 'defeat' the Dogman, read the spoiler below:
I think this may be the last Chillers book I ever read - unless I ever go back to revisit some of the early American Chillers from my collection again. In all (brutal) honesty, though... these books fucking suck. Johnathan Rand is not a good writer, either that, or he just doesn't try very hard. Even some of the better Chillers books released back in the early 2000's, while they were fun and had some redeeming qualities, they were never very polished or coherent as a whole. And these newer ones - Dogman included, display a level of writing that makes me think I should start writing children's horror, because I know that I could do better.
First up, the cover art. I actually dig the design of the creature. It's a bit more unique-looking than your typical werewolf. I like the more human features such as the long fingernails.
However, I'm not a fan of CGI. I'm even less a fan of BAD CGI.
So, yeah... cool concept but terrible method of illustration and horrible execution of the design. Much like the actual book itself...
I'm not going to get into the plot of this book because, well, there really isn't one. A couple of kids are exploring Drummond Island, and encounter some werewolf... ahem, *Dogman* tracks. They know this because of some sixth sense the protagonist apparently has.
What follows was actually slightly interesting and unexpected for a Chiller book... Mr. Rand writes from the monster's POV. The chapters alternate between the kids and the "Dogman" stalking them in the woods, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. We get plenty of detail on how hungry he is and how determined he is to eat some humans for lunch. But he's also smart, and can't give himself away or be spotted by anyone, he has to get the timing right.
So, kind of cool that Rand did something different. Never before have I read a Chillers book that was partially written from the Villain's perspective.
When our protagonist is narrating the story, not really much happens. Him and his friend literally don't do anything except wonder if the Dogman is really real, do some research on him, wander around the woods so we can get more of...
...The Dogman's perspective, watching the kids from between the trees, waiting for the perfect moment, his stomach growling with hunger, but then steps on a branch and alerts the kids to his presence
Back and forth we go with very, very little progression of anything. This book becomes repetitive quite quickly and there is NEVER any suspense because our protagonists always seem to know when the Dogman is near whether or not he steps on a branch and the Dogman also seems to severely lack in cunning, malevolence, superhuman strength and speed.... you know, all the stuff a good monster / villain should have.
I got bored pretty quickly with this book. If you want to read how it ends, and how they 'defeat' the Dogman, read the spoiler below:
I think this may be the last Chillers book I ever read - unless I ever go back to revisit some of the early American Chillers from my collection again. In all (brutal) honesty, though... these books fucking suck. Johnathan Rand is not a good writer, either that, or he just doesn't try very hard. Even some of the better Chillers books released back in the early 2000's, while they were fun and had some redeeming qualities, they were never very polished or coherent as a whole. And these newer ones - Dogman included, display a level of writing that makes me think I should start writing children's horror, because I know that I could do better.
December 26, 2017
Thank you, for adding this book on Goodreads so a big shout out to The Librarian's Group on here.
Seeing as I wanted to review this book so much but couldn't believe my eyes when I looked up Michigan Chillers an only found like 5 books plus two others or so that Johnathan Rand does when he has so many of them!! So thank you for adding this one, to the slow but growing list of Michigan chillers on here.
Now. On to the review!
One of the reasons I was so looking forward to doing this review was because this is the first Michigan Chillers book I've read since I was-- maybe about 11 years old. Now I'm 25 and still enjoying them. When we went to the mall on the 15th me and my friend (that's not on here) we where walking around an then BAM! A book signing right there in the middle of the mall by no other then Jonathan Rand himself! So of cross we had to get a couple books an have him sign them. After that it took me about four days to get around to starting this one. Seeing as I started it while I was waiting to get called back at the doctors on the 20th. Got about half way through it to before they ended up calling me back.
Then took a break for a day and then finished it a day after that.
It's a fast paced read to say the least although they story is really well wrote. While it's slow starting or at least I thought so- it picks up about half way through. Plus all the scene setting and stuff that's before that makes it go along a lot smoother then it would if it was just dragging on and on. The Dogman sounds rather scary, even to me although then again I've read worse then it and it's scared me even worse. But still.
In my opinion I think the charters are well done for a young readers book. Seeing as I haven't read one in a while I can't rightly compare it to another young readers book, but I say that Rand does a good job in his story telling. No matter what it's about or what kind of book it is. Rather MI chillers, American Chillers or something totally different for adults. (I'm guessing with the last part seeing as I haven't read any of his books for adults yet.) I remember reading MI chillers when I was growing up and getting scared silly at some of them. While I don't have mine anymore I still remember them and how fun they were to read. And this was no let down from any of those.
Rather your 5 or 50 you should check this out just for fun. Something to take a break from all the other BIG books you've been reading. If you do decide to check it out I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Seeing as I wanted to review this book so much but couldn't believe my eyes when I looked up Michigan Chillers an only found like 5 books plus two others or so that Johnathan Rand does when he has so many of them!! So thank you for adding this one, to the slow but growing list of Michigan chillers on here.
Now. On to the review!
One of the reasons I was so looking forward to doing this review was because this is the first Michigan Chillers book I've read since I was-- maybe about 11 years old. Now I'm 25 and still enjoying them. When we went to the mall on the 15th me and my friend (that's not on here) we where walking around an then BAM! A book signing right there in the middle of the mall by no other then Jonathan Rand himself! So of cross we had to get a couple books an have him sign them. After that it took me about four days to get around to starting this one. Seeing as I started it while I was waiting to get called back at the doctors on the 20th. Got about half way through it to before they ended up calling me back.
Then took a break for a day and then finished it a day after that.
It's a fast paced read to say the least although they story is really well wrote. While it's slow starting or at least I thought so- it picks up about half way through. Plus all the scene setting and stuff that's before that makes it go along a lot smoother then it would if it was just dragging on and on. The Dogman sounds rather scary, even to me although then again I've read worse then it and it's scared me even worse. But still.
In my opinion I think the charters are well done for a young readers book. Seeing as I haven't read one in a while I can't rightly compare it to another young readers book, but I say that Rand does a good job in his story telling. No matter what it's about or what kind of book it is. Rather MI chillers, American Chillers or something totally different for adults. (I'm guessing with the last part seeing as I haven't read any of his books for adults yet.) I remember reading MI chillers when I was growing up and getting scared silly at some of them. While I don't have mine anymore I still remember them and how fun they were to read. And this was no let down from any of those.
Rather your 5 or 50 you should check this out just for fun. Something to take a break from all the other BIG books you've been reading. If you do decide to check it out I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
September 13, 2021
The Michigan Dogman is real. I've seen it with my own two eyes.
It all started when a friend and I went into the woods to get shitfaced for the first time after Mary Jane was legalized. We brought out alcohol and weed.
Suddenly, I saw the dogman not far from us taking a shit. My friend decided to walk up to it and poke it with a stick. It let out a beastly roar and then swallowed my friend whole! Then it shit him out.
I stood there in shock, looking at my friend, who is now...a pile of shit.
It all started when a friend and I went into the woods to get shitfaced for the first time after Mary Jane was legalized. We brought out alcohol and weed.
Suddenly, I saw the dogman not far from us taking a shit. My friend decided to walk up to it and poke it with a stick. It let out a beastly roar and then swallowed my friend whole! Then it shit him out.
I stood there in shock, looking at my friend, who is now...a pile of shit.
October 2, 2023
Drummond island dog man is a great book for people who love thrillers and scary scenes and it's written by Johnothan rand a really good writer. this book is awesome it has so many thriller scenes and is a really good page tuner. I know that when I read it, I could not stop reading it was just over all a great book I would really recommend this for someone that likes a triller and scary story.
July 2, 2022
This was a fun book for kids set on my favorite island, Drummond. The author did a good job of capturing the feel of the island in the story. While certainly written for children, it was a fine read.
July 3, 2025
I read this because these used to be my favorite books as a kid and I saw this one in the store and had to read it. It was pretty much how I remembered the series being as a kid. They are very quick and fast paced and just a fun read
August 11, 2022
soooooooooooooooooo good
February 16, 2024
I think that it is a good book. I like how they use great details. And if you use the right sound effect it gets really good. Overall I really like johnathan Rands books!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews