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The Butcher
A rash of grisly serial murders plagued Seattle until the infamous "Beacon Hill Butcher" was finally hunted down and killed by police chief Edward Shank in 1985. Now, some thirty years later, Shank, retired and widowed, is giving up his large rambling Victorian house to his grandson Matt, whom he helped raise.
Settling back into his childhood home and doing some renovations in the backyard to make the house feel like his own, Matt, a young up-and-coming chef and restaurateur, stumbles upon a locked crate he’s never seen before. Curious, he picks the padlock and makes a discovery so gruesome it will forever haunt him… Faced with this deep dark family secret, Matt must decide whether to keep what he knows buried in the past, go to the police, or take matters into his own hands.
Meanwhile Matt’s girlfriend, Sam, has always suspected that her mother was murdered by the Beacon Hill Butcher—two years after the supposed Butcher was gunned down. As she pursues leads that will prove her right, Sam heads right into the path of Matt’s terrible secret.
Settling back into his childhood home and doing some renovations in the backyard to make the house feel like his own, Matt, a young up-and-coming chef and restaurateur, stumbles upon a locked crate he’s never seen before. Curious, he picks the padlock and makes a discovery so gruesome it will forever haunt him… Faced with this deep dark family secret, Matt must decide whether to keep what he knows buried in the past, go to the police, or take matters into his own hands.
Meanwhile Matt’s girlfriend, Sam, has always suspected that her mother was murdered by the Beacon Hill Butcher—two years after the supposed Butcher was gunned down. As she pursues leads that will prove her right, Sam heads right into the path of Matt’s terrible secret.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2014
12387 people are currently reading
98370 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Hillier
13 books17.7k followersJennifer Hillier imagines the worst about people, and then writes about it.
She's the author of seven psychological thrillers, including the USA Today, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail bestselling Things We Do in the Dark, winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Audiobook. Described as “an intoxicating thrill ride” by the New York Times and “propulsive and chilling” by People magazine, it was a Book of the Month Club selection, an Indigo Top Ten Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Spotlight Pick, a Loan Stars pick, and her third consecutive novel to be honored as a LibraryReads pick, which places her in their Hall of Fame.
She's also published six other novels, including the USA Today bestselling Little Secrets (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award), and Jar of Hearts (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards). She also wrote Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland, which have been recently reissued by Gallery Books in beautiful trade paperback formats. Her books have been published in twenty-four languages so far.
Jennifer is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, but she spent eight amazing years living in Seattle, which is where she first became a published author. She's a Seahawks fan who married a Packers guy, and they have a son in middle school who wishes she wrote books like Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (she does too, kid, she does too).
She's afraid of the dark and can’t sleep unless she's checked the locks on the doors several times. She loves writing when it’s raining, sleeping when it’s sunny, and reading after everyone else has gone to bed. She's a cat person without a cat, which makes her sad. But she's now back in the Toronto area permanently with her family, which makes her happy.
Heart of Glass, her newest thriller, will be coming August 25, 2026 from Minotaur Books.
She's the author of seven psychological thrillers, including the USA Today, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail bestselling Things We Do in the Dark, winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Audiobook. Described as “an intoxicating thrill ride” by the New York Times and “propulsive and chilling” by People magazine, it was a Book of the Month Club selection, an Indigo Top Ten Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Spotlight Pick, a Loan Stars pick, and her third consecutive novel to be honored as a LibraryReads pick, which places her in their Hall of Fame.
She's also published six other novels, including the USA Today bestselling Little Secrets (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award), and Jar of Hearts (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards). She also wrote Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland, which have been recently reissued by Gallery Books in beautiful trade paperback formats. Her books have been published in twenty-four languages so far.
Jennifer is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, but she spent eight amazing years living in Seattle, which is where she first became a published author. She's a Seahawks fan who married a Packers guy, and they have a son in middle school who wishes she wrote books like Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (she does too, kid, she does too).
She's afraid of the dark and can’t sleep unless she's checked the locks on the doors several times. She loves writing when it’s raining, sleeping when it’s sunny, and reading after everyone else has gone to bed. She's a cat person without a cat, which makes her sad. But she's now back in the Toronto area permanently with her family, which makes her happy.
Heart of Glass, her newest thriller, will be coming August 25, 2026 from Minotaur Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,221 reviews
January 16, 2025
4.5* rounded up. Dark, disturbing, and compulsively readable. I LOVE JENNIFER HILLIER!!! 🗣️
March 31, 2025
THIS BOOK IS NUTS. So sick, so twisty, so wild
April 29, 2025
my 3rd Jennifer Hillier book and definitely a wild ride! i do feel as though this could have been 50-100 pages shorter if she left out some of the random internal dialogue or just parts that were unnecessary to the plot
April 30, 2025
1.5 stars— After thoroughly enjoying “Little Secrets” by Jennifer Hillier, I decided to take a chance and read one of her earlier books, “The Butcher.’ Unfortunately, the two books were as different as night and day. ‘The Butcher” is plagued by the fact that the entire book is centered around Edward Shank, the recently retired police chief of Seattle and his grandson, Matt, two very unlikable main characters that I found myself rooting against the entire story. I have mentioned in other reviews and still believe that I am unable to enjoy a book when most of it is written from the point of view of a character that I don’t like. In this case two of the characters were angry, violent criminals who for the most part had no redeeming qualities. Even though some may say this is a testament to Hillier’s terrific writing, I say I hated both of them and could care less about reading about them. In fact, I spent most of my time counting the number of page left until I finished the book. “The Butcher” had other problems as well that I also believed dragged the book down. First, an early discovery by Matt of a crate that contained evidence and information so horrible that 99 percent of people would immediately turn it into the police was never even considered by Matt. I found this to be strange. Second, the constant unnecessary and gratuitous use of vulgar language always negatively impacts my enjoyment of a good thriller (and it definitely did in this book). Third, the author made Matt and Edward so unlikable you begin to question why any of the other characters would even want to be near them much less in a romantic relationship or lifetime friendship with them. The more I write of this review the more I believe that the attitudes and behaviors of both Edward and Matt somehow triggered me and sent me over the edge of my Kindle. 🤔Whatever the problem was, I can honestly say (much like a toxic friendship) I am just glad that I can move on to my next book and be free of Matt and Edward forever.
March 6, 2025
Monsters like that don’t die, unless they’re killed
Police Chief Edward Shank is widely known in Seattle as the chief who finally hunted and killed the infamous “Beacon Hill Butcher”. Its now thirty years later and retired and widowed Edwards gives up his large home to his grandson Matt who he also raised.
Matt while doing renovations in the home stumbles across a locked crate in the backyard and when he opens it, he is absolutely disturbed by its contents. He is now faced with whether to spill to the police, keep in this deep family secret or take matters into his own hands. To make matters even worse, Matts girlfriend Sam believes that her mum was killed by the ‘butcher’ and while she is on the hunt for answers, she is about to walk into matts terrible secret.
GUYS!!!!!! It has been a minute where a book has stolen my entire attention. I could not put it DOWN! This was one hell of an addictive thrilling ride, and I couldn’t get enough!
This book is different as the reveal is told very early on and we spend the rest of the book seeing how it will unfold and whether said people will get their comeuppance! Now let me just say… CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS! This book is depraved, vile and pretty much offensive.
The characters were all flawed and even my most hated characters, I couldn’t help but race through their chapters and delve deeper into their depraved mindset. Yes, the book is predictable, but I didn’t care, the characters and the plot were so just too exciting and thrilling. There was one twist I did not see coming and I almost spat out my dinner in utter shock and disgust!
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Fast paced
➽ Serial killer is revealed immediately
➽ Suspenseful through the chapters
➽ Quite graphic
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The ending felt rushed
➽ Romance sub plot
➽ There is a particular scene involving Sam that was brushed away too easily
I think this is my most favourite Jennifer Hillier book to date and I can see it being a part of my top reads of 2025
4.5 ⭐
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
My first read of March!✨
On a mission to finish this authors backlist!
Heard so many good things about this one!
Its my birthday month so i only deserve 5 star reads right!?😏
❤️❤️❤️
Police Chief Edward Shank is widely known in Seattle as the chief who finally hunted and killed the infamous “Beacon Hill Butcher”. Its now thirty years later and retired and widowed Edwards gives up his large home to his grandson Matt who he also raised.
Matt while doing renovations in the home stumbles across a locked crate in the backyard and when he opens it, he is absolutely disturbed by its contents. He is now faced with whether to spill to the police, keep in this deep family secret or take matters into his own hands. To make matters even worse, Matts girlfriend Sam believes that her mum was killed by the ‘butcher’ and while she is on the hunt for answers, she is about to walk into matts terrible secret.
GUYS!!!!!! It has been a minute where a book has stolen my entire attention. I could not put it DOWN! This was one hell of an addictive thrilling ride, and I couldn’t get enough!
This book is different as the reveal is told very early on and we spend the rest of the book seeing how it will unfold and whether said people will get their comeuppance! Now let me just say… CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS! This book is depraved, vile and pretty much offensive.
The characters were all flawed and even my most hated characters, I couldn’t help but race through their chapters and delve deeper into their depraved mindset. Yes, the book is predictable, but I didn’t care, the characters and the plot were so just too exciting and thrilling. There was one twist I did not see coming and I almost spat out my dinner in utter shock and disgust!
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Fast paced
➽ Serial killer is revealed immediately
➽ Suspenseful through the chapters
➽ Quite graphic
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The ending felt rushed
➽ Romance sub plot
➽ There is a particular scene involving Sam that was brushed away too easily
I think this is my most favourite Jennifer Hillier book to date and I can see it being a part of my top reads of 2025
4.5 ⭐
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
My first read of March!✨
On a mission to finish this authors backlist!
Heard so many good things about this one!
Its my birthday month so i only deserve 5 star reads right!?😏
❤️❤️❤️
October 1, 2025
This was incredibly disturbing, still couldn’t put it down. Was proud of myself (but also sad) for clocking the plot twist though!
August 10, 2014
On the one hand, I could give this book a scathing review, clap my hands together and walk away; on the other, I could do a bit more analysis, delve a bit deeper than its rusty surface, and throw in a few psychobabble terms for my handful of diligent readers out there. Let’s see, I think we’ll go with Option B, Alex, and let’s make it for $600, just to make things interesting. And…here…we…go.
More than a few reviewers have been less than generous, and if I could offer up a deduction, I’d say it stems from the following sentence: “A thriller with taut, fast-paced suspense, and twists around every corner, The Butcher will keep you guessing until the bitter, bloody end.” This, unfortunately, does not do Jennifer Hillier any favors, as THE BUTCHER is not that type of novel. To be perfectly blunt about it, another publisher has fucked an author in the ass. If I were king for a day, I’d probably fire more than one marketing department, and send them back to school for their MBAs. Because we certainly didn’t learn that shit in any marketing class I ever took. But in my experience, most publishers are experts in publishing, not marketing, and yes there is separation of church and state, at least in this case. Sorry, the chopper interrupted my train of thought. Let’s move on, shall we?
Instead of taking a cleaver to this tale, I actually was rather happy to bump and bounce along through the streets of Seattle with Pike Place firmly etched in my rearview. Sure, the characters might have been a bit one-dimensional—Matt and Edward were certainly no exception—but that was all part of the experience. Sam, on the other hand, proved a tad more interesting, at least in my estimation. Even though the killer is revealed in the first 30 pages, the real fun is in seeing how it all goes down on the playground, and what will await us at the end of our journey.
With a clipped pace and bodies stacking up to the left and right, I found myself rushing forward with both hands in front of my face to swat away errant limbs and branches. And, yes, you have to be of a particular persuasion to enjoy this tale, since it covers sunny topics like rape and incest and murder.
So, yes, we can castrate the author or the novel for what it isn’t based on the last paragraph in the description, or you can expunge that last sentence from your brain (as I did) and focus on what this particular novel is. If you can reach a separation of church and state, then you may have found yourself a winner.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
More than a few reviewers have been less than generous, and if I could offer up a deduction, I’d say it stems from the following sentence: “A thriller with taut, fast-paced suspense, and twists around every corner, The Butcher will keep you guessing until the bitter, bloody end.” This, unfortunately, does not do Jennifer Hillier any favors, as THE BUTCHER is not that type of novel. To be perfectly blunt about it, another publisher has fucked an author in the ass. If I were king for a day, I’d probably fire more than one marketing department, and send them back to school for their MBAs. Because we certainly didn’t learn that shit in any marketing class I ever took. But in my experience, most publishers are experts in publishing, not marketing, and yes there is separation of church and state, at least in this case. Sorry, the chopper interrupted my train of thought. Let’s move on, shall we?
Instead of taking a cleaver to this tale, I actually was rather happy to bump and bounce along through the streets of Seattle with Pike Place firmly etched in my rearview. Sure, the characters might have been a bit one-dimensional—Matt and Edward were certainly no exception—but that was all part of the experience. Sam, on the other hand, proved a tad more interesting, at least in my estimation. Even though the killer is revealed in the first 30 pages, the real fun is in seeing how it all goes down on the playground, and what will await us at the end of our journey.
With a clipped pace and bodies stacking up to the left and right, I found myself rushing forward with both hands in front of my face to swat away errant limbs and branches. And, yes, you have to be of a particular persuasion to enjoy this tale, since it covers sunny topics like rape and incest and murder.
So, yes, we can castrate the author or the novel for what it isn’t based on the last paragraph in the description, or you can expunge that last sentence from your brain (as I did) and focus on what this particular novel is. If you can reach a separation of church and state, then you may have found yourself a winner.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
May 19, 2025
OMG that twist. Holy S---!
I was dying... returned the audiobook by accident when the story was about to unfold and had to wait weeks to learn what's going to happen. This was another unputdownable thriller by Jennifer Hillier. 💓🔪💓
I was dying... returned the audiobook by accident when the story was about to unfold and had to wait weeks to learn what's going to happen. This was another unputdownable thriller by Jennifer Hillier. 💓🔪💓
February 18, 2025
It wasn’t a terrible read, but there were aspects of the story that won’t make me run to recommend it.
I've read books before through the eyes of a serial killer. One that comes to mind is ' Notes on an Execution.' It was a 5-star read, going into the depths and soul of the killer, but done palpably. 'The Butter,' was crass. There were sexual assaults and grotesque thoughts that kept enduring. I get that he's got demented thoughts, but this felt extreme—especially every man’s description of women.—you would think it was impossible a woman wrote this book. It was hard to overlook, but somehow, I was curious to learn how everything connected.
In the mid-80s, Edward Shank, Seattle's police chief, finally found and killed the infamous Seattle serial killer known as 'The Butcher.' Shank, now in his 80s, is retired and living in a Victorian home with his grandson, Matt. In chapter one, we learn the killer's identity, and through Matt's eyes, we follow his discovery of the murders.
What everyone thought was a closed case is now opened, the serial killer is alive and back to the same style of killing.
Matt's girlfriend, Sam, lost her mother to the killer and is desperate to uncover the truth of her death. As she begins to dig, she learns more than she bargained for--it can't be true.
The author Jennifer Hille, wanted the reader to find one likable character, but unfortunately, I wasn't cheering for anyone. I was more curious to discover how key players would react once they learned what I knew all along--the killer's identity.
I'm giving this story three stars because it kept me engaged, regardless of the grotesque details of the killer's fetishes. However, there was a lot of unnecessary repetition, and I got it by the fifth or sixth explanation. Some implausible character coincidences pulled me out of the story.
Overall, 3/5 stars
Or maybe 2.5 stars....
I've read books before through the eyes of a serial killer. One that comes to mind is ' Notes on an Execution.' It was a 5-star read, going into the depths and soul of the killer, but done palpably. 'The Butter,' was crass. There were sexual assaults and grotesque thoughts that kept enduring. I get that he's got demented thoughts, but this felt extreme—especially every man’s description of women.—you would think it was impossible a woman wrote this book. It was hard to overlook, but somehow, I was curious to learn how everything connected.
In the mid-80s, Edward Shank, Seattle's police chief, finally found and killed the infamous Seattle serial killer known as 'The Butcher.' Shank, now in his 80s, is retired and living in a Victorian home with his grandson, Matt. In chapter one, we learn the killer's identity, and through Matt's eyes, we follow his discovery of the murders.
What everyone thought was a closed case is now opened, the serial killer is alive and back to the same style of killing.
Matt's girlfriend, Sam, lost her mother to the killer and is desperate to uncover the truth of her death. As she begins to dig, she learns more than she bargained for--it can't be true.
The author Jennifer Hille, wanted the reader to find one likable character, but unfortunately, I wasn't cheering for anyone. I was more curious to discover how key players would react once they learned what I knew all along--the killer's identity.
I'm giving this story three stars because it kept me engaged, regardless of the grotesque details of the killer's fetishes. However, there was a lot of unnecessary repetition, and I got it by the fifth or sixth explanation. Some implausible character coincidences pulled me out of the story.
Overall, 3/5 stars
Or maybe 2.5 stars....
May 21, 2014
Coincidence upon coincidence upon coincidence. Did I mention that the book is chock full of coincidences?
My bullshitometer was off the charts with this one.
Full review to come.
December 3, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I gotta hand it to Hillier. She handled the storytelling in this book with a deft hand. I can tell you firsthand that this is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Hands down. IYKYK
Seriously though, this one is good. It isn’t groundbreaking, or especially elevated. It won’t wow you with sophisticated prose or superior wit. It won’t twist your mind into knots with unexpected plot turns. It just does what it does very well. And what it does is pull you into the story, keep you on the edge of your seat, and reels you into its satisfying conclusion.
This is my first Hillier book, but it won’t be my last. She has been added to my list of authors whose books act as perfect palette cleansers when you need something predictably good…
I gotta hand it to Hillier. She handled the storytelling in this book with a deft hand. I can tell you firsthand that this is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Hands down. IYKYK
Seriously though, this one is good. It isn’t groundbreaking, or especially elevated. It won’t wow you with sophisticated prose or superior wit. It won’t twist your mind into knots with unexpected plot turns. It just does what it does very well. And what it does is pull you into the story, keep you on the edge of your seat, and reels you into its satisfying conclusion.
This is my first Hillier book, but it won’t be my last. She has been added to my list of authors whose books act as perfect palette cleansers when you need something predictably good…
August 4, 2023
Wow. As a Filipino woman. I really appreciate the fact that one of the main characters has a Filipino background. And to my surprise, Adobo has taken centre stage! With mentions of Sinigang, Lumpia, Champorado and Empanadas. Oh boy, it sure felt like home for a moment.
Matt Shank stumbled upon a locked crate buried in his grandfather's backyard. Filled with locks of hairs from different women, fingers in jars and a dvd with a gruesome content. Faced with this dark family secret, Matt is on the downward spiral heading for destruction or worse, murder.
This book is OK. Although I know from the get-go who the killer is, it didn't take away the slight suspense in any way. BUT. Matt? Me, being a fellow Filipino—do not acknowlege assholes like him. His character is very unlikeable, so is his girlfriend—Samantha. I just felt like the good plot was wasted on a very anti-climatic end. Also, there were a lot of opportunities for this to be really great but for some reason, it just didn't live up to its full potential. Sad.
The occasional sprinkle of romance? Completely unnecessary. Ugh. I don't need that! I don't need a stupid love-triangle in a serial killer trope or in any book for the matter and that bit of cliched romance really threw me off. And the ending? "Will you kiss me?" Ugh. Cringy much. Haha
Matt Shank stumbled upon a locked crate buried in his grandfather's backyard. Filled with locks of hairs from different women, fingers in jars and a dvd with a gruesome content. Faced with this dark family secret, Matt is on the downward spiral heading for destruction or worse, murder.
This book is OK. Although I know from the get-go who the killer is, it didn't take away the slight suspense in any way. BUT. Matt? Me, being a fellow Filipino—do not acknowlege assholes like him. His character is very unlikeable, so is his girlfriend—Samantha. I just felt like the good plot was wasted on a very anti-climatic end. Also, there were a lot of opportunities for this to be really great but for some reason, it just didn't live up to its full potential. Sad.
The occasional sprinkle of romance? Completely unnecessary. Ugh. I don't need that! I don't need a stupid love-triangle in a serial killer trope or in any book for the matter and that bit of cliched romance really threw me off. And the ending? "Will you kiss me?" Ugh. Cringy much. Haha
November 19, 2019
Chilling, uneasy, tense, fun, and twisted!
The Butcher is a reverse whodunnit, where the identity of the killer who terrorised Seattle thirty years ago is revealed to readers in the first few chapters. So instead the focus is on a conscienceless sociopath intent on his murderess spree, all while continuing to hide his true nature, and stay one step ahead of authorities. And what a loathsome villain he is – vile, tricky, evil, and merciless. There's also a true crime writer (with personal ties to The Beacon Hill Butcher) unaware of just how much danger she is in, and the grandson of The Butcher who is desperately fighting his own darker impulses.
I have to admit, being in the know is not my favourite kind of mystery. I don't mind it, but prefer being as much in the dark as the characters, figuring things out as they do. There were a couple of small surprising reveals, but the bigger twists I predicted. Also, it was a bit too black humour for my tastes, which was fun, but tended to stretch the fabric of believability. The pacing was excellent – fast and exciting with no dull moments, making it a surefire quick read. Those familiar with Jennifer Hillier will know that she doesn't shy away from gory and sexually sadistic details, and being inside a serial killers head, and the fact that he preys on some of the most vulnerable members of society, may put some readers off. But for those who have read Hillier before, or who relish a more gruesome thriller, then this will be right up your alley.
Macabre, creepy, and comical is The Butcher, but Wonderland and Jar of Hearts – with their gothic horror-ness – retain their positions of my top two favourites by this author. Can’t wait to read the Creep series, and Little Secrets in 2020.
The Butcher is a reverse whodunnit, where the identity of the killer who terrorised Seattle thirty years ago is revealed to readers in the first few chapters. So instead the focus is on a conscienceless sociopath intent on his murderess spree, all while continuing to hide his true nature, and stay one step ahead of authorities. And what a loathsome villain he is – vile, tricky, evil, and merciless. There's also a true crime writer (with personal ties to The Beacon Hill Butcher) unaware of just how much danger she is in, and the grandson of The Butcher who is desperately fighting his own darker impulses.
I have to admit, being in the know is not my favourite kind of mystery. I don't mind it, but prefer being as much in the dark as the characters, figuring things out as they do. There were a couple of small surprising reveals, but the bigger twists I predicted. Also, it was a bit too black humour for my tastes, which was fun, but tended to stretch the fabric of believability. The pacing was excellent – fast and exciting with no dull moments, making it a surefire quick read. Those familiar with Jennifer Hillier will know that she doesn't shy away from gory and sexually sadistic details, and being inside a serial killers head, and the fact that he preys on some of the most vulnerable members of society, may put some readers off. But for those who have read Hillier before, or who relish a more gruesome thriller, then this will be right up your alley.
Macabre, creepy, and comical is The Butcher, but Wonderland and Jar of Hearts – with their gothic horror-ness – retain their positions of my top two favourites by this author. Can’t wait to read the Creep series, and Little Secrets in 2020.
October 30, 2025
Phew! That was a pulse pounding story with the most evil and cunning killer!
Retired police chief of Seattle, Edward Shank, is a well respected member of society but he needs to give his Victorian mansion to his grandson, Matt. The house has deteriorated somewhat and Matt, an up and coming chef, is the one who should get the home.
Matt is happy about that and decides to do some renovations and discovers a strange box buried in his backyard. When opened the box contains the direction Matt's life will take.
Matt is dating Samantha, but their relationship is on shaky ground for Sam is obsessed with the murder of her mother years ago by the Beacon Hill butcher. However the Butcher had died years before her mom's murder. Sam is convinced that the Butcher still roams Seattle.
What happens next is a harrowing journey, one that is conveyed in every pulse pounding chapter and seems to place everyone in jeopardy.
Kudos to Jennifer Hillier for writing a terrifying story for those of us who liked being scared and having a hair raising book in our hands.
Retired police chief of Seattle, Edward Shank, is a well respected member of society but he needs to give his Victorian mansion to his grandson, Matt. The house has deteriorated somewhat and Matt, an up and coming chef, is the one who should get the home.
Matt is happy about that and decides to do some renovations and discovers a strange box buried in his backyard. When opened the box contains the direction Matt's life will take.
Matt is dating Samantha, but their relationship is on shaky ground for Sam is obsessed with the murder of her mother years ago by the Beacon Hill butcher. However the Butcher had died years before her mom's murder. Sam is convinced that the Butcher still roams Seattle.
What happens next is a harrowing journey, one that is conveyed in every pulse pounding chapter and seems to place everyone in jeopardy.
Kudos to Jennifer Hillier for writing a terrifying story for those of us who liked being scared and having a hair raising book in our hands.
March 4, 2015
Let the eye rolling begin... This was just bad, plain bad. I have read Hillier before and quite enjoyed them. But this was a train wreck. I don't know why I stayed with it so long. I got to about 3/4th's of the way in and NOPE!
April 5, 2015
A Thriller Without the Thrills - 2 Stars
When a book holds itself out to be a thriller, especially one that involves a notable serial killer, I expect there to be some suspense. I can tell you right now who the killer in this book was. It wouldn’t be a spoiler. Read the first chapter and you will know within two minutes. In fairness to the author, I believe she was trying to be bold and take a different approach to the often formulaic telling of crime thriller. Sometimes an author steps out of the box and writes a masterpiece and sometimes they step out and fall off the cliff they couldn’t see from inside the box.
Plot summary
You would be best to avoid the plot summary listed on Goodreads or elsewhere as it is very misleading. The summary will talk about mystery and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end of the story. The reality is more mundane. The story opens with the reader learning that a character in the story is a serial killer. This is quickly followed by another character realizing that the first character is a murderer. We are then introduced to a third character who does not know the truth and we follow that character around until they quite literally stumble onto the truth.
The Good
She Took a Chance
This review should not be construed as knock on author. The writing is above average quality and while most of the characters tend to be a bit one dimensional, the story is written in clean prose with a brisk pace. In reading the story, I had the distinct impression that the author was trying to do something different. Instead of leaving us guessing as to WHO was the murderer we were meant to keep guessing IF he would get away with it.
Unfortunately it just did not work...
In my opinion, a crime thriller in which the mystery of “whodunit” is removed requires another equally compelling hook. For example, had the story had strong psychological thriller elements and provided a compelling look into the mind of the killer, the fact that murderer was known may not have mattered. As the characters did little to drive the story, I was uninterested in the fact that the story largely focused on the uninformed character and their quest to find the identity of the killer.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the novel was anticlimactic. There is a reason that most crime thrillers reveal the killer at or near the end. The reader expects it. This may have worked as a character driven novel, a la Tana French, but it did not work here. I read the novel to the end but was left unimpressed.
Content Advisories
As this was one of about six books I read over a week long vacation, I am bit fuzzy on the content specifics. Please be aware that these are likely to be less accurate than normal.
Scale 1 – Lowest 5 – Highest
Sex - 3.5
The killer was a psychotic criminal who obtained sexual gratification through the act of murder. This theme in and of itself will be disturbing to some readers. That said, it mild to moderately graphic in description and was not pervasive.
Language - 3.5
To play it safe, I am giving this a three. There low use of mild language and some low use of the f-word. The usage of all adult language was generally low.
Violence - 3.5
There is some description of some historical murders and multiple murders as the novel progresses. The description of the historical murders were moderately to highly graphic. We are informed that a murdered body was dismembered but it is not described. Several murders take place with moderate violence (single blows to the head)and some murders are not violent (poisoning).
When a book holds itself out to be a thriller, especially one that involves a notable serial killer, I expect there to be some suspense. I can tell you right now who the killer in this book was. It wouldn’t be a spoiler. Read the first chapter and you will know within two minutes. In fairness to the author, I believe she was trying to be bold and take a different approach to the often formulaic telling of crime thriller. Sometimes an author steps out of the box and writes a masterpiece and sometimes they step out and fall off the cliff they couldn’t see from inside the box.
Plot summary
You would be best to avoid the plot summary listed on Goodreads or elsewhere as it is very misleading. The summary will talk about mystery and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end of the story. The reality is more mundane. The story opens with the reader learning that a character in the story is a serial killer. This is quickly followed by another character realizing that the first character is a murderer. We are then introduced to a third character who does not know the truth and we follow that character around until they quite literally stumble onto the truth.
The Good
She Took a Chance
This review should not be construed as knock on author. The writing is above average quality and while most of the characters tend to be a bit one dimensional, the story is written in clean prose with a brisk pace. In reading the story, I had the distinct impression that the author was trying to do something different. Instead of leaving us guessing as to WHO was the murderer we were meant to keep guessing IF he would get away with it.
Unfortunately it just did not work...
In my opinion, a crime thriller in which the mystery of “whodunit” is removed requires another equally compelling hook. For example, had the story had strong psychological thriller elements and provided a compelling look into the mind of the killer, the fact that murderer was known may not have mattered. As the characters did little to drive the story, I was uninterested in the fact that the story largely focused on the uninformed character and their quest to find the identity of the killer.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the novel was anticlimactic. There is a reason that most crime thrillers reveal the killer at or near the end. The reader expects it. This may have worked as a character driven novel, a la Tana French, but it did not work here. I read the novel to the end but was left unimpressed.
Content Advisories
As this was one of about six books I read over a week long vacation, I am bit fuzzy on the content specifics. Please be aware that these are likely to be less accurate than normal.
Scale 1 – Lowest 5 – Highest
Sex - 3.5
The killer was a psychotic criminal who obtained sexual gratification through the act of murder. This theme in and of itself will be disturbing to some readers. That said, it mild to moderately graphic in description and was not pervasive.
Language - 3.5
To play it safe, I am giving this a three. There low use of mild language and some low use of the f-word. The usage of all adult language was generally low.
Violence - 3.5
There is some description of some historical murders and multiple murders as the novel progresses. The description of the historical murders were moderately to highly graphic. We are informed that a murdered body was dismembered but it is not described. Several murders take place with moderate violence (single blows to the head)and some murders are not violent (poisoning).
April 24, 2025
4.5⭐️
Well this was brutally in your face! I do love a good impossible to put down thriller and this held up! Only thing that held me back from an official 5 star rating was that the characters (specifically the male characters) were insufferable… even the ones who were supposed to be the good ones! BUT… I find that that’s often the case with thrillers and what makes them so readable is you almost can’t wait to see what horrible ending awaits them.
This was my first from Jennifer Hillier but definitely won’t be my last! It’s a well told, fast paced story and I did audibly gasp once or twice: I did sort of see the big reveal coming but that’s okay! This was extremely dark so check her listed trigger warnings at the start and if you feel safe to proceed… enjoy the chaos!
Well this was brutally in your face! I do love a good impossible to put down thriller and this held up! Only thing that held me back from an official 5 star rating was that the characters (specifically the male characters) were insufferable… even the ones who were supposed to be the good ones! BUT… I find that that’s often the case with thrillers and what makes them so readable is you almost can’t wait to see what horrible ending awaits them.
This was my first from Jennifer Hillier but definitely won’t be my last! It’s a well told, fast paced story and I did audibly gasp once or twice: I did sort of see the big reveal coming but that’s okay! This was extremely dark so check her listed trigger warnings at the start and if you feel safe to proceed… enjoy the chaos!
January 11, 2015
This book was a mess.The characters are unlikeable,at best."Sam" is a mealy-mouthed dishrag,her reaction to one scene in this book is just criminal.The male characters are so creepy,and not in a good way,that I feel the reader has a hard time getting past it. It was also a little too "romancey",again in a creepy way, for me.
Overall, I had a hard time finishing the book and I will be giving this author a skip in the future.
Overall, I had a hard time finishing the book and I will be giving this author a skip in the future.
December 6, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. A dark, straight forward, sometimes intense thriller! I kept thinking of Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. I thought the dialogue was a little strange/clunky sometimes, and I wish a few things happened differently, but overall I enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out more by this author!
January 9, 2025
Absolutely diabolical, so entertaining
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYwbSvFE/
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYwbSvFE/
January 15, 2025
What an amazing book!! Kicking myself for not reading this one sooner. My new favourite from this author for sure. Dark and messed up in so many ways. The audiobook was so well done with all the different voices for characters. Highly recommend
August 25, 2020
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
I can’t get enough of Jennifer Hillier's work, The Butcher is a horrific, fast-paced, intriguing and twisted serial killer story combined with a family drama of buried secrets. Unusually the killer’s identity is revealed early in the book but it’s still a chilling ride to see what happens at the conclusion.
Would you know if a member of your family was a killer? Something to ponder.
Edward Shank, a retired Seattle Police Chief and local hero is moving out of his beautiful Victorian home and into an expensive retirement village. He’s turned 80 years old and it’s becoming harder to look after his home especially after a recent fall scare which left him with a badly bruised hip. He's decided to give the house to his grandson Matthew as part of his inheritance.
Matthew is a successful chef, he owns his own restaurant, a few lucrative food trucks and is about to become a reality TV show star, his girlfriend Samantha is a writer and has had two true crime books published so far and she’s currently writing her third book.
There are themes of incest, rape, murder and dismemberment in this dark tale. A compelling and very well written story recommended for readers of crime.
I can’t get enough of Jennifer Hillier's work, The Butcher is a horrific, fast-paced, intriguing and twisted serial killer story combined with a family drama of buried secrets. Unusually the killer’s identity is revealed early in the book but it’s still a chilling ride to see what happens at the conclusion.
Would you know if a member of your family was a killer? Something to ponder.
Edward Shank, a retired Seattle Police Chief and local hero is moving out of his beautiful Victorian home and into an expensive retirement village. He’s turned 80 years old and it’s becoming harder to look after his home especially after a recent fall scare which left him with a badly bruised hip. He's decided to give the house to his grandson Matthew as part of his inheritance.
Matthew is a successful chef, he owns his own restaurant, a few lucrative food trucks and is about to become a reality TV show star, his girlfriend Samantha is a writer and has had two true crime books published so far and she’s currently writing her third book.
There are themes of incest, rape, murder and dismemberment in this dark tale. A compelling and very well written story recommended for readers of crime.
June 9, 2014
A good twist at the beginning, but I didn't really care for any of the characters. For me, I need to care and find someone to root for, and I just didn't find that with this novel. It's more of a thriller than a mystery, since the identity of the culprit is shown from the beginning. Yet I wanted more--some sort of twist to make the villain get what they deserved in the end.
June 11, 2025
I am so mad at myself that I waited this long to read a Jennifer Hillier book. I know I’m really late to the game but I finally read The Butcher, and it was hands-down, no questions asked, a five star read 🌟
This book was everything I could’ve asked for in a thriller. It was dark. It was twisted. It was messed up. I was pulled in instantly from the very beginning and I was hooked the entire time. The things that take place between the front and back covers of this book, we’re absolutely unhinged and I truly didn’t see any of it coming.
I also love that this book had multiple plot twists; with one in particular really standing out to me. Like talk about jaw dropping 🤯 I was shook.
So it goes without saying that I will be singing the praises of this book for a long time to come and obviously I’m going to be reading so much more from Jennifer Hillier going forward. This book was fantastic!
This book was everything I could’ve asked for in a thriller. It was dark. It was twisted. It was messed up. I was pulled in instantly from the very beginning and I was hooked the entire time. The things that take place between the front and back covers of this book, we’re absolutely unhinged and I truly didn’t see any of it coming.
I also love that this book had multiple plot twists; with one in particular really standing out to me. Like talk about jaw dropping 🤯 I was shook.
So it goes without saying that I will be singing the praises of this book for a long time to come and obviously I’m going to be reading so much more from Jennifer Hillier going forward. This book was fantastic!
July 28, 2025
Jennifer Hillier does it again! this was amazing!
March 5, 2023
Jennifer Hillier’s THE BUTCHER, is by far the evilest suspense psychological thriller—hooking you from the front cover, keeping you entranced until the last word. You then look up and say, “Wow, what just happened here?” No, he didn't. This is one twisted and sick guy . . . OMG!
• Front Cover: Stunning-drawing you into this intriguing, sick, twisted, psychological mind
• Publisher’s summary: Right on—a book I want to read!
• The Story: THE BUTCHER was totally epic in every way. What a chilling ride – Fast-paced, heart-pounding, suspenseful, holding your breath to see what would come next.
• The author: Jennifer Hillier, what an imagination! She masterfully crafts each of the characters, with a unique cleverly twisted plot-Brilliant!
In 1985 Captain Edward Shank of the Seattle PD made his reputation and a name for himself in this town, by apprehending the Beacon Hill Butcher, a serial killer who terrorized the Pacific Northwest. Everyone was grateful to Shank and his team, as most of the victims were young teenage girls.
Flash forward thirty years and now Edward Shank is retired, a widower and transitioning his life into a retirement village—giving his home in the center of Sweetbay, one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, and also one of the most desirable—to his only heir, his grandson, Matt.
Now eighty years old, bored, with a bad hip, arthritis, he spends his days playing checkers, dreaming of the good ole days, and watching TV—his days of glory are long gone.
Matt, his grandson, an award-winning chef, owns the most successful restaurant in Seattle with recipes from his beloved grandmother (Iola), who is deceased. In addition to his famous restaurant, Adobo, he operates gourmet food trucks and now has gained the attention of a Fresh Food Network TV show. Matt inherited his grandfather’s height, build, and personality, but his love for food and cooking was all from his grandmother.
With all his fame, and work, Matt is stressed, self-centered, ambitious, narcissist, hot-tempered, and has anger management issues. There are three things Matt loves most in the world: Adobo, the Seahawks, and Samantha (last). Not sure why he is even in a relationship.
Samantha (Sam), a writer of ‘true crime’ books with interest in turning ‘The Butcher of Beacon Hill into her next venture, as she believes her mother was killed by THE BUTCHER, even though it was several years (1987) after he was killed.
She is on a mission with the help of a local police chief and an online website chat room-- to find clues about her mother’s killer. What happened to her mom? Sam is ready to get married and settle down with Matt, her boyfriend of three years. She hopes Matt will want her to move into this beautiful large home so they can begin their future. Sam is loved by everyone and especially close to her childhood and pro-ex-football player, Jason. (she needs to ditch Matt).
Soon after Matt moves into his home, he begins renovations with the installation of a hot tub. The construction crew uncovers a locked crate. When he reveals the contents of the crate, his life will never be the same.
What will he do with this information? His stress heats up as he uncovers hidden dark secrets of the past as he attempts to withhold this secret, as decides it's best, as he does not want to lose all he has worked so hard to attain; however, his girlfriend Sam might make that impossible.
However, this is only the beginning of what lies ahead – a nightmare with twists and turns you do not see coming!
At the beginning of the book, you find out the identity of the real butcher; however, readers have no clue what is in store next. The murders did not end in 1985. What happens next will blow your mind- one surprise after another. The plot continues, focusing on new killings and how they intertwine with characters of the present and past.
What makes this novel so different than the normal run-of-the-mill physiological chilling thrillers—-the human interest side; how Hillier masterfully intertwines realistic everyday characters –a chef, a writer, and an ex-police chief—a story which could happen to any of us — taking readers inside the mind of one troubled and twisted man. (Gosh, make sure you do not look at him the wrong way or say the wrong thing, you may be dead within five minutes). He is never concerned about getting caught.
Do you know members of your family and loved ones? I hope I am never sent to a retirement home like this one! You better watch your back, your meds, and your tea! It makes you wonder about your family’s hidden dark past and secrets. There were really no real likable characters; however, in a book of this type, not sure you are meant to be warm and fuzzy with these psychos--it is more about entertainment.
Gripping… From murder, rape, dismemberment, incest, poisoning, horror, torture, violence, sexual content, strong language, Viagra; cruel and gruesome—holding nothing back; keeping you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Would recommend reading Hillier’s previous novels, Creep and Freak. This is an author to follow—she is right up there with the best of them!
A special thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#JDCMustReadBooks
TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014
• Front Cover: Stunning-drawing you into this intriguing, sick, twisted, psychological mind
• Publisher’s summary: Right on—a book I want to read!
• The Story: THE BUTCHER was totally epic in every way. What a chilling ride – Fast-paced, heart-pounding, suspenseful, holding your breath to see what would come next.
• The author: Jennifer Hillier, what an imagination! She masterfully crafts each of the characters, with a unique cleverly twisted plot-Brilliant!
In 1985 Captain Edward Shank of the Seattle PD made his reputation and a name for himself in this town, by apprehending the Beacon Hill Butcher, a serial killer who terrorized the Pacific Northwest. Everyone was grateful to Shank and his team, as most of the victims were young teenage girls.
Flash forward thirty years and now Edward Shank is retired, a widower and transitioning his life into a retirement village—giving his home in the center of Sweetbay, one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, and also one of the most desirable—to his only heir, his grandson, Matt.
Now eighty years old, bored, with a bad hip, arthritis, he spends his days playing checkers, dreaming of the good ole days, and watching TV—his days of glory are long gone.
Matt, his grandson, an award-winning chef, owns the most successful restaurant in Seattle with recipes from his beloved grandmother (Iola), who is deceased. In addition to his famous restaurant, Adobo, he operates gourmet food trucks and now has gained the attention of a Fresh Food Network TV show. Matt inherited his grandfather’s height, build, and personality, but his love for food and cooking was all from his grandmother.
With all his fame, and work, Matt is stressed, self-centered, ambitious, narcissist, hot-tempered, and has anger management issues. There are three things Matt loves most in the world: Adobo, the Seahawks, and Samantha (last). Not sure why he is even in a relationship.
Samantha (Sam), a writer of ‘true crime’ books with interest in turning ‘The Butcher of Beacon Hill into her next venture, as she believes her mother was killed by THE BUTCHER, even though it was several years (1987) after he was killed.
She is on a mission with the help of a local police chief and an online website chat room-- to find clues about her mother’s killer. What happened to her mom? Sam is ready to get married and settle down with Matt, her boyfriend of three years. She hopes Matt will want her to move into this beautiful large home so they can begin their future. Sam is loved by everyone and especially close to her childhood and pro-ex-football player, Jason. (she needs to ditch Matt).
Soon after Matt moves into his home, he begins renovations with the installation of a hot tub. The construction crew uncovers a locked crate. When he reveals the contents of the crate, his life will never be the same.
What will he do with this information? His stress heats up as he uncovers hidden dark secrets of the past as he attempts to withhold this secret, as decides it's best, as he does not want to lose all he has worked so hard to attain; however, his girlfriend Sam might make that impossible.
However, this is only the beginning of what lies ahead – a nightmare with twists and turns you do not see coming!
At the beginning of the book, you find out the identity of the real butcher; however, readers have no clue what is in store next. The murders did not end in 1985. What happens next will blow your mind- one surprise after another. The plot continues, focusing on new killings and how they intertwine with characters of the present and past.
What makes this novel so different than the normal run-of-the-mill physiological chilling thrillers—-the human interest side; how Hillier masterfully intertwines realistic everyday characters –a chef, a writer, and an ex-police chief—a story which could happen to any of us — taking readers inside the mind of one troubled and twisted man. (Gosh, make sure you do not look at him the wrong way or say the wrong thing, you may be dead within five minutes). He is never concerned about getting caught.
Do you know members of your family and loved ones? I hope I am never sent to a retirement home like this one! You better watch your back, your meds, and your tea! It makes you wonder about your family’s hidden dark past and secrets. There were really no real likable characters; however, in a book of this type, not sure you are meant to be warm and fuzzy with these psychos--it is more about entertainment.
Gripping… From murder, rape, dismemberment, incest, poisoning, horror, torture, violence, sexual content, strong language, Viagra; cruel and gruesome—holding nothing back; keeping you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Would recommend reading Hillier’s previous novels, Creep and Freak. This is an author to follow—she is right up there with the best of them!
A special thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#JDCMustReadBooks
TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014
July 7, 2018
The Butcher is a standalone thriller written by Jennifer Hillier. The storyline follows multiple characters present day and it has a few episodes of flashbacks as we get acquainted with the horrors The Butcher inflicted on his past victims. Yes, The Butcher is one of the characters this storyline follows, and no, his identity is not a mystery to the reader. He is revealed during an incredibly engaging beginning, and I found the overall plot to be quite creative as we watch an aged serial killer who's transitioned to assisted living pick up the cleaver again. Unfortunately, for me, the engaging aspect ebbed and flowed throughout this novel. Sometimes the dynamics in this novel were strong, dark, and complex, and sometimes the characters and their interactions together felt incredibly one-dimensional. In my opinion, the progression was inconsistent and this impacted my investment in this reading experience as a whole. The Butcher is my least favorite of Hillier's novels to date but it's still worth checking out if you are a fan. When an author you enjoy doesn't have a ton of work out there, you're going to want to devour every word available. That's why I read this one. I love Hillier's dark and twisted imagination, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what else she has in store.
My favorite quote:
“The Chief had always believed that security alarms were essentially useless, because if someone was determined to murder you, then no alarm system in the world was going to stop them from doing it. And if someone was going to rob you, well then, let ’em. That’s what insurance companies were for.”
My favorite quote:
“The Chief had always believed that security alarms were essentially useless, because if someone was determined to murder you, then no alarm system in the world was going to stop them from doing it. And if someone was going to rob you, well then, let ’em. That’s what insurance companies were for.”
September 25, 2025
April 1985. Has Captain Edward Shank of the Seattle Police Force got their man in Rufus Wedge as he goes down in a hail of bullets? Is he the Beacon Hill Butcher?
In the present day, Edward is 80 and about to go into a retirement village. He gifts his home to his grandson Matt, who begins renovations when contractors make a gruesome discovery. Meanwhile, Matt’s girlfriend, true crime author Samantha Marquez is investigating the Beacon Hill Butcher for very personal reasons.
This is a cracking read if you don’t mind your mystery thrillers on the dark side. It’s full of twists and turns, multiple plot twists and a number of gasps out loud. Just the way I like this genre!
Overall, 99p well spent!
In the present day, Edward is 80 and about to go into a retirement village. He gifts his home to his grandson Matt, who begins renovations when contractors make a gruesome discovery. Meanwhile, Matt’s girlfriend, true crime author Samantha Marquez is investigating the Beacon Hill Butcher for very personal reasons.
This is a cracking read if you don’t mind your mystery thrillers on the dark side. It’s full of twists and turns, multiple plot twists and a number of gasps out loud. Just the way I like this genre!
Overall, 99p well spent!
April 20, 2025
A good thriller that didn’t require too much thought . It’s exactly what I wanted to read!
This centers around three main characters. Edward, the police chief in Seattle, who caught the infamous Beacon Hill Butcher. He has long retired and is checking himself into a retirement community. He’s left his house to his grandson, Matt, who owns an up-and-coming restaurant. And finally, Sam, Matt‘s girlfriend, a true crime writer who is convinced her mother was killed by the Butcher. Each POV explores different mini plots that come together at the end.
As for any critiques or criticism, I really don’t have any. I got what I expected. It held my attention completely and I wasn’t trying to figure out how it was going to end. I was just along for the ride and this was a perfect fit. I have always enjoyed Hillier’s books and this one certainly did not disappoint.
This centers around three main characters. Edward, the police chief in Seattle, who caught the infamous Beacon Hill Butcher. He has long retired and is checking himself into a retirement community. He’s left his house to his grandson, Matt, who owns an up-and-coming restaurant. And finally, Sam, Matt‘s girlfriend, a true crime writer who is convinced her mother was killed by the Butcher. Each POV explores different mini plots that come together at the end.
As for any critiques or criticism, I really don’t have any. I got what I expected. It held my attention completely and I wasn’t trying to figure out how it was going to end. I was just along for the ride and this was a perfect fit. I have always enjoyed Hillier’s books and this one certainly did not disappoint.
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