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Dr. Wren Muller #1
El carnicero y el pájaro
Nadie conoce a un asesino mejor que sus víctimas. La primera novela de Alaina Urquhart, técnica de autopsias y creadora de Morbid, el pódcast de true crime más escuchado del mundo. Desde las profundidades de las marismas de Luisiana, un asesino en serie aficionado a la experimentación médica está completando su proyecto más tras marcarlas de forma macabra, sus víctimas no cesan de aumentar y no hay pistas que seguir. Los medios lo apodan «el carnicero del pantano» y, hasta ahora, nadie ha podido atraparlo. Con su conocimiento enciclopédico de las mentes más oscuras y años de experiencia en la práctica de autopsias, la patóloga forense Wren Muller es la mejor en su campo. Con cada nuevo cuerpo que llega a su morgue, más crece su obsesión por de dar con el carnicero y llevarlo ante la justicia. Con la inestimable ayuda del inspector Louis Leroux, ambos se embarcarán en una compleja investigación que los llevará hasta límites insospechados, sobre todo cuando el caso se transforme en algo mucho más personal.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2022
5319 people are currently reading
78514 people want to read
About the author
Alaina Urquhart
5 books4,870 followersAlaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the chart-topping show Morbid: A True Crime Podcast. As an autopsy technician by trade, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue. Alaina hails from Boston, where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters, and a ghost puggle named Bailey. She is about 75 percent coffee, and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends.
Before writing her first psychological horror novel, she received degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and biology. When she isn't hosting Morbid, she hosts the Parcast original show Crime Countdown, and a horror movie podcast called Scream! Her days are usually spent either recording or eviscerating. The way she sees it, when she hangs up her microphone for the day, it's time to let the dead speak.
Before writing her first psychological horror novel, she received degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and biology. When she isn't hosting Morbid, she hosts the Parcast original show Crime Countdown, and a horror movie podcast called Scream! Her days are usually spent either recording or eviscerating. The way she sees it, when she hangs up her microphone for the day, it's time to let the dead speak.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,778 reviews
October 6, 2022
Thank you Edelweiss and Zando for the review copy!
SPOILERS AHEAD. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Reasons to read: If you're a big Morbid fan, you'll love to see one of your fav hosts writing a book.
I'll just dive right in.
The writing is a lot of telling and not much showing. It's choppy in most places with bouts of info-dumping and repetitive descriptions of the hot NOLA weather. Too many short sentences one after another can take the reader out of the story. It could benefit from a lot of appositives and basic reworking to look more presentable to the reader, but this is just my opinion since most readers wouldn't mind.
Let me touch upon "The Butcher." The antagonist of the story is a serial killer with a large, secluded property where he takes his kidnapped victims to torture them before setting them free to hunt them like animals. I got the impression the author was trying to make him out like a Buffalo Bill-type character (I could be very wrong here), but unlike Bill, Jeremy/Cal lacks the backstory and methodical and meticulous planning as well as execution when it comes to his murders. What we see is what we get. I would have some backstory to add to the character's depth and dimension to make him the unsettling killer we are seeing on the page.
Wren is a forensic pathologist whose knowledge of prolific serial killers aids in her day to day. I had a hard time with her. I cannot pinpoint who Wren is as a person. There are no distinguishable aspects of her personality to round out her character. What are her quirks? What are her hobbies outside of work? It doesn't help that Wren has no real agency throughout the book and no character arc to speak of. What are her goals? What does she need to overcome? What is something the reader can relate to root for her? If she was a victim of Cal, what happened with the investigation? Why didn't she see the similarities with these new killings? Also, did The Butcher take time off and started up again? I may have missed that bit.
I was unable to swallow some of the premises the author relied upon to make this story work. If they were so hell-bent on thinking they had a serial killer, how come there was no real hustle when it came to telling the public or even just showing how the public reacts to knowing there was a killer on the loose? Is anyone warning the public at all? The scene where they find a body beneath bleachers where they basically sniff the smell of a rotting corpse like bloodhounds to where a literal security officer is sitting overseeing the festivities around him yet does not comment on how he smelled something. One woman even commented on her friend's food smelled like hot garbage and that was further away.
Another qualm was the ending. We're made to believe that Cal has been shot dead, I mean, the body is there and it looks like him, right? Everyone thinks so. But it's not. This guy ISN'T Cal at all due to maybe different clothes, hair, facial structure, height, anything, but Wren'sobservation of lack of bullet wound from the firefight that brings her to that conclusion. We're made to believe Cal had this look-alike standing by when Wren and the officers come to bring him down? Who is this guy? How did he keep him chillin' in the woods the whole time? Nobody cares WHO this man is. I don't understand it at all.
Most books (even if they are planned series) at least have a self-contained ending with some sort of resolution. I was shocked to see how short the book was when I tapped my kindle; I was hoping for a bit more meat to the story before we got to the end chapters. Not only that, but our protagonist should have a character arc of some sort. But Wren freezes up, allowing Cal to get away. This sort of scene would have worked better as is if the story continued after that. I would have loved to see Wren take her revenge.
My subjective ass is going to close out this review now. Overall, I think this book would have worked if it was fleshed out with some reworking of the characters and exposition. I'd be interested to see how the author expands her knowledge as her career in writing grows.
SPOILERS AHEAD. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Reasons to read: If you're a big Morbid fan, you'll love to see one of your fav hosts writing a book.
I'll just dive right in.
The writing is a lot of telling and not much showing. It's choppy in most places with bouts of info-dumping and repetitive descriptions of the hot NOLA weather. Too many short sentences one after another can take the reader out of the story. It could benefit from a lot of appositives and basic reworking to look more presentable to the reader, but this is just my opinion since most readers wouldn't mind.
Let me touch upon "The Butcher." The antagonist of the story is a serial killer with a large, secluded property where he takes his kidnapped victims to torture them before setting them free to hunt them like animals. I got the impression the author was trying to make him out like a Buffalo Bill-type character (I could be very wrong here), but unlike Bill, Jeremy/Cal lacks the backstory and methodical and meticulous planning as well as execution when it comes to his murders. What we see is what we get. I would have some backstory to add to the character's depth and dimension to make him the unsettling killer we are seeing on the page.
Wren is a forensic pathologist whose knowledge of prolific serial killers aids in her day to day. I had a hard time with her. I cannot pinpoint who Wren is as a person. There are no distinguishable aspects of her personality to round out her character. What are her quirks? What are her hobbies outside of work? It doesn't help that Wren has no real agency throughout the book and no character arc to speak of. What are her goals? What does she need to overcome? What is something the reader can relate to root for her? If she was a victim of Cal, what happened with the investigation? Why didn't she see the similarities with these new killings? Also, did The Butcher take time off and started up again? I may have missed that bit.
I was unable to swallow some of the premises the author relied upon to make this story work. If they were so hell-bent on thinking they had a serial killer, how come there was no real hustle when it came to telling the public or even just showing how the public reacts to knowing there was a killer on the loose? Is anyone warning the public at all? The scene where they find a body beneath bleachers where they basically sniff the smell of a rotting corpse like bloodhounds to where a literal security officer is sitting overseeing the festivities around him yet does not comment on how he smelled something. One woman even commented on her friend's food smelled like hot garbage and that was further away.
Another qualm was the ending. We're made to believe that Cal has been shot dead, I mean, the body is there and it looks like him, right? Everyone thinks so. But it's not. This guy ISN'T Cal at all due to maybe different clothes, hair, facial structure, height, anything, but Wren'sobservation of lack of bullet wound from the firefight that brings her to that conclusion. We're made to believe Cal had this look-alike standing by when Wren and the officers come to bring him down? Who is this guy? How did he keep him chillin' in the woods the whole time? Nobody cares WHO this man is. I don't understand it at all.
Most books (even if they are planned series) at least have a self-contained ending with some sort of resolution. I was shocked to see how short the book was when I tapped my kindle; I was hoping for a bit more meat to the story before we got to the end chapters. Not only that, but our protagonist should have a character arc of some sort. But Wren freezes up, allowing Cal to get away. This sort of scene would have worked better as is if the story continued after that. I would have loved to see Wren take her revenge.
My subjective ass is going to close out this review now. Overall, I think this book would have worked if it was fleshed out with some reworking of the characters and exposition. I'd be interested to see how the author expands her knowledge as her career in writing grows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2022
Sometimes podcasters don’t need book deals
November 16, 2022
Rounded down from roughly 3.5 stars ⭐️
The Butcher and The Wren follows Wren, a forensic pathologist on the hunt for a serial killer ‘The Butcher’. Can she track them down before it’s too late, or will they get to her first?
I absolutely loved the start of this book, one particular scene actually sent chills down my spine and arms! I was completely sucked in. I loved being inside the mind of the serial killer during their chapters. The darkness absolutely thrilled me, I just wanted to get into their mind more! Unfortunately, the other characters lacked depth for me. I didn’t connect enough to Wren and found her smug attitude annoying. I also became a little frustrated by things that happened with Wren that just would not happen in real life, due to ethics. Alaina’s expertise in true crime and autopsies definitely shines through and I loved this. But that means the ethical issues were completely ignored in order to push the story along.
I absolutely loved the short chapters which helped to keep the pace up. I also really enjoyed the twist which I did not see coming. It took me a while to wrap my head around it because it completely blindsided me! However, after the twist I felt things slipping a little. The ending felt really abrupt and came out of nowhere. It is clear it was setting up for a sequel but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. That being said, I loved the sprinkling of true crime facts throughout and will definitely be reading the sequel if there is one! I think this was an impressive debut that shows a lot of promise!
I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and true crime if you don’t mind an incomplete ending. I want to thank Tandem Collective UK, Michael Joseph Books and Alaina Urquhart for sending a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.
The Butcher and The Wren follows Wren, a forensic pathologist on the hunt for a serial killer ‘The Butcher’. Can she track them down before it’s too late, or will they get to her first?
I absolutely loved the start of this book, one particular scene actually sent chills down my spine and arms! I was completely sucked in. I loved being inside the mind of the serial killer during their chapters. The darkness absolutely thrilled me, I just wanted to get into their mind more! Unfortunately, the other characters lacked depth for me. I didn’t connect enough to Wren and found her smug attitude annoying. I also became a little frustrated by things that happened with Wren that just would not happen in real life, due to ethics. Alaina’s expertise in true crime and autopsies definitely shines through and I loved this. But that means the ethical issues were completely ignored in order to push the story along.
I absolutely loved the short chapters which helped to keep the pace up. I also really enjoyed the twist which I did not see coming. It took me a while to wrap my head around it because it completely blindsided me! However, after the twist I felt things slipping a little. The ending felt really abrupt and came out of nowhere. It is clear it was setting up for a sequel but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. That being said, I loved the sprinkling of true crime facts throughout and will definitely be reading the sequel if there is one! I think this was an impressive debut that shows a lot of promise!
I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and true crime if you don’t mind an incomplete ending. I want to thank Tandem Collective UK, Michael Joseph Books and Alaina Urquhart for sending a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.
April 28, 2023
Urquhart's writing is clumsy and repetitive right from the jump:
"He stares into the mirror, feeling rage entangle itself into his senses." (Interesting.)
"Emily would indeed be joining them." (We never said she wouldn't be...?)
"He doesn't necessarily look like some entangled in depravity." (An awkward sentiment made worse by the repetition of the word "entangled" already used a page previous)
Aaaand that's just the first two pages. I had a feeling I wouldn't like this book when I read a review which said that Urquhart had never...even...been to New Orleans. HOW CAN YOU SET A BOOK IN A CITY THAT YOU HAVE NEVER VISITED??? Sorry, but New Orleans is SUCH a culturally specific place that you shouldn't write something there unless you know the city quite well.
Moving on...
"Brown, lifeless hair sticks to her neck with old blood like crude glue." (She's not dead, but apparently her hair is. Also, has Urquhart ever met an adjective she didn't like? Pg. 6, getting off to a good start.)
"She checks her watch and cringes, thinking how great it would be if criminals could take their nefarious dealings out of the two a.m. hour for a couple months at least." (Is this grammatically correct? My brain hurts.)
"A low, cutting sneer escapes from his lips..." (Is this physically possible?)
Alright, let's pause here. It's obvious that this book was perhaps lightly massaged rather than properly edited. The sad irony of publishing a book that already has an eager and willing audience is that editing isn't necessarily a priority: the publisher knows that it will make money regardless of -- ahem -- talent or technique. I think they actually did Urquhart a disservice by agreeing to publish this mess; she has the writing skills of a ninth grader who just discovered true crime, and with her first book selling so well, it's unlikely that she'll make the effort to improve.
Also -- maybe an unpopular opinion -- but I don't think you need a Part II if your book is this short. Has Urquhart actually read a book before? I could be missing the point entirely (perhaps this extended Tumblr rant is actually a brilliant satire on podcasters who try their hand at fiction), in which case I'd like to apologize and congratulate everyone involved.
July 22, 2022
I was gifted a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Unlike other reviews on here, I have read this book and will share my full thoughts, without any spoilers.
I was concerned to learn that the author has written this book without visiting New Orleans and I think the story does suffer from this. Throughout the story there’s nods to NOLA but these seem very stereotypical – swamps, the heat, visits to a mystical woman who does Tarot readings on Bourbon St, a longwinded explanation of the NOLA cemeteries and the list goes on. None of these elements serve to add atmosphere to the story, and this could really be set anywhere.
The stereotypes don’t stop with the setting either – the characters are also walking cliches. And it’s all the characters. They’re all cardboard cutouts which evoke no empathy in the reader at all. There is some attempt at giving us insight into why the killer behaves as he does but I found this heavy handed. One sequence in particular is undoubtedly meant to horrify the reader and although it is longwinded, what actually happens is fairly common in rural/hunting communities. However these efforts are fruitless since by the end of the book the killer is just ‘evil’. We don’t get any understanding of the motives of the killer, especially in relation to Wren, and overall the character is underdeveloped. Nor do we really get any insight into Wren herself, despite being the main character. We get a series of neurotic aspects to her personality but it’s never really explained why she’s even involved in the case, other than doing the autopsies which is her job. The police officers are portrayed as fairly useless unless Wren needs someone to converse with to move the story along.
On the subject of conversations, the dialogue in this is atrocious. At best it’s hackneyed drivel. There’s also an overuse of ‘flick’ - it feels like every movement is described in this way.
There’s several points in the story which are incorrect and this should have been picked up at the writing stage but definitely should have been dealt with during editing. Bodies which are face up but have lividity marks on their cheeks because otherwise Wren wouldn’t be able to be smug (she spends a lot of time smirking) and see them right away, characters suddenly walking when they were sitting in a car. These are small issues, but it takes the reader out of the story.
The author also insists on mentioning other, famous serial killers throughout the book – everyone seems to be a true crime fan in this story – which is offputting. I was half expecting a plug for the author’s podcast to appear, but thankfully she stopped short of this.
The ending is incredibly abrupt but still manages to set things up for more books with The Butcher and The Wren. I can only hope that the publishers don’t allow more of this juvenile writing to be published.
Overall, I’ve given this 2 stars as I was surprised by the ‘twist’ in the book (tho this came very early - it would have more effective if it had been the big reveal at the end). However, the standard of writing and lack of originality in the story mean I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Unlike other reviews on here, I have read this book and will share my full thoughts, without any spoilers.
I was concerned to learn that the author has written this book without visiting New Orleans and I think the story does suffer from this. Throughout the story there’s nods to NOLA but these seem very stereotypical – swamps, the heat, visits to a mystical woman who does Tarot readings on Bourbon St, a longwinded explanation of the NOLA cemeteries and the list goes on. None of these elements serve to add atmosphere to the story, and this could really be set anywhere.
The stereotypes don’t stop with the setting either – the characters are also walking cliches. And it’s all the characters. They’re all cardboard cutouts which evoke no empathy in the reader at all. There is some attempt at giving us insight into why the killer behaves as he does but I found this heavy handed. One sequence in particular is undoubtedly meant to horrify the reader and although it is longwinded, what actually happens is fairly common in rural/hunting communities. However these efforts are fruitless since by the end of the book the killer is just ‘evil’. We don’t get any understanding of the motives of the killer, especially in relation to Wren, and overall the character is underdeveloped. Nor do we really get any insight into Wren herself, despite being the main character. We get a series of neurotic aspects to her personality but it’s never really explained why she’s even involved in the case, other than doing the autopsies which is her job. The police officers are portrayed as fairly useless unless Wren needs someone to converse with to move the story along.
On the subject of conversations, the dialogue in this is atrocious. At best it’s hackneyed drivel. There’s also an overuse of ‘flick’ - it feels like every movement is described in this way.
There’s several points in the story which are incorrect and this should have been picked up at the writing stage but definitely should have been dealt with during editing. Bodies which are face up but have lividity marks on their cheeks because otherwise Wren wouldn’t be able to be smug (she spends a lot of time smirking) and see them right away, characters suddenly walking when they were sitting in a car. These are small issues, but it takes the reader out of the story.
The author also insists on mentioning other, famous serial killers throughout the book – everyone seems to be a true crime fan in this story – which is offputting. I was half expecting a plug for the author’s podcast to appear, but thankfully she stopped short of this.
The ending is incredibly abrupt but still manages to set things up for more books with The Butcher and The Wren. I can only hope that the publishers don’t allow more of this juvenile writing to be published.
Overall, I’ve given this 2 stars as I was surprised by the ‘twist’ in the book (tho this came very early - it would have more effective if it had been the big reveal at the end). However, the standard of writing and lack of originality in the story mean I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
dnf
September 15, 2022Fastest DNF ever. If I had to hear the word lividity one more time….
July 23, 2022
I hate to give The Butcher and the Wren such a low rating because I think it has great potential, but it's just not quite there.
If somehow you've stumbled onto this book and you haven't heard of the author's podcast (Morbid; definitely check it out), let me say that I know Alaina can tell a story. Yes, taking facts and discussing them is different than writing a story that's completely fictitious, but Alaina is great at narrative nonfiction, and that ability mostly extends to her ability to write fiction. That being said, her debut novels needs some work.
In one of the episodes of the podcast, either Alaina or her cohost, Ashleigh, talks about seeing a ghost woman who 'didn't have a body; she was just made of bones,' and oddly enough, I feel like that is the perfect description of The Butcher and the Wren. The story is there, but it desperately needs to be fleshed out to be a real winner. The characters don't have any depth, and I have no idea of their motivations for 95% of their actions. I didn't connect with any of them because there wasn't really anything with which to relate; Wren, the main character, has her work as a forensic pathologist, and that's about it. There are a bare minimum of scenes with her doing anything outside of work, and even those scenes have her talking about her work. We do eventually get more of her story with the twist--which is actually really good--but even that isn't enough to make her feel like a real character. Likewise with the serial killer; his actions are explained by the basic "he wanted to know what it felt like for things to die" motivation, which wasn't enough for me. The setting feels generic as well. The story is meant to be set in New Orleans, but other than visiting St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the setting could be any hot, swampy place near a big city with music festivals, bars, and tarot card readers.
The writing itself has pros and cons. There are a lot of short sentences which make the writing feel choppy, and the chapters are short, too. While I liked the alternating points of view, each chapter is so short that there wasn't time to get back into one character's head before jumping back to the other. This back-and-forth would've worked for a few big scenes (the climax, for example) to keep up the suspense, but the entire book being written this way just made me frustrated. There's also a lot of telling instead of showing. For example, during an autopsy, we're blatantly told that it's hard to snap through a clavicle, whereas we would've learned the same thing having to read about Wren struggling to cut through the bone. That being said, the plethora of details are great, although they sometimes feel a bit much, almost as if Alaina, who works as an autopsy technician, is throwing in everything she knows just because she can. Some detail is appreciated; too much detail just feels like showing off.
The ending is probably the most frustrating thing of all. We get to the big showdown, and the story just stops. Like, right-out cuts off, like we're missing an epilogue. The ending is obviously setting things up for a sequel, but I like when books in a series have some resolution of that book's specific plot while also leaving some loose threads for the next book to pick up. There's no resolution here, and it's quite unsatisfying.
All in all, The Butcher and the Wren has the potential to be a thrilling book with a really great twist, but as it is, it feels more like an early draft that's waiting for the story to be fleshed out.
If somehow you've stumbled onto this book and you haven't heard of the author's podcast (Morbid; definitely check it out), let me say that I know Alaina can tell a story. Yes, taking facts and discussing them is different than writing a story that's completely fictitious, but Alaina is great at narrative nonfiction, and that ability mostly extends to her ability to write fiction. That being said, her debut novels needs some work.
In one of the episodes of the podcast, either Alaina or her cohost, Ashleigh, talks about seeing a ghost woman who 'didn't have a body; she was just made of bones,' and oddly enough, I feel like that is the perfect description of The Butcher and the Wren. The story is there, but it desperately needs to be fleshed out to be a real winner. The characters don't have any depth, and I have no idea of their motivations for 95% of their actions. I didn't connect with any of them because there wasn't really anything with which to relate; Wren, the main character, has her work as a forensic pathologist, and that's about it. There are a bare minimum of scenes with her doing anything outside of work, and even those scenes have her talking about her work. We do eventually get more of her story with the twist--which is actually really good--but even that isn't enough to make her feel like a real character. Likewise with the serial killer; his actions are explained by the basic "he wanted to know what it felt like for things to die" motivation, which wasn't enough for me. The setting feels generic as well. The story is meant to be set in New Orleans, but other than visiting St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the setting could be any hot, swampy place near a big city with music festivals, bars, and tarot card readers.
The writing itself has pros and cons. There are a lot of short sentences which make the writing feel choppy, and the chapters are short, too. While I liked the alternating points of view, each chapter is so short that there wasn't time to get back into one character's head before jumping back to the other. This back-and-forth would've worked for a few big scenes (the climax, for example) to keep up the suspense, but the entire book being written this way just made me frustrated. There's also a lot of telling instead of showing. For example, during an autopsy, we're blatantly told that it's hard to snap through a clavicle, whereas we would've learned the same thing having to read about Wren struggling to cut through the bone. That being said, the plethora of details are great, although they sometimes feel a bit much, almost as if Alaina, who works as an autopsy technician, is throwing in everything she knows just because she can. Some detail is appreciated; too much detail just feels like showing off.
The ending is probably the most frustrating thing of all. We get to the big showdown, and the story just stops. Like, right-out cuts off, like we're missing an epilogue. The ending is obviously setting things up for a sequel, but I like when books in a series have some resolution of that book's specific plot while also leaving some loose threads for the next book to pick up. There's no resolution here, and it's quite unsatisfying.
All in all, The Butcher and the Wren has the potential to be a thrilling book with a really great twist, but as it is, it feels more like an early draft that's waiting for the story to be fleshed out.
October 16, 2022
The Butcher and the Wren is on the menu with an overflowing and heaping serving of CREEP with a side-order of Freaked Out Fries.....
Yup, this one is not gonna be for everyone. Just check out the highs and lows of the current reviews. Almost like the peaks and valleys of the Swiss Alps. So if you're not into serial killers this season, you may want to bow out about now. 'Cause this one lives and breathes in the elements of very bad behavior.
Let's introduce you to Dr. Wren Muller, an over-worked forensic pathologist in the New Orleans area. Every time the sliding doors echo within the examination room, Wren scrunches her shoulders. Maybe a new wing to the Medical Examiner's office will be necessary if they don't catch "this guy"....."this guy" being the latest serial killer who's left his mark for some time now. The detectives have no leads except for the aftermath. No physical evidence or DNA. Just victims. Feisty and well-planned each time.
But something will occur mid-story that will flip this one on a dime. And the hunter may well turn out to be the hunted. But is it enough to stub out the serial cigarette? Wait and see.
Alaina Urquhart is the princess of podcasts. Her background and degrees give her a front row seat in the Land of Horror. Urquhart pours out gallons and gallons of scientifically precise crime scenes and autopsies. Know that going in. It's graphic and to the point. She seems to have leaned with both elbows on the psyche of serial killer graduates. This one is an exceptionally mean-spirited one. Don't think that this is going to be a walk in the park and back. No, sireee.
I rated it a 3.5 kicked up to 4 Stars for the scientific microscope into this guy's mind. Urquhart did all the science right, but she just focused more on the murders themselves. Good Horror needs more set-up and backstories and more evidence of mishaps and scenarios of split second errors. Hence, a solid cat-and-mouse play of the mind. Elevate the tension more of getting caught and showcase detectives who share their analytical minds and deductions. We want to be part of the grand throw of the net out there rather than just viewing corpses.
Still in all, The Butcher and the Wren fills in the craving for horror every now and then. I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of ol' Wren in the future.
Yup, this one is not gonna be for everyone. Just check out the highs and lows of the current reviews. Almost like the peaks and valleys of the Swiss Alps. So if you're not into serial killers this season, you may want to bow out about now. 'Cause this one lives and breathes in the elements of very bad behavior.
Let's introduce you to Dr. Wren Muller, an over-worked forensic pathologist in the New Orleans area. Every time the sliding doors echo within the examination room, Wren scrunches her shoulders. Maybe a new wing to the Medical Examiner's office will be necessary if they don't catch "this guy"....."this guy" being the latest serial killer who's left his mark for some time now. The detectives have no leads except for the aftermath. No physical evidence or DNA. Just victims. Feisty and well-planned each time.
But something will occur mid-story that will flip this one on a dime. And the hunter may well turn out to be the hunted. But is it enough to stub out the serial cigarette? Wait and see.
Alaina Urquhart is the princess of podcasts. Her background and degrees give her a front row seat in the Land of Horror. Urquhart pours out gallons and gallons of scientifically precise crime scenes and autopsies. Know that going in. It's graphic and to the point. She seems to have leaned with both elbows on the psyche of serial killer graduates. This one is an exceptionally mean-spirited one. Don't think that this is going to be a walk in the park and back. No, sireee.
I rated it a 3.5 kicked up to 4 Stars for the scientific microscope into this guy's mind. Urquhart did all the science right, but she just focused more on the murders themselves. Good Horror needs more set-up and backstories and more evidence of mishaps and scenarios of split second errors. Hence, a solid cat-and-mouse play of the mind. Elevate the tension more of getting caught and showcase detectives who share their analytical minds and deductions. We want to be part of the grand throw of the net out there rather than just viewing corpses.
Still in all, The Butcher and the Wren fills in the craving for horror every now and then. I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of ol' Wren in the future.
October 1, 2022
I love Alaina, truly. She is a wonderful podcaster, human, advocate, etc. I cannot imagine the time and energy that went into this book.
Sadly, this book just didn’t cut it for me. It’s a very quick read, and as such there really isn’t character development.
I felt whiplash a lot of the time in this book - one minute you’re in the morgue. The next, a basement. The next a fortune teller with friends who are present for 10 pages and then never heard from again. Then you’re in a swamp. But wait a festival! Oh back at the morgue. A bar.
This reads like a tv episode rather than a novel - short and superficial - and it breaks my heart to write this because I know from the podcast that Alaina poured everything into this. She is a wonderful person and I think could benefit from a stronger editor who could push her to develop her thoughts more fully. The concept and plot of the book would have been five stars if more time and attention was spent with the characters to develop the plot.
This book absolutely did not need to end on a cliffhanger, the ending was rushed and it was almost as if either the publisher was pressuring for submission of the final manuscript - or - the author is banking on a second book. Will I read a sequel? I don’t know… I’m not super invested in the characters… if it’s as short as this first go, I’d consider waiting for a library loan.
Sadly, this book just didn’t cut it for me. It’s a very quick read, and as such there really isn’t character development.
I felt whiplash a lot of the time in this book - one minute you’re in the morgue. The next, a basement. The next a fortune teller with friends who are present for 10 pages and then never heard from again. Then you’re in a swamp. But wait a festival! Oh back at the morgue. A bar.
This reads like a tv episode rather than a novel - short and superficial - and it breaks my heart to write this because I know from the podcast that Alaina poured everything into this. She is a wonderful person and I think could benefit from a stronger editor who could push her to develop her thoughts more fully. The concept and plot of the book would have been five stars if more time and attention was spent with the characters to develop the plot.
This book absolutely did not need to end on a cliffhanger, the ending was rushed and it was almost as if either the publisher was pressuring for submission of the final manuscript - or - the author is banking on a second book. Will I read a sequel? I don’t know… I’m not super invested in the characters… if it’s as short as this first go, I’d consider waiting for a library loan.
April 24, 2023
I listened to The Butcher and the Wren and the narration is fabulous. It is about a serial killer who is named in the press as the Bayou Butcher because the bodies tend to be deposited in bayous in the New Orleans area. The serial killer is methodical, experimental, and sadistic.
The medical examiner, Wren, is an intelligent, insightful, stay-in-the-trenches problem solver. Wren and the Bayou Butcher are well matched and it is an action packed thriller to see who will win this game of life and death.
At times, the barbarous, perverted games that the Butcher played with his victims was tough to stomach.
The medical examiner, Wren, is an intelligent, insightful, stay-in-the-trenches problem solver. Wren and the Bayou Butcher are well matched and it is an action packed thriller to see who will win this game of life and death.
At times, the barbarous, perverted games that the Butcher played with his victims was tough to stomach.
October 1, 2024
One of the darkest serial-killer thrillers I’ve listened to! Loved it!
So much so, I immediately requested and downloaded book two! Can’t wait to dive in!
A twisted killer known as the “Bayou Butcher” may have met his match with forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller on his tail. Told from both their perspectives, each equally gripping.
This book/audio isn’t for everyone. At times it was extremely gruesome in its description of the murders.
Lots of mixed reviews but it worked for me and I hope it will for you too!
🎧the audio was narrated by Joe Knezevich and Sophie Amoss. Both equally brilliant delivery and both will be back narrating book two The Butcher Game!
Lights on bright, doors locked, protective puppy at my side…check! I’m ready!
So much so, I immediately requested and downloaded book two! Can’t wait to dive in!
A twisted killer known as the “Bayou Butcher” may have met his match with forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller on his tail. Told from both their perspectives, each equally gripping.
This book/audio isn’t for everyone. At times it was extremely gruesome in its description of the murders.
Lots of mixed reviews but it worked for me and I hope it will for you too!
🎧the audio was narrated by Joe Knezevich and Sophie Amoss. Both equally brilliant delivery and both will be back narrating book two The Butcher Game!
Lights on bright, doors locked, protective puppy at my side…check! I’m ready!
March 24, 2022
I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I read the premise for this book, I knew I wanted to read it. Told between the perspectives of The Butcher (serial killer) and The Wren (the medical examiner), it is a fast paced ride until both stories intertwine into one with a plot twist you won't see coming. The downfall to this book I felt was the ending was too abrupt, I thought there would be a few more chapters to flesh it out, so I hope there is another book after this, it felt too open ended, otherwise a good book I couldn't put down. I wanted to give this 4 stars but dropped to 3 because of the ending.
September 15, 2022
I preordered in March when I first found out about the book. Received it on time and began reading it immediately. The first chapter in I was already disappointed. It is poorly written with minimal detail and short chapters. It is a quick read, which is ok for some, but I prefer more of an in depth storyline. It was hard to picture the characters, much less what was going on, due to lack of detail. It is apparent there was no editor involved and if there was, that person should choose a different career. Grammatical errors are littered throughout. I am a huge fan of her podcast, not a fan of her authoring style. She is an amateur writer and it shows heavily here. Disappointed.
September 16, 2022
Points for effort Alaina...
She's a decent storyteller on the Morbid podcast, but clearly fiction writing is not her forte. The book reads like Dexter fanfiction from 2010. The plot is basic at best, there is no character growth, everything is predictable, and the research - or rather the lack of it - is evident.
Could she not have hired an editor? The same adjectives and verbs are used constantly, sometimes twice in the same paragraph. I actually started getting frustrated with the amount of times I read "flicked". The sentence structures are very bizarre at times - and I am not formally trained in English lit/creative writing but even I cringed at sentences like “A lot of well adjusted people admire a well sculpted skull.”
I'm sorry, but this was very, very poor writing. A true, good publisher would never have let this happen without numerous edits.
On top of that, for a book set in New Orleans, written by someone 'supposedly' obsessed with New Orleans - it's painfully apparent she's never been and didn't even bother to research the basics. It's so full of stereotypes and clichés i.e Bourbon Street, French Quarter, jazz, Mardis Gras, tarot readers, spooky cemeteries etc. to the point it reads like parody.
Not only that, but she embarrassingly didn't read enough about the city on Wikipedia to know they don't bury bodies there as it's below sea level. Dig too far down, graves become soggy and fill with water, resulting in floating caskets. This is why cemeteries in NOLA have above ground tombs - it's legit part of why the city is so darn spooky!!!
I don't want to discredit Alaina entirely because obviously this was a passion project for her - but I hope for her sake IF she chooses to write another novel to A) HIRE A GOOD EDITOR and B) DO YOUR RESEARCH. She didn't this time around and it shows.
Honestly, I'd skip this one as there are many other better quality serial killer thriller/mysteries on the market. Unless you want to try a drinking game and take a shot for every "flicked" you can find!
She's a decent storyteller on the Morbid podcast, but clearly fiction writing is not her forte. The book reads like Dexter fanfiction from 2010. The plot is basic at best, there is no character growth, everything is predictable, and the research - or rather the lack of it - is evident.
Could she not have hired an editor? The same adjectives and verbs are used constantly, sometimes twice in the same paragraph. I actually started getting frustrated with the amount of times I read "flicked". The sentence structures are very bizarre at times - and I am not formally trained in English lit/creative writing but even I cringed at sentences like “A lot of well adjusted people admire a well sculpted skull.”
I'm sorry, but this was very, very poor writing. A true, good publisher would never have let this happen without numerous edits.
On top of that, for a book set in New Orleans, written by someone 'supposedly' obsessed with New Orleans - it's painfully apparent she's never been and didn't even bother to research the basics. It's so full of stereotypes and clichés i.e Bourbon Street, French Quarter, jazz, Mardis Gras, tarot readers, spooky cemeteries etc. to the point it reads like parody.
Not only that, but she embarrassingly didn't read enough about the city on Wikipedia to know they don't bury bodies there as it's below sea level. Dig too far down, graves become soggy and fill with water, resulting in floating caskets. This is why cemeteries in NOLA have above ground tombs - it's legit part of why the city is so darn spooky!!!
I don't want to discredit Alaina entirely because obviously this was a passion project for her - but I hope for her sake IF she chooses to write another novel to A) HIRE A GOOD EDITOR and B) DO YOUR RESEARCH. She didn't this time around and it shows.
Honestly, I'd skip this one as there are many other better quality serial killer thriller/mysteries on the market. Unless you want to try a drinking game and take a shot for every "flicked" you can find!
August 13, 2022
Another read in one sitting for me, The Butcher and The Wren is massively addictive and has definitely filled that "serial killer thriller" void for me.
A proper cat and mouse chase this one, fuelled by authenticity and fascinating in its intensity
As a true crime podcast fan I have, of course, listened to the author on Morbid and she brings her trademark insight to this clever and absorbing novel.
Nor for the faint of heart, descriptively this is spot on realistic, the setting is darkly appropriate and once I picked this up I didn't put it down until the abrupt yet pitch perfect final page.
Yep. Let's hope this is the first of many.
A proper cat and mouse chase this one, fuelled by authenticity and fascinating in its intensity
As a true crime podcast fan I have, of course, listened to the author on Morbid and she brings her trademark insight to this clever and absorbing novel.
Nor for the faint of heart, descriptively this is spot on realistic, the setting is darkly appropriate and once I picked this up I didn't put it down until the abrupt yet pitch perfect final page.
Yep. Let's hope this is the first of many.
October 28, 2024
This one was so much fun to read! It was fast-paced and addictive! I honestly found it refreshing and could not put it down.
We follow Wren who is a forensic pathologist and has worked in the medical examiner's office for years. The we have the butcher who is a serial killer and is obsessed with the way a body works and how the mind controls other bodily functions. We go on a cat and mouse journey when it comes to these two and the secrets behind the scenes along the way. I listened to this one on audio and I think it made the experience even better.
Overall, it was a quick and fast paced book! I had a lot of fun reading it and could not put it down!
We follow Wren who is a forensic pathologist and has worked in the medical examiner's office for years. The we have the butcher who is a serial killer and is obsessed with the way a body works and how the mind controls other bodily functions. We go on a cat and mouse journey when it comes to these two and the secrets behind the scenes along the way. I listened to this one on audio and I think it made the experience even better.
Overall, it was a quick and fast paced book! I had a lot of fun reading it and could not put it down!
September 27, 2022
~ Quick Summary ~
Cat and mouse game told from 2 perspectives:
- Jeremy, the serial killer who hunts his targets.
- Wren, a medical examiner.
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
🐈 Cat and mouse game
🕵️♀️ detectives investigating a case
🤼 2 POVs
🧑🤝🧑 No character backstories, focus is solely on the case
📓 Dark
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The case was interesting, Jeremy’s perspective was dark and Wren had room for character growth. There was a lot of potential here, I just wish there was more.
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
This felt like I was watching a movie 30mins in, or watching season 3 episode 5 of a show like Bones that has independent episodes because this was heavily focused on the case and investigation. It didn’t give enough introduction or backstory about the case or any of the characters. For example:
- The only thing that defines Wren is that she’s a medical examiner and a workaholic. I wasn’t particularly rooting for her.
- There was also little backstory or explanation about Jeremy, how he became who he is, his previous killings and more about his methods.
The ending and final showdown was very anticlimactic and quick.
Cat and mouse game told from 2 perspectives:
- Jeremy, the serial killer who hunts his targets.
- Wren, a medical examiner.
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
🐈 Cat and mouse game
🕵️♀️ detectives investigating a case
🤼 2 POVs
🧑🤝🧑 No character backstories, focus is solely on the case
📓 Dark
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The case was interesting, Jeremy’s perspective was dark and Wren had room for character growth. There was a lot of potential here, I just wish there was more.
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
This felt like I was watching a movie 30mins in, or watching season 3 episode 5 of a show like Bones that has independent episodes because this was heavily focused on the case and investigation. It didn’t give enough introduction or backstory about the case or any of the characters. For example:
- The only thing that defines Wren is that she’s a medical examiner and a workaholic. I wasn’t particularly rooting for her.
- There was also little backstory or explanation about Jeremy, how he became who he is, his previous killings and more about his methods.
The ending and final showdown was very anticlimactic and quick.
September 14, 2022
DNF. The poor writing made it impossible to finish. Please hire an editor!!
September 17, 2022
This book was short but packed a punch much like the characters in it. I’ve listened to a few of Alaina Urquhart’s “Morbid” podcast episodes and will definitely be listening to more of those as well as reading anything else she writes because I loved this. I love true crime and this was amazing the way she explained things; the process of investigating, what the characters were doing, their personalities, their mannerisms. It reminded me a lot of Silence of the Lambs which is actually referenced in this book. It is a bit graphic at times though but if you can get past it you won’t be disappointed!
The Butcher and the Wren is available now.
The Butcher and the Wren is available now.
September 14, 2022
Edit: knocking down to 2 stars to help me move on from this bummer :(
I want to preface this by saying a HUGE thank you to Zando for this #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review! I practically cried when I received this beautiful book mail last week. I have wanted a copy of The Butcher and the Wren ever since hearing about it on Morbid a few months prior.
I am a Morbid SUPER FAN, okay? I am talking a Wondery + subscriber just to listen to their episodes early! And of course I am an Alaina Urquhart stan. It is SO fun to read a piece of literature created by someone you so deeply admire, and so for that, I am super grateful to have read this story!
However, this book was an insane let down for me. I rate it 2.5 stars, but am rounding up to 3 in the name of Goodreads.
To start, this book is not a dynamic/well-rounded read. The characters and overall storylines fall flat and don't develop at all. For example, our MC Wren is a ME (medical examiner) who is married and that is quite literally all I know about her. There is a twist that comes about 3/4 of the way through this book, but even with the twist, it just doesnt make sense. Wren herself doesn't make sense. Who is she? What does she like? What is she like outside of work, when she is on the couch with his husband and watching their favorite TV show? What is her quirk? What is her worst quality? I want these answers so I can actually form some sort of connection to the MC I am reading about.
When Wren discovers that the victims she has been working on are the victims of her same abuser/almost killer a number of years prior, it's already pretty far into the book. I am lost as to how she has not discovered this before? She is a smart gal, even was in medical school in the past, yet she doesn't seem to make the connection about the trends that keep popping up with the killer's victims until the killer quite literally leaves physical evidence (in the form of her old bracelet) on his latest victim. It's almost as if the killer got tired of Wren not understanding his game (as are the readers).
If I could give one big mark, it's definitely that the readers would LOVE to see Wren develop, or do anything outside of work. Since we don't see Wren as an actual person with interests or personality traits, we need to see more interactions. Even in the one scene where she goes out to get drinks with her friends, I was left feeling incredibly *cringe* at the topics of conversations and overall vibes of the scenes. (read below)
-For example, this is an actual line in the book: "... she spots them among the massive crowd of people laughing and enjoying their beautiful plates of Louisiana seafood"
beautiful plates of Louisiana seafood.
beautiful plates of Louisiana seafood.
^there's gotta be a better way to describe this, right?
(I know some people have issues with her descriptions of Louisiana. Having family there and being very familiar with the state, I do see these points. BUT it's really hard to write in a climate that's not your own, so I do give her props to writing in a setting she is not familiar with). Moving on...
The MC, Jeremy, is the serial killer. I actually really enjoyed his character because he had a funny personality and we got to see him go through a range of emotions in almost every chapter. We also got a tiny tiny glimpse into his childhood, which of course helped his character arc.
We got to see a lot of his quirks come through in this book, and I only wish the other characters were as developed as he was :( One thing I did like was how Jeremy was all for the chase. In most of the horror books I read (not many), the killer takes his time, sure, but he is more eager and sloppy than Jeremy is. So I appreciated reading the meticulous planning and thought that goes into Jeremey's actions in every chapter.
The husband, the cops, and her friends: I am not sure why they were even in this story? I feel like Tara had more personality/ character development than Leroux did, and she was only in the book for a chapter or two. Also I still don't understand how the cops and Leroux knew who this guy was for so long yet they almost waited around to catch him? Only for Tara to be practically slaughtered. And the ending. It was actually so confusing that I went back to re-read it only to find out I won't get any answers. Who was the man who was shot? And how did Jeremy set up this fake execution with a random man and be able to run away while his house was being seized? I am confused on the logistics. But I do know we are set up for a Book 2, so hopefully we get those answers then.
To me, this felt more like a beta read. Which would make for a GREAT novel because the bones are there and there is SO much to work with/ add on. But since this almost the final copy, I am not sure how these plot holes, flat characters, and underdeveloped storylines will be fixed in time of pub date?
I still love my weirdos, and I imagine writing a book is HARD. So I will continue listening to my 2 fav gals kill it on Morbid every week!
I want to preface this by saying a HUGE thank you to Zando for this #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review! I practically cried when I received this beautiful book mail last week. I have wanted a copy of The Butcher and the Wren ever since hearing about it on Morbid a few months prior.
I am a Morbid SUPER FAN, okay? I am talking a Wondery + subscriber just to listen to their episodes early! And of course I am an Alaina Urquhart stan. It is SO fun to read a piece of literature created by someone you so deeply admire, and so for that, I am super grateful to have read this story!
However, this book was an insane let down for me. I rate it 2.5 stars, but am rounding up to 3 in the name of Goodreads.
To start, this book is not a dynamic/well-rounded read. The characters and overall storylines fall flat and don't develop at all. For example, our MC Wren is a ME (medical examiner) who is married and that is quite literally all I know about her. There is a twist that comes about 3/4 of the way through this book, but even with the twist, it just doesnt make sense. Wren herself doesn't make sense. Who is she? What does she like? What is she like outside of work, when she is on the couch with his husband and watching their favorite TV show? What is her quirk? What is her worst quality? I want these answers so I can actually form some sort of connection to the MC I am reading about.
When Wren discovers that the victims she has been working on are the victims of her same abuser/almost killer a number of years prior, it's already pretty far into the book. I am lost as to how she has not discovered this before? She is a smart gal, even was in medical school in the past, yet she doesn't seem to make the connection about the trends that keep popping up with the killer's victims until the killer quite literally leaves physical evidence (in the form of her old bracelet) on his latest victim. It's almost as if the killer got tired of Wren not understanding his game (as are the readers).
If I could give one big mark, it's definitely that the readers would LOVE to see Wren develop, or do anything outside of work. Since we don't see Wren as an actual person with interests or personality traits, we need to see more interactions. Even in the one scene where she goes out to get drinks with her friends, I was left feeling incredibly *cringe* at the topics of conversations and overall vibes of the scenes. (read below)
-For example, this is an actual line in the book: "... she spots them among the massive crowd of people laughing and enjoying their beautiful plates of Louisiana seafood"
beautiful plates of Louisiana seafood.
beautiful plates of Louisiana seafood.
^there's gotta be a better way to describe this, right?
(I know some people have issues with her descriptions of Louisiana. Having family there and being very familiar with the state, I do see these points. BUT it's really hard to write in a climate that's not your own, so I do give her props to writing in a setting she is not familiar with). Moving on...
The MC, Jeremy, is the serial killer. I actually really enjoyed his character because he had a funny personality and we got to see him go through a range of emotions in almost every chapter. We also got a tiny tiny glimpse into his childhood, which of course helped his character arc.
We got to see a lot of his quirks come through in this book, and I only wish the other characters were as developed as he was :( One thing I did like was how Jeremy was all for the chase. In most of the horror books I read (not many), the killer takes his time, sure, but he is more eager and sloppy than Jeremy is. So I appreciated reading the meticulous planning and thought that goes into Jeremey's actions in every chapter.
The husband, the cops, and her friends: I am not sure why they were even in this story? I feel like Tara had more personality/ character development than Leroux did, and she was only in the book for a chapter or two. Also I still don't understand how the cops and Leroux knew who this guy was for so long yet they almost waited around to catch him? Only for Tara to be practically slaughtered. And the ending. It was actually so confusing that I went back to re-read it only to find out I won't get any answers. Who was the man who was shot? And how did Jeremy set up this fake execution with a random man and be able to run away while his house was being seized? I am confused on the logistics. But I do know we are set up for a Book 2, so hopefully we get those answers then.
To me, this felt more like a beta read. Which would make for a GREAT novel because the bones are there and there is SO much to work with/ add on. But since this almost the final copy, I am not sure how these plot holes, flat characters, and underdeveloped storylines will be fixed in time of pub date?
I still love my weirdos, and I imagine writing a book is HARD. So I will continue listening to my 2 fav gals kill it on Morbid every week!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2023
Wciągnęła jak czarna dziura — idealna na raz! Czekam na ciąg dalszy!
October 8, 2024
Muggy, swampy Louisiana exudes a soggy, spooky, menacing, suffocating atmosphere, heavy and oppressive, it’s beautiful but equally horrifying and thus is the perfect setting for a cruel tale. Forensic pathologist Dr Wren Muller is sent to the bayou to assist with the investigation into the death of yet another Jane Doe near whose body is a bookish clue. Is the Bayou Butcher a reader? What else can Wren answer Detective John Leroux deduce before he strikes again? Can they both read his clues? Brace yourself as neither of them have any idea what awaits them.
Wrens are of course tiny little brown birds, distinguished by a little tail that points upwards. We’re lucky enough to have them in our garden. They’re bold, curious and energetic with a lively song. The spiritual meaning of the wren is one of determination, enthusiasm, change and happiness. The Celts held the little wren in high regard believing that the bird’s song was a message for the future. The wren moves quickly and adapts to any new situation, often remaining unseen by others. Does our character Wren have these personality traits?? She is certainly brave and has plenty of determination. She’ll need every ounce of it.
OMG - this book! It’s a creepy, tense, uncomfortable dark cat and mouse game. It’s not for the faint of heart but I love it - what does that say about me???!!! The dual narrative of the Butcher and the Wren adds to the suspense and twists of the storytelling. It keeps me on the edge of my seat and riveted. It’s nicely set up for number 2 and though I’m keen to read it, I wait until it’s dropped a few £’s in price.
Thank you Kaceey for leading me to this - just my kind of book.
Wrens are of course tiny little brown birds, distinguished by a little tail that points upwards. We’re lucky enough to have them in our garden. They’re bold, curious and energetic with a lively song. The spiritual meaning of the wren is one of determination, enthusiasm, change and happiness. The Celts held the little wren in high regard believing that the bird’s song was a message for the future. The wren moves quickly and adapts to any new situation, often remaining unseen by others. Does our character Wren have these personality traits?? She is certainly brave and has plenty of determination. She’ll need every ounce of it.
OMG - this book! It’s a creepy, tense, uncomfortable dark cat and mouse game. It’s not for the faint of heart but I love it - what does that say about me???!!! The dual narrative of the Butcher and the Wren adds to the suspense and twists of the storytelling. It keeps me on the edge of my seat and riveted. It’s nicely set up for number 2 and though I’m keen to read it, I wait until it’s dropped a few £’s in price.
Thank you Kaceey for leading me to this - just my kind of book.
November 13, 2022
3.5* Ok this was definitely not a bad book at allll. I did enjoy it, however I couldn't shake the feeling that *something* was missing throughout.
I looooved our serial killer's POV. Loved the science-y bits from the medical examiner's POV even more. But I just wish there was a bit more substance to it, a bit more backstory and character development to ground us within this story and these characters.
Also, the ending was not my fav. I feel like if you're gonna leave it on a cliffhanger, there still needs to be some kind of resolution for the reader and this didn't give me that at all.
I looooved our serial killer's POV. Loved the science-y bits from the medical examiner's POV even more. But I just wish there was a bit more substance to it, a bit more backstory and character development to ground us within this story and these characters.
Also, the ending was not my fav. I feel like if you're gonna leave it on a cliffhanger, there still needs to be some kind of resolution for the reader and this didn't give me that at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2023
Bawiłem się świetnie i gorąco polecam!
September 14, 2022
THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN is completely bonkers in the best way. I should've known that true crime podcaster Alaina Urquhart would be the mastermind for this graphic, fast-paced procedural. At around 250 pages, we are given a a very fast glimpse into the world of a serial killer lurking in the shadows in the Louisiana bayou. The killer is methodical, intelligence, and completely twisted. Emotionally manipulative and sinister in every way, this serial killer has been able to avoid police apprehensive for a long time. That is, until forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Miller begins to investigate the similarities between the cases she's been assigned. Wren starts piecing together the puzzle between the killer's victims and decides she's the best candidate to help find this killer.
Like I mentioned previously, the book isn't that long, so I won't go further. Just know that this book really showcases body horror in ways that are captivating and cringeworthy. This book is a complete whirlwind of emotions, so just prepare before diving in! We don't get a lot of "meat" in this book, so you're right in the action from the first chapter. I finished this book in one sitting and just know that I'll be in a book slump because nothing will be as fast-paced as this book. If you want a shorter horror procedural that is similar to Meg Gardiner's UNSUB (book 1 of the series), I would highly recommend picking this book up. If you really just want crime and chaos, this is your book for sure.
Like I mentioned previously, the book isn't that long, so I won't go further. Just know that this book really showcases body horror in ways that are captivating and cringeworthy. This book is a complete whirlwind of emotions, so just prepare before diving in! We don't get a lot of "meat" in this book, so you're right in the action from the first chapter. I finished this book in one sitting and just know that I'll be in a book slump because nothing will be as fast-paced as this book. If you want a shorter horror procedural that is similar to Meg Gardiner's UNSUB (book 1 of the series), I would highly recommend picking this book up. If you really just want crime and chaos, this is your book for sure.
July 26, 2024
Wow! The Butcher and the Wren is one messed up, crazily addictive read. This wasn’t even in my radar so a massive thanks to Penguin Australia for sending me an ARC. Give me a serial killer book any day, this book lover can’t get enough.
Set in the Louisiana Bayou, The Butcher and the Wren is a dark crime thriller. A cat an mouse chase between the Butcher, Jeremy and the forensic pathologist Wren Muller. Jeremy is smart, and always one step ahead of the people hunting him. His murders are twisted and sadistic, so fair warning, don’t read if you are squeamish. Told in alternative chapters, we hear from Jeremy and get into his head, and then we hear from Wren, who is determined to help his victims and stop him.
If you want a fast read, just over 250 pages, and you like serial killer books, you have to read this book. I hope that this will be the first of many books with these characters. Now I am off to find the Morbid podcast and binge it.
The Butcher and the Wren is out now.
Set in the Louisiana Bayou, The Butcher and the Wren is a dark crime thriller. A cat an mouse chase between the Butcher, Jeremy and the forensic pathologist Wren Muller. Jeremy is smart, and always one step ahead of the people hunting him. His murders are twisted and sadistic, so fair warning, don’t read if you are squeamish. Told in alternative chapters, we hear from Jeremy and get into his head, and then we hear from Wren, who is determined to help his victims and stop him.
If you want a fast read, just over 250 pages, and you like serial killer books, you have to read this book. I hope that this will be the first of many books with these characters. Now I am off to find the Morbid podcast and binge it.
The Butcher and the Wren is out now.
September 22, 2022
I wanted to love this book because I love Morbid, and Alaina is such a gifted storyteller on the show. This book is just not good. The characters are flat, the antagonist is cartoonishly evil, and the writing feels like a first draft. The story had good bones and the twist did surprise me, but nobody will ever convince me that this would have gotten published if the author wasn’t famous for other reasons.
November 5, 2022
maybe we should all just stick to the morbid podcast instead because everything about this was terrifying and not in a spooky way.
This novel follows our main character Wren, a forensic pathologist, who ends up doing more detective work instead of staying at the morgue where her ass belongs. She examines the bodies of people that will killed by the so-called "Bayou Butcher", Jeremy who provides the secondary perspective in this novel.
The only non-spoilery thing I have to say about this novel was that is was BADDDDDD, so let's get onto the spoilery bits so I can rant properly:
This novel follows our main character Wren, a forensic pathologist, who ends up doing more detective work instead of staying at the morgue where her ass belongs. She examines the bodies of people that will killed by the so-called "Bayou Butcher", Jeremy who provides the secondary perspective in this novel.
The only non-spoilery thing I have to say about this novel was that is was BADDDDDD, so let's get onto the spoilery bits so I can rant properly:
March 28, 2022
This definitely has legs to stand on. Alaina is incredibly knowledgeable about the subject of crime and serial killers. But this felt like a weaker take on the show Dexter and his serial killer persona as the “Bay Harbor Butcher”.
November 4, 2022
⭐️⭐️
2 stars, for now.
I’m an avid Morbid listener and, much like any podcast episode, I devoured this quickly. I am so, so proud of Alaina for her debut novel. She is competent, intelligent, and one of my favorite people to listen to!
That being said…
This book was not very well-written. Just because I like the author doesn’t mean I enjoyed the story.
The downfalls for me were the ending and flaws in the writing that probably should have been patched up during the editing stage.
The ending has me questioning if there will be a book two?? Although I’m not sure I’d pick it up if there is…
HOWEVER, this is fast paced and perfect for spooky season. I would recommend for my fellow Morbid fans or people looking for a short but fast-paced novel.
2 stars, for now.
I’m an avid Morbid listener and, much like any podcast episode, I devoured this quickly. I am so, so proud of Alaina for her debut novel. She is competent, intelligent, and one of my favorite people to listen to!
That being said…
This book was not very well-written. Just because I like the author doesn’t mean I enjoyed the story.
The downfalls for me were the ending and flaws in the writing that probably should have been patched up during the editing stage.
The ending has me questioning if there will be a book two?? Although I’m not sure I’d pick it up if there is…
HOWEVER, this is fast paced and perfect for spooky season. I would recommend for my fellow Morbid fans or people looking for a short but fast-paced novel.
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