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The Butcher and the Liar
"A haunting, inventive, and genre-blurring serial-killer tale...Woeppel’s narrative dances nimbly between a coming-of-age story, a ghost story, a murder mystery, and a dark exploration of trauma; somehow, she manages to make all these different tones harmonize and create something fresh, exciting, and unexpected." —Kirkus Review, (Starred Review)
Daisy Bellon thinks she may have buried her skeletons forever. At thirty-five, she runs a butcher shop in a forgotten corner of Chicago, keeping her past locked away. But when an anonymous letter arrives, she’s thrust back to the day her life split in two.
At nine years old, Daisy meets Caleb Garcia, a boy who makes her believe in the possibility of friendship and happiness. But that same night, she stumbles upon her father dismembering a woman in their basement and becomes his unwilling apprentice, sworn to keep his monstrous secrets. When the victim’s ghost appears in Daisy’s room, she's bound to a haunting legacy. To endure, Daisy weaves a web of lies, clinging to the light of Caleb’s friendship while slipping deeper into the darkness of her father’s shadow.
More than two decades later, following the arrival of the mysterious letter, someone close to Daisy is brutally murdered in an all-too-familiar fashion. Forced to confront the truth about her family and herself, Daisy must decide whether to let the darkness consume her—or to fight for love and redemption, even if it means revealing everything she’s tried to bury.
A haunting psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, The Butcher and the Liar has mystery lovers and literary fiction readers on the edge of their seats.
Daisy Bellon thinks she may have buried her skeletons forever. At thirty-five, she runs a butcher shop in a forgotten corner of Chicago, keeping her past locked away. But when an anonymous letter arrives, she’s thrust back to the day her life split in two.
At nine years old, Daisy meets Caleb Garcia, a boy who makes her believe in the possibility of friendship and happiness. But that same night, she stumbles upon her father dismembering a woman in their basement and becomes his unwilling apprentice, sworn to keep his monstrous secrets. When the victim’s ghost appears in Daisy’s room, she's bound to a haunting legacy. To endure, Daisy weaves a web of lies, clinging to the light of Caleb’s friendship while slipping deeper into the darkness of her father’s shadow.
More than two decades later, following the arrival of the mysterious letter, someone close to Daisy is brutally murdered in an all-too-familiar fashion. Forced to confront the truth about her family and herself, Daisy must decide whether to let the darkness consume her—or to fight for love and redemption, even if it means revealing everything she’s tried to bury.
A haunting psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, The Butcher and the Liar has mystery lovers and literary fiction readers on the edge of their seats.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
23 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 1, 2025
OMG!! I’m not kidding when I say this book literally grabbed me & pulled me into the pages right away!! Obsessed is putting it mildly. If I didn’t have to work this would have been inhaled in one sitting. But alas, as one needs books money… So I read the 428 pages in two days. And they flew by! While I was desperate to keep reading to see what was next, I was a little sad when it ended. A really great book will do that to you.
Daisy. Oh Daisy how I love you to pieces. From a little nine year old girl obsessed with cattle and The Market, all the way to a mid 30s woman butcher with her own shop, desperately hiding her past. She is strong & fierce.
With a serial killer father chopping up bodies in the basement, nine year old Daisy gets forced to participate in his horrific acts. Traumatized at such a young age, she carries the guilt throughout her life.
But then there’s Caleb whose friendship saved her. Daisy is dependent on him, more than anyone realizes. Things change as Caleb becomes a teen and Daisy is still a kid.
As an adult, Daisy’s best friend is Miles. He is a few years younger but a whiz with the part of the business she’d rather not deal with. Working together and creating a very successful butcher shop.
So much more but you will need to read the book!! There was never a dull moment. This book was wonderfully written. Descriptiveness was perfection.
A twisty thriller with horror elements, an emotional wild ride, and romance portrayed in the best way possible. In awe that this author has never written a thriller book before!!
Daisy. Oh Daisy how I love you to pieces. From a little nine year old girl obsessed with cattle and The Market, all the way to a mid 30s woman butcher with her own shop, desperately hiding her past. She is strong & fierce.
With a serial killer father chopping up bodies in the basement, nine year old Daisy gets forced to participate in his horrific acts. Traumatized at such a young age, she carries the guilt throughout her life.
But then there’s Caleb whose friendship saved her. Daisy is dependent on him, more than anyone realizes. Things change as Caleb becomes a teen and Daisy is still a kid.
As an adult, Daisy’s best friend is Miles. He is a few years younger but a whiz with the part of the business she’d rather not deal with. Working together and creating a very successful butcher shop.
So much more but you will need to read the book!! There was never a dull moment. This book was wonderfully written. Descriptiveness was perfection.
A twisty thriller with horror elements, an emotional wild ride, and romance portrayed in the best way possible. In awe that this author has never written a thriller book before!!
August 24, 2025
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a story! I couldn’t put this one down! I originally thought this was going to be a bloody horror mess, but I wasn’t expecting to be bawling my eyes out with this one. There are some scenes that will live in my head rent-free, especially when Daisy discovers her dad's trophies 🤢 Overall this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Thank you to the author for sending me her ARC for an honest opinion
Thank you to the author for sending me her ARC for an honest opinion
September 20, 2025
MY TOP READ OF 2025
🆃🅷🅴 🅱🆄🆃🅲🅷🅴🆁 🅰🅽🅳 🆃🅷🅴 🅻🅸🅰🆁
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒔𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂
Reading this book felt like peering into a box of hidden jewels. At first glance, we recognize its shimmer, but to truly understand what lies within, we must examine each gem closely, piece by piece. Daisy’s traumatic childhood is one such jewel - we glimpse it, but the full story remains partly concealed. There is always more to uncover, more facets to study. We may think we know the contents of the box, but certainty is impossible - and that hidden mystery is what makes this book so captivating and special.
Every so often I stumble upon a book that feels less like reading and more like a possession. (Demon included.) I loved this book so much that I had to drag it out as long as possible. I never wanted it to end. It’s the type of read that demands to be slowed down, savored, rationed - because the thought of leaving its world too soon feels unbearable.
The Butcher and the Liar is one of those rare books. And yet, it’s not lost on me that most won’t ever read or find this book - it comes from an indie author, tucked away from the spotlight. And that, to me, feels like the greatest tragedy ever. Because what we have here is nothing short of literary gold. I want everyone to read this book. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK - if dark and disturbing are your thing, it’s a MUST READ.
Daisy Bellon was only nine-years-old when her father made her an accomplice to his crimes. Her father, a local butcher known for his perfect cuts, wasn’t your standard father; and now he’s forced his secret on to his nine-year-old daughter. Coveted her into his world. A secret she’d carry for most of her life. Him a serial killer, her his unwilling accomplice.
He did not simply burden her with this knowledge; he made her complicit. That single act - an unholy initiation - becomes the axis around which the rest of her life spins. And spin doesn’t it ever. Daisy grows up with a hollowness where safety should have been, her relationships marked by evasion, her trust worn thin. Lies become her shield, the distance she keeps between herself and others her only form of survival.
The story alternates between two timelines: the late 1980s, when women began to vanish without a trace, and 2015, where Daisy lives a secluded existence, co-running her butcher shop with the only friend who shares in her haunted past.
And then there is Marina - the spirit of the first girl Daisy ever saw in her father’s basement - forever tethered to her, a ghostly reminder she cannot escape. Her guilt and shame conjoined, Marina comes to be a manifestation of her guilt and shame. A tangible thing she can interact with. But she also becomes so much more than that.
This book is all-consuming and beautifully written, this book will not simply move you - it will scar you, in the best possible way.
The words flow with an almost lyrical grace, but don’t mistake its beauty for softness. The plot - dark, disturbing, gripping - hits with the force of a hammer. And once it takes hold, there is no escaping it. It’s compulsive, unforgettable, and impossible to put down. It’s the kind of story that lingers, creeping back into your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page. I don’t even have the words to fully capture how extraordinary it is. Five stars feel too few.
Found Family
Coming-of-age
Serial Killer
Horror
Psychological Thriller
Death of Mother
“Haunting”
Dual Timelines
🆃🅷🅴 🅱🆄🆃🅲🅷🅴🆁 🅰🅽🅳 🆃🅷🅴 🅻🅸🅰🆁
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒔𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂
Reading this book felt like peering into a box of hidden jewels. At first glance, we recognize its shimmer, but to truly understand what lies within, we must examine each gem closely, piece by piece. Daisy’s traumatic childhood is one such jewel - we glimpse it, but the full story remains partly concealed. There is always more to uncover, more facets to study. We may think we know the contents of the box, but certainty is impossible - and that hidden mystery is what makes this book so captivating and special.
Every so often I stumble upon a book that feels less like reading and more like a possession. (Demon included.) I loved this book so much that I had to drag it out as long as possible. I never wanted it to end. It’s the type of read that demands to be slowed down, savored, rationed - because the thought of leaving its world too soon feels unbearable.
The Butcher and the Liar is one of those rare books. And yet, it’s not lost on me that most won’t ever read or find this book - it comes from an indie author, tucked away from the spotlight. And that, to me, feels like the greatest tragedy ever. Because what we have here is nothing short of literary gold. I want everyone to read this book. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK - if dark and disturbing are your thing, it’s a MUST READ.
Daisy Bellon was only nine-years-old when her father made her an accomplice to his crimes. Her father, a local butcher known for his perfect cuts, wasn’t your standard father; and now he’s forced his secret on to his nine-year-old daughter. Coveted her into his world. A secret she’d carry for most of her life. Him a serial killer, her his unwilling accomplice.
He did not simply burden her with this knowledge; he made her complicit. That single act - an unholy initiation - becomes the axis around which the rest of her life spins. And spin doesn’t it ever. Daisy grows up with a hollowness where safety should have been, her relationships marked by evasion, her trust worn thin. Lies become her shield, the distance she keeps between herself and others her only form of survival.
The story alternates between two timelines: the late 1980s, when women began to vanish without a trace, and 2015, where Daisy lives a secluded existence, co-running her butcher shop with the only friend who shares in her haunted past.
And then there is Marina - the spirit of the first girl Daisy ever saw in her father’s basement - forever tethered to her, a ghostly reminder she cannot escape. Her guilt and shame conjoined, Marina comes to be a manifestation of her guilt and shame. A tangible thing she can interact with. But she also becomes so much more than that.
This book is all-consuming and beautifully written, this book will not simply move you - it will scar you, in the best possible way.
The words flow with an almost lyrical grace, but don’t mistake its beauty for softness. The plot - dark, disturbing, gripping - hits with the force of a hammer. And once it takes hold, there is no escaping it. It’s compulsive, unforgettable, and impossible to put down. It’s the kind of story that lingers, creeping back into your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page. I don’t even have the words to fully capture how extraordinary it is. Five stars feel too few.
Found Family
Coming-of-age
Serial Killer
Horror
Psychological Thriller
Death of Mother
“Haunting”
Dual Timelines
September 14, 2025
This book promised psychological thrill but ended up giving SO MUCH MORE!
It gripped me from the very first page and refused to let go. At over 400 pages, I devoured it in just two nights! I literally only stopped when I had to. it was simply, utterly consuming . It delivered a layered story of trauma, morality, friendship, and even... ghosts! literal and metaphorical.
The dual timeline is masterfully constructed in my opinion, every chapter everytime we jump between timelines I need more. In the past, nine-year-old Daisy becomes accidentally ensnared in her father’s crimes, an event that irrevocably fractures her psyche ..which was the point I got most excited to write/speak about all throughout reading the book. As someone who has lived through trauma, I found her gradual descent into a disordered personality startlingly authentic. Her oscillation between morality and monstrosity and struggle in both states and even in the middle was done with psychological acuity, it's deliciously disturbing in the best sense.
In 2015, Daisy receives an anonymous letter and is drawn back into the past.
And What follows is way more than just "a thriller".
Another thing I loved were the relationships here, Daisy’s salvific friendship with Caleb, and her tender, quietly redemptive bond with her apprentice, Miles. They felt unforced, organic and just human.
Yes, some elements were predictable, but I never minded tbh because the heart of this book lies not in cheap twists, but in its unflinching portrait of a mind shaped by horror and the fragile lifelines of connection that keep it tethered.
It was dark, gripping, sentimental (I cried twice my guys) and almost perfect
It gripped me from the very first page and refused to let go. At over 400 pages, I devoured it in just two nights! I literally only stopped when I had to. it was simply, utterly consuming . It delivered a layered story of trauma, morality, friendship, and even... ghosts! literal and metaphorical.
The dual timeline is masterfully constructed in my opinion, every chapter everytime we jump between timelines I need more. In the past, nine-year-old Daisy becomes accidentally ensnared in her father’s crimes, an event that irrevocably fractures her psyche ..which was the point I got most excited to write/speak about all throughout reading the book. As someone who has lived through trauma, I found her gradual descent into a disordered personality startlingly authentic. Her oscillation between morality and monstrosity and struggle in both states and even in the middle was done with psychological acuity, it's deliciously disturbing in the best sense.
In 2015, Daisy receives an anonymous letter and is drawn back into the past.
And What follows is way more than just "a thriller".
Another thing I loved were the relationships here, Daisy’s salvific friendship with Caleb, and her tender, quietly redemptive bond with her apprentice, Miles. They felt unforced, organic and just human.
Yes, some elements were predictable, but I never minded tbh because the heart of this book lies not in cheap twists, but in its unflinching portrait of a mind shaped by horror and the fragile lifelines of connection that keep it tethered.
It was dark, gripping, sentimental (I cried twice my guys) and almost perfect
August 8, 2025
Wow ok so firstly massive thank you to the lovely author who reached out and asked me to read her book. This one was absolutely incredible, the writing really was something else and kept me hooked and engaged the whole time whilst reading this one. I really can’t begin to explain how good this one was, this definitely is a must read when it comes out in September.
October 29, 2025
The Butcher and the Liar is a meaty story about how a person can be many things at once. It’s both bloody and tender.
We follow Daisy, a butcher’s daughter who witnesses her father commit something horrifying, an act that forever alters both her and their relationship. Simultaneously, we meet an adult Daisy now the owner of her own butcher shop. She believes shes escaped her past. At least, until an anonymous letter arrives and pulls her right back to where it all began.
Daisy’s story unfolds across two timelines: one where we watch a horrifying coming of age story take shape, and one where an adult Daisy is forced to face that very past. The character work here, especially with Daisy, is superb. We see her witness this horrific event and as a result she transform into someone hardened and more than a bittwisted. She’s caught in this constant push and pull with her morality and it gripped me from the jump. Then, as an adult, we see some glimmers of healing and resolution. But is she a good person? That’s for the reader to decide.
Morality is one of the strongest themes here. Daisy wrestles with loving her father while understanding the depravity of his actions. Many situations toe that morally gray line, both in relationships and in the characters’ choices (or inactions). It’s beautifully done and had my head spinning with ethical questions. Truth also plays a major role. Daisy weaves an intricate web of lies to keep others from discovering who (and what) she really is. Inheritance is another thread worth noting: Daisy constantly measures herself against her father. As a child, she pushed people away to protect them from HIM but as an adult, she pushes them away to protect them from herself. This story brought up the age old nature vs. nurture question; the “do we inherit evil?” one. I really enjoyed the unexpected supernatural element here. The spirit was used as an excellent tool to show Daisy her potential and steer her to goodness.
While I could wax poetic about this story endlessly, I do have a gripe. The ending felt a little rushed; I wish it had a bit more room to breathe. Still, that didn’t take away from my overall experience with this excellent and layered book.
I know that we all love to neatly classify stories, but this one truly transcends genre. There’s body horror, a hint of romance, a mystery, and a coming of age story all wrapped up in one tenderized package. I must insist that you give this one a read.
Thank you to S.L. Woeppel for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
We follow Daisy, a butcher’s daughter who witnesses her father commit something horrifying, an act that forever alters both her and their relationship. Simultaneously, we meet an adult Daisy now the owner of her own butcher shop. She believes shes escaped her past. At least, until an anonymous letter arrives and pulls her right back to where it all began.
Daisy’s story unfolds across two timelines: one where we watch a horrifying coming of age story take shape, and one where an adult Daisy is forced to face that very past. The character work here, especially with Daisy, is superb. We see her witness this horrific event and as a result she transform into someone hardened and more than a bittwisted. She’s caught in this constant push and pull with her morality and it gripped me from the jump. Then, as an adult, we see some glimmers of healing and resolution. But is she a good person? That’s for the reader to decide.
Morality is one of the strongest themes here. Daisy wrestles with loving her father while understanding the depravity of his actions. Many situations toe that morally gray line, both in relationships and in the characters’ choices (or inactions). It’s beautifully done and had my head spinning with ethical questions. Truth also plays a major role. Daisy weaves an intricate web of lies to keep others from discovering who (and what) she really is. Inheritance is another thread worth noting: Daisy constantly measures herself against her father. As a child, she pushed people away to protect them from HIM but as an adult, she pushes them away to protect them from herself. This story brought up the age old nature vs. nurture question; the “do we inherit evil?” one. I really enjoyed the unexpected supernatural element here. The spirit was used as an excellent tool to show Daisy her potential and steer her to goodness.
While I could wax poetic about this story endlessly, I do have a gripe. The ending felt a little rushed; I wish it had a bit more room to breathe. Still, that didn’t take away from my overall experience with this excellent and layered book.
I know that we all love to neatly classify stories, but this one truly transcends genre. There’s body horror, a hint of romance, a mystery, and a coming of age story all wrapped up in one tenderized package. I must insist that you give this one a read.
Thank you to S.L. Woeppel for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2025
Omg! What a story! Sorry in advance for this long review.
From the moment I picked it up, it was hard for me to put down!
The story is told in different time lines but easy to follow. A dark (for me) psychological thriller, mystery, paranormal and romance that is coming of age and found family all bound up in one nice package and I loved it!
Daisy is the neglected daughter of a butcher and his depressed wife.
When she discovers her father's secret he ropes her in to being his apprentice. This has dire effects on her mental, emotional and social state/wellbeing.
She bonds with her neighbour Caleb and he is the one person that keeps her balanced but their's is a story that 'seems' not meant to be.
Marina a ghost who is tethered to her eventually becomes a welcome and dear companion for the years to come. You'll find out why they are tethered eventually and I dare you to NOT get at least a bit emotional.
After receiving an anonymous letter, now living a more or less successful life as a well-known local butcher, she must confront her lie-ridden life and finally find closure to the traumatic chapters of her life she's desperately tried to forget.
Honestly, this book will leave Daisy on your mind for a sweet while and have you caring for her, even though her actions will at times make your mouth drop and probably cause you to shake your head... wanting to give her a tight hug and tell her hopefully, eventually...things will be ok.
This is my second book by S.L. Woeppel and if you've already read "Flipping the Birdie" her Debut ( which was also awesome IMO!) Just FYI, this book was sooooo different and honestly I could have been fooled it wasn't written by the same person!
This just shows me what a multi-faceted author S.L.Woeppel really is and I absolutely can NOT wait to read what she writes next!!
From the moment I picked it up, it was hard for me to put down!
The story is told in different time lines but easy to follow. A dark (for me) psychological thriller, mystery, paranormal and romance that is coming of age and found family all bound up in one nice package and I loved it!
Daisy is the neglected daughter of a butcher and his depressed wife.
When she discovers her father's secret he ropes her in to being his apprentice. This has dire effects on her mental, emotional and social state/wellbeing.
She bonds with her neighbour Caleb and he is the one person that keeps her balanced but their's is a story that 'seems' not meant to be.
Marina a ghost who is tethered to her eventually becomes a welcome and dear companion for the years to come. You'll find out why they are tethered eventually and I dare you to NOT get at least a bit emotional.
After receiving an anonymous letter, now living a more or less successful life as a well-known local butcher, she must confront her lie-ridden life and finally find closure to the traumatic chapters of her life she's desperately tried to forget.
Honestly, this book will leave Daisy on your mind for a sweet while and have you caring for her, even though her actions will at times make your mouth drop and probably cause you to shake your head... wanting to give her a tight hug and tell her hopefully, eventually...things will be ok.
This is my second book by S.L. Woeppel and if you've already read "Flipping the Birdie" her Debut ( which was also awesome IMO!) Just FYI, this book was sooooo different and honestly I could have been fooled it wasn't written by the same person!
This just shows me what a multi-faceted author S.L.Woeppel really is and I absolutely can NOT wait to read what she writes next!!
September 28, 2025
I almost didn't read The Butcher and the Liar. I had seen it in an email from Book Sirens. I read the synopsis, then kept scrolling. That same day, a Goodreads friend posted a glowing review. My interest was piqued, and I'm so glad it was! The Butcher and the Liar is nothing short of brilliant.
It's the story of Daisy Bellon, a young girl whose father is a butcher, and her mother is severely depressed. Daisy soon learns that her father is a serial killer, and she's forced to keep his secrets. This novel has a little of everything, a coming-of-age story, murder mystery, a touch of romance, and even paranormal activity. It all blends perfectly into one amazing novel that brought tears to my eyes in more than one place.
I'm so glad I didn't pass this one by! Thanks, Yvonne, for your Goodreads review. Thanks also to Book Sirens for the ARC.
It's the story of Daisy Bellon, a young girl whose father is a butcher, and her mother is severely depressed. Daisy soon learns that her father is a serial killer, and she's forced to keep his secrets. This novel has a little of everything, a coming-of-age story, murder mystery, a touch of romance, and even paranormal activity. It all blends perfectly into one amazing novel that brought tears to my eyes in more than one place.
I'm so glad I didn't pass this one by! Thanks, Yvonne, for your Goodreads review. Thanks also to Book Sirens for the ARC.
September 12, 2025
I enjoyed this thriller. The focus of following a character, Daisy, through multiple timelines following her life, gave a better understanding of how she was coping with her childhood. Daisy’s knowledge of her father and her ability to keep secrets prevent her from opening up to others and truly having some happiness in her life. Her friendship with Caleb had me on the edge of my seat, as did a lot of her decisions. I have some thoughts behind Marina’s presence as a “ghost, " but overall, I liked how everything ended.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘗𝘙 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘚.𝘓. 𝘞𝘰𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘗𝘙 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘚.𝘓. 𝘞𝘰𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.
December 7, 2025
This book was so well written! I felt like I was in the story with Daisy, who was such a fascinating character. Her childhood trauma had long lasting ripple effects and I so wanted her to be able to be happy. Despite her history and the things she’s done I was rooting for her! This isn’t a twisty thriller but instead is more psychological so if you like books strong in character development but also with a serial killer, add this one to your list! I’ll be adding this to my best books of 2025 list ❤️
September 19, 2025
I read this one sitting. No sleeping or eating.
This novel is RIVETING. One of my two favorite books in the last 5 years. It’s full of heart in a most unusual way. Lots of books make you cry at the end - gratuitously. This one authentically had me crying four times throughout. From a range of emotions. I didn’t want to leave the world of Daisy, Caleb, Miles, or the lady with the yellow fingernails. Black, white and gray-all shades in this page-turner.
This novel is RIVETING. One of my two favorite books in the last 5 years. It’s full of heart in a most unusual way. Lots of books make you cry at the end - gratuitously. This one authentically had me crying four times throughout. From a range of emotions. I didn’t want to leave the world of Daisy, Caleb, Miles, or the lady with the yellow fingernails. Black, white and gray-all shades in this page-turner.
August 18, 2025
This was so good. It was ominous, something unsettling lingering the whole time. It was suspenseful and I loved the writing. Daisy thought she buried her past, she runs a butcher shop ar 35 and a
mysterious letter shows up and it brings her right back to a place she tried so hard to forget. Her past is something I'd want to forget too. At nine years old, from a small town she is her mother's care taker and her father's secret keeper...her upbringing and home life were awful..but she loved the livestock and loved the cows, they became a way to escape. The family
owned the local butcher shop.. The secrets she had to hang onto were horrific. She suspects her dad is a serial killer... This book had me hooked right from the start. The story is unique and told in a duel timeline. This psychological thriller with family drama and an underlying love connection, the twists and turns wrap up perfectly.
Thank you S.L. Woeppel for the arc!
all opinions are my own.
mysterious letter shows up and it brings her right back to a place she tried so hard to forget. Her past is something I'd want to forget too. At nine years old, from a small town she is her mother's care taker and her father's secret keeper...her upbringing and home life were awful..but she loved the livestock and loved the cows, they became a way to escape. The family
owned the local butcher shop.. The secrets she had to hang onto were horrific. She suspects her dad is a serial killer... This book had me hooked right from the start. The story is unique and told in a duel timeline. This psychological thriller with family drama and an underlying love connection, the twists and turns wrap up perfectly.
Thank you S.L. Woeppel for the arc!
all opinions are my own.
September 11, 2025
I literally could not put this book down. I truly did not know what to expect but what I got was an amazing read. The book grabbed you and never let you go.
It's a dark story and I loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's a dark story and I loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 25, 2025
AMAZING!!
Best book I have read in years!!! I’m not going to leave any details, you read it, you’ll LOVE it!!!!
Best book I have read in years!!! I’m not going to leave any details, you read it, you’ll LOVE it!!!!
October 8, 2025
★★★★★
”Sometimes the world gives you something good and something bad at the same time, so that we humans don't fail, so we stay balanced.”
Daisy Bellon runs a thriving butcher shop in Chicago, renowned throughout the restaurant industry for its exceptional quality and precise cuts. Though she has worked hard to bury her past, it is that very past that fuels her success. Her father, who taught her the art of butchery, carried a monstrous secret that Daisy has long kept hidden. She has no desire to revisit those dark memories but they may be creeping closer to the surface than she realizes…
WOW! The Butcher and the Liar is one of those rare books that truly lives up to the hype!
The story is hauntingly dark yet filled with glimmers of hope. The characters are richly developed, and the vivid atmosphere made the scenes unfold before my eyes. The dual timelines are masterfully woven, revealing just enough to keep me guessing and turning the pages.
This was my first read by S.L. Woeppel, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you BookSirens, Books Fluent, and S.L. Woeppel for a copy. All opinions are my own.
”Sometimes the world gives you something good and something bad at the same time, so that we humans don't fail, so we stay balanced.”
Daisy Bellon runs a thriving butcher shop in Chicago, renowned throughout the restaurant industry for its exceptional quality and precise cuts. Though she has worked hard to bury her past, it is that very past that fuels her success. Her father, who taught her the art of butchery, carried a monstrous secret that Daisy has long kept hidden. She has no desire to revisit those dark memories but they may be creeping closer to the surface than she realizes…
WOW! The Butcher and the Liar is one of those rare books that truly lives up to the hype!
The story is hauntingly dark yet filled with glimmers of hope. The characters are richly developed, and the vivid atmosphere made the scenes unfold before my eyes. The dual timelines are masterfully woven, revealing just enough to keep me guessing and turning the pages.
This was my first read by S.L. Woeppel, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you BookSirens, Books Fluent, and S.L. Woeppel for a copy. All opinions are my own.
November 9, 2025
Playing catch-up with my reviews as usual! This was my final read for October, which turned out to be a surprisingly quiet month with only 14 books crossing my path. But what a book to end on.
The Butcher and the Liar grabbed me from the first page because I'm absolutely fascinated by stories exploring how families cope when they discover a parent or loved one is a killer. That moment when everything you thought you knew shatters. Then fast-forward to the present day, where those children are grown and desperately trying to build new lives, only to have their carefully constructed identities exposed to the world. It's the kind of premise that keeps me turning pages late into the night.
When Daisy was just a young girl, her father a butcher by trade graduated from slaughtering animals to murdering women. He struck me as a bit of a Dexter-type killer, methodical and clean in his horrifying work. Now, decades later at thirty-five, Daisy has carved out her own success running a butchery shop. She's good at what she does, brilliant even. She's hidden behind her mother's maiden name, creating distance from her father's legacy and the nightmare of her childhood.
But the past never stays buried, does it? When a magazine spotlight features her shop, they've uncovered the dark truth about how Daisy learned her craft. Her carefully built life is about to come crashing down around her.
What I loved most about The Butcher and the Liar is that while it delivers all the thriller elements you'd expect, it's fundamentally a story about overcoming your past. It's about proving to ourselves and everyone watching that we don't have to become our parents. We're capable of forging our own pathways, making our own choices, and defining ourselves on our own terms.
SL Woeppel handles this delicate balance beautifully, never losing sight of the human story at the thriller's heart.
This is a book about identity, redemption, and the weight of inherited shame. It asks uncomfortable questions about culpability and forgiveness. Can we ever truly escape where we come from? Should we have to?
A compelling, thought-provoking read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
The Butcher and the Liar grabbed me from the first page because I'm absolutely fascinated by stories exploring how families cope when they discover a parent or loved one is a killer. That moment when everything you thought you knew shatters. Then fast-forward to the present day, where those children are grown and desperately trying to build new lives, only to have their carefully constructed identities exposed to the world. It's the kind of premise that keeps me turning pages late into the night.
When Daisy was just a young girl, her father a butcher by trade graduated from slaughtering animals to murdering women. He struck me as a bit of a Dexter-type killer, methodical and clean in his horrifying work. Now, decades later at thirty-five, Daisy has carved out her own success running a butchery shop. She's good at what she does, brilliant even. She's hidden behind her mother's maiden name, creating distance from her father's legacy and the nightmare of her childhood.
But the past never stays buried, does it? When a magazine spotlight features her shop, they've uncovered the dark truth about how Daisy learned her craft. Her carefully built life is about to come crashing down around her.
What I loved most about The Butcher and the Liar is that while it delivers all the thriller elements you'd expect, it's fundamentally a story about overcoming your past. It's about proving to ourselves and everyone watching that we don't have to become our parents. We're capable of forging our own pathways, making our own choices, and defining ourselves on our own terms.
SL Woeppel handles this delicate balance beautifully, never losing sight of the human story at the thriller's heart.
This is a book about identity, redemption, and the weight of inherited shame. It asks uncomfortable questions about culpability and forgiveness. Can we ever truly escape where we come from? Should we have to?
A compelling, thought-provoking read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
September 10, 2025
Thank you to Books Forward and S.L. Woeppel for the ARC of The Butcher and the Liar. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review this gripping thriller.
At the heart of The Butcher and the Liar is a devastating question: What happens when your survival depends on protecting a monster? Told in alternating timelines between Daisy’s childhood and her adult life, the novel explores the quiet horror of inherited trauma, the manipulation of innocence, and the crushing cost of silence.
Respected for his work as a butcher in Hellene, Nebraska, Daisy’s father is also the man behind a series of brutal killings. When she’s just nine years old, he forces her to help dispose of one of his victims, an act that shatters her sense of safety and seals her into a pact of fear and complicity. Terrified of prison, afraid for her emotionally fragile mother, and haunted by what she’s witnessed, Daisy learns early that silence can be its own kind of survival.
One moment, in particular, captures the loss of innocence that defines her arc:
“Watching him, I was aware that something had shifted. It didn’t matter that I was only nine years old – he could no longer be a father to me… There was this new thing between us, and what we were before had been carried downstream with the woman, gone forever.”
Daisy’s emotional journey is slow-burning and deeply affecting. Her lies, sometimes grotesque, often strangely casual, become the only space where truth can momentarily breathe. As a coping mechanism, they’re both a way to push people away while secretly begging to be seen.
The novel charts her path from this fractured girlhood to an adulthood shaped by secrecy and disconnection. But her arc isn’t just about surviving the past, it’s about finally choosing to stop running from it. The transformation lies not in vengeance, but in her decision to speak, to reclaim the truth in her own words. That shift, from concealment to confession, is where her power begins.
S.L. Woeppel builds tension masterfully, not through shock or gore, but through the unbearable knowing Daisy carries. Her father continues killing. She continues covering for him. And yet, each close call, each brush with exposure, feels like a breaking point. The horror isn’t just in the violence, it’s in the moments Daisy almost chooses to stop it, but doesn’t. That space between fear and action, love and revulsion, is where the book lives and breathes.
At the heart of The Butcher and the Liar is a devastating question: What happens when your survival depends on protecting a monster? Told in alternating timelines between Daisy’s childhood and her adult life, the novel explores the quiet horror of inherited trauma, the manipulation of innocence, and the crushing cost of silence.
Respected for his work as a butcher in Hellene, Nebraska, Daisy’s father is also the man behind a series of brutal killings. When she’s just nine years old, he forces her to help dispose of one of his victims, an act that shatters her sense of safety and seals her into a pact of fear and complicity. Terrified of prison, afraid for her emotionally fragile mother, and haunted by what she’s witnessed, Daisy learns early that silence can be its own kind of survival.
One moment, in particular, captures the loss of innocence that defines her arc:
“Watching him, I was aware that something had shifted. It didn’t matter that I was only nine years old – he could no longer be a father to me… There was this new thing between us, and what we were before had been carried downstream with the woman, gone forever.”
Daisy’s emotional journey is slow-burning and deeply affecting. Her lies, sometimes grotesque, often strangely casual, become the only space where truth can momentarily breathe. As a coping mechanism, they’re both a way to push people away while secretly begging to be seen.
The novel charts her path from this fractured girlhood to an adulthood shaped by secrecy and disconnection. But her arc isn’t just about surviving the past, it’s about finally choosing to stop running from it. The transformation lies not in vengeance, but in her decision to speak, to reclaim the truth in her own words. That shift, from concealment to confession, is where her power begins.
S.L. Woeppel builds tension masterfully, not through shock or gore, but through the unbearable knowing Daisy carries. Her father continues killing. She continues covering for him. And yet, each close call, each brush with exposure, feels like a breaking point. The horror isn’t just in the violence, it’s in the moments Daisy almost chooses to stop it, but doesn’t. That space between fear and action, love and revulsion, is where the book lives and breathes.
September 23, 2025
First off, I would like to thank Books Forward and author S. L. Woeppel for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions following are my own.
This book is dark. A butcher's daughter, Daisy, finds out his darkest and deadliest secret and is drawn into this horrible secret against her will at a mere nine years old.
When a ghost of one of his victims shows up one day and seemingly can't leave, Daisy immediately wants her to leave. Over the next several years, though, the ghost, whose name is Marina, becomes like family to her. The only other family Daisy has is her best friend and neighbor, Caleb. Unfortunately, she can't get full fulfillment from either of these friendships/complicated relationships. With Marina, she can't get physical touch, and with Caleb, she feels she can never be completely honest.
As she grows up, her father tries to get her to become his apprentice in more ways than one. She rebels until her life is changed, and she finds purpose again. With this renewed purpose, she opens her own butcher shop and takes in her own apprentice, who becomes her newfound family.
While her apprentice, Miles, knows her whole story, she has alienated everyone else in her life, even Caleb, and darkness still chases her. When her neighbor is murdered and suspicions about those closest to her arise, will Daisy run or finally tell the truth? And, if she does tell the truth, will she lose everything?
I honestly don't know if I wasn't in the mood for this type of book or if it just wasn't for me. I liked the book, but I found it disturbing enough that I wasn't excited to keep picking it up. That being said, the story was well-constructed and invoked many feelings as I read it. Therefore, I gave the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️. This book was just released on September 16, and the book tour will be going on until tomorrow, September 23. This book is definitely for readers who like dark, paranormal thrillers.
This book is dark. A butcher's daughter, Daisy, finds out his darkest and deadliest secret and is drawn into this horrible secret against her will at a mere nine years old.
When a ghost of one of his victims shows up one day and seemingly can't leave, Daisy immediately wants her to leave. Over the next several years, though, the ghost, whose name is Marina, becomes like family to her. The only other family Daisy has is her best friend and neighbor, Caleb. Unfortunately, she can't get full fulfillment from either of these friendships/complicated relationships. With Marina, she can't get physical touch, and with Caleb, she feels she can never be completely honest.
As she grows up, her father tries to get her to become his apprentice in more ways than one. She rebels until her life is changed, and she finds purpose again. With this renewed purpose, she opens her own butcher shop and takes in her own apprentice, who becomes her newfound family.
While her apprentice, Miles, knows her whole story, she has alienated everyone else in her life, even Caleb, and darkness still chases her. When her neighbor is murdered and suspicions about those closest to her arise, will Daisy run or finally tell the truth? And, if she does tell the truth, will she lose everything?
I honestly don't know if I wasn't in the mood for this type of book or if it just wasn't for me. I liked the book, but I found it disturbing enough that I wasn't excited to keep picking it up. That being said, the story was well-constructed and invoked many feelings as I read it. Therefore, I gave the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️. This book was just released on September 16, and the book tour will be going on until tomorrow, September 23. This book is definitely for readers who like dark, paranormal thrillers.
September 21, 2025
“Even if I wanted to tell her, it was too late now. I was already a liar.” - @slwoeppelbooks
If you’ve been here a while, you probably remember when I couldn’t stop screaming about Flipping The Birdie, so when @slwoeppelbooks offered a chance to read her next book, I said “say less, girl. I’m in.” She warned me it’s a completely different type of story than her first novel and she’s right, but I FREAKING LOVED IT.
This author has a way of writing “a prickly on the outside, but soft on the inside” FMC that you can’t help but root for. Daisy deserved so much better than what she was dealt and spent most of her life self-sabotaging, thinking she was undeserving of any good. I cried at her inner monologue each time she pushed away anyone that was ever kind to her, so they wouldn’t tainted by the horrors of her life.
Daisy is nine years old when she learns that her father is a serial killer and is manipulated to keep his secrets for him, while the ghost of his victim haunts her. As an adult, she desperately wants to start over, but the darkness from her past seems determined to be unveiled no matter what she does to bury it.
If you love a thriller, you will LOVE this book. Available on Kindle Unlimited now!
Thank you to the author for an early copy (my first physical ARC ever AHHH!)! I’ll read anything you write, girl! 👏
#bookstagram #thrillerbooks #psychologicalthriller #bookrecs
If you’ve been here a while, you probably remember when I couldn’t stop screaming about Flipping The Birdie, so when @slwoeppelbooks offered a chance to read her next book, I said “say less, girl. I’m in.” She warned me it’s a completely different type of story than her first novel and she’s right, but I FREAKING LOVED IT.
This author has a way of writing “a prickly on the outside, but soft on the inside” FMC that you can’t help but root for. Daisy deserved so much better than what she was dealt and spent most of her life self-sabotaging, thinking she was undeserving of any good. I cried at her inner monologue each time she pushed away anyone that was ever kind to her, so they wouldn’t tainted by the horrors of her life.
Daisy is nine years old when she learns that her father is a serial killer and is manipulated to keep his secrets for him, while the ghost of his victim haunts her. As an adult, she desperately wants to start over, but the darkness from her past seems determined to be unveiled no matter what she does to bury it.
If you love a thriller, you will LOVE this book. Available on Kindle Unlimited now!
Thank you to the author for an early copy (my first physical ARC ever AHHH!)! I’ll read anything you write, girl! 👏
#bookstagram #thrillerbooks #psychologicalthriller #bookrecs
November 27, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of her book! I really appreciate it. Here are my thoughts:
When Daisy is 9 she discovers her father, the town butcher, dismembering a body in the basement of their family home. A couple decades late, Daisy has made a life for herself, being a female butcher of high-regard who is getting notice across the country. Told back and forth between the two time periods, the reader gets to watch as Daisy’s life unfolds filled with horrors but also pieces of joy.
My summary of the plot doesn’t do this book nearly enough justice. This book is stunning. The horror pieces are present but not over the top and the mstery woven throughout both timelines kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. The novel is almost 450 pages, and there was never a slow moment. I was always disappointed when I had to put the book down to return to life responsibilities.
Daisy is such an intricate and complicated character that I was equally scared for and scared of. There is this underlying mystery to her because she won’t let people in and it plays out on the page so well. I loved both storylines, which is rare for me as I usually tend to be drawn to one over the other. And the novel also manages to weave in humor, romance and life feels.
This will be one of my top reads of the year, no question about it and I truly want everyone to read this book!
When Daisy is 9 she discovers her father, the town butcher, dismembering a body in the basement of their family home. A couple decades late, Daisy has made a life for herself, being a female butcher of high-regard who is getting notice across the country. Told back and forth between the two time periods, the reader gets to watch as Daisy’s life unfolds filled with horrors but also pieces of joy.
My summary of the plot doesn’t do this book nearly enough justice. This book is stunning. The horror pieces are present but not over the top and the mstery woven throughout both timelines kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. The novel is almost 450 pages, and there was never a slow moment. I was always disappointed when I had to put the book down to return to life responsibilities.
Daisy is such an intricate and complicated character that I was equally scared for and scared of. There is this underlying mystery to her because she won’t let people in and it plays out on the page so well. I loved both storylines, which is rare for me as I usually tend to be drawn to one over the other. And the novel also manages to weave in humor, romance and life feels.
This will be one of my top reads of the year, no question about it and I truly want everyone to read this book!
August 14, 2025
If you like your thrillers with a side of ghosts, butcher knives, and childhood trauma, pull up a chair this one’s for you!
Daisy Bellon is thirty-five, running a quiet butcher shop in a forgotten corner of Chicago, trying very hard not to think about her past. Unfortunately, her past has other plans specifically, in the form of an anonymous letter that drags her straight back to the day her life broke in two.
At nine years old, Daisy met Caleb Garcia, a boy who made her believe friendship could be real. That same night, she came home to find her father dismembering a woman in their basement. Yeah, no amount of therapy homework covers that! Worse, the victim’s ghost decided to hang around in Daisy’s room, and she became her father’s unwilling apprentice in keeping horrific secrets.
Fast forward two decades: someone close to Daisy turns up murdered in a disturbingly familiar way. Now she has to face the truth about her family and herself before the darkness swallows what’s left of her.
Woeppel serves up a perfect cut of suspense here: part supernatural mystery, part twisted family drama, with a dash of tender friendship that keeps the whole thing from being too bleak. It’s bloody, it’s haunting, and you won’t be able to look away!
⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and S.L. Woeppel for sharing this book with me!
Daisy Bellon is thirty-five, running a quiet butcher shop in a forgotten corner of Chicago, trying very hard not to think about her past. Unfortunately, her past has other plans specifically, in the form of an anonymous letter that drags her straight back to the day her life broke in two.
At nine years old, Daisy met Caleb Garcia, a boy who made her believe friendship could be real. That same night, she came home to find her father dismembering a woman in their basement. Yeah, no amount of therapy homework covers that! Worse, the victim’s ghost decided to hang around in Daisy’s room, and she became her father’s unwilling apprentice in keeping horrific secrets.
Fast forward two decades: someone close to Daisy turns up murdered in a disturbingly familiar way. Now she has to face the truth about her family and herself before the darkness swallows what’s left of her.
Woeppel serves up a perfect cut of suspense here: part supernatural mystery, part twisted family drama, with a dash of tender friendship that keeps the whole thing from being too bleak. It’s bloody, it’s haunting, and you won’t be able to look away!
⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and S.L. Woeppel for sharing this book with me!
September 30, 2025
4.5 stars A darkness you can't look away from...
Listen—I finished this in one sitting and it genuinely altered my brain chemistry. Fair warning though: read this while the sun's still up.
Daisy Bellon's story hit me somewhere I wasn't prepared for. Watching a nine-year-old girl forced into her serial killer father's world, then following her into adulthood where she's still carrying that weight? The psychological authenticity here is unsettling in the best way. Woeppel doesn't shy away from showing how trauma reshapes a person, how it makes you question your own morality.
But here's what surprised me most: this isn't just dark. The friendships—especially with Caleb and Miles—feel so genuine they became my lifeline through the horror. The ghost element adds this haunting layer that somehow makes everything more tender, not less.
Yes, I saw some twists coming. Didn't matter. I was there for Daisy's journey toward something like redemption, and Woeppel delivered beautifully.
**Vibes We Are Tracking:**
🔪 Haunted by your father's sins
👻 Literal ghost companionship
💔 Childhood friendship that saves you
🥩 Butchery as metaphor (and career)
⚖️ Wrestling with inherited darkness
Listen—I finished this in one sitting and it genuinely altered my brain chemistry. Fair warning though: read this while the sun's still up.
Daisy Bellon's story hit me somewhere I wasn't prepared for. Watching a nine-year-old girl forced into her serial killer father's world, then following her into adulthood where she's still carrying that weight? The psychological authenticity here is unsettling in the best way. Woeppel doesn't shy away from showing how trauma reshapes a person, how it makes you question your own morality.
But here's what surprised me most: this isn't just dark. The friendships—especially with Caleb and Miles—feel so genuine they became my lifeline through the horror. The ghost element adds this haunting layer that somehow makes everything more tender, not less.
Yes, I saw some twists coming. Didn't matter. I was there for Daisy's journey toward something like redemption, and Woeppel delivered beautifully.
**Vibes We Are Tracking:**
🔪 Haunted by your father's sins
👻 Literal ghost companionship
💔 Childhood friendship that saves you
🥩 Butchery as metaphor (and career)
⚖️ Wrestling with inherited darkness
December 5, 2025
Damnit, S. L., you made me cry. Which is no small task, given that this is a book about horrific murders and the impact on so many lives. Including 9-year-old Daisy Bellon.
There is a ghost - I'm not gonna lie, I don't normally like supernatural elements in my stories, but Marina is so central to the story. And there are cows. And very graphic descriptions of what happens to those cows. But it's done in a way that you know the author knows what she's talking about.
Grown-up Daisy runs a successful butcher shop. It's no wonder, given her history. After all, her father was a butcher. And Daisy's pretty sure it wasn't just cow meat he sold in his shop. Sorry - I hope you're not eating while you read this, lol! But as gruesome as that sounds, this was a lyrical tale of how hurt people hurt people. How, despite our pasts, there is the possibility for love and forgiveness. I would classify this as literary fiction, an updated Southern Gothic, because of the way the author tells the backstory. It seems like a departure from Woeppel's earlier book, and I hope she stays in the thriller/horror lane! Because I can't wait to read her next book!
Enormous thanks to the author for sending me a copy. You have my attention!
There is a ghost - I'm not gonna lie, I don't normally like supernatural elements in my stories, but Marina is so central to the story. And there are cows. And very graphic descriptions of what happens to those cows. But it's done in a way that you know the author knows what she's talking about.
Grown-up Daisy runs a successful butcher shop. It's no wonder, given her history. After all, her father was a butcher. And Daisy's pretty sure it wasn't just cow meat he sold in his shop. Sorry - I hope you're not eating while you read this, lol! But as gruesome as that sounds, this was a lyrical tale of how hurt people hurt people. How, despite our pasts, there is the possibility for love and forgiveness. I would classify this as literary fiction, an updated Southern Gothic, because of the way the author tells the backstory. It seems like a departure from Woeppel's earlier book, and I hope she stays in the thriller/horror lane! Because I can't wait to read her next book!
Enormous thanks to the author for sending me a copy. You have my attention!
September 1, 2025
I recieved an ARC of The Butcher and The Liar from Books Forward in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Books Forward!
In The Butcher and The Liar, our protagonist Daisy is the daughter of an excellent butcher and serial killer. Daisy had stumbled upon her father's horrible acts and was roped into being an accomplice, which traumatized her and really messed up her relationships.
As an adult, Daisy has made a name for herself as a butcher, as well. She's been able to lay low and make a different life for herself, but when a murder happens all too close for comfort and reminders of her past appear, Daisy is going to have to come to terms with everything she's been through and done.
This is a psychological thriller with a little bit of paranormal, which I actually really liked. I found this to be well written and I really enjoyed how the whole thing wrapped up. The narrative goes back and forth between Daisy's childhood and present day, making the story feel a little slow paced. However, that's not a negative for me, as I usually find these types of stories moving way too fast. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to people who like thrillers!
In The Butcher and The Liar, our protagonist Daisy is the daughter of an excellent butcher and serial killer. Daisy had stumbled upon her father's horrible acts and was roped into being an accomplice, which traumatized her and really messed up her relationships.
As an adult, Daisy has made a name for herself as a butcher, as well. She's been able to lay low and make a different life for herself, but when a murder happens all too close for comfort and reminders of her past appear, Daisy is going to have to come to terms with everything she's been through and done.
This is a psychological thriller with a little bit of paranormal, which I actually really liked. I found this to be well written and I really enjoyed how the whole thing wrapped up. The narrative goes back and forth between Daisy's childhood and present day, making the story feel a little slow paced. However, that's not a negative for me, as I usually find these types of stories moving way too fast. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to people who like thrillers!
October 17, 2025
S.L. Woeppel’s The Butcher and the Liar is an unflinching and brilliantly layered psychological thriller, one that blurs the line between horror, literary fiction, and tragedy in a way that few novels dare to attempt. It’s a story that grips not just through its plot, but through its psychology, its ghosts, and its startling humanity.
At its core, this book isn’t just about a killer or a secret; it’s about the fragile architecture of trauma and the lifelong consequences of surviving it. Daisy Bellon is a character readers will not soon forget raw, wounded, and beautifully written. Through her, Woeppel explores guilt, inherited darkness, and the desperate human instinct to keep living when life has become a nightmare.
What’s most remarkable is how seamlessly the story fuses genres moving from a coming-of-age tale to a chilling ghost story and a murder mystery without ever losing emotional truth. Woeppel writes with restraint and poetry, crafting scenes that are simultaneously horrifying and heartbreaking. It’s a haunting debut that deserves critical attention and lasting recognition.
At its core, this book isn’t just about a killer or a secret; it’s about the fragile architecture of trauma and the lifelong consequences of surviving it. Daisy Bellon is a character readers will not soon forget raw, wounded, and beautifully written. Through her, Woeppel explores guilt, inherited darkness, and the desperate human instinct to keep living when life has become a nightmare.
What’s most remarkable is how seamlessly the story fuses genres moving from a coming-of-age tale to a chilling ghost story and a murder mystery without ever losing emotional truth. Woeppel writes with restraint and poetry, crafting scenes that are simultaneously horrifying and heartbreaking. It’s a haunting debut that deserves critical attention and lasting recognition.
August 28, 2025
A gripping thriller, The Butcher and the Liar 92025) by S. L. Woeppel is the tale of Daisy Kantone and her serial killer father. Daisy owns a butcher shop in Chicago and keeps the dark secrets of her upbringing, deeply buried. The narrative switches effortlessly between Daisy’s childhood and current events in a flowing, captivating story of the impact of her father’s darkness and legacy. Daisy returns to Hellene, Nebraska seventeen years after leaving her former hometown, due to the closure of its Livestock Market. The source of her childhood happiness and where she met her only best friend, the trip back is a reckoning of Daisy’s past. Despite its initial impression of a gritty horror tale, this serial killer themed novel is an engrossing read of a psychological character study with a must read five star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to BookSirens and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.
October 28, 2025
Wow, I really enjoyed this book.
It’s the story of Daisy, the girl who made a life for herself after the trauma she endured as the daughter of a prolific serial killer. She knew what her dad was at the age of nine and was forced to keep the secret until it inevitably came out eight years later.
The book is told in alternating timelines between the present (2015) and Daisy’s childhood in the 90’s. There’s a quasi-supernatural element to it. Daisy becomes attached to the ghost of one of her father’s victims, but for most of the book you don’t know if she’s actually a ghost or the figment of a traumatized child’s imagination. It plays a huge part in the unraveling of the story though.
This book really had it all because it was also somewhat of a coming of age story, as we watched Daisy grow up and cope in the only ways she knew how.
Overall, I loved it. I’d recommend it to thriller readers who want something with more emotional depth than we typically see in thrillers these days.
It’s the story of Daisy, the girl who made a life for herself after the trauma she endured as the daughter of a prolific serial killer. She knew what her dad was at the age of nine and was forced to keep the secret until it inevitably came out eight years later.
The book is told in alternating timelines between the present (2015) and Daisy’s childhood in the 90’s. There’s a quasi-supernatural element to it. Daisy becomes attached to the ghost of one of her father’s victims, but for most of the book you don’t know if she’s actually a ghost or the figment of a traumatized child’s imagination. It plays a huge part in the unraveling of the story though.
This book really had it all because it was also somewhat of a coming of age story, as we watched Daisy grow up and cope in the only ways she knew how.
Overall, I loved it. I’d recommend it to thriller readers who want something with more emotional depth than we typically see in thrillers these days.
September 17, 2025
S.L. Woeppel delivers a gripping mystery thriller that keeps readers on edge from the very first page. The story unfolds with a chilling opening and quickly draws you into a web of secrets, betrayals, and unexpected twists.
The pacing is razor sharp; every chapter ends with just enough tension to make it impossible to put the book down. Daisy and the other characters are layered and complex, keeping you guessing at every turn. S.L. Woeppel masterfully weaves together multiple threads, with continual revelations pulls the rug out from under you.
What makes this novel stand out is not only the suspense but also the atmosphere—dark, immersive, and at times unsettling. You can feel the weight of Daisy’s Journey. This read will stay with you long after the last page.
Verdict: ★★★★★ — Perfect for readers who love psychological tension, unpredictable twists, and a finale that truly delivers.
The pacing is razor sharp; every chapter ends with just enough tension to make it impossible to put the book down. Daisy and the other characters are layered and complex, keeping you guessing at every turn. S.L. Woeppel masterfully weaves together multiple threads, with continual revelations pulls the rug out from under you.
What makes this novel stand out is not only the suspense but also the atmosphere—dark, immersive, and at times unsettling. You can feel the weight of Daisy’s Journey. This read will stay with you long after the last page.
Verdict: ★★★★★ — Perfect for readers who love psychological tension, unpredictable twists, and a finale that truly delivers.
September 29, 2025
Y'all, if this book is not on your radar then you need to get it on your radar!
Its the book I didn't know I needed in my life right now. It's visceral, it's gut-wrenching, it's brilliant.
This book is told in dual timelines, Daisy's present and her growing up.
This book is about Daisy. Her life was forever changed when at 9 years old, she stumbles into the basement and sees her father dismembering a woman. She unwillingly becomes his apprentice. But now at 35, she runs her own butcher shop and is trying to get through her past. But sometimes the past doesn't like to stay buried.
When I tell you this book was not what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting a coming of age story like this. The tears that came at the end of this book. And twists that had my mouth dropping open.
Coming of age, redemption, serial killers, first loves and a ghost story all in one. You know I've got you hooked!!!
Its the book I didn't know I needed in my life right now. It's visceral, it's gut-wrenching, it's brilliant.
This book is told in dual timelines, Daisy's present and her growing up.
This book is about Daisy. Her life was forever changed when at 9 years old, she stumbles into the basement and sees her father dismembering a woman. She unwillingly becomes his apprentice. But now at 35, she runs her own butcher shop and is trying to get through her past. But sometimes the past doesn't like to stay buried.
When I tell you this book was not what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting a coming of age story like this. The tears that came at the end of this book. And twists that had my mouth dropping open.
Coming of age, redemption, serial killers, first loves and a ghost story all in one. You know I've got you hooked!!!
October 16, 2025
Seriously- you need to read this book.
The Butcher and the Liar is about Daisy and her serial killer father. Daisy is nine years old when she learns about who and what her father is. Not only does she learn what he is- she becomes his accomplice. One night Daisy is visited by the ghost of one of her dad’s victims, and she never leaves.
Poor Daisy just cannot catch a break. She doesn’t allow anyone to get too close. She can’t allow the toxicity of her life to touch those she cares for. And just when you think she’s going to allow someone close- she sabotages her life in the most spectacular way.
The twisted journey that @sl takes you on is amazing and deserves to be read. Available on kindle unlimited.
Thank you to the author for my copy of the book (it’s the first time an author asked me to review their book and sent me a copy).
This book is for you if you like the following:
📚Dual Timeline
📚Plot Twist
📚Psychological Thriller
📚Friendly Ghosts
The Butcher and the Liar is about Daisy and her serial killer father. Daisy is nine years old when she learns about who and what her father is. Not only does she learn what he is- she becomes his accomplice. One night Daisy is visited by the ghost of one of her dad’s victims, and she never leaves.
Poor Daisy just cannot catch a break. She doesn’t allow anyone to get too close. She can’t allow the toxicity of her life to touch those she cares for. And just when you think she’s going to allow someone close- she sabotages her life in the most spectacular way.
The twisted journey that @sl takes you on is amazing and deserves to be read. Available on kindle unlimited.
Thank you to the author for my copy of the book (it’s the first time an author asked me to review their book and sent me a copy).
This book is for you if you like the following:
📚Dual Timeline
📚Plot Twist
📚Psychological Thriller
📚Friendly Ghosts
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