The Butcher Legacy

Dr. Wren Muller #3

by Alaina Urquhart

The thrilling third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dr. Wren Muller series from Alaina Urquhart

Two months after the life-altering events of The Butcher Game, Wren is back in the place she knows best: the New Orleans morgue. She buries herself in routine, surrounded by both familiar and new company, John Leroux and Maya Rodriguez, trying to convince herself that normalcy can be rebuilt. But in the weeks leading up to Halloween, shadows begin to move again as young girls vanish in both cities where Jeremy Rose once ran rampant.

Hundreds of miles away, the pastor to a close-knit congregation in Massachusetts Philip Trudeau is back behind the pulpit. But beneath his practiced composure lies something sinister—gruesome secrets and a hunger that did not die when Jeremy was caged.

With Jeremy behind bars and Philip suddenly nowhere to be found, Wren and Leroux must mobilize, and this twisted triangle clashes at every turn. The Butcher Legacy is a relentless, page-turning descent into the dark.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Horror, Crime, Mystery Thriller

384 pages, Hardcover

Published August 11, 2026

About the author

Alaina 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.

Reviews

[Cora Heidenreich · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book/series so badly because I love Morbid and want to support Alaina, but JEEZ.
To introduce someone brand new into the story within the first chapter, never mention him again until the "big reveal" / plot twist at the end was such a bummer for me. As soon as they introduced him I said oh, she just happened to meet this guy "2 months ago" which is also right when the last book ended, and there's only one big thing we know about him...... it just felt like something that should have been fleshed out before book 1 got published. I think it needed A LOT more editing. I don't generally review books but this one was THAT bad.

[Emily Hermann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just… not very good. I listened to the audiobook and I don’t know if reading it would have made it any better. I couldn’t tell where the characters were most of the time, how much time passed between scenes, and what was the point really. I feel like this book didn’t have much substance and was much longer than it needed to be. Lots of fluff writing and when you get down to the plot, not a lot happened. At all. I wish I loved this series but I just didn’t.

[Deana P Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series but I do need to say this one lacked the high stakes feeling of the first two books. I can’t put my finger on it exactly but when I finished the book, I was just left with an incomplete feeling.

Almost as if the whole book could have been a novella or an addendum to book 2.

There is room for a continuation of the series with the ending the way it is. I’d like to see more depth and plot in the next book for sure.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was meh. I don’t know what else to say about it. It was rather predictable.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listen I loved the two books before this one and was excited, but I felt it was way too predictable. Maybe I just read too much but I could tell where the plot was going from the start. I was disappointed and it’s hard I really REALLY wanted to like this book. I love morbid, I love the two previous, but this one needed something more.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 🤯 What a ending!!! Review to come

[Elizabeth Hutchinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the book series but this last book left a lot to be desired. Felt very rushed at the end. The death and phone call. Very sad and disappointing.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have read the first two books in the series so I was excited to dive into this one. It starts not long after the second ends. What are Jeremy and Philip up to now? The book kept my interest but it was told from multiple perspectives which is fine but I felt it should’ve been told more from Wren’s perspective overall. Still, overall a fast paced read that kept my interest.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

*audio

🪦🔪𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪🔪🪦

THE BUTCHER LEGACY
by
ALAINA URQUHART
Publisher: Zando & Penguin Random House
Pub Date: 08/11/2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

“A simple chair in the middle of a room would normally be nothing to cause any alarm. After all, a chair is a place to sit, but this one is nailed to the floor.”

I was fortunate enough to meet Alaina Urquhart at BAM in Arundel Mills and she’s just as cool in person as she is on her podcast.

She was telling us how the first scene she wrote for this book was the Haunt scene and trust me you’ll know when you get there. It was one of my fav scenes in the book and I’ve literally thought those same things while walking through a haunt. It’s bound to be a fan fav for sure. When you need to figure out what body part goes with what…you’ve def got a situation on your hands.

I also loved how when the narrator is discussing the killer’s POV it’s discussed in such a deluded way. For instance how the KILLER refers to his victims as “It” in the narration, it made it all the more unsettling. So creepy. A very nice touch for maximum impact.

I liked the way Wren started putting things together in this book. She becomes more clever with each book and she’s def at the top of her game in this one. Some of the morbid puzzles she solved were gross but also really cool.

I also liked how it was a little bit open ended at the end. It could be a spinoff or an extension of the series although I thought the Butcher legacy was the last book in the series and that storyline does feel complete. So hooray for the final installment of Butcher Trilogy! Don’t worry though Dr. Wren Mueller isn’t going anywhere we are getting more Wren books.

Next up for Alaina’s work…she’s gonna give us 90s horror (and likely a solid book playlist)!!!!!! Cannot wait!

QOTD: What’s the last book event you’ve been to?

#thebutcherlegacy #alainaurquhart #zando #serialkillernovel #morbidpodcast

[Rosy Ay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for the book. I’ve started it a couple of times but I know from experience with the previous in this series, the butcher game, that it took me a couple of goes before I got far enough in that I felt invested in the story, I haven’t got to that point yet so I am setting this book aside for awhile and then I will try it again. I enjoyed number one in the series, the Butcher and the Ren, number two was a struggle, the butcher game, and number three at the moment has beaten me, LOL! Will pick it up again at some point and maybe have a different experience with it.

[Yinka Boudreaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when you think it’s all over… 😳

[Kataryna Gingrass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad we got a third book!!
Not as invigorating at the first two but still good

[myreadingescapism · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book one was good, book two was decent, book three was subpar.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final installment of the butcher series hits a high note. Can’t wait to see how Dr. Muller and crew continue on in the world.

Urquhart masters the ability to write horror and shows her ability to write intense emotions all in one shot. Grief is often a topic that is so difficult to understand and portray with accuracy and she accomplishes this and then some.

[Liz D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it proved to be a bit of a let down. While there were a few big reveals, the storyline around them felt rushed and incomplete. It just fell flat, in my opinion, compared to the first two books. Will I continue to read anything AU releases? Almost certainly. Her writing chops are growing stronger with each release, even if this one wasn’t a hit for me personally.

[Laura Ofiara · Rating 1 out of 5]

*listened on audiobook*

I reallllly wanted to like this book because I am a huge fan of Alaina and Morbid. But this book just fell so flat for me. I was iffy on the second book in this series, but said I would read the next one. After this book, I will not continue with the series. I was hoping the writing improved, but it didn’t. The part where Phillip sees one of the detectives looking into his cabin and he’s suddenly recanting the Massachusetts state law for lawful search?? Like huh?? I also couldn’t keep track of how long this book was spanning over time- which could be an audiobook complaint- but I found the story hard to keep up with, but also boring that I didn’t really care to try and keep everything straight. And the big reveal at the end did nothing for me because why would I care about a character introduced for 2 minutes at the beginning of the book who turns out to be evil? I expected more from this book, but I will always continue supporting my girl Alaina in her other endeavors.

[Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

💬 Review: Another great book in the series! I devoured this in just a few hours and seriously couldn’t put it down. I do wish Wren had more chapters, but I get why she didn’t based on the direction of the story. This was definitely worth the wait! I took one star away simply because it didn’t quite hit the same as the first book, which I absolutely loved, but this was still such a great read. I’m really enjoying this series and can’t wait to see what comes next!

✔️ Would I recommend it? Yes

[Denise Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Amanda Matson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a huge let down coming from the first two that I couldn't put down.

[Jennifer Jarrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book of the series so far. I enjoyed it.

[Emma Luithly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75, I love Wren and I hope to see more of her in the future!!!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gimme cult vibes and creepy religious zealots and I will eat it up every single time.

[Stephanie Sabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Samantha Smithies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed!!! I loved the first in this series, liked the second, but this one was a flop. The first had moments that were hard to read they were so gruesome and scary. This third book felt SO forced and unrealistic, and boring at times. I didn’t think it was a believable way to “end” the butcher legacy… the end could’ve been a set up for another book, books?, but I don’t think there’s a need for more.

[Kayla Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this so much more than book 2. Book 1 will always be the best but I enjoyed this!!

[Naomi Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Alaina Urquhart and really enjoyed the previous books in this series, but unfortunately, The Butcher Legacy missed the mark for me. The story felt semi-predictable, and the plot just wasn’t as gripping as I expected it to be. There were parts that really dragged, and I found myself waiting for something to happen that would pull me back in.

I still love her writing and the world she’s created with this series, but this one just didn’t have the same intensity or excitement for me. Definitely not a bad book, just easily my least favorite of the series so far.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Alaina does it again! Just when I would think it couldn’t get crazier she would kick it into higher gear. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next.

[Maegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Alaina's writing style and the world she has built here.

[Gabbi Bentley · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointing after the first two books, the whole Phillip Trudeau storyline just fizzled out and made Richard's death in book 2 feel lazy and unnecessary. Wish this book was better but found everything felt rushed and predictable. Also the whole eyes wide shut vibe the ending was trying to convey felt very cliche.

[Sarah Stagnone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Alaina and the first book of this series so this rating pains me, but there’s so much more she could’ve done with the religious elements of this book and truthfully it just felt flat and like it didn’t need to be it’s on book