What do you think?
Rate this book
The Butcher's Boy
The Butcher's Boy
A Paranormal/Chiller by Michael Robb
Thirty-one years ago, Buxly the Butcher went to trial for killing his entire family. He was found guilty, and sentenced to die for those crimes. Now, Janet Hale, a recently divorced nurse, has purchased the house unaware of the brutal murders that took place there so long ago.
From the moment she, her eleven-year-old son, and his overprotective Rottweiler move in, bad things start to happen. A strange man is caught lurking in the back yard, and the only neighbor turns out to be a crazy old widow. But not everything is going wrong. During the move, Janet meets a handsome charmer. She likes him enough to start dating again, leaving a sitter to watch over her son.
When Michael, and his dog, Lucy-Fur, learn firsthand that their home is haunted by one of the victims of the Butcher's grisly act, Michael scours the internet and the local library to find out what happened back then. Maggie, the sitter, brings over a Ouija board and they soon find out that there is more than one dark spirit on the haunt.
Can Lucy-Fur protect her boy from the angry ghost that wants to possess him? Can Michael fight through the madness and terror to find out what really happened? If he does, maybe the tormented souls can be put to rest and his mom can keep the house that she seems to love. If he fails, he just might become one of them. With the help of Maggie, and a burned out house painter, Michael is going to try. The problem is, not everyone is who they seem... even the dead.
This isn't your average haunted house novel.
The Butcher's Boy by Michael Robb... Take a slow ride into terror!
Download the sample and start reading now.
A Paranormal/Chiller by Michael Robb
Thirty-one years ago, Buxly the Butcher went to trial for killing his entire family. He was found guilty, and sentenced to die for those crimes. Now, Janet Hale, a recently divorced nurse, has purchased the house unaware of the brutal murders that took place there so long ago.
From the moment she, her eleven-year-old son, and his overprotective Rottweiler move in, bad things start to happen. A strange man is caught lurking in the back yard, and the only neighbor turns out to be a crazy old widow. But not everything is going wrong. During the move, Janet meets a handsome charmer. She likes him enough to start dating again, leaving a sitter to watch over her son.
When Michael, and his dog, Lucy-Fur, learn firsthand that their home is haunted by one of the victims of the Butcher's grisly act, Michael scours the internet and the local library to find out what happened back then. Maggie, the sitter, brings over a Ouija board and they soon find out that there is more than one dark spirit on the haunt.
Can Lucy-Fur protect her boy from the angry ghost that wants to possess him? Can Michael fight through the madness and terror to find out what really happened? If he does, maybe the tormented souls can be put to rest and his mom can keep the house that she seems to love. If he fails, he just might become one of them. With the help of Maggie, and a burned out house painter, Michael is going to try. The problem is, not everyone is who they seem... even the dead.
This isn't your average haunted house novel.
The Butcher's Boy by Michael Robb... Take a slow ride into terror!
Download the sample and start reading now.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2010
26 people are currently reading
743 people want to read
About the author
Michael Robb Mathias
5 books7 followersMichael Robb has made a name writing epic fantasy novels under the pen name M. R. Mathias. Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, Bestsellers such as:
The Sword and the Dragon & The Royal Dragoneers have taken on a life of their own as masterworks in the fantasy genre. Michael's newest release, The Butcher's Boy, however is not a fantasy. It is a terrifying Haunted-House/Murder-Mystery/Chiller. In order to maintain a distance from the YA fans of his popular Dragoneers Saga, this frightening tale has been released under the pen name
Michael Robb
The M.R. Mathias Goodreads fan page is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
The Sword and the Dragon & The Royal Dragoneers have taken on a life of their own as masterworks in the fantasy genre. Michael's newest release, The Butcher's Boy, however is not a fantasy. It is a terrifying Haunted-House/Murder-Mystery/Chiller. In order to maintain a distance from the YA fans of his popular Dragoneers Saga, this frightening tale has been released under the pen name
Michael Robb
The M.R. Mathias Goodreads fan page is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 16, 2011
The Butcher's Boy by Michael Robb was clearly a novel the author really wanted to write; a book without compromise; a book that held a lot of integrity with Robb's sensibilities; and a book with great honesty. But along with this honesty came a very graphic, gruesome and explicit novel. Something I wasn’t quite expecting, but fully embraced.
The story begins during the fall of 1984 with the murder trial of William Buxley Sr., the man accused of murdering his entire family (Dorothy (wife), Emma (daughter), William Jr. (son), and Elizabeth (another daughter)). Though he was found guilty, he declared his innocence to the day of his execution. After Buxley’s death, Richard King, William Buxley’s attorney, was given ownership of his house as part of his payment for defending him. But, a year later, King was found dead in the Buxley home—he was electrocuted. The death was ruled accidental. The Buxley house was then given to King’s sister who didn’t want anything to do with the house; thus, the house was left to deteriorate.
Fast forward to the summer of 2011. A Mr. Parker now owned the Buxley house. He sold it to Janet Hale, a woman who recently went through a bitter divorce and was looking to get away from the city. She thought living in the country would offer her peace of mind and so, she moved into the Buxley home, completely unaware of the history of the house, with her eleven-year-old son, Michael, and their trusty Rottweiler, Lucy (Lucy-fur is her nickname). After settling in, all sorts of strange phenomena start to happen, relating back to the Buxley family and their gruesome murders. From there, the plot unfolds in all kinds of direction; too many to even attempt to summarize.
I really enjoyed The Butcher's Boy. The plot was convoluted but well-developed, the characters were substantial and well fleshed-out, and the pace of the book was consistent. All these great qualities really kept me on edge. I liked how Robb was able to combine the concepts of a psychological thriller with the elements of the supernatural; and he did it in a way that was seamless and relevant.
Robb also used a lot of foreshadowing and portending in the book, which I enjoyed as well, because it’s so necessary for genres like this. He would introduce characters like Steve Duncan (the counselor to Oliver), Oliver (a recovering drug addict), Willie Tee (the town drunk), Detective Howell (his title speaks for itself), Tommy McMurphy (the missing neighbor’s child), and several other characters, and then expect us to play a game of “who done what to whom.” Part of the charm of the novel was this little game; it got me really engrossed in the plot.
The one unfavorable part of the book for some people might be the novel’s graphic depiction of the death scenes, intertwined with the explicit sexual content. While I did cringe in certain parts of the book, I still applaud Robb for writing a novel the way he wanted to. I always give credit to authors who aren’t afraid to be provocative or push the envelope; to express their art the way they really want to; and to endorse anti-censorship. While reading The Butcher's Boy, that’s the intent I got from Robb—super kudos!
All in all, I definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers or scary novels. There’s enough content in the book to satiate a reader’s voracious appetite for these particular genres. I also appreciated the finality of the novel, which brings closure to a great injustice; an injustice that was the driving force behind the entire plot. I have to give props to Robb for his great use of cohesion and integration with all the different elements of the book.
The story begins during the fall of 1984 with the murder trial of William Buxley Sr., the man accused of murdering his entire family (Dorothy (wife), Emma (daughter), William Jr. (son), and Elizabeth (another daughter)). Though he was found guilty, he declared his innocence to the day of his execution. After Buxley’s death, Richard King, William Buxley’s attorney, was given ownership of his house as part of his payment for defending him. But, a year later, King was found dead in the Buxley home—he was electrocuted. The death was ruled accidental. The Buxley house was then given to King’s sister who didn’t want anything to do with the house; thus, the house was left to deteriorate.
Fast forward to the summer of 2011. A Mr. Parker now owned the Buxley house. He sold it to Janet Hale, a woman who recently went through a bitter divorce and was looking to get away from the city. She thought living in the country would offer her peace of mind and so, she moved into the Buxley home, completely unaware of the history of the house, with her eleven-year-old son, Michael, and their trusty Rottweiler, Lucy (Lucy-fur is her nickname). After settling in, all sorts of strange phenomena start to happen, relating back to the Buxley family and their gruesome murders. From there, the plot unfolds in all kinds of direction; too many to even attempt to summarize.
I really enjoyed The Butcher's Boy. The plot was convoluted but well-developed, the characters were substantial and well fleshed-out, and the pace of the book was consistent. All these great qualities really kept me on edge. I liked how Robb was able to combine the concepts of a psychological thriller with the elements of the supernatural; and he did it in a way that was seamless and relevant.
Robb also used a lot of foreshadowing and portending in the book, which I enjoyed as well, because it’s so necessary for genres like this. He would introduce characters like Steve Duncan (the counselor to Oliver), Oliver (a recovering drug addict), Willie Tee (the town drunk), Detective Howell (his title speaks for itself), Tommy McMurphy (the missing neighbor’s child), and several other characters, and then expect us to play a game of “who done what to whom.” Part of the charm of the novel was this little game; it got me really engrossed in the plot.
The one unfavorable part of the book for some people might be the novel’s graphic depiction of the death scenes, intertwined with the explicit sexual content. While I did cringe in certain parts of the book, I still applaud Robb for writing a novel the way he wanted to. I always give credit to authors who aren’t afraid to be provocative or push the envelope; to express their art the way they really want to; and to endorse anti-censorship. While reading The Butcher's Boy, that’s the intent I got from Robb—super kudos!
All in all, I definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers or scary novels. There’s enough content in the book to satiate a reader’s voracious appetite for these particular genres. I also appreciated the finality of the novel, which brings closure to a great injustice; an injustice that was the driving force behind the entire plot. I have to give props to Robb for his great use of cohesion and integration with all the different elements of the book.
December 10, 2010
4.5 stars out of 5
You know a book is good when a particular scene will play in your mind repeatedly. I remember watching the Shining and seeing Jack Nicholson dragging his leg through the maze with that ax. It was not the gore, the surprises, or the story that was memorable; it was that particular scene and the methodical slowness in which Jack dragged himself through the maze. It scares me to this day.
The Butcher’s Boy has that same quality to it. Certain scenes keep playing in my head making this book very memorable and very scary.
The Butcher’s Boy is not a book of immediate horror and gore, but a slow building up of the terror. I was concerned at the beginning, fearful for Michael and fearful for the dog. Yes, the dog. I have a thing against dead dogs. I expect humans to die in horror books, but do not kill the dog.
The basic story is a divorced mom, her son and their dog move into a house that was the sight of some very horrific murders (ok, I know, what murders aren’t horrific?). You think you know what is going to happen and that this book will be like so many other horror and supernatural books about scary homes. However, it isn’t your classic scary home ghost story. The author puts some twists in the story that made it refreshing and pleasantly surprised me.
My only complaint was Michael sometimes didn’t act like an 11 year old. At times, he came across adult like and it seemed the author forgot he was only 11.
Overall, an excellent story. Be prepared for some gore especially near the end.
You know a book is good when a particular scene will play in your mind repeatedly. I remember watching the Shining and seeing Jack Nicholson dragging his leg through the maze with that ax. It was not the gore, the surprises, or the story that was memorable; it was that particular scene and the methodical slowness in which Jack dragged himself through the maze. It scares me to this day.
The Butcher’s Boy has that same quality to it. Certain scenes keep playing in my head making this book very memorable and very scary.
The Butcher’s Boy is not a book of immediate horror and gore, but a slow building up of the terror. I was concerned at the beginning, fearful for Michael and fearful for the dog. Yes, the dog. I have a thing against dead dogs. I expect humans to die in horror books, but do not kill the dog.
The basic story is a divorced mom, her son and their dog move into a house that was the sight of some very horrific murders (ok, I know, what murders aren’t horrific?). You think you know what is going to happen and that this book will be like so many other horror and supernatural books about scary homes. However, it isn’t your classic scary home ghost story. The author puts some twists in the story that made it refreshing and pleasantly surprised me.
My only complaint was Michael sometimes didn’t act like an 11 year old. At times, he came across adult like and it seemed the author forgot he was only 11.
Overall, an excellent story. Be prepared for some gore especially near the end.
June 26, 2012
If rape were a literary device, Mathias might think he’s an artist. But it’s not, and so using rape like sprinkles is a crude curtain for what otherwise would be completely unemotional writing. As it is, the characters are grossly underdeveloped and behave in messy patterns that serve the story nothing but thin masking (see first sentence). The writing was soaked in not only sexism and social ineptitude but also in unedited, floundering piss. The writing was drunk and neglected with a story to match. Its bad metaphors were clichéd and tried at best but mainly absurd and convoluted, much like the plot line and any pivotal moments Mathias systematically manufactured. Highly predictable and when it wasn’t, it was worse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2014
I picked this one up on Audible thru Kindle Unlimited. There was a lot going on in this one and at times it was a bit hard to follow the different characters (mostly the spirits). Not sure if that was a result of the audio version or not. Written well with a good cast of characters but a little predictable. Overall, a pretty good ghost story.
March 9, 2011
Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
The Butcher's Boy catches your attention from the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat for a wild and scary ride. A variety of things happen in this book including possession, murder, kidnapping and redemption. I really liked all the characters, especially Michael. They were well developed and I thought their actions and reactions were realistic. The ending was exciting but brutal and I thought maybe a bit cheesey.
This is a standalone book with a well thought out plot that builds to a crescendo. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading scary, gruesome books.
For my full review go to: http://books-treasureortrash.com/?p=1521
The Butcher's Boy catches your attention from the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat for a wild and scary ride. A variety of things happen in this book including possession, murder, kidnapping and redemption. I really liked all the characters, especially Michael. They were well developed and I thought their actions and reactions were realistic. The ending was exciting but brutal and I thought maybe a bit cheesey.
This is a standalone book with a well thought out plot that builds to a crescendo. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading scary, gruesome books.
For my full review go to: http://books-treasureortrash.com/?p=1521
December 27, 2010
I just finished The Butcher's Boy. The book didn't take long for me to read because I was totally engrossed in the story. The Butcher's Boy is the perfect mixture of paranormal, horror and gore. It grabbed me from the very beginning and held on until I reluctantly read the last pages of the book. The story is told from several point of view of the characters but the flow between them was done very well and felt perfectly natural as I was pulled along. I definitely recommend this book!
February 7, 2011
Of course I love a good ghost story, but this is so much more than that. The ghosts of the past aren't the only mystery entangled within the story and it doesn't take long to figure out that something is amiss. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, I realized there was so much more to it. Truly a brilliant piece of work.
P.S. The product placement of The Royal Dragoneers was a hoot! Thanks for the laugh Michael!
P.S. The product placement of The Royal Dragoneers was a hoot! Thanks for the laugh Michael!
October 17, 2011
Thirty-one years ago, Buxly the Butcher was tried for murdering his family. He was found guilty and sentenced to die for those grizzly acts. Now a newly divorced nurse has bought and moved into the house, completely unaware of what happened so long ago.
The transition to a new life for Janet and her son Michael seems to go well. Janet meets a handsome charmer and decides she likes him enough to start dating again. She leaves Michael with a babysitter. Fueled by tales of the house being haunted, Michael and his babysitter begin doing research and the deeper in they get, the more they find that no one is who they seem.
I have read a lot of thrillers in my time so it’s really hard to get me engaged to the point where I get the chills. This book did it! Michael Mathias’ use of description, storyline and plot twists take you on a dark ride where you just HAVE to know what happens next. The night I first started it, I didn’t want to put it down for that very reason. What more could you want? It’s suspenseful, you don’t want to pull away from it and it’s gory! All things anyone who loves a great horror novel looks for. I’m really glad I picked this one up and chose October to read it. It was perfect for Halloween and now I’m looking for something to beat it!
Thank you to Michael Mathias for the review copy, it in no way influenced my review.
Michael Mathias was a Booster for The Top Shelf for the month of October. That in no way influenced my review.
The transition to a new life for Janet and her son Michael seems to go well. Janet meets a handsome charmer and decides she likes him enough to start dating again. She leaves Michael with a babysitter. Fueled by tales of the house being haunted, Michael and his babysitter begin doing research and the deeper in they get, the more they find that no one is who they seem.
I have read a lot of thrillers in my time so it’s really hard to get me engaged to the point where I get the chills. This book did it! Michael Mathias’ use of description, storyline and plot twists take you on a dark ride where you just HAVE to know what happens next. The night I first started it, I didn’t want to put it down for that very reason. What more could you want? It’s suspenseful, you don’t want to pull away from it and it’s gory! All things anyone who loves a great horror novel looks for. I’m really glad I picked this one up and chose October to read it. It was perfect for Halloween and now I’m looking for something to beat it!
Thank you to Michael Mathias for the review copy, it in no way influenced my review.
Michael Mathias was a Booster for The Top Shelf for the month of October. That in no way influenced my review.
May 18, 2011
The thriller The Butcher’s Boy is a perfect mix of horror and mystery. It left me thinking, “I’d love to see this made into a movie”! But then I realized I would be too afraid to actually see it. While I did pinpoint the “bad guy” early on, it didn’t keep me from being on the edge of my seat the entire book. There were still plenty of twists and turns in this great story. I fell in love with Janet and Michael and I adored Lucy. I was also caught by surprise by the emotion the author evoked in me with the story of a mother’s love. For me, this book had it all: Haunted house, Ouija boards, gruesome murders, and me having to sleep with the light on. With that said, the story is a bit graphic at times and might make the easily offended somewhat uncomfortable. I personally thought it was one of the best I’ve read in a while.
January 31, 2011
The Butcher's Boy is a trilling paranormal murder mystery. A divorced mother and her son move into a new house to restart their lives, only to discover it is haunted by a very nasty ghost. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing along the way so don't think you've gotten it figured out too early. Character developments where great and I had a very tough time putting this book down. Thanks Michael for the read!
September 18, 2017
Excellent story!
An Excellent read! I really enjoyed the read, the author's writing style is of absolute top quality and it's fast-paced. The characters are well developed making the read an awesome passionate thriller with a great creative plot. Michael Robb Mathias did a great work putting this together and I must say it deserves 5.0 stars out of 5. I would definitely recommend this great story.
An Excellent read! I really enjoyed the read, the author's writing style is of absolute top quality and it's fast-paced. The characters are well developed making the read an awesome passionate thriller with a great creative plot. Michael Robb Mathias did a great work putting this together and I must say it deserves 5.0 stars out of 5. I would definitely recommend this great story.
September 24, 2011
The Butcher's Boy by Michael Robb is a ghost story. Robb does not simply write scenes that are creepy, spine chilling and suggestive of a haunting, he straight up tells you. So, if you don't like graphic angry spirits invading bodies of innocent humans, this may not be for you. I need to ponder this a bit more, but it was well written and intense.
September 28, 2012
Interesting blend of psychological thriller and ghost story. Maybe a little predictable: I have to admit that I called the twist & villain at the 17% mark. I did enjoy it, but found it to be a little uneven and a mixture of too many supernatural angles. Can't say more without having to add the spoiler tag.
April 27, 2020
I was recommended the movie "The Butcher's Boy" about which I know nothing. I was recommended this ebook by Amazon and thought it would be the same story. A little research would have shown otherwise. Sadly I bought it without the research.
This is a murder mystery horror story, complete with ghosts and possession. A grisly set of murders years ago and a single mother moving her child to the house where it happens sets the scene nicely. It seems to be ebook only, and for good reason.
Before I say what I disliked though, I should say what was good: The writing style was competent and the editing was good. This was a book written by someone who knows how to write and some effort was taken to produce this book. This was not the chaotic unpublishable work of someone self publishing their rejected works. This book was clearly good enough, and many readers could enjoy this tale.
Nevertheless I did not enjoy it. The storyline seemed to me to be a little too hackneyed. It lacked something fresh and original. Characterisations were poor, so that I did not really get to like any of the characters. Moreover the point of view was omniscient, and that felt somewhat chaotic. We jumped from the head of one person to another, and then the narrator would fill in additional facts that we could not have witnessed.
I don't read much horror. I have occasionally enjoyed works by the likes of John Saul, Peter Straub, Stephen King and Clive Barker. This book was not in their league though. However, lovers of the horror genre may like this one.
This is a murder mystery horror story, complete with ghosts and possession. A grisly set of murders years ago and a single mother moving her child to the house where it happens sets the scene nicely. It seems to be ebook only, and for good reason.
Before I say what I disliked though, I should say what was good: The writing style was competent and the editing was good. This was a book written by someone who knows how to write and some effort was taken to produce this book. This was not the chaotic unpublishable work of someone self publishing their rejected works. This book was clearly good enough, and many readers could enjoy this tale.
Nevertheless I did not enjoy it. The storyline seemed to me to be a little too hackneyed. It lacked something fresh and original. Characterisations were poor, so that I did not really get to like any of the characters. Moreover the point of view was omniscient, and that felt somewhat chaotic. We jumped from the head of one person to another, and then the narrator would fill in additional facts that we could not have witnessed.
I don't read much horror. I have occasionally enjoyed works by the likes of John Saul, Peter Straub, Stephen King and Clive Barker. This book was not in their league though. However, lovers of the horror genre may like this one.
September 26, 2018
There was a lot going on in this book as there was a fairly large number of characters with storylines that intersected all over the place. Even though it was told from several character's points of view, it was still very easy to follow.
This book kept my interest all they way through, and I found myself picking it up every chance I had, even though
The ending was a little abrupt, not to mention surprising in that it was simultaneously shoddy and gory. The ending was the only part that I didn't care for, I really enjoyed the rest of the book.
August 7, 2025
This gripping supernatural thriller delivers chills and heart in equal measure. The story of young Michael, his devoted dog Lucy Fur, and the dark secrets lurking in their new home is both haunting and heartfelt.
April 9, 2011
The Butcher’s Boy by Michael Robb – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“The prosecution has sickened us with grizzly photographs of the crime scene. They have brought in experts and skilled technicians. They have dazzled us with their qualifications and then had us listen to their various opinions as to what happened to those three children and their living mother.” He heaved in a sigh and then began pacing slowly as he drew the jury in. “They have produced lab findings, coroner’s reports, officers’ testimonies and arrest documentation. They have paraded witness after witness before us but not one of them could say they saw who murdered the Buxly family, or why. Why did they bore us to tears with all of this irrelevant information and then tear out our heats with those photos of young Elizabeth Buxly?”… “I’ll tell you why. It is because they have no evidence that the defendant did this. This has all been a smoke screen. There is so much reasonable doubt here that I cannot believe we are even having this lengthy trial at all.”
This was part of Defense Attorney Richard King’s closing statement to the jury in the murder trial of William H. Buxly who has been accused of brutally murdering his wife, two daughters, son and then setting fire to the house. Along with the massacre at his home, many believed him to be responsible for the attack on a couple of young girls that were assaulted and had their throats slashed. One hard enough to cause decapitation. But, with witnesses that placed Buxly at various places that would make it seem totally impossible for him to have committed the crimes against his family, he was sure to be found "Not Guilty." That just wasn’t to be. Buxly was found "Guilty," sentenced to death, and five years later was executed, still claiming his innocence.
As part of his defense fee, Richard King acquired the home where William Howard Buxly, better known as “Buxly The Butcher,” supposedly butchered his family. A year after Buxly’s execution, King was found dead in the home. Years later the house was bought by Janet Hale for herself, her son Michael, and their dog Lucy.
Their first scare came when they found a local bum called Willie Tee hanging around the house. Willie lived part of his life down by the railroad tracks, and the other part at Hope House, which turned out to be a shelter run by Steve Duncan. When Janet met Steve, the sparks between them flew and they soon became an item. But as it turned out, Willie was only the beginning of the problems they were soon to deal with. It turned out that the house was haunted by none other than those who had been murdered there, and they were visiting Michael in the attempt to get their message across that he and his mother were both in danger. This, as well as his discovery that the murders of young girls had started back up again, leads Michael to believe that someone that was supposed to be dead wasn’t really dead, and he was determined to find out who that person might be.
The Butcher’s Boy kept me wanting to read more and more. I had my ideas as to who was actually committing the murders, but couldn’t quite come up with the why nor how. My suspicions turned out to be correct, but his punishment was something I would have never guessed happening. All-in-all, The Butcher’s Boy became an on the edge of the seat read, keeping me glued to every page.
230 Pages
2010
ISBN 978-1-4524-1365-5
Publisher: Michael Robb Mathias Jr.
aka M. R. Mathias
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“The prosecution has sickened us with grizzly photographs of the crime scene. They have brought in experts and skilled technicians. They have dazzled us with their qualifications and then had us listen to their various opinions as to what happened to those three children and their living mother.” He heaved in a sigh and then began pacing slowly as he drew the jury in. “They have produced lab findings, coroner’s reports, officers’ testimonies and arrest documentation. They have paraded witness after witness before us but not one of them could say they saw who murdered the Buxly family, or why. Why did they bore us to tears with all of this irrelevant information and then tear out our heats with those photos of young Elizabeth Buxly?”… “I’ll tell you why. It is because they have no evidence that the defendant did this. This has all been a smoke screen. There is so much reasonable doubt here that I cannot believe we are even having this lengthy trial at all.”
This was part of Defense Attorney Richard King’s closing statement to the jury in the murder trial of William H. Buxly who has been accused of brutally murdering his wife, two daughters, son and then setting fire to the house. Along with the massacre at his home, many believed him to be responsible for the attack on a couple of young girls that were assaulted and had their throats slashed. One hard enough to cause decapitation. But, with witnesses that placed Buxly at various places that would make it seem totally impossible for him to have committed the crimes against his family, he was sure to be found "Not Guilty." That just wasn’t to be. Buxly was found "Guilty," sentenced to death, and five years later was executed, still claiming his innocence.
As part of his defense fee, Richard King acquired the home where William Howard Buxly, better known as “Buxly The Butcher,” supposedly butchered his family. A year after Buxly’s execution, King was found dead in the home. Years later the house was bought by Janet Hale for herself, her son Michael, and their dog Lucy.
Their first scare came when they found a local bum called Willie Tee hanging around the house. Willie lived part of his life down by the railroad tracks, and the other part at Hope House, which turned out to be a shelter run by Steve Duncan. When Janet met Steve, the sparks between them flew and they soon became an item. But as it turned out, Willie was only the beginning of the problems they were soon to deal with. It turned out that the house was haunted by none other than those who had been murdered there, and they were visiting Michael in the attempt to get their message across that he and his mother were both in danger. This, as well as his discovery that the murders of young girls had started back up again, leads Michael to believe that someone that was supposed to be dead wasn’t really dead, and he was determined to find out who that person might be.
The Butcher’s Boy kept me wanting to read more and more. I had my ideas as to who was actually committing the murders, but couldn’t quite come up with the why nor how. My suspicions turned out to be correct, but his punishment was something I would have never guessed happening. All-in-all, The Butcher’s Boy became an on the edge of the seat read, keeping me glued to every page.
230 Pages
2010
ISBN 978-1-4524-1365-5
Publisher: Michael Robb Mathias Jr.
aka M. R. Mathias
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
July 14, 2012
This was quite an interesting Horror story, from an author who has written a chain of epic fantasy books. It starts out in a court room where William Buxly is on trial for killing his whole family, found guilty, he gets the death penalty. Many years later a lady called Janet buys the Buxly house for herself and her son Michael, totally unaware of the horrors of the killings that once happened within the house. It doesn't take long for the ghosts inside to make themselves known, first through sounds, then strange experiences. With a thrust of enthusiasm, Michael and his babysitter Maggie delve into the world of séances and Ouija boards to try and make contact with the dead son of William, known as Billy.
I found that Mathias' way of writing in suspense existed in this book just as much as in his other books, it's a style that I really like, jumping from one dilemma to the next, keeping you wanting more and more, pulling you deeply into the story. Soon Michael and Maggie discover that Billy had never been killed, and that the ghost boy that they had been seeing was in fact the dead neighbour’s boy called Tommy. Now knowing at least some of the truths of the past, Michael must find a way to keep the ghosts of the house in control, but more importantly to try and find out what happened to Billy Buxly.
You know, a while ago I started reading a Stephen King book and I got bored very quickly, but here with this horror book I loved it. I could easily imagine this book being made into a film that would leave young people around the world screaming at the horror and suspense parts of the story. If you're looking for a well-flowing horror book packed with the paranormal and with suspense, then this is definitely for you!!
I found that Mathias' way of writing in suspense existed in this book just as much as in his other books, it's a style that I really like, jumping from one dilemma to the next, keeping you wanting more and more, pulling you deeply into the story. Soon Michael and Maggie discover that Billy had never been killed, and that the ghost boy that they had been seeing was in fact the dead neighbour’s boy called Tommy. Now knowing at least some of the truths of the past, Michael must find a way to keep the ghosts of the house in control, but more importantly to try and find out what happened to Billy Buxly.
You know, a while ago I started reading a Stephen King book and I got bored very quickly, but here with this horror book I loved it. I could easily imagine this book being made into a film that would leave young people around the world screaming at the horror and suspense parts of the story. If you're looking for a well-flowing horror book packed with the paranormal and with suspense, then this is definitely for you!!
June 5, 2015
Where do I start?
1. It's "Sarge", not "Serge"
2. People in recovery for one chemical are to refrain from all chemicals except tobacco. Someone in recovery from meth and actively attending NA meetings would not be drinking beer. Period. End of story.
3. If I found out my babysitter had been drinking and allowing friends to come to the house while watching my child, she would have been fired before she could say "But---"
4. A boarder who shot up any drugs and left paraphernalia around where my child could find them would have been kicked out so fast he'd wonder what had just happened.
5. Anyone who works in a hospital signs a HIPAA agreement, acknowledging that to talk about any patients could lead to termination and legal consequences. For Janet to tell Michael that one of the victims was at her hospital was a big no-no.
Not only did the author not do any research in how recovery and NA works, he made the heroine of his story a questionable mother and nurse. The premise of the story was good, but I almost didn't finish it because of all the times Oliver had a can of beer in his hand even though he was in recovery. He did not blow 15 months of sobriety when he shot up because he never had sobriety as long as he was drinking. And for a mother to allow her child to be exposed to drug use (a boarder actively using) would warrant a CPS report by a mandated reporter, had it become public knowledge.
1. It's "Sarge", not "Serge"
2. People in recovery for one chemical are to refrain from all chemicals except tobacco. Someone in recovery from meth and actively attending NA meetings would not be drinking beer. Period. End of story.
3. If I found out my babysitter had been drinking and allowing friends to come to the house while watching my child, she would have been fired before she could say "But---"
4. A boarder who shot up any drugs and left paraphernalia around where my child could find them would have been kicked out so fast he'd wonder what had just happened.
5. Anyone who works in a hospital signs a HIPAA agreement, acknowledging that to talk about any patients could lead to termination and legal consequences. For Janet to tell Michael that one of the victims was at her hospital was a big no-no.
Not only did the author not do any research in how recovery and NA works, he made the heroine of his story a questionable mother and nurse. The premise of the story was good, but I almost didn't finish it because of all the times Oliver had a can of beer in his hand even though he was in recovery. He did not blow 15 months of sobriety when he shot up because he never had sobriety as long as he was drinking. And for a mother to allow her child to be exposed to drug use (a boarder actively using) would warrant a CPS report by a mandated reporter, had it become public knowledge.
November 26, 2017
4.5 out of 5.
They set the scene up for you and present to you the grisly details of what went down and now we move forward into the present-day. Don't get me wrong, what went down surrounding that house was not a typical, everyday family event and it was in no means something to be forgotten. Someone had to be blamed for that event but after all was said and done in the courtroom, were the dead really safe in their wooden boxes and were they all tucked in tight? In the end, Janet just wanted a good deal on a house and her son, Michael was trying to find his roots again after the divorce. Little did both of them know, their world would be shaken with seances, mysterious deaths, and floating objects. The drama takes off right from the beginning and does not end until the reader is totally sucked in till the end. The characters all take an active role in the solving the mystery and I enjoyed all the different elements from the courtroom, to the house scenes, to the park, to the ending - there was a good flow and I didn't feel lost. I think the title could have been more creative but it fit it's purpose here. It was a creative idea and I enjoyed it- I'm glad I read it. I didn't think there was a lot of gore considering the action that was occurring in the book but that's my opinion.
They set the scene up for you and present to you the grisly details of what went down and now we move forward into the present-day. Don't get me wrong, what went down surrounding that house was not a typical, everyday family event and it was in no means something to be forgotten. Someone had to be blamed for that event but after all was said and done in the courtroom, were the dead really safe in their wooden boxes and were they all tucked in tight? In the end, Janet just wanted a good deal on a house and her son, Michael was trying to find his roots again after the divorce. Little did both of them know, their world would be shaken with seances, mysterious deaths, and floating objects. The drama takes off right from the beginning and does not end until the reader is totally sucked in till the end. The characters all take an active role in the solving the mystery and I enjoyed all the different elements from the courtroom, to the house scenes, to the park, to the ending - there was a good flow and I didn't feel lost. I think the title could have been more creative but it fit it's purpose here. It was a creative idea and I enjoyed it- I'm glad I read it. I didn't think there was a lot of gore considering the action that was occurring in the book but that's my opinion.
July 27, 2011
This book was great fun. Not quite as scary as I'd hoped (probably because I found the plot somewhat predictable), but it had enough twists to keep me wanting to read it.
There are several likable characters, and a couple of truly hateful ones. This setup usually makes for some exciting scenes, and there are quite a few of them in this book. There was also a bit of confusion (at least for me, but I can be dense at times) especially in the beginning when trying to keep the various dead entities straight in my mind. I eventually figured it all out, though, so no problem.
My main criticism of the story is just something I found puzzling: there's a dog that figures hugely in at least the first half of the story, but virtually disappears from the second half, and I can't really figure out why. It's probably supposed to be a metaphor for the young boy in the story finding courage and his own way in life, but the way it was handled seemed odd to me.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a ghost story. It's not a horrific story, though, so if you're looking for one that scares you so much you can't sleep, this isn't it. It is pretty graphic and gory on spots, so if you like that kind of thing, check this one out.
There are several likable characters, and a couple of truly hateful ones. This setup usually makes for some exciting scenes, and there are quite a few of them in this book. There was also a bit of confusion (at least for me, but I can be dense at times) especially in the beginning when trying to keep the various dead entities straight in my mind. I eventually figured it all out, though, so no problem.
My main criticism of the story is just something I found puzzling: there's a dog that figures hugely in at least the first half of the story, but virtually disappears from the second half, and I can't really figure out why. It's probably supposed to be a metaphor for the young boy in the story finding courage and his own way in life, but the way it was handled seemed odd to me.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a ghost story. It's not a horrific story, though, so if you're looking for one that scares you so much you can't sleep, this isn't it. It is pretty graphic and gory on spots, so if you like that kind of thing, check this one out.
June 13, 2011
This was another Kindle read for me. I started it back in April, but didn't have a whole lot of spare time to pick it up again until this past week.
While it did a fairly good job of holding my interest, I am not a big fan of this book.
First of all, it's disgusting in ways that it does not need to be disgusting. I feel like the author may have been aiming for some sort of shock reaction out of the reader by being so graphic/disturbing. Without being specific, I just really think that a lot of the adult "themes" that the author included were just not necessary and that maybe the book would have been better without them.
Secondly, many parts of the plot are so unbelievable that it's almost laughably ridiculous. I like thrillers, but I need to be able to believe that such events could take place for me to truly be entranced. The ghosts and what happens with the ending only added to the absurdity of it for me.
So, it's a decent read as long as you don't mind absurd, gross, and lewd details.
While it did a fairly good job of holding my interest, I am not a big fan of this book.
First of all, it's disgusting in ways that it does not need to be disgusting. I feel like the author may have been aiming for some sort of shock reaction out of the reader by being so graphic/disturbing. Without being specific, I just really think that a lot of the adult "themes" that the author included were just not necessary and that maybe the book would have been better without them.
Secondly, many parts of the plot are so unbelievable that it's almost laughably ridiculous. I like thrillers, but I need to be able to believe that such events could take place for me to truly be entranced. The ghosts and what happens with the ending only added to the absurdity of it for me.
So, it's a decent read as long as you don't mind absurd, gross, and lewd details.
September 17, 2017
A fantastic read. An highly enjoyable mystery in The Butcher's Boy from Michael Robb Mathias. Absolutely Phenomenal! If you like thriller/suspense/horror all mixed together this is it! I was scared, thrilled and intrigued. What an interesting book. The writer does an excellent job of pulling me in from the very beginning, I didn't expect to get totally wrapped up in this book but once I started there was no going back. The writing easily draws you into the story from chapter 1 and doesn't let go. This was undoubtedly one of the most charming and beautiful things I have ever read! This book was amazing. The characters are well-developed and the writing, especially the dialogue, is always spot-on. The book had a good story line, conceivable and interesting characters, and a plot that kept you pretty much guessing until the very last chapters. Can't wait to read more books from this wonderful author. To be honest the book is fantastic and great. Michael did a great work putting this together and I must say it deserves 5.0 stars out of 5. I would definitely recommend this great story.
October 30, 2015
When Janet’s nasty divorce left her broke, she was overjoyed to find a house and job in another town. So happy, in fact, that she didn’t question why the house was so cheap. When her son Michael tells her that the house they moved into was the site of a brutal mass killing, and that he has seen ghosts of the victims, she is skeptic. But when a serial killer targets close to home, she discovers there’s more danger than mere ghosts. And with no funds to move, there is nothing she can do about it.
This plot read like a lifetime movie, i.e. single mother, young son, haunted house, and of course a serial killer on the loose. I liked how I got to know all of the characters, and not just the main ones. That’s what made it real to me. This story had plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Each time I was sure of the killer, something would change that. I like that type of read, it’s what keeps it interesting.
This plot read like a lifetime movie, i.e. single mother, young son, haunted house, and of course a serial killer on the loose. I liked how I got to know all of the characters, and not just the main ones. That’s what made it real to me. This story had plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Each time I was sure of the killer, something would change that. I like that type of read, it’s what keeps it interesting.
July 9, 2013
It's a paranormal thriller, and just in general not my cup of tea at all. I do like the occasional ghost story, especially when it leaves some room for ambiguity (was it really a ghost? or just someone's over active imagination?) but having ghosts run amok, like some Amityville horror, coupled with evil ghostly vacations in the form of bodily possession...well, it was all a bit too much for me.
And then, of course, with all these ghosts running about, not to mention a serial killer on the loose, one would think the world on the brink of collapse. But ahah! Because we always have those spiritual protectors on our sides, the angels, to play as a last trump card when one is fairly overwhelmed by what seems to be some rather one-sided odds in the favor of supernatural evil.
It's a fairly decent writing job, for all that it's completely fantastical and in no way believable.
And then, of course, with all these ghosts running about, not to mention a serial killer on the loose, one would think the world on the brink of collapse. But ahah! Because we always have those spiritual protectors on our sides, the angels, to play as a last trump card when one is fairly overwhelmed by what seems to be some rather one-sided odds in the favor of supernatural evil.
It's a fairly decent writing job, for all that it's completely fantastical and in no way believable.
April 23, 2011
Catching up on my reviews, etc... This was a quick read-fast paced, good old fashioned ghost story, in the vein of "Amityville Horror". Great descriptive, solid, well defined characters, and unexpected plot twists. I hate to get into plot synopses in reviewing what I've read..I'll leave that to professionals. Overall, I really enjoyed The Butcher's Boy, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good horror story that still allows you to sleep with the lights off. It's not Stephen King's"It" kind of scary (Pennywise still scares the bejesus out of me), but just disturbing enough that I didn't walk upstairs in the dark for a couple of days.. Let's hope to hear more from mr. Robb soon!
September 7, 2011
Didn't really know anything about this author but gave it a try. I was glad I opened up and read this book. It freaked me out and gripped me from the beginning. How would you feel if you bought a house that you didn't know was haunted due to a murderous event?? More so...how would you feel if your kid saw and apparition and said it had to do with who was murdered in the house??? Then, as if I wasn't already freaked out, you see in the news that there is a murderer on the loose killing young women (beheading them) and sexually assaulting them yet the suspect is a drunk who has been at your house. Kept me captivated and I really didn't want it to end. Great pace and energy given to the characters...LOVED IT!
June 21, 2012
In all honesty, I have read this book and LOVED it! I bought it and read it on my kindle. I would just signed up with the hopes of winning an actual copy of the book.
This book is one of the best horror/thriller books I have read. It really haunts you until the very end. I could literally not put this down (I stayed up all night reading it)! The characters are well built and you love them (or hate them depending on who they are). The suspense is like being on a rollercoaster I have heard of that takes you up to a great highth and then dangles you there for just a bit and then zoom you are speeding down a 90 degree fall. This book will have you holding on just like that!
This book is one of the best horror/thriller books I have read. It really haunts you until the very end. I could literally not put this down (I stayed up all night reading it)! The characters are well built and you love them (or hate them depending on who they are). The suspense is like being on a rollercoaster I have heard of that takes you up to a great highth and then dangles you there for just a bit and then zoom you are speeding down a 90 degree fall. This book will have you holding on just like that!
August 17, 2012
*ONE SPOILER AFTER......*
I won this and was really excited to start reading it. It started off great. I liked the writing and was sucked right into the story. It has all the elements you'd expect of a good horror mass murder, ghosts, attempted possession...but I put it down when I hit the child on child rape scene and haven't been able to make myself pick it up again. I think there were other ways the author could have gotten the point across that this was one sick kid without adding that in. Don't see myself finishing this book.
I won this and was really excited to start reading it. It started off great. I liked the writing and was sucked right into the story. It has all the elements you'd expect of a good horror mass murder, ghosts, attempted possession...but I put it down when I hit the child on child rape scene and haven't been able to make myself pick it up again. I think there were other ways the author could have gotten the point across that this was one sick kid without adding that in. Don't see myself finishing this book.
March 11, 2011
I have always loved a good ghost story. It is rare to find one that is truly scary without a lot of gore or cheap sex. I really liked this one. I started it late one night and was very glad I was lying in bed with my husband asleep next to me. It scared me and I would have been peeing my pants if I had to walk through my dark house alone.
I did have the mystery figured out about halfway through. It didn't keep me from enjoying it. It would make a good movie!
I did have the mystery figured out about halfway through. It didn't keep me from enjoying it. It would make a good movie!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews