I enjoyed reading this serial killer thriller. It had an interesting plot twist, and the chapters switching narrators kept it interesting. The ending seems like it was set up for a sequel to be released.

I was curious about the book as I listen to her podcast. I was totally engaged with the story line right off the bat. She jumped right into the meat of the story and then layered the details so that you felt compelled to keep listening, well beyond lights out.
The main character was crafty and well developed to keep you guessing as to what would happen next.

I’m not into podcasts so I’m unfamiliar with this author’s podcast work. However, I thought the premise was interesting so I gave it a shot. This book was ok - definitely nothing special. The subject matter is always interesting but the plot was mediocre and the ending was awful.

This may sound bad but I’ve yet to find a narrator I haven’t liked. The Butcher and the wren is an overflowing heavy aid of straight up creep. This is definitely a cat and mouse game told from 2 perspectives: Jeremy the serial killer who hunts his targets and Wren a medical examiner. I drive to and from work and this is honestly such a creepy book I chose not to listen to it in the dark. It was good don’t get me wrong it was just odd/too creepy in parts. This is definitely not for the faint of heart, the description is spot on realistic, the setting is darkly appropriate.

ALAINA!!!! Listen I don’t love mysteries or thrillers, but I had to read this book due to the author being one of my favorite podcast hosts. It was great! Scared my pants off. Normally I am a fantasy girlie because books like this are farrrrr to real for me. Did I stay up a few nights nervous that someone was watching through my windows? Yup. Was the read worth it? 100%

This was a fast-paced thriller. Our serial killer likes to hunt his prey but who becomes the prey at the end? The plot twist at the end makes me very excited to hear book 2.

I appreciate the publisher and Netgalley for granting me access to the audiobook in exchange for my frank assessment.

In Alaina Urquhart's book The Butcher and the Wren, we witness a string of horrific killings from the killer's perspective and the forensic pathologist trying to track down and catch him before more victims fall.

With Dr. Wren Muller playing the role of Clarice and the serial murderer Jeremy looking like a cross between Hannibal Lector and Zodiac—smug, nasty, yet an incredible idiot at times—this book seriously reminded me of The Silence of the Lambs and there are plenty of references to the film that back that up.

I found the pacing to be perfect as I listened to the audiobook and read simultaneously. The narrators did a fantastic job of capturing each character's persona. 

Jeremy was a terrible asshole, which made me extremely grateful that this novel contains professional police officers. Wren was really likable, especially as seen through Jeremy's eyes. The twist was terrific! I genuinely didn't see it coming, and when it happened, everything suddenly made sense; it was a literal jaw-dropper for me.

Overall, I thought The Butcher and the Wren was a good first book that grew better as it progressed, and I will definitely read the sequel!

I read or listen to a lot of crime thrillers - and love a good true crime podcast - but this one was too graphic and unfortunately a DNF for me. If you are at all queasy about crime stuff, consider this your warning.

I enjoyed the humor with the horror of the story. I narrator keep me listening. A must for listeners of psychological thrillers.

"You'd be surprised how many stories the dead have told me."

Move over Temperance "Bones" Brennan there's a new brilliant nerdy forensic pathologist in town and her name is Dr. Wren Mueller and she is determined to catch the serial killer The Butcher even if her life is on the line.

The Butcher and the Wren by true crime podcaster turned police procedural author Alaina Urquhart is a twisty thriller. A very demented but clever killer captures, tortures, and then releases his victims into the wilderness to hunt them and kill them just for the sport of it. As the bodies pile up Wren is using all her wits to stop him but as this is book one in a must read/listen series she may have met her match.

Narrators Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich are just superb as the title characters. It's an intense cat and mouse chase with lots of traps and crazy escapes. Definitely a future TV series.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

It was ok, nothing to write home about. I didnt find it exciting or intense. No conclusion so sequel?

A twisty mystery from Morbid podcast host Alaina Urquhart. You can tell the author is well versed in crime fiction. Looking forward to seeing more works by Urquhart in the future!

An entertaining addition to a crowded genre. A recommended purchase for collections where thrillers are particularly popular.

I was provided an audio arc of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I thought both narrators did a good job with their parts. I do wish the male narrator was a bit more ominous sounding, I don't feel like his voice fit the part. Then again that could have been a very deliberate choice. Having just watched a documentary on the BTK killer recently, which the author mentioned in the book, he was just a regular guy on the outside. Little did his friends and family know the monster that he was on the inside, similar to our killer in the book.

Let me first start out by saying I know nothing of the podcast that the author co-hosts, so my desire to read the book and my thoughts have nothing with that. I thought this thriller was great until it wasn't. The abrupt ending kind of ruined the whole experience for me. I am not a fan of books that end on a cliffhanger without wrapping up enough to stand on it's own. This feels like it is setting us up for another book in a series. I can't find anything announcing another book, so that kind of irritates me. The audiobook clocks in around 6 and half hours, but the that includes about 30 minutes of the acknowledgements and interview with the author. I feel like this needed another hour or two to really be a substantial thriller and knock it out of the park. It has good bones, but it was missing something. I do think that the author did a good job with the clinical aspects of the book, brining her knowledge of true crime and autopsy into play nicely.

As many other reviewers have mentioned, the characters all lack development. There is alot of description given to the reader about what things smell like and look like, which is fine but I like well developed characters too. There are times that the descriptions get a bit repetitive. If there is a 2nd book I'd like to get to know the characters more and see more development of both Wren and Jeremey. I like other readers want to know what drives them versus just seeing them at work.

Overall, this was fun and I think the author has a ton of potential. The twist was creative and the pacing was good. I do wish it was a bit more developed in places, especially the ending. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us in the future.

The narration was great. The story was fine, but kind of run-of-the mill serial killer novel. I was really annoyed by the ending. I thought there was an error in the audiobook and the authors note was accidently stuck before a few chapters that wrapped some things up. The ending lowered the rating for me.

Alternate viewpoints/chapters from the serial killer and the medical examiner. A few really great twists. Hate a cliffhanger ending, especially for a new book series/author. Also ended rather abruptly. So for that it went from 4 to 3 star for me.

Ok.... where do I begin. I was really looking forward to this book. I love a good thriller - however this did not fully meet my expectations. The killer was smart, love the connection, need to know why....and the ending, really??? Curious whether there will be a second book.

What I liked:
The narrators
The pace of the plot
Writing quality was excellent
Plot was excellent

What I didn’t like:
The ending! Is this the first in a series? If not, the ending was unsatisfying.
It was a bit too graphic for me at times.

I really liked the audiobook for this book. I just wish it was a bit longer.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in one sitting. It was well written and intriguing. The author’s knowledge of true crime pops up throughout but isn’t overwhelming or distracting. Urquhart proves her talent apart from true crime podcasting with this novel. The format of switching between the medical examiner and killer kept the story moving along quickly. The plays with time which are not apparently obvious until later in the novel keep the big reveal hidden In a way that was brilliant. I can’t wait to read the next one…with that ending there had better be a next one!!