Slow to start but aspire is revealed, I got more and more engaged! The ending left on a cliffhanger makes me want more!

What I enjoyed about the narration of this book is that it switches narrators for the chapters in the butchers POV , and then for the wrens POV. This kept me entertained and able to keep up with the story as a listener.

I thoroughly enjoyed this title in audiobook form. The 2 narrators, portraying the main characters, brought depth to each performance and really enhanced the experience. I think the most scary serial killer is the one that plays nice guy - and Jeremy is very scary. As the events unfold and plot twists reveal the connection between these characters, I was drawn into the chase along with them. The fact that the setting was the Louisiana bayou was one reason I chose this title and the descriptions were lush and full of detail that put me knee-deep in the swamp water. I recommend this title for anyone who likes a good cat and mouse chase, the world of crime scenes and medical examiners, and those who want a good adrenaline rush from pursuing, and being pursued by, a Mr. Nice Guy sociopath.

This was..not good. It was a very mediocre story and it barely felt thrilling at all. I don’t think I will read anymore of this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio-arc of "The Butcher and the Wren" by Alaina Urquhart.

Wren is a pathologist who has kept finding bodies all over New Orleans that have been brutally murdered. As she starts to investigate who has been killing all these women a part of her past comes to light that she has buried deep.

Please take in mind that this review has been written by a person who is a huge fan of the podcast Morbid and so when I received this arc on the release day of "The Butcher and the Wren" and I was excited to start listening while I still wait for my preordered copy to be delivered. I devoured this book in 2 days and was very excited to read this.

As a thriller this was really well written and while listening I was not aware of any of the twists that were coming, especially the final one. This has a great atmosphere of Louisiana and the bayou. Listening allowed me to really feel as if I was in this world that Urquhart had written. While I know the main character is really based on the author (or at least what she wishes she could be) it doesn't read like a Mary Sue and I wouldn't have known if I had chosen this book without any background on the author. All these characters give you some interesting tidbits and you can almost see them as you read/listen to them, I hope that in future books the fact that Jeremy keeps fixing his hair becomes a major plot point because really that was the only part of the writing that I had any real issue with. The mystery is well done and looking back on it you can start to unravel it yourself seeing all the different clues that were left. The story is very cohesive and entertaining enough that I wanted to keep listening and the only way I would have finished this sooner would have been if I had the actual book rather than the audiobook.

The narrators were well chosen and I enjoyed the switch between them to announce what consciousness we were entering.

I can't wait for the next one.

I loved this book. Once I got my hands on it and the audio, I just couldn't stop. The story line was catching, reading the story from two different perspectives. I didn't see the twist or the ending coming at all!

Told from two view points, one a sadistic serial killer, the other a medical examiner, is not for anyone with an easily upset stomach. Wren Muller is the rather remote pathologist attempting to piece together not only the victims of the Bayou Butcher, but also the clues that could reveal his identity. I have always enjoyed darker stories, but some of the extreme violence and scenes of torture were too much for me. Added together with the author’s somewhat distracting method of not using contractions, I was unable to finish this book

The Butcher and The Wren is a suspenseful story of a serial killer and medical examiner, told from both perspectives. The narrators (particularly Sophie Amoss) did a great job conveying the emotion of Dr. Wren Muller and the Butcher as each tries to stay one step ahead of the other. Without giving too much away, there were a few parts that surprised me, and one I should have seen coming but didn't. The plot was fast-paced and kept me engaged. The end of the story seemed to set up a sequel, and if that's the case, I look forward to reading it!

A sadistic methodical butcher resides somewhere in the Louisiana Bayou luring his victims by gaining their trust only to trick them into being hunted in a wooded area near his home. He plays loud music in the background which disorients his terrified victims even more. He revels in their fear and deems himself careful in his demented practice of killing, butchering them with surgical precision. Medical Examiner Wren Mueller sees the aftermath of his work, determined to help the police find the killer

UPDATED: increased to 2 stars after listening to the audiobook. Much of the struggle with the perspective and non-sentences was relieved by the conversational narration. I was able to enjoy the story. It felt much like following a CSI drama on television but with a less likeable heroine.
*********************

As with other self published titles The Butcher and The Wren is a manuscript in need of a heavy handed editor. Nearly every sentence should undergo revision. The lack of flow in the writing makes it impossible for the reader to get lost in the story. Perspective, descriptors and dialog are awkward and excessively verbose. One dimensional, stereotypical characters are not compelling. Overall this title may have traction due to the authors podcast audience but as a work of fiction is clearly an unfinished proof.
DNF (less)

A twisted serial killer is abducting and torturing women in the Louisiana woods. Wren Muller is the forensic pathologist that is determined to catch him. She has dedicated her life to helping victims speak by uncovering clues and evidence that will put away their murderers. Her past serves as motivation and creates a drive that makes her successful . This time she is up against a killer that is making it personal . He is leaving messages for Wren.

Told in alternating perspectives this was a well told story that unravels at the perfect pace.! This one has so many great scenes and creates so much tension. I loved it up until the end. It was just too short. I need more!!! Without going in to detail it just left me completely unsatisfied. I am okay with the unconventional ending—I love a good cliff hanger, or a shocking turn of events or even something completely off the rails but this one just stopped. Hopefully there will be more from this author because I was so engaged and into this story!! I just need a more!!!

The audiobook was excellent with different narrators narrating the different points of view, loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3 ⭐️ .

Told from the differing perspectives of a brilliant medical examiner pitted against a sadistic serial killer, The Butcher and the Wren is a thrilling chase throughout the Louisiana Bayou as each person tries to outsmart the other— great for fans of Kathy Reichs/Bones and Dexter.

Alaina Urquhart was meticulous in detail and weaved a propelling narrative utilizing her background as an autopsy technician making the dual protagonists distinctive and compelling. Jeremy is almost textbook in his antisocial demeanor and penchant for multi-syllabic words but that makes him no less horrific considering his thoughtful methodology. Wren, similarly, is an introvert with a heart and mind for medical science that makes her an expert in the field, (though significantly less sociopathic). Additionally, Urquhart’s descriptions of the killings and Louisiana’s bayou were equally visceral.

That being said, it took me a while to get into as the pace didn’t pick up until about a quarter of the way through. The narrators performed well— their voices carrying the nuances of each character. I was particularly invested in Jeremy’s chapters which were puckered with nods and name-drops to history’s most infamous. My main criticism lies within the prose itself. As a thriller, certain tropes are to be expected like a cool-headed yet passionate detective and a “nail this sicko,” thrown in for good measure. Urqhart did well enough in subverting these tropes, but there was little depth to the side characters and the dialogue still felt like a stiff procedural at times.

I also expected the twist to land a bit more as my initial reaction was confusion. I found myself fumbling for the rewind button and second-guessing my understanding of the plot. Though clever and unexpected, it felt constructed as opposed to organic.

Overall, The Butcher and the Wren was an enjoyable, fast debut novel if you’re a crime junkie in it for plot over characters.

I didn't care much for this novel. There was nothing different or special that made it stand out for me. I probably won't buy for my collection.

I knew this would be a good one! I went into this book with high hopes because I know the author has extensive knowledge on the subjects in the story. I was not disappointed!
The ending did feel abrupt, but maybe that's just because I wasn't ready for the story to be over. I thought both narrators were fantastic and a good fit to the characters.

4.5 stars

WOW!
First off, I dont normally like audiobooks but occasionally I find a good one. And this was was great! Both narrators has pleasant voices and spoke clearly. High quality all the way around. Second, this book is phenomenal! You wouldn’t know it was a debut novel. Great Job Alaina!

The Butcher and the Wren follows Medical Examiner Dr. Wren Muller as the New Orleans police department is embroiled in a tense investigation of a possible serial killer. Muller seems intent on connecting with each victim she finds on her autopsy table, and often stays late trying to glean their tragic stories. As more bodies come into her autopsy suite, however, readers begin to wonder if she is just the person to help find this killer.

This book moves quickly and all but guarantees readers will want to stay tuned to find out the secrets buried in the bayou. Not only is the plot fast moving, but the author takes advantage of her own medical knowledge to bring her audience along for each gory detail. If that isn't enough, we are also treated to not one, but two utterly jaw-dropping twists. Urquhart also crafts one of the most unsettling killers I've encountered in fiction all while giving nods to real-life serial killer cases.

Although the plot is undeniably gripping, I felt that the book could have been longer so that Urquhart could develop her world and characters more. Given the short length, I felt readers were only given sparse looks into the setting and the main viewpoint character herself. In conjunction with this short work, the story ends abruptly, nearly with no warning which may irritate some readers. However, if my biggest criticism is that I would want more of the book itself, I believe those who love crime and mystery fiction would enjoy it.
3.5/5