Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Alaina Urquhart for an ARC of The Butcher Game. I have been anxiously awaiting this sequel and this fulfilled my expectations and more. This was the sequel we needed of 2024. You can feel Alaina’s heart in this book giving us what we needed and what she’s learned/talked about in Morbid. I am ready for the next book anytime now and don’t know how I’ll be patient until that time comes 😂 I loved that she helped us out by putting little reminders into this book of what happened in the last one going oh yeah! And that it picked up shortly after the first one ended. Alaina’s humor in this book was just the cherry on top as well. Side note: this is a sequel you do have to read The Butcher and the Wren first before reading The Butcher Game. Also can we admire the cover??

Jeremy Rose is the a ruthless killer on his way north to evade his crimes. He seeks coverage with an old friend that he knows will help him. Jeremy keeps his eyes set on Wren, Dr. Muller. She has escaped him twice, but he knows that was the last time. He will do whatever it takes to bring her down. Wren hasn’t recovered from the last attempt the Bayou Butcher tried to kill her. She is now on medical leave trying to heal, but we all know that’s easier said than done. Wren hears about a fresh trail that could only be of Jeremy’s doing and she realizes the only way to actually heal is to see this to the end. Wren makes her way up north to Massachusetts and hopes she doesn’t find herself in another one of Jeremy’s traps. Wren will do whatever it takes to bring Jeremy down and now this is personal.

I happily requested an ARC of The Butcher Game after reading The Butcher and the Wren I love Alaina Urquhart's style and was extremely excited to snag the sequel. Perhaps my favorite part of Alaina's style is the alternating POVs of Wren and the killer. Coupled with a fast-paced plot, I could not put The Butcher Game Down down and am waiting anxiously for Alaina's next book!

A second part to The Butcher and the Wren. I'm glad I read the The Butcher Game because it tied up the storyline nicely. I was a little disappointed by the ending because it left one small part unfinished, which makes me wonder if there will be a third part with a new main villain. I look forward to reading it if there is!

Overall I really enjoyed it, I feel like if you enjoyed the first book, you will love the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭. 𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫. 𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥.

Book two was everything I hoped it would be. I would highly recommend starting with the first installment, THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN, and not read this as a standalone.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is still recovering from the events in book one; however, Jeremy Rose, the Butcher of the Bayou, isn't quite finished with her yet. Known as the only target who has ever escaped him, he's determined to slink out of the shadows when she least expects it. While on medical leave from her job, she becomes aware of growing evidence that suggests Jeremy has headed north, leaving a trail of freshly mutilated victims in his wake. Feeling the only way to heal her physical and emotional scars is by tracking him down, she heads to Massachusetts. Is she walking into the lair of a monster, or will she finally bring him to justice?

I loved the addition of a character who was important to Jeremy, and while their relationship is tenuous at best, it added an interesting dynamic to the plot. Without giving spoilers, I feel like the author made a bold and shocking choice for the ending (which begs for a third installment) but in my opinion, it was a calculated risk that paid off. I'll let you decide how you feel! Many thanks to NetGalley and Zando Books for this early read. At the time this review was written, this title was slated to release on September 17, 2024.

Morbid and right up my alley! The description that Jeremy uses during his scenes are fantastic. Kept me guessing and brought me closer to the heart of these characters. A great sequel to The Butcher and The Wren.
I can only hope that book 3 is either set decently far in the future and someone picks up where the killer left off OR a childhood look into their upbringings and what lead to this.

Either way I'll be recommending this to anyone looking for a thriller that's easy to get into.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for this ARC!

I was a huge fan of Alaina’s first book and I was so excited for her to continue the Butcher series. I may have liked The Butcher Game more than book one! This book was intense and dark as hell! I read it almost one sitting and finished it in less than 24 hours.

Without spoiling anything, I can definitely say fans of the first book or the Morbid podcast will love The Butcher Game!

It picks up right where the author left us in the previous book and continues with all the gore and the blood too. Wren and Jeremy are now in a cat and mouse game but Jeremy is always ten steps ahead so it was interesting to see how it would all come to an end. Will the end be satisfying? About the end, it leaves us with more questions and now I am more interested in the next book than I was ever with this one. But it wont be a good ending for many readers and even personally I felt divided about it for a while. The setting is now Salem town and we get more of Jeremy's background and his thinking. Wren's constant mulling slowed the pace a bit and it did not add too much to the plot though I understand it was inevitable with the trauma her characters undergoes.

I read the first book and liked it so I was excited to read it this one. I actually liked this one even more than the first one. Alaina has really grown as a writer and I am excited for her to write more books. I definitely think you need to read the first book to really understand this one but I definitely recommend it.

2.5 ⭐️⭐️ rounded up to 3. The Butcher Game is the second book following Wren. This book was just really hard for me to get into. I felt it dragged and I considered DNF multiple times. It ended up being ok and I’m happy I stuck with it.


Thanks to Zando & NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you, NetGalley and Zando for the copy of The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart. The first book in this series was so good I couldn’t wait to read this one. It really delivered the scares and chills, so be ready for a hair-raising time. It took a little time to get into Wren’s chapters and her life, but Jeremy’s story was compelling from the start. Be prepared for a lot of blood and gore as you accompany Jeremy on his murderous escapades. If you’re looking for a fast-paced book that will keep you reading until the end, this book is for you! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Alaina did it yet again! I was hooked from the first page and thrown right back into the the Butcher's and Wren's world! I was immediately sucked in from the first page. I absolutely loved The Butcher and The Wren and have been dying for this sequel. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The thrill was there every step of the way and I was so appreciative of that as a huge thriller fan. I will forever read anything that Urquhart writes. Her background and writing skills make for being able to put the perfect thriller books out there.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. But ended up enjoying it. Wren's continue story was fabulous. Definitely some detailed gore, but that's to be expected in a book about a serial killer. Good book.

Thank you net galley and the publisher for this arc I was excited to get this one. I bought the first book and thought it was ok this one was much better. I enjoyed Jeremys chapters much more then wrens most of the book . I enjoyed most of the book except for the way it ended I just wanted a little more but overall I would purchase and recommend this book. I listen to the podcast when I can and Alaina is a great writer I hope we continue to get more books from her.

I’m gonna start this review by saying that I honestly didn’t care for the first book in the series. I really wanted to like it, because I love the Morbid podcast, but I felt it fell flat. I requested an ARC of the second book because I wanted to see if the author would get better with experience.

And I’m glad I did. This second installment in the series was much more engaging and brutal than the first. After avoiding being captured at the end of book one, Jeremy is back and bloodier than ever. There are a lot of suspenseful moments and plenty of buildup to keep you turning the pages, not to mention how impactful the ending turned out to be.

There are a few graphic scenes in it so if you’re sensitive to certain subjects, I would check the triggers before diving in.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy.

Thank you Zando for the gifted copy!

I was so excited to dive back into the world of Dr. Wren Muller after loving The Butcher and the Wren! Readers will need to read book one before starting this one, this cannot be read as a standalone in my opinion. Even having brushed up on the first book I found there were some references I had a hard time remembering, so a subtle callback to some of the major plot points from the Butcher and the Wren would've been beneficial for me personally.

There were times throughout the book that I felt the plot was somewhat disjointed and I had a hard time following along. Ultimately the book was good though and the cat and mouse game between Jeremy and Wren was interesting to read.

I won't spoil why but the ending really bummed me out. I do commend Urquhart for going there though because I'm sure she knew it wasn't going to be popular with her readers! I also think it's safe to say we will be getting a book 3 in the series, and I for one can't wait!

The Butcher Game will be on US bookshelves September 17!

I loved The Butcher and the Wren, and absolutely loved this sequel as well. Like the last book, we get dual POVs; Wren and the serial killer. I felt this book was fast paced and dark (as a serial killer book ought to be). I also enjoyed the setting in Salem and the book picks up not long after it left off in the last book. Jeremy Rose, the Butcher of the Bayou is back and out for revenge. I absolutely recommend this book if you liked the last one.

The Butcher Game without a doubt is Alaina Urquhart's better book so far. As much as I loved TBATW, The imagery the author created in this made me feel like I was grabbed by the throat and jerked inside the story. I could feel the woods, hear the water sources, and smell the crime scenes. What Alaina does differently that most other authors is that she takes us WITH Jeremy, the killer. We see the absolute depravity as its happening, rather than just Wren and crew finding the aftermath. I care so much about all the good guys here and I was sobbing at the end. I don't know that I will recover from this for awhile. I'll will be anxiously awaiting the announcement of the next book and HAS TO BE COMING.

The Butcher Game, much like The Butcher and the Wren, was a graphic and disturbing serial killer story, and I could not get enough!! In order to fully understand and appreciate this story, I highly recommend reading the first book, otherwise you will miss so much. I started this one thinking that I would read a few chapters before bed, and I ended up finishing the whole thing! It is dark, it is pretty messed up, it will get into your head.

I loved that this picked up shortly after the previous book ended. Wren is trying to recover from the events in that first book, but Jeremy Rose, the Butcher of Bayou is not done with her yet. This time it is personal. The Salem setting was creepy and perfect! It was so interesting to have a point of view from the killer as well as Wren. It was quite emotional and once again, a cliffhanger ending!! agh, bring on book 3 already!! I need more.

Thanks to Zando for my advanced copy of this fantastic sequel. Publishes on September 17th.

I love Alaina and her podcasts, but I'll admit that I unfortunately was a bit let down by her first book, The Butcher and the Wren. Sadly, The Butcher Game didn't quite hit the mark for me either, and I felt it suffered from many of the same issues as the first.

I did enjoy the dual-perspective storytelling and thought it was a decent follow-up plot-wise. However, the writing still felt a bit simplistic and sometimes choppy. Like with the first book, the ending again felt rushed to me. The story overall was fairly formulaic, but there was one particularly devastating event at the end that genuinely surprised me, so props to Alaina for that. I truly didn't see that one coming.

One major improvement was the setting. In the first book, her depiction of New Orleans had some glaring inaccuracies, indicating a surprising lack of sufficient research. This time, Alaina set the novel in a locale that she knows like the back of her hand, which was a fully fantastic move, allowing the setting to feel much more authentic and not distracting the reader with inconsistencies.

Overall, while seasoned readers might find this one a bit predictable, I think this series could be a wonderful intro to the genre thanks to its accessible language and short & sweet chapters. Alaina's still very new to writing, so I'm hopeful her style will mature with time. She's already proven herself to be a phenomenal storyteller, so I'd love nothing more than to see her shine on the page as much as she does in her podcasts!

Thanks to Netgalley & Zando for the ARC! <3

Definitely go back and re-read the first one because I needed it! This was everything that was needed for a sequel! Absolutely dark and twisty, but such a fun ride! Can’t wait for the third!!