This was the sequel I have been most anticipating and Alaina Urquhart did not disappoint!

WOW.

I was hooked from page one and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The way the chapters are organized had me confused for a moment but once I settled into the story I had no problem with it.

I still just feel so SHOOK I am having a hard time writing a review. SO GOOD. SO ENTERTAINING. LOVED IT!

Just like its predecessor, this was a dark, disturbing + graphic read, that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The book picks up straight where the first book ended and because of this I’d highly recommend reading them in order to understand + fully appreciate the plot.

This has all the elements you want in a serial killer thriller—— it’s graphic, it’s eerie, it’s morbid + it’s full of twists and turns. The writing is SO atmospheric—— between the perfectly creepy Salem setting, the nail-biting game of cat + mouse and the downright brutality of our killer, this had me sufficiently creeped out and not at all keen to listen to it on my pitch black drives to work.

I LOVE having the character perspective of the killer in a book and although I felt it took away some of the intrigue in the first book, it worked really well in this one. Jeremy is a truly horrifying character: he’s ruthless, twisted, cruel + remorseless (I know.. duh, he’s a serial killer) but he really is chilling. Although he is fascinating in a macabre way, Wren holds her own in her characterisation and is a bit of a badass, with a fascinating procession + an intriguing back story.

Finishing on another cliffhanger that gives me hope for book three, this was a real page turner + I’d highly recommend the audio format for its flawless narration which only added to the eerie overtone of the plot.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
🍁 Small town murder investigation
🍁 Dark, gritty vibes
🍁 Dual POV inc the serial killer’s
🍁 Cat & mouse detective thriller
🍁 Graphic
🍁 Medical examiner MC
🍁 Twisty

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 + 𝑍𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤. 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛. 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐼𝐺 (@𝑟𝑒𝑑ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙), 𝐺𝑅 & 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ.

Thanks netgalley and publisher for a chance to listen to this audiobook.

We had just read a butcher and the wren for bookclub in October, so I was excited to read the second one. I loved the second one more than the first book and I’m excited for more.

Basically this is just a follow up to the butcher and the wren and all the drama with Jeremy. Way more going on in this book and I was excited to see what would happen to Jeremy.

This is the second ever audio book I have listened to and I absolutely loved it. It was the first audiobook with more than one narrator and I devoured it! I was invested when I read The Butcher and the Wren, and the twisted fun just continued and I couldn't be more delighted. With this being a sequel I was blown away with the up-keep of the plot, never knowing what was to come around the corner and the well contracted writing style and language used. I really didn't want this to end, and I can't be more excited and in hopes for a third book in the series.

I liked this follow up to Butcher and the Wren. It was very fast paced and kept my attention the whole time. I love that it wrapped up the story, but at the same time gave you a cliffhanger to want to read the next book. I love that the author keeps you involved in the same story instead of trying to come up with new cases for the detective each time.

Absolutely terrifying!😱
Book two of the Dr. Wren Muller series.
I couldn’t even imagine a book more chilling than book one, The Butcher and The Wren. Yet here we are with the next installment, and it’s left its predecessor in the dust!

Evil is alive and well, and his name is Jeremy!

I could only listen to this in short intervals as my fear ratcheted up every time the POV was from the butcher himself.

I listened to the interview with the author, Alaina Urquhart, at the end of the audiobook and all I could think was “how did someone with such a fun, happy voice create such an evil monster!”? Please explain Alaina?💁🏼‍♀️

I’m hoping for some recovery time before she delivers the next in the series! Aww… who am I kidding! I’m ready! Bring it!

🎧The narration provided by Sophie Amoss & Joe Knezevich, was amazing once again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This picks up after the first book ends, with Wren dealing with the traumatic events she experienced. She is taking a break from her duties as a medical examiner, which was a huge part of the first book. I enjoyed the first book with the exception of the abrupt cliffhanger ending. It was suspenseful and I was I was invested in the plot. I often found myself feeling bored and able to predict what was going to happen. Jeremy and Wren's stories felt disconnected in this installment whereas in the first book they were more connected. I still don't feel like I was able to get to know any of the characters and get invested in any of them. I was looking for more character development.

I found the ending to be lackluster, and again it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I was left feeling as if the solution was anti-climactic and far to easy and convenient. The ending left me feeling as if there was another book coming with a new villain for Wren to focus on. I'm not sure if there is another book planned, but given there were 2 years between this book and the prior book, I don't think I'll be rushing to pick it up. I really wanted to like this series, but it just didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the chance to listen to this! I absolutely loved The Butcher and the Wren and could not wait to read The Butcher Game. The voice actors who played Dr Wren Muller and Jeremy Rose kept me engaged. The suspense in the book was perfect. It wouldnt be apart of the Dr. Wren Muller series without a twist and boy was there one. As a fan of Morbid for the last 4 years it was also a fun surprise to hear the Q&A at the end. I can not wait to see what comes next!

I loved this book even more than the first, which was a pleasant surprise. The first book was phenomenal but I just wanted a little *more*, and this one definitely delivered!! We got back story, more character development, a whole lot of action/plot and a whole lotta reasons to love our FMC even more than before.

The character growth within this series and this second book was beautifully done. There were some painful parts for my poor little reader heart, but I won’t hold that against Alaina 👀😂 I understaaaaand, I guess. 🙈

The audiobook of this book was done SO WELL! The narration was beautiful, and I felt as if I was watching everything unfold in front of me. I cannot get enough of Wren and her incredible strength, and the narration was done so well that it felt like I was truly listening to a real, true crime story. (The end where we got to listen to Alaina & Ash chat about the book was also so fun & a beautiful little surprise!)

I went into this book thinking it was going to be a duology but I’m so glad to know that we have more coming in a third book. The cliff hanger was there, but it wasn’t so heart stopping that I’ll die without the next one instantly. I can wait… for a little while anyway.

Overall, I am in love with this story and cannot wait to get the next book in my hands!!

If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?! Go pick it up! You won’t regret it. 🥹

Suspenseful, Twisted, a keep you up at night kind of read. I thoroughly enjoy this series and can not wait for the next book to come out. The dual narration is a major plus, well done and exciting! Thank you Alaina for such a horrifying story; we are on the edge of our seats. I also really enjoined the after story Q & A between Alaina and Ash - a total treat that gives us a bit of an insider scoop! Thank you Netgalley and Zando for access to this title!

I love Wren and her husband is so real with how supportive he is. This was honestly such a satisfying and well done sequel and I can't wait for a third book. Please, please, please! The audiobook was phenomenal 🖤

Wren still isn’t quite over her way to close brush with death at the hands of The Butcher, Jeremy Rose. When Jeremy goes on the prowl again, Wren is pulled right back into his deadly game. She is forced to follow him to his old stomping grounds as he kills for sport and she does all she can to try and help police stop him.

This is the second book in this series and while I enjoyed it, the hanging at the end of both about do me in. I know the door is being left open for another book but….ahhhhhh!!!!! I always enjoy a good serial killer book and this one doesn’t disappoint, but knowing it will be a long time to get more of the story can drive a person crazy!

I enjoyed both narrators…they were both very engaging and added a lot to the story!

Wow what a psychological head spin this story takes you on while trying to capture a murderer. You know who it is right away and you even get their perspective but you’re not ready for how it ends. I’m so happy this will have another book to it and feel like this can carry on for a while.

This thriller focuses on two main characters: Jeremy, an elusive murderer, and Wren Muller, the person relentlessly pursuing him. Surprisingly, I loved this book more than I anticipated, even without having read the first book in the series.

The narrative masterfully blends suspense, detailed storytelling, and a touch of gore, which keeps the reader eagerly turning pages—or in this case, listening intently. What stood out to me was how the author meticulously laid out the story, ensuring that no detail was overlooked. This precision in storytelling really made the experience immersive and enjoyable.

LOVED THIS BOOK!! I inhaled it to say the least! I have been waiting for this since I read the first one last year. I already also had this preordered in hard back! So I have that too. This is more amazing than the first one if that is even possible! Loved the writting and the way the story was told!! Can’t wait for the next one!!

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Some day we'll go on a vacation that doesn't include death."

"Blood that is shed from violence never really disappears."

"He's the perfect monster and he's perfectly aware of it."

If you're a fan of dark crime thrillers then the rip your heart out while it pounds in your chest dark thriller, The Butcher Game, by true crime podcaster turned impressive thriller author Alaina Urquhart, is the perfect listen.

The Butcher Game is the second Dr. Wren Muller, forensic pathologist, novel; and the sequel to The Butcher and the Wren. Not wanting to reveal the shocking ending of that illustrious thrilling debut, it's safest to say he's still killing and Wren is determined to catch him.

This narcissistic murderer is a sadistic being; charming his victims, torturing them, then letting them run while he chases and viciously dismantles their bodies. But now he has a friend.

The voice actress Sophie Amoss is Wren. Her quirkiness, her love for Richard, her brilliant mind and courageousness to go after this killer, knowing what she knows about him, is felt through this remarkable performance.

I am in awe of the voice actor Joe Knezevich's ability to portray such pure evil. Every torturous word from him made me shiver, my heart race, and my eyes bug out. A tour de force performance of evil incarnate.

I need book three ASAP. I questioned a decision just before a jaw dropping reveal so I knew one part but had no clue about the final twist. This cat and mouse thriller gets darker and twistier as this writer's talent flourishes; she's definitely winning the thriller game.

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 to the publisher Netgalley for the eARC in audiobook format.

The Butcher Game: A Dr. Wren Muller Novel by Alaina Urquhart, narrated by Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich, is a gripping and intense audiobook that plunges listeners into a dark and thrilling cat-and-mouse chase. This second installment in the Dr. Wren Muller series continues to showcase Urquhart’s knack for crafting intricate plots and deeply engaging characters.

The story follows forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller, who is on a forced medical leave in New Orleans, still reeling from her previous encounter with the notorious serial killer, Jeremy Rose, also known as the Bayou Butcher. Jeremy, relentless and cunning, is determined to finish what he started with Wren, leading to a high-stakes pursuit that spans from the bayous of Louisiana to the streets of Massachusetts.

What sets this audiobook apart is the dual narration by Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich. Amoss brings a nuanced and empathetic voice to Dr. Wren Muller, capturing her resilience and vulnerability. Knezevich, on the other hand, delivers a chilling performance as Jeremy Rose, embodying the cold and calculating nature of the serial killer. Their performances add a layer of depth to the characters, making the tension between them palpable.

Urquhart’s background as an autopsy technician and true crime podcast host shines through in the meticulous and realistic details of the forensic investigations. The narrative is rich with suspense and unexpected twists, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats. The psychological depth of the characters, especially the interplay between Wren’s determination and Jeremy’s malevolence, adds a compelling layer to the story.

The Butcher Game is a thrilling deep dive into the psyche of the hunter and hunted. The audiobook format enhances this experience, with the narrators’ performances bringing the characters and their struggles to life in a vivid and immersive way. For fans of psychological thrillers and crime dramas, this audiobook is a must-listen, offering a dark, thrilling, and ultimately satisfying journey.

This series is so incredibly well done.
I absolutely loved the follow up to the first book and was equally parts disturbed and entertained.

As a direct continuation of the first book, The Butcher Game picks up where its predecessor left off, diving right back into the story. While I enjoyed revisiting the characters and world, I couldn’t help but feel that this could have been merged into one longer book, rather than being split into two.

Some of the suspenseful moments felt predictable, and I found myself guessing the twists before they unfolded. That being said, the pacing was steady enough to keep me reading, and I still enjoyed the ride overall. If you loved the first book, I’d say give this one a try—you’ll find familiar elements and a satisfying continuation, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same heights.

I did enjoy the narrator's work on this one and would listen to more by her.

Such an amazing book. I have not one bad thing to say about it! I need more! So good! Alaina Urquhart made me feel all the emotions and she has a beautiful writing style!