Reviews: The Butcher and the Wren (7)

Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy, this is an excellent crime fiction debut.
I am very much hoping that there are plans to develop this into a series, if there are can you please sign me up for book 2 now.
Intrigued to see these characters develop further, very much loved the characters of both The Butcher and The Wren, I feel there is so much more we can have from this pairing.
Good pace and tension, happy to recommend on to other crime fiction fans.

Thank you to Penguin for sending me an early review copy.
Forensic pathologist Wren Muller is on the hunt for a brutal serial killer known as the Bayou Butcher, which makes for an incredibly tense plot that kept me reading on and on. I loved the emphasis on forensics as that's an area of true crime that really interests me (and the forensic pathologist character in any crime drama is always my favourite!),
Urquhart's incorporation of references to real-life serial killers makes this crime thriller perfect for true crime fans, and the character analysis of the Butcher delves deep into criminal psychology. There were times when the plot felt a bit thin and stretched to its limit, and the dialogue felt clunky at times (though this may simply be a difference in dialect), but overall I'm glad that I pushed myself out of my genre comfort zone and tried a new genre.

Such an amazing debut, I’ve been a fan of The Morbid Podcast for a while so this book has been long anticipated by me and it’s safe to say I was completely blown away. Alaina’s writing style is poetic and flows beautifully, I couldn’t put this book down, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat until the last page and I’m really hoping for a sequel. absolutely brilliant.

THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN - He’s hunting victims. She’s hunting him……. -

Written by Alaina Urqugart, who is already knowledgeable in the art of storytelling due to her participation in the true crime podcast ‘Morbid’, has written a fabulous novel, that shows just how much potential the author has in future crime fiction writing.

I do love a good serial killer, the more twisted and evil the better and a cat and mouse game to catch them, adds to the nail biting tension. This book had all the traditional hallmarks of the psychological murder genre, with its chilling atmosphere, brutal murders, a sinister killer and truly frightening scenarios.

This was a really quick story to read, 240 pages and I had this covered in less than twenty four hours. Now some might be saying that is was too quick and needed a bit more fleshing out but you know, it worked just as well as it is, needless filler would have lengthened the book but the scenes that mattered were sharp, tense, dark and menacing. If the likes of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ and the earlier books by Patricia Cornwall are your bag, then you’ll enjoy this twisted and grisly psychological frightener with gusto.

Wren is a lovely character and a knowledgable forensic pathologist, obviously due to the authors own personal knowledge of mortuary work. Wren has time for her trainees and to listen intently to what the dead can tell her about their suspicious deaths. Like a Clarice Starling of the medical world, the killer gets into her mind and is determined to help assist in their capture.

I would however agree that the ending was possibly cut too short. I continued reading thinking it was another chapter but it was actually the acknowledgments but all that did was pique my interest in a follow up, which I now just have to read! I’m desperate to read more and hope the author doesn’t wait too long to pen the second in the Wren Muller, forensic pathologist series.

Alaina Urqugart is the co-host of the chart-topping show #Morbid - A True Crime Podcast, with over 1m listeners and 3m views on Tik Tok. An autopsy technician by trade, she has degrees in criminal justice, psychology and biology.

#TheButcherAndTheWren - 4 stars

I am so surprised by the reviews on this book, it was a really good story, but so poorly written that I could not get into it at all. The only reason I finished it was for my book challenge of the year.
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Some things in the book [spoilers]:
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When a character was shot and he fell like a bird that was also shot??
When they are having a group discussion about the deaths and what they might mean and the FMC goes off to get a drink of water half way through the conversation that she is a key element of???
When a body is decomposing in a very public area and the very minor background characters notice it smells awful but they are further away from the body than the security guard (standing right beside it) that smells nothing???
The fortune teller????
The decoy that just happened to be there!?!?!?!
AND
Serious spoiler:
Why did the MMC not run BEFORE they arrived because he did nothing to change his fate??? He owns at least two guns and took a bow and arrows knowing the police would be there WITH THEIR GUNS???? He knew the decoy wouldn't work????
Maybe I'm missing something????

Overall it felt like a first draft that no one (beta readers or editors or even friends) looked over before it was released.

⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️

The Butcher and the Wren was a mixed bag for me.

Good points:
I was hooked from the beginning and the story had me in its grip until the end. I flew through the pages because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next; I also enjoyed the creepy sense of atmosphere.

Not so good points:
The characters are fairly one dimensional and lacking in any sort of real depth. We don’t get to know that much about any of them, particularly in the case of Wren.

I thought the storyline was interesting and I did find it an addictive read but I was disappointed with the abrupt, anticlimactic ending which left too many unanswered questions for me.

Overall, an enjoyable read (with niggles).

Rounded down from around 3.5 stars ⭐️

The Butcher and The Wren follows Wren, a forensic pathologist on the hunt for a serial killer ‘The Butcher’. Can she track them down before it’s too late, or will they get to her first?

I absolutely loved the start of this book, one particular scene actually sent chills down my spine and arms! I was completely sucked in. I loved being inside the mind of the serial killer during their chapters. The darkness absolutely thrilled me, I just wanted to get into their mind more! Unfortunately, the other characters lacked depth for me. I didn’t connect enough to Wren and found her smug attitude annoying. I also became a little frustrated by things that happened with Wren that just would not happen in real life, due to ethics. Alaina’s expertise in true crime and autopsies definitely shines through and I loved this.

I absolutely loved the short chapters which helped to keep the pace up. I also really enjoyed the twist which I did not see coming. It took me a while to wrap my head around it because it completely blindsided me! However, after the twist I felt things slipping a little. The ending felt really abrupt and came out of nowhere. It is clear it was setting up for a sequel but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. That being said, I loved the sprinkling of true crime facts throughout and will definitely be reading the sequel if there is one! I think this was an impressive debut that shows a lot of promise!

I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and true crime if you don’t mind an incomplete ending. I want to thank Tandem Collective UK, Michael Joseph Books and Alaina Urquhart for allowing me to read a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.

I certainly got vibes of Scarpetta & Silence of the Lambs from this thriller.

In chapters from each point of view from the forensic pathologist's and her nemesis serial killer's, we follow Wren as she works against the clock as another body is found tortured.

The killer is on the hunt again, he's left clues but it seems a grander gesture is required. He has been very patient after all.

In a fast paced high body count game of cat and mouse. Wren feels the information is there just out of reach.

I thought it was rather gory, the splintered nails from clawing was rather graphic, what a start to a daring new series, I can't wait to find out where it goes.

This is a fantastic debut book from Alaina Urquhart. I couldn't recommend enough.
I was hooked from page 1, and the twists and turns of this book left me amazed.
As a fan of Morbid: A True Crime Podcast, I bought the book initially to support the amazing Alaina, but I would recommend for any crime/thriller lovers.

Spooky season is here so if you are looking for a chilling and dark read to get you in the right mood, The Butcher and The Wren is what you are looking for. A serial killer who likes to torture and play with his victims before killing them and the forensic pathologist who hunts him, all set in the bayous of New Orleans.

The story is told from two different perspectives. On one side, the author takes us right into the killer’s mind. He is a complex, highly intelligent character who loves terrorizing and killing his victims in the most gruesome and agonising way. Because of him, the streets of New Orleans are no longer safe. Young people, especially women, disappear and their bodies are found a few days later, showing signs of torture. The press has renamed him “the Butcher”. Who is he? And can he be stopped?

“The thoughts of the depraved fascinated Wren. But the last thoughts of the dead fascinated her even more.”

The other point of view is Dr Wren Muller. A renowned forensic pathologist with knowledge of criminology, Wren knows death. She often collaborates with the police in solving cases and she is determined to find this serial killer before he kills again, and, as the body count rises, the search becomes an obsession for her.

I loved the dual narrative as I was absorbed both in the killer and Wren’s gripping stories. The pace is right and fast, the suspense kept me on the edge from the first to the last pages, and the twists took me completely by surprise. The story is well-written, the story is intense and compelling, the characters are fascinating and well-developed and I am really hoping for a sequel, because I want more!

Wren was never afraid of the dark. Until she learned that some monsters are real…

The Butcher and the Wren is a dark, menacing and forbidding game of cat and mouse that will send shivers down your spine. This is one of those books best read in the daytime because if you read it in the dark you will never close your eyes…

Forensic pathologist Dr Wren Muller is determined to bring the killer known as ‘The Bayou Butcher’ to justice. But as the body count rises, she fears she is no closer to finding the brutal murderer with a penchant for experimenting on his victims. Then one day she notices a clue that changes the game completely. Now she knows who he is and she is willing to do whatever it takes to stop him.

“Catch me if you can.”

Alaina Urquhart wields a scalpel as sharp as her protagonist in this outstanding debut. Intricately woven, tightly plotted, fast-paced and unbearably tense, it oozed fear from its every pore and had me on the edge of my seat with my heart racing. Darkly atmospheric and cleverly written, the author uses the power of suggestion to make your imagination go wild, conjuring imagery more horrifying than graphic descriptions could ever portray, though there are some gruesome moments too. I devoured it quickly, unable to turn away even though I desperately wanted to.

“The feeling in this place is dark and ominous, saturated with the evil that has touched it for so long.”

Not only has Urquhart written a chilling story, but she’s created a truly terrifying villain. Jeremy is particularly frightening because he seems like he could be anyone you know. He is completely sane and aware of his actions, meticulously plans his every move, and seems so normal that his victims willingly accompany him to their doom. He’s the monster that lurks in the shadows or under your bed while also being the person sitting next to you on the bus or who chats to you at a bar. He is what we don’t want to believe evil is made of.

Ominous, suspenseful and filled with jaw-dropping twists that will take you by surprise, this is a must-read for any thriller lover. Urquhart is my new favourite sinister storyteller and I can’t wait to read what she writes next. Hopefully it will include Wren as I’d love to see her featured in a series.

Despite being her first novel Alaina has started with a bang that will echo through the space. The writing is clear and flows with ease. The story told from two perspectives is very easy to differentiate with each of the characters having their own clear personalities and speech through the text. The authors background as an autopsy technician and a true crime podcast host echos throughout the book with well placed knowledge and references that feel genuine and not at all forced unlike some other authors that perhaps don't have the hard earned technical knowledge.

Overall I love this book. I do wish it was longer and I'm hoping that now she has had her first foray into writing, Alaina follows this up with a longer sequel. I am perhaps a little biased as I was already a big fan of the Morbid podcast that Alaina co-hosts (which is why I pre-ordered the signed version) but I wasn't expecting such a strong first book and I would be just as excited about this new author even if I had never heard of her before. Congratulations Alaina and I can't wait for more!!