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A review by jordanreedsbooks
The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
4.0
Okay, so I just finished The Butcher and The Wren, and let me tell you—it’s a wild ride. Alaina Urquhart (yes, from the Morbid podcast!) delivered on the creepy, edge-of-your-seat vibes. If you're into dark thrillers with a side of true crime realness, this one is for you.
The story flips between Jeremy, this twisted serial killer who’s disturbingly methodical, and Wren Muller, a forensic pathologist who’s smart, strong, and not about to let him get away with his sick games. Jeremy’s chapters are seriously unnerving—you’re in his head, and it’s messed up—but Wren’s side balances it out. She’s so sharp and capable, you can’t help but root for her.
You can tell Alaina’s autopsy experience brings some serious authenticity to the medical details, which is cool (and also a little gross, in the best way). There are some moments where things slow down a bit, especially in Jeremy’s monologues, but the tension builds steadily. And then there’s the ending—oh my gosh. It’s abrupt, but you can feel it’s setting up for book two, and I’m already dying to know what happens next.
It’s not perfect, but it’s so much fun. If you like shows like Criminal Minds or Mindhunter, or if you’re already a fan of Morbid, you’re going to devour this. I’m giving it 4 stars because it kept me hooked and gave me chills, but I think book two might really blow it out of the water. I can’t wait!
The story flips between Jeremy, this twisted serial killer who’s disturbingly methodical, and Wren Muller, a forensic pathologist who’s smart, strong, and not about to let him get away with his sick games. Jeremy’s chapters are seriously unnerving—you’re in his head, and it’s messed up—but Wren’s side balances it out. She’s so sharp and capable, you can’t help but root for her.
You can tell Alaina’s autopsy experience brings some serious authenticity to the medical details, which is cool (and also a little gross, in the best way). There are some moments where things slow down a bit, especially in Jeremy’s monologues, but the tension builds steadily. And then there’s the ending—oh my gosh. It’s abrupt, but you can feel it’s setting up for book two, and I’m already dying to know what happens next.
It’s not perfect, but it’s so much fun. If you like shows like Criminal Minds or Mindhunter, or if you’re already a fan of Morbid, you’re going to devour this. I’m giving it 4 stars because it kept me hooked and gave me chills, but I think book two might really blow it out of the water. I can’t wait!