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!!

Jeremy Rose, the Bayou Butcher serial killer has unfinished business with the “one who got away “, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Wren Muller. Jeremy Rose wants Wren to suffer great loss by leaving a trail of murders with suttle clues the point to his technique of torture. Wren answers his call to put an end to his games once and for all.

This book takes place pretty soon after the first book, The Butcher and The Wren. If you read the first book a while ago, I would recommend reading a recap summary to jog your memory as there is not much of a recap in the first few chapters.

While this book isn’t as much of a cat and mouse thriller, it was very entertaining. I felt like it was a little long at parts but the last 15% had my heart racing. This book sets up for a third book in the series. If you liked the first book, I think you’ll like this one.

This book is graphic and I would recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6667375999

I am a fan of the Morbid podcast, and I loved the first book in the series. This one was an instant need to read, after finishing the first one. This one takes place where the first left off, and kept me reading until the very end.

The book we’ve all been waiting for! The first one left us with so many questions and such a cliffhanger so I ran to read this as soon as possible. I’d recommend reading them back to back if you can.

If you loved the first book, you’ll love this one as it’s more of the same! Cat and mouse game between Wren and Jeremy but who will win this time and will there be causalities?

I was excited to see that there was a second book written after I finished The Butcher and the Wren. This book also gives the point of view from Wren and Jeremy. It was another quick read. I wish that it would have progressed into a trilogy instead of wrapping up. It still could be a trilogy, but it would go in a different direction. Overall, it was a good book. I’d give it a 4.5.

Thank you Zando Projects for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart is a thrilling sequel that delves deep into the intense cat-and-mouse chase between forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller and the ruthless serial killer Jeremy Rose, the Bayou Butcher. While the book starts off a bit slow and maybe could have been a bit shorter, the dual perspectives from Wren and Jeremy create a fascinating and suspenseful narrative. During Jeremy’s perspective we did get quite a bit of information into his past. The final 30% of the novel is an absolute page-turner, with twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages and led to a shocking conclusion. This installment builds on the strength of the first book, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

Thank you to the author, Alaina Urquhart, Netgalley and the publisher, Zando for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

After the first book I knew I wanted to dive back into Wren’s world of terror and murder. It was full of cool twists and turns, yet the focus on Jeremy was what really drew me into this sequel.

Alaina is such a good writer and, with her background in autopsy’s and true crime you know you’re going to get an all round epic thriller. However, because I’ve listened to Morbid for so long I couldn’t help but feel the references were too close to Alaina and her world. I understand that authors are told to write what they know but this felt more like I was reading about Alaina (this might literally be because I listen to Morbid daily). This book definitely branched out a little more, and the references weren’t as much on the forefront as they were in the first book so I found that I could enjoy the story way more.

Wren is a well developed character and we see her overcome many fears and obstacles throughout this book. Jeremy too we see develop as a character, he becomes reckless and even more terrifying. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Last week, I had the pleasure of reading both of these books back to back. The stories were captivating and unsettling, with a dark and sinister atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat. The dual perspective narrative allowed me to delve into the minds of both the merciless killer and the tenacious medical examiner determined to bring them to justice. The dual timelines were seamlessly intertwined, and had no confusion on my part. Although some may find certain scenes to be more graphic than expected, I found the darker themes explored in this thriller to be thoroughly engaging. 😈