**3-Star Review: *The Butcher* by Jennifer Hillier**

*The Butcher* by Jennifer Hillier is a dark, gritty thriller with an intriguing premise that explores the horrors lurking beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect life. The story centers on Edward Shank, a retired police chief celebrated for taking down Seattle’s infamous serial killer, "The Beacon Hill Butcher." Years later, his grandson Matt, a successful restaurateur, stumbles upon a shocking family secret that forces him to question everything he thought he knew about his grandfather—and the truth behind the Butcher’s killings.

Hillier excels at creating a tense, suspenseful atmosphere, and the plot is full of twists that keep the reader guessing. The novel's pacing is solid, with revelations coming at just the right moments to keep the story engaging. The dual perspectives, switching between Matt and his girlfriend Sam, who is investigating the Butcher for her own reasons, add an interesting dynamic.

However, the book falters in its character development. Some of the characters, especially Matt, feel underdeveloped, making it difficult to fully connect with their motivations. Additionally, while the premise is gripping, certain plot twists feel predictable, reducing the shock value of the story.

Overall, *The Butcher* is a decent thriller with a strong concept, but it falls short of delivering the emotional depth and unpredictability that would elevate it to a great read.

Things are going great for Matt. His restaurant, where he recreates the meals his grandmother taught him how to cook, is thriving. He has a wonderful girlfriend, Samantha. His grandfather just gave him the house he grew up in when he moved to a retirement center. A foodie television channel wants to make him the star of his own show.

But.... His relationship with Sam is faltering because he can't make a commitment. His employees, most who have been with him for years are complaining about his attitude and he's so busy he rarely gets to cook in his own restaurant. But all of that pales beside the discovery he has made at the house.

His grandfather was the Chief of Police when he retired. He made his reputation solving the case of The Butcher, a serial killer plaguing the city in the 1980's. But when Matt finds the box buried in his backyard, he realizes the horrible truth. His grandfather set up someone as the Butcher when in reality he was the serial killer himself. Now what is Matt to do?

This is a wonderfully creepy tale. Hillier reveals the truth about the killer early but the reader can't put the book aside as they discover the depths of depravity the killer will descend to. The relationship between Matt and Sam is interesting and the fact that Sam is a true crime writer adds to the suspense. This book is recommended for thriller readers.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. You know who the killer is from almost the very beginning. So the question in this one is when will everyone else figure out who the killer is? A few predictable twists towards the end. While not as much of a mystery, it was a different take on the serial killer story.

This is Canadian author, Jennifer Hillier's 3rd book. I've read a number of her recent releases and am continuing on my journey to read her backlist.

The Butcher is high up there on the creepy factor - even the cover screams creep. But knowing who the killer is right from the beginning is a new one for me. At first I wasn't impressed with that knowledge but as the story progressed and knowing that fact just made the story all the more intriguing. There are a nice variety of characters with unique and personalities that rounded this story out nicely. The various relationships and interconnections added to the suspense.

As for the mystery, what can I say other then it was totally whacked (see blurb above) and I mean that in a good way. There were twists and turns, some I saw coming and others not so much.

The Butcher is a book that can be gruesome at times with a mature subject matter. I don't recommend for the squeamish as it's rather dark and disturbing.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

A rash of grisly serial murders plagued Seattle until the infamous “Beacon Hill Butcher” was finally hunted down and killed by police chief Edward Shank in 1985. Now, some thirty years later, Shank, retired and widowed, is giving up his large rambling Victorian house to his grandson Matt, whom he helped raise.
Settling back into his childhood home and doing some renovations in the backyard to make the house feel like his own, Matt, a young up-and-coming chef and restaurateur, stumbles upon a locked crate he’s never seen before. Curious, he picks the padlock and makes a discovery so gruesome it will forever haunt him… Faced with this deep dark family secret, Matt must decide whether to keep what he knows buried in the past, go to the police, or take matters into his own hands.
Meanwhile Matt’s girlfriend, Sam, has always suspected that her mother was murdered by the Beacon Hill Butcher—two years after the supposed Butcher was gunned down. As she pursues leads that will prove her right, Sam heads right into the path of Matt’s terrible secret.

This was disappointing. The element of "thriller" was missing in some ways, as we knew the identity of the killer very early on. Also, I really did have trouble connecting with any of the characters - they were all really unlikeable. And as for the plot, well, I gave it a star just for trying to do things a little differently - but it just didn't work for me. Too many coincidences, and a climax that really didn't hit any heights.

Having said that, I have read a few other books by this author and really enjoyed them. This one just didn't click for me.


Paul
ARH

The first chapter of this novel is brilliant. It will literally give you cold chills as you discover what's going on. However, the killer is revealed very early in this book, so it's not really a mystery in the traditional sense of the word. Sam's mom was murdered when she was young, and it was never solved. She thinks her mother was part of the work of The Butcher, and she's writing a book about the infamous serial killer. Her boyfriend Matt just happens to be the grandson of the policeman who took down The Butcher in the 80s's. As readers, we have sort of an omniscient point of view. We know who the killer is, but the characters have no idea what's going on. It's relatively successful. I enjoyed watching the characters to peel back the layers that had already been revealed. The main problem with this story is the characters. Matt is so obnoxious, and Sam is so spineless, that it makes them a little hard to relate to. Overall a decent read, but not very memorable.

Hillier writes the most beautifully horrific stories. Her previous work includes Creep and Freak, and there is a nice nod to characters from them both in The Butcher, giving fans a smile.
The Butcher’s identity is revealed in the beginning, but that only provides fertile ground for more storytelling. Just because you know whodunit, doesn’t mean the plot twists are over, far from it! The history of the killer and the lives he’s affected are a fascinating part of the story. Character development is the focus of this unique thriller, and the velocity at which the story is told will keep readers immersed until the final page.
Summary:
30 years have passed since police chief Edward Shank shot and killed the “Beacon Hill Butcher”. Widowed and retired, he decided it was time to give his large Victorian house to his grandson, Matt before age took its toll.
Looking forward to making his childhood home his own, Matt started renovations only to make a grisly discovery buried in the backyard. Faced with one gruesome secret soon leads to another and Matt gets in way over his head. Does he keep his discovery buried, or does he go to the police?
Meanwhile, Matt’s girlfriend has been plagued with the notion that her mother was a victim of the Beacon Hill Butcher two years after Chief killed him. While researching her true crime novel, Sam is lead directly to Matt and his terrible family secret.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Well written and engaging hard to put down once I started reading! Thanks for the opportunity!