An amazing second book in this series. I can’t get enough! Always intense and keeps you hooked from the very start!!

I abosuletly adored this book and audiobook! the voice of the character si so soothing and enticing! Aliana really gives you more than one perspective and POV which really works well with the book. If you loved the first one or true crime in general this feels like you're in a true crime documentary! I am so excited to see what else comes from this author and this is perfect for spooky season! Thank you thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this wonderful book!

After the way the first book of the series ended, I was thrilled to see a second book was coming. In my opinion, this one was even better than the first book. I was glued to it and could not stop listening to the audio. I love Wren as a character, and her determination to keep hunting Jeremy despite being on medical leave. She is just so determined. If you like scary thrillers than this is definitely the book for you.

I have a confession: I read the first book back in 2022 when it was new, but I can't remember much about it. I kept waiting for context clues to trigger my memories of book one, and while I have vague snippets of recollection, reading this book felt like coming in midway through a story, leaving me feeling lost.

That said, I did enjoy the events that unfolded. I loved the mystery, the grotesque nature of the villain, the build-up for a potential new antagonist, and the psychological terror that plagued our protagonist. However, I noticed a lot of repetition in the narrative. It often felt like we were discussing the same points multiple times.

In this installment, we get the perspectives of Wren and Jeremy after some time has passed since book one. Jeremy travels to the Boston area, and Wren follows after her colleagues call her regarding suspicious deaths. We delve into Jeremy's mind as he stalks his prey and plans to reel in Wren — it’s an interesting dynamic.

The plot and characters are decent, and you can definitely recognize Alaina's unique voice; I love her quirky jokes and dark humor. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll likely like this one as well. The audio version features a Q&A with Ash and Alaina, which is entertaining and offers some background on the writing process. Who doesn't love some fun conversations between Ash and Alaina? The narrators also did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.

I was so excited to get this audiobook, I loved the first book in this series and the 2nd was just as good. I really enjoy the narrators on these books.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
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The second in the series. This one picks up right where the first left off ( you most definitely need to read the first book before reading this one). This one continues with a dual POV, and this has the same cat & mouse vibes, but this time not even just with Wren. I love where Alaina went with this story, I think it gave such great insight to the characters, and it was a continuation of the first. This has the same fast-paced aspect and hooked me right from the start. You are left with a cliff hanger ending once again, but I'm okay with that, as long as I get my book three!
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I listened to this one via audiobook - Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich were awesome narrators. They complimented each other and they really brought this one to life for me. Highly recommending the audiobooks for this series!
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Overall, I am hooked to the series. I cannot wait to see what happens next. A great thriller / serial killer series for anyone who is looking for a new series to binge! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Alaina Urguhart and Dreamscape Select for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

After listening to the first in this series I really enjoyed it and was looking forward to book two. This starts weeks after the first novel and it is important to read the first, first because they are directly related.

A cat and mouse game with Wren on the hunt for Jeremy, following him across state and county lines. Will she find him before he can hurt too many more people?

So glad for Vol 2. Does not disappoint. Duel perspectives. Cliff hanger warning- book 3 is promised.

I absolutely LOVED this! I loved the first one but this one is better. I hope that Alaina continues to write because she is amazing at it!

WOAHHH! This was better than the first book IMO! Thank you so much netgalley for the ALC. I really appreciate it!

Im truly unsure if a second book was required and now a third book will come out (as it doesn't like wrap up)
I will say the POV of the Butcher was better than Dr. Wren in terms of making me care ...but still done in a choppy manner.
I love a serial killer but it didn't feel inventive or refreshing . It felt more like when a toddler wants to dress themselves for the first time and you are about to leave when suddenly you see your child. And they are wearing snow shoes, a bathing suit , 6 pony tails and a scarf. You don't know where they went wrong but you just don't have time to figure it out.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Mystery/thriller📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I enjoyed this one due to its dark and creepy nature but what I liked the most was getting to see inside Jeremy’s mind

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Multiple POVs
Cat and mouse thrillers
Medical examiner x serial killer
Dark atmospheric setting
Chilling and gruesome scenes
True crime
Unexpected twists
Being inside the mind of a serial killer

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
I wasn’t a fan of the ending of the first book but now that I know there was a second book I don’t mind the cliff hanger as much

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
A little slow at times
Another cliff hanger ending


Overall I really enjoyed the audiobook and recommend the narrator

3.75⭐

OH MY GOSH THIS BOOK! If you know Alaina through Morbid, this book is such her voice. Its dark, mysterious, and just a wild ride. The twists and emotional ride of this book was just crazy. I will be candid that I dont reallyyyy remember everything that happened in Butcher and the Wren (book one) but this book helped me remember a bit. I think this book was more serious, and had darker and harder to read scenes, and the craziness with Jeremy and his (maybe?) friend had me so curious about what would happen next.

Melissa, if you liked this book so much, why does in not have a higher rating? Well...thats cause it just wasn't the book for me at the time. Being in Jeremy's POV while some of the death and torture occurred was very heavy and I found myself taking breaks. AND THEN , I may have rated it a tad low cause I just was unhappy/ bitter by the last death. It wasn't so much murder mystery in this book and how behind Wren is in the plot versus the deaths occurring was just a funky dual POV to bounce between.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alaina Urquhart, and Dreamscape Select for the audiobook. The narration by Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich was fantastic. This gripping cat-and-mouse game between a serial killer and the one that got away is compelling. As a follow-up to the first book, this sequel was an excellent continuation, and I can't wait to see if there's more to come!

The butcher game by Alaina Urquhart

This was a graphic novel about detective Wren who are searching for a serial killer that they have looked for in the past.

While I love a good thrill ride this one seemed rushed and lacking. It was tough to get through and even though I admit it was dark and brutal in nature. I put down and picked this one up trying to get in the mood but it just wasn’t as expected.

Thank you NetGalley and dreamscape

Okay, so I love going into books blind, but I may have over rotated on that, as I didn't realize this was the second in a series and I haven't read the first one. Don't judge me! I love Zando as a publisher and they always publish amazing books.

That said, I love how Alaina wrote the book in a way that I was absolutely able to follow what was happening and understand our characters' motivations.

Narrators Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich did an amazing job keeping me interesting in the book and I'll definitely find the first book and get up to speed!

Not sure where my original review for this one went but, it was a thrilling ride, and honestly i considered this one fast paced.

I don't dabble in the thriller only area much anymore, it seems like the same old story written over and over again, but this one got my blood pumping .

It was a good quick little slasher, i listened to it vs reading it and the narrator was okay, little too nasal for me and got annoying, and i tend to prefer either one voice and slightly pitched to change characters or it there are multiple, don't over act it.

I think i would have preferred reading this digitally or in hard form, vs narrated.

I think there will be a third book, so i assume that's why we still have some questions, not a big deal, just, make sure you get the last one written !!

So i did not read the first book, but even so, I found this book a bit boring. I got past maybe the first few chapters, and it was yawn worthy. Maybe I'll give book 1 a try before I reread

#netgalley #TheButcherGame

If you’re looking for a fast paced slasher to read over the spooky months, look no further. The sequel to The Butcher and the Wren picks up on the same cat and mouse chase we were left with in the first instalment and cranks up the suspense and gore.

Short chapters keep the story moving but it does end on a cliff hanger - which I didn’t love. Apparently this will be at least a trilogy, so hopefully the third book wraps up some loose ends.

I didn’t love the narration of this audiobook. The female narrator was okay, but the male narrator used the cheesiest tone. I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if I’d read a physical copy.

Thank you @netgalley the publisher and author for this free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! The first book left off on a cliff hanger and I couldn’t wait to get back. The author did not disappoint!! It was exactly what I was wanting from this story. In terms of the audiobook, I was not the biggest fan of the narrator for Wren. There were parts throughout the book where I felt like the narrator made Wren sound more pretentious than I remember her being in the first book. It wasn’t the way the parts were written, but the tone in which the narrator said them. For the most part, it wasn’t an issue and I thought the voice fit well but every now and then I would be taken out of it. The narrator for Jeremey, I thought was perfect! A fitting voice for his character and his inflictions when he spoke during certain scenes were chilling. The ending of the book was a huge shock I was not expecting! I don’t know how I am going to be able to wait for the first book!!


Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for his advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review!