This was a good sequel to the first book, The Butcher and the Wren. This book has dual POVs between the main female character, Wren and the antagonist Jeremy. Jeremy is at it again as a serial killer and Wren has to track him down, but not without consequence. I loved the pace of this book, and how Wren is evolving since this book picks up right after the last book. I definitely suggest this book to people who enjoyed the first book!

It’s not often that I enjoy a sequel more than the original. However, The Butcher Game is the exception. I listened to the audiobook and loved it! The characters, the plot, the storyline, everything was even better than the first! I cannot wait for another book to come out on this series!

This was a solid 4 star read for me. I was not a fan of the Butcher and the Wren, mainly due to the writing, but the author has clearly been working on her craft. I did not want to put this book down. The characters felt more whole, and the storyline was suspenseful. I also enjoyed the not so happy ending.

OMG yall the audio book was so good! AND then there was an amazing extra chapter with Alaina and Ash and ahhhh makes me want to go listen to Morbid right now!!

Dual Narration
Thriller

This is book two and there is a setup for a book three! This book is perfect for a spooky fall vibe and I recommend it for people who are looking for a shorter thriller read that is good to read in one sitting. I can't wait for the third book.

I was so, so very excited to be approved for the second book in this series. The Butcher and The Wren was phenomenal, and The Butcher Game did not disappoint. Given the incredibly interesting ending, I am thrilled that this series will most likely have a third book. The Butcher Game was filled with mystery, murder, morbid scenes, and just everything you want in a thriller/suspense. This book was dark, intense, and sucks you in immediately,

If you're unfamiliar, The Butcher and The Wren as well as The Butcher Game follow the story of a notorious serial killer on the loose and a medical examiner seeking justice. This is the perfect scenario for dual POV and it works so well. Individuals who enjoy true crime, criminal minds, etc., you will most likely love this.

I genuinely felt like I was watching an episode of crime television while listening to this audiobook. This series features some of the best audiobooks in my opinion, and The Butcher Game was no found lacking. I enjoyed the characters, enjoyed the narrators, and felt the story was well paced.

Thank you to Alaina Urquhart, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for the audiobookARC of The Butcher Game, available now on audio, and in store.

“The Butcher Game” is the second Dr. Wren Muller story in the series (following “The Butcher and the Wren,” I recommend reading this one first). It picks up right where the first book ended. What an excellent sequel! It is told in alternating POVs between our medical examiner, Wren, and Jeremy Rose, the viciously twisted Bayou Butcher she’s hunting down.

As Jeremy heads north to evade capture for his horrific crimes, he seeks safe harbor with a former friend but remains focused on unfinished business with Wren, the only target who’s ever escaped him—twice. On the other hand, Wren is determined to bring him to justice. The plot thickens as Wren and Jeremy engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse, with Wren using her medical expertise to decipher clues and Jeremy using his cunning to stay one step ahead. In this second book, we also learn more about Jeremy as a teenager and his history with Phillip Trudeau (who was mentioned in book one).

The narration by Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich was not just good, it was outstanding. They both brought Wren and Jeremy to life in a way that will send chills down your spine, adding a layer of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for providing me with the advanced audio copy of The Butcher Game in exchange for an honest review. And thank you, Alaina Urquhart, for writing another fantastic book and leaving us on another cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what's next in the third book!

(4.5) Okay Alaina! I really enjoyed book one but I loved this one! The plot was so good, so gripping, and had me shocked. I love the multiple POV, it really elevated the entire experience. Wren is such a layered character and so much happens in this one that I am actually beyond nervous for her in the next one. A lot of what I want to comment on, I can’t because I’d give the entire book away but just know the I looooove what Alaina did with this. Okay except that one thing, I’m mad about that, honestly so rude. I haven’t read a thriller in a while but I’m glad this is the one i picked up to dust off the genre. Not to be greedy but when’s the next one!?

The bit at the end with Alaina and Ash was so good, made me realize how much I miss listening to the podcast. I may have to pause my audiobooks and dive back in.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early access.

I really enjoyed the second installment in this series and am stoked that we're all set up for a third book! IMO, it can't be read as a stand-alone so definitely check out the first book before getting into this one. I also really appreciate -- like my favorite thriller TV series -- no one is safe. I read the first as an audio and am so happy I was able to read the follow-up, also as an audio -- especially since it's dual POV with two narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Zando for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I only gave the first book in this series 2 stars, but this second installment sounded interesting so I wanted to give the author another try. I felt like this book lacked something, maybe it wasn't as dark and thrilling as I expected it to be? I did like the 2 different POV's. All in all, I just feel like this was an okay read. The narration was good.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this audiobook for review! As with the first book in this series, I am extremely impressed with Urquhart's ability to write an engaging, gritting, and wonderfully gruesome story with characters whose inner thoughts never stop being interesting.
The villian of this story is diabolical in the best (and worst) ways - IFYKYK. True crime fans will enjoy this book through and through.
My only disappointment was that there was no conclusion to the story, meaning there will be a part three (I am assuming) and that is just a little too long-winded for me with the same bad guy.

The Butcher Game is the second book in the Dr. Wren Muller series, it needs to be read in order to get a full feel of the whole story and what's happening. I really enjoyed this sequel, it was entertaining, captivating, dark, unsettling and took me by surprise. I think I love this series so much because it reads like true crime which is what the author is famous for.

It's seriously such an addictive read that kept me on my toes, I truly couldn't stop. There's so much tension, dread and the suspense is palpable. The atmosphere is also spine chilling and the scenes are vividly described. There's some unexpected twists and turns that left me shook.

Another major cliffhanger ending, I cannot wait to see what Alaina comes up with for the next installment. It's truly addictive and I can't look away!

🎧 The narration by Sophie Amoss & Joe Knezevich once more was on point. I loved that she kept the consistency of the same narrators as it felt familiar revisiting them. They once again brought the thrills and the chills. Great performance.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia & @alainaurquhart for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one and there were a lot of twists that I did not see coming. Some predictability as well, but overall a fun thriller.

It took me a minute to remember the important bits from the first book, but once it all clicked into place it was fun! I really loved the short interview with the author at the end. I am looking forward to book 3.

What a sequel! This was perfect and picked up right where it left off! If you haven’t read The Butcher and the Wren you need too. Both books were 4.5 star reads for me.

This is the second book in the Dr. Wren Muller series. What a sequel!! We pick up right were we left off with Jeremy Rose and Dr. Wren Muller. This torturous game of cat and mouse that he plays with Wren always leaves the reader eager to find out what happens next. Book two was also dark, gritty and a touch of gore. With the multiple POV from Jeremy, Wren and some new characters added in, I was loving it.

This could be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading The Butcher and the Wren first. This book was an action packed short read of 232 pages.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel, and will be recommending both books. The pacing of the book was great and I kept wondering what the characters would do next. Wren is such an interesting character and we still don’t know everything about her. I can’t wait for the next book!

I was granted the audiobook ARC and the narration and voices were fantastic.

Jeremy has escaped from the police in Louisiana and is heading North. Wren is trying to heal from PTSD and her encounter with Jeremy. She is trying to find a new norm again. Suddenly, dead bodies are coming up similar to Jeremy's MO. Wren is asked to examine these bodies to help determine if Jeremy is in the area. In this book, we get to know more about Jeremy and how he started his killings. We also discover that Wren wasn't sharing all of how she knew "Cal" and possibly why Jeremy has such a hold on her. I felt the book was well written. The ending left you on a cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next book to come out. I feel you can re-read this book again in hopes of uncovering more clues for the third book.

Thank you Zando for considering me to write a review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Before diving into this book, I wish I had done a bit more research and realized it was actually the second in a series. Had I known there was a book one, my initial confusion while reading could have been avoided. That said, I plan to go back and read the first book to fully appreciate the backstory, which would have helped me better understand the characters’ motivations and plot development.

The story starts off at a slower pace than I usually prefer, and at first, I found myself unsure if I would stay engaged. However, once the action kicked in, the book held my attention, and I found myself eager to continue listening. The tension and intensity in certain scenes kept me hooked, even when the plot didn’t seem to move as quickly as I wanted.

Now, without giving away too many spoilers, I have to say: Jeremy is… something else! His obsession is on another level, and the complete disregard for life he shows is chilling. As my kids would say, his behavior is “off the chain.” I found myself genuinely disturbed by his actions, which is a testament to how well the author portrayed his dark side.

Phil, on the other hand, was a bit more predictable for me. I wish his descent into sadistic behavior had been given more depth or a stronger buildup. There were signs that he was groomed, but I felt like there was potential for his character to have been explored more, especially given the story’s dark undertones.

Based on the ending, it’s clear that the author is setting things up for a third book, which I’m already looking forward to. I’ll definitely be reading the first book to fill in the gaps and then following up with the third installment when it comes out. If you’re into intense psychological thrillers with a dark edge, I’d recommend picking up all three books once the series is complete – I’ll be doing the same!

I really liked this. It was fast paced and very dark/disturbing. The narrators did a great job. I listened to the first book right before starting this because I hadn’t read it yet and felt the sequel was much better. The narrators did a better job, the story felt like it was written even better (not to say the other one was poorly written - this was just better), and the pacing was perfect. Based on the ending I’m guessing we’ll be getting a third installment and I’m truly looking forward to it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

The story continues between Wren and Jeremy. Wren tries yet again to overcome her fears of the heinous acts Jeremy inflicts. This time the stakes may be higher because someone close to Wren could get hurt. The dynamic is a bit different when Jeremy seeks out a friend from his past to help him play a new game. The overall feel is similar but maybe a bit more mellowed. The event that will push the third installment is quite sad and shocks Wren to her very core, and this time the question of whether or not she will fully recover is a slippery slope.

The Butcher and the Wren hooked me from the first chapter and I didn't let go. I was so ecstatic for the second installment, but I felt like there was just a shadow of something missing. While still captivating, the journey is rough and at times pretty gruesome. We get to see Jeremy's mask slip quite a few times and he becomes ever more appalling. The build up of the characters is intriguing and I am quite invested to see what happens in the third book.

The Butcher Game is the second book in the Dr. Wren Muller series. I couldn't wait for this book after reading the first in the series and it did not disappoint. I am so glad that I chose the audiobook version of the book because the dual narration by Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich was fantastic. The narration made the more suspenseful. I sometimes hesitate to get books that have more than one narrator because the talking speed or volume can vary between them but this book did not have that issue. Overall, I loved this book and can't wait for the next one in the series.

This book was fine. Just like the first one was. I didn't think that it was anything too special but I enjoyed it well enough. It's likely that if Alaina keeps writing them I will keep reading them. I think already in the jump from book one to book two you can see her growing as a writer so it will be interesting to see where these stories go. I was also impressed with her ability to make some tough character choices. We'll see how the rest of the series goes!

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Butcher Game was definitely and anticipated read for me this year. The cliffhanger of book one was brutal. I enjoyed this follow up and I’m looking forward to the continuation of the series!