The Butcher and the Wren

A Novel

By: Alaina Urquhart

Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Joe Knezevich

From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive listen with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.

©2022 Alaina Urquhart (P)2022 Zando

Great First Alaina

Hope you’re working on your second already and that the words flow smoothly from you. I’ve enjoyed true crime podcasters Alaina and Ash for years now, so I was excited for some fiction. Great job and great character development. Love the twists, turns & a-ha moments. I’m also very happy you with the narrators- they are top favorites of mine.

BRAVO, ALAINA!!

Girl!! Obviously I am a fan of the podcast. I have listened to your sweet voice for years. (Shout to Ash too!)

The BOOK ...SO excellent. I was almost afraid to listen to it. I was like, "How could someone I 'know' actually be an author...and a good one?"

But...I LOVED it. So good. I love the characters, the voices of the narrators, the exciting plot.

I also really liked the literary structure of having both main players tell their stories in first person voices.

I could go deeply into the subjectivity of both. (My favorite aspect that makes me prefer books ro movies.)

The chase scene through the bayou with the disorienting music adding to the chaos and heightening the terror reminded me of the scene from Dexter in which he is chasing someone through a "haunted Halloween house" he created that features strobe lights, an obstacle course and loud heavy metal music. Terrifying!

I enjoyed the deleted scenes immensely. I can see how one was deleted to allow a plot twist reveal, but you do NOT need to worry about including too much in your stories. Book junkies like "looong". We can't get enough! Most of the books I listen to are approximately eleven hours.

I'm excited to see where your tale goes from here. I can't wait for your next book.

Give my love to Ash, John and those munchkins of yours!

Love,
Karen Parker
Fan Girl from Texas

I love this book

Buy it. Buy the book. Go ahead. You want to and you won’t regret it. I already loved this author, but now I admire her on an entirely new level.

Keeps you on the edge of your seat!

This book was one of the best I have listened to in a while! Get it, you wont be disappointed!!!!!

GOOSEBUMPS!!! Jus WOW

I have listened to Morbid for a while and knew that anything Alaina wrote would be AMAZING! So I preordered the book and just wow! The way she perfected really describing the scene made me feel like I was there and in the bayou running as well! Great job! Can’t wait for more work!

Cannot wait for the sequel!

Absolutely loved it! Great story, great ending (?) or hopefully the beginning to many more! This Weirdo highly recommends♥️

Review of Performance

I much preferred the male narrator to the female narrator. This could be more because of how different their voices were or style, but it was almost as if they didn’t fit together in the same recording.
Overall I liked the book, but this is one I may have actually preferred physically reading.

Alaina, I need a better word than amazing!

I listened to the book in one day at work. I was on the edge of my seat with all the excitement and twists and turns. I mean of course I wish that Alaina narrated the book herself just because she's the best but the book was still amazingly fantastic!
I can't wait for more creations from you, and more episodes on Morbid to listen to!!
I'm so proud of you on your first publication and making your dreams come true. I'm not sure if you're reading these reviews but I'm still going to write this like it's for you!!
I got my older sister into listening to Morbid, she received her book today and can't wait for her to finish it so we can talk about it!

Do not listen to this at night! Or alone!

I have not been this creeped out by a book in a hot minute! I appreciate the story telling and how Alaina has easily defined the characters by the writing style. I felt like I was transported to Louisiana and watching in horror as the evil plays out.

Due to this book, I’ll need to take a day off work and go feed some cute ducks or something, instead of obsessing over a fictional homicidal maniac! Thanks for the now sleepless night! Way to keep it beyond weird (yet absolutely captivating!) Alaina!!

Amazing

This book is so well written!! Kudos girl!! I can't wait for the next one and I love how you left it open!! Weirdo brains are the best and you are thriving!!!