The Butcher and the Wren: A chilling debut thriller from the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast MORBID

Product Information

From the popular true-crime podcast MORBID, co-host and creator Alaina Urquhart comes an edgy killer thriller debut, THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN —bloody good! The book is written from two different perspectives: a serial killer, and a medical examiner. Each tells their story one chapter at a time as you watch the story play out. The Butcher and the Wren is already one of the buzziest titles of the Fall. If you somehow haven’t already heard about what the big twists of the story are already, do your best not to find out until you get the chance to experience Alaina Urquhart’s debut for yourself.” —Lacy Baugher Milas, Paste Magazine

As a proud Weirdo, I was so excited to have the chance to read this novel from one of my favorite podcasters, and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait to read what happens to Wren and the gang.

Member Reviews

The only non-spoilery thing I have to say about this novel was that is was BADDDDDD, so let's get onto the spoilery bits so I can rant properly:

Not only that, but she embarrassingly didn't read enough about the city on Wikipedia to know they don't bury bodies there as it's below sea level. Dig too far down, graves become soggy and fill with water, resulting in floating caskets. This is why cemeteries in NOLA have above ground tombs - it's legit part of why the city is so darn spooky!!! From the popular true-crime podcast MORBID, co-host, and creator Alaina Urquhart comes an edgy killer thriller debut, THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN —bloody good!The writing is a lot of telling and not much showing. It's choppy in most places with bouts of info-dumping and repetitive descriptions of the hot NOLA weather. Too many short sentences one after another can take the reader out of the story. It could benefit from a lot of appositives and basic reworking to look more presentable to the reader, but this is just my opinion since most readers wouldn't mind. I enjoyed the duel POVs. The killer was cold and methodical and I still have questions about him. Especially with that ending.

With her encyclopaedic knowledge of humanity's darkest minds, and years of experience examining their victims, forensic pathologist Dr Wren Muller is the best there is. The longer the Butcher's killing spree continues, the more determined she is to bring him to justice.

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Molly Odintz: You’re an autopsy technician. Tell us a bit about your job and how it intersects with your life as a podcaster and writer.