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 don’t see this trend going away, but I do see it evolving. People who are in it for the right reasons share these stories to offer respect and exposure to victims who can’t do it for themselves. I think great things can happen for cases that need it, and it’s something I am happy to be part of. The case was interesting, Jeremy’s perspective was dark and Wren had room for character growth. There was a lot of potential here, I just wish there was more. True-crime podcast co-host Alaina Urquhart showcases her propensity for the macabre in chilling cat-and-mouse thriller Sabienna Bowman, Popsugar Alright, let's pause here. It's obvious that this book was perhaps lightly massaged rather than properly edited. The sad irony of publishing a book that already has an eager and willing audience is that editing isn't necessarily a priority: the publisher knows that it will make money regardless of -- ahem -- talent or technique. I think they actually did Urquhart a disservice by agreeing to publish this mess; she has the writing skills of a ninth grader who just discovered true crime, and with her first book selling so well, it's unlikely that she'll make the effort to improve.

I don't want to discredit Alaina entirely because obviously this was a passion project for her - but I hope for her sake IF she chooses to write another novel to A) HIRE A GOOD EDITOR and B) DO YOUR RESEARCH. She didn't this time around and it shows. Urquhart paints a tense and dangerous world for us right from the start and delivers it all with a skilled and evocative hand AARON MAHNKE, creator of the Lore podcast and author of The World of Lore series Sister is also behind series such as BBC/AMC’s This Is Going To Hurt, Sky/HBO’s The Baby and Landscapers and Sky/AMC series Gangs of London.Dignity is key in both my work as a true crime podcaster and as an autopsy technician. For example, I always try to part the victim’s hair in a way that allows me to make the necessary cuts without damaging their hair. Just like the person on my autopsy table is a human being who has people who love them, the people we discuss on Morbid are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and friends. Gallows humor has a place in the death industry, to allow workers to cope with the sometimes suffocating sadness that comes with the job, but it can never be in relation to the victim. While on the podcast, I maintain a more fact-based/clinical tone to avoid having the stories of real victims feel like exploitative entertainment, in my fiction, I allow myself a bit more creativity in my narrative style. If you've ever wanted to actually get inside the mind of a serial killer, look no further Paste Magazine The ending is incredibly abrupt but still manages to set things up for more books with The Butcher and The Wren. I can only hope that the publishers don’t allow more of this juvenile writing to be published. I want to preface this by saying a HUGE thank you to Zando for this #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review! I practically cried when I received this beautiful book mail last week. I have wanted a copy of The Butcher and the Wren ever since hearing about it on Morbid a few months prior.

Netflix Owns Less Than 25% Of Its Euro Content -- "That's A Big Evolution," Says EMEA Acquisitions Boss Lina Brounéus Wrens are truly magnificent little creatures. They signify rebirth and protection, immortality, and strength. Because of the wren's small stature, most larger birds and predators underestimate its incredible ingenuity and intelligence. But while technically fragile, the wren outwits its underprepared predator to come out on top when threatened." I was concerned to learn that the author has written this book without visiting New Orleans and I think the story does suffer from this. Throughout the story there’s nods to NOLA but these seem very stereotypical – swamps, the heat, visits to a mystical woman who does Tarot readings on Bourbon St, a longwinded explanation of the NOLA cemeteries and the list goes on. None of these elements serve to add atmosphere to the story, and this could really be set anywhere.The entertainment industry is hell-bent on convincing viewers that morgues are high-tech space labs with touchscreen computer walls. They are not. Sure, they all have that classic stainless steel and clinical white clinical aesthetic, but the reality is far messier and lower tech than shown onscreen. Remember, the morgue is a place where body fluids spray around, especially while opening a skull or severing a spinal column. I think Silence of the Lambs did a nice job of striking this balance—and especially portraying the solemn feeling of an autopsy. The only thing that defines Wren is that she’s a medical examiner and a workaholic. I wasn’t particularly rooting for her.

If you like Patricia Cornwell and have watched Dexter with undisguised glee (and a sped up heart rate), this one is for you.” - Belfast Telegraph There ware so many things in this plot that make no sense. How did Jeremy have enough time to bury Emma, then dispose of another body under the stage, and then the police had enough time to find the stage-body and get to the coffin in time?? Why was Wren the one digging with a shovel when she literally had cops with her who were using their bare hands?? Why was Wren allowed to go to Jeremy's house after he literally broke into her home and made it personal?! Why were the cops twiddling their thumbs in the last scene so he could escape and I would be tortured with the possibility of a sequel to this??! Wren is a forensic pathologist whose knowledge of prolific serial killers aids in her day to day. I had a hard time with her. I cannot pinpoint who Wren is as a person. There are no distinguishable aspects of her personality to round out her character. What are her quirks? What are her hobbies outside of work? It doesn't help that Wren has no real agency throughout the book and no character arc to speak of. What are her goals? What does she need to overcome? What is something the reader can relate to root for her? If she was a victim of Cal, what happened with the investigation? Why didn't she see the similarities with these new killings? Also, did The Butcher take time off and started up again? I may have missed that bit. 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.

With the help of police detectives and others in her office, Wren tries to stay one step of Jeremy, but can she stop him before she becomes the next victim? Alaina Urquhart: I love being an autopsy technician. Working with the dead has given me a different perspective on life. It makes me confront my own habits and misconceptions and reveals how intricate and fragile the human body truly is. CAPTIVATING. T he reader might want to shut their eyes, but the joust between the killer and the pathologist makes that impossible' DAILY MAIL Urquhart does a fantastic job distinguishing between the voices of her two narrators, in both their tone and style of language. The fast-paced story and constant suspense keep you hooked, making it very difficult to put the novel down once you start reading it.” - Alexis Enderle, The Tufts Daily Impressively detailed in its analysis . . . Captivating, with lacings of the occult. There may be moments when the reader might want to shut their eyes, but the joust between the killer and the pathologist makes that impossible Daily Mail

The MC, Jeremy, is the serial killer. I actually really enjoyed his character because he had a funny personality and we got to see him go through a range of emotions in almost every chapter. We also got a tiny tiny glimpse into his childhood, which of course helped his character arc. Reasons to read: If you're a big Morbid fan, you'll love to see one of your fav hosts writing a book.But something will occur mid-story that will flip this one on a dime. And the hunter may well turn out to be the hunted. But is it enough to stub out the serial cigarette? Wait and see. Set in the Louisiana bayou, it is centered around forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Chad Villella, Tyler Gillett Getty Images Let's introduce you to Dr. Wren Muller, an over-worked forensic pathologist in the New Orleans area. Every time the sliding doors echo within the examination room, Wren scrunches her shoulders. Maybe a new wing to the Medical Examiner's office will be necessary if they don't catch "this guy"....."this guy" being the latest serial killer who's left his mark for some time now. The detectives have no leads except for the aftermath. No physical evidence or DNA. Just victims. Feisty and well-planned each time.