Reviews with content warning for Body horror - The Butcher and the Wren

I was skeptical to read this since I found Alaina throigh the podcast. But her writing was so rich and her descriptions so vivid and well chosen I found myself completely engrossed and forgetting this wasn't a real case. I also wasn't able to guess the plot twists before they happened, which was a welcome change in thrillers. Additionally I appreciated how much reallife info from being an autopsy tech she was able to put in, it made the case feel very reakistic. Would absolutely recommend to fans of Morbid or of crime novels generally.

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ashleymg99's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I picked up this book because I’m a big fan of Morbid. Overall, the story was a fun & easy read.

I will admit, I wasn’t overly impressed with the writing style. While I LOVED the plot twist, there were certain parts that felt a bit fan-ficy or amateurish, if that makes sense. It just wasn’t as polished as some of the books I normally read (~~but maybe I just read pretentious books) .~~

As far as crime thrillers go, this is solid. Alaina is an autopsy tech and true-crime podcast host, so there was very specific, accurate details that I think many novels in this genre lack. If you’re a fan of Morbid, absolutely pick it up and support Alaina - I have confidence her next novel will be even better.

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finnmiles's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I read reviews before even jumping into this book and was pretty curious by all the mixed opinions I had seen. I’m a listener of morbid, so naturally I wanted to read. I don’t quite understand the horrid reviews I’ve seen. I thought the story was really captivating, and while it was a bit confusing with all the timeline jumps, I enjoyed the different perspectives. I truly didn’t see the twist coming, and I didn't understand it completely at first. But all in all, a good read! Will definitely read the sequel if one comes out.

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ashfantastic98's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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pibblemama97's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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stephwtsn27's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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juliabea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated

5.0

leaves you hanging!

great book! Love the author as I listen to her podcast. Was excited to read to was such a great story with twist and turns that leave you wanting more!

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