Review of “The Butcher Game” by Alaina Urquhart

The Butcher Game is a fast-paced, engaging read that sets the stage for a chilling cat-and-mouse game between a forensic pathologist and a twisted serial killer. As part of a series, it’s well-done enough that you can figure out the main events without reading the first book, but you'll miss some backstory, which feels crucial for fully understanding the characters. I went into this with high expectations, and while it delivered in some areas, I found myself a little disappointed.

The story is gory and has its creepy moments, but certain elements fell flat for me. Jeremy’s tactics as the serial killer felt predictable and unoriginal at times, which took away from some of the tension. I also had a hard time connecting with the supporting cast, especially the police officers.I had a hard time connecting with the supporting cast, especially the police officers. They didn't feel believable in the way they handled such a high-profile, dangerous case, and their actions seemed unrealistic for the setting, which pulled me out of the story a bit. However, I will say that as a listener of Morbid, a lot of the cases they cover on the podcast have this issue, especially in early cases, and it’s just as infuriating.

That being said, the ending was one of the more enjoyable parts. It was unexpected and left off on a cliffhanger, just like the first book, which has me curious about where the next one will go. Despite my frustrations, I think I’ll read the next installment—I want to see how the story wraps up. Hopefully, with where the characters are now, Urquhart can take things in a new direction and redeem some of the issues I had with this one.

If you're into dark thrillers, especially those involving serial killers, this one is still worth a read. The audiobook, narrated by Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich, also adds a lot to the experience, so I’d recommend checking that out if you prefer listening.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!