Kristin's Bookshelf

The Butcher and the Wren
By Alaina Urquhart
🎧 Narrated by Sophie Amoss & Joe Knezevich
⭐⭐⭐

I really wanted to love this one, and I honestly think my opinion has more to do with the audiobook than the story itself. Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich are clearly talented narrators, but in this case it felt more like they were reading the book than fully performing it, which made it harder for me to connect with the characters.

I definitely picked up on the “Silence of the Lambs” vibes and enjoyed seeing the similarities between the characters in the novel and those iconic roles.

For me, the story really came alive in Act 2. That’s when I became invested in what was happening. The biggest hurdle was the characterization. I understand that the killer’s detached personality was intentional, but it made his chapters feel a little dry for me. I found myself much more interested in the FMC, though even she felt somewhat emotionally restrained.

That said, I really enjoyed the premise and the overall plot. Even the cliffhanger ending didn’t bother me; I actually appreciated it. I’ll definitely continue with the series, but next time I’ll be picking up the e-book instead of the audiobook.