The Burcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart (Audiobook)
Zando
Audible Release: September 13, 2022
Listening Length: 6 hours 23 minutes
Narrators: Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich
Genre: Horror
KKECReads Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
KKECReads Rating for Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
KKECReads Rating for Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I purchased this audiobook on Amazon, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Alaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the chart-topping show Morbid: A True Crime Podcast. As an autopsy technician by trade, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue. Alaina hails from Boston, where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters, and a ghost puggle named Bailey. She is about 75 percent coffee, and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends. Before writing her first psychological horror novel, she received degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and biology. When she isn’t hosting Morbid, she hosts the Parcast original show Crime Countdown, and a horror movie podcast called Scream! Her days are usually spent either recording or eviscerating. The way she sees it, when she hangs up her microphone for the day, it’s time to let the dead speak.
But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner’s office, she’s never encountered a case she couldn’t solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren’s examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.
“The dead keep their secrets.”
Wren is a medical examiner with a secret and robust insight. Jeremy is a man with a secret and an insatiable desire to do harm.
This was good for a debut novel. I enjoyed the story, and I liked how Alaina used her experience to help bring the story to life.
The characters were great and well-defined. I liked Wren a lot. It was fascinating getting a glimpse into what being a medical examiner is like, and how calm Wren was in all situations. She had a very soothing presence.
Jeremy was scary but also fascinating. He was adaptable, and his intelligence was put to good use. His character was an outstanding balance to Wren.
The side characters were all excellent, and I enjoyed the chemistry. I love how the bayou and Louisiana were characters; it was clever. The oppressive heat and unrelenting sun could almost be felt from the descriptions used, and that was brilliant writing.
The narrators were perfect for this story, and I hope these two continue through the series. Sophie was brilliant at bringing her chapters to life. She could clearly define all the characters she portrayed, and I was constantly impressed.
Joe was eerily perfect for bringing Jeremy to life. He captured the ego, lack of any emotion, and coldness so well. The control in his voice was scary at points.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an engaging read with well-placed twists I didn’t see coming. I look forward to the next book to see what happens with these people.