Book Review: The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier
What the Book Is About: Seattle’s most infamous serial killer — The Butcher — is dead. Or at least, that’s what everyone believes. When his daughter, Kristen, moves back home and starts renovating his old house, she uncovers secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew about her father, her past, and herself. Meanwhile, a new string of murders begins… and the truth that unravels is darker, twistier, and more personal than anyone is prepared for.
Full Review: Okay, listen. I picked this book up thinking, “Cool, a serial‑killer thriller, I’m in.”
And then Jennifer Hillier grabbed me by the throat and said NO, YOU’RE NOT READY.
This book is so good it should come with a warning label.
Hillier writes with this razor‑sharp, addictive style where every chapter ends like a slap to the face. I kept telling myself “one more chapter” and suddenly it was 2 a.m. and I was sitting there like a gremlin whispering WHAT DID I JUST READ.
The atmosphere? Perfectly creepy.
The pacing? Zero filler, zero fluff, just pure tension.
The twists? I swear I felt my soul leave my body.
Kristen as a character absolutely wrecked me. She’s messy, complicated, traumatized, and trying so hard to hold her life together while her entire world is basically a crime scene. And the way Hillier slowly peels back the layers of her past… I was literally clutching the book like it might bite me.
And the reveal?
THE REVEAL???
I had to put the book down and stare at the wall. It’s one of those twists that makes you want to reread the entire first half because the clues were RIGHT THERE and you still didn’t see it.
Hillier is a master at writing serial‑killer fiction that feels real, not sensationalized. Dark, but not gratuitous. Emotional, but not melodramatic. She hits that perfect balance where you’re horrified and heartbroken at the same time.
This is easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read in years. It’s sharp, it’s chilling, it’s addictive, and it cements Jennifer Hillier as one of the best in the genre.
My Final Thoughts: If you love thrillers that are dark, twisty, character‑driven, and absolutely unputdownable, The Butcher is a must‑read. It’s the kind of book that stays in your head long after you close it — the atmosphere, the secrets, the emotional gut‑punch of it all.
I’m still thinking about it. I’m still not okay.
And I would read it again in a heartbeat
Tropes & Themes:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings: murder, violence, serial killer themes, child endangerment, trauma, abuse, rape
Genre Tags: psychological thriller, crime thriller, serial killer fiction, dark fiction, suspense
I’ve also put together a full list of book club questions you can read here
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