The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier – Book Review

I have a new favorite author, and her name is Jennifer Hillier. One book in, and I’m already wondering how I’ve been sleeping on her work all this time. I recently picked up The Butcher as my first read from her, and wow, I’m seriously impressed. Dark, intense, and so addictive, this book completely pulled me in.

So here it is, my full review of The Butcher and my first dive into Jennifer Hillier’s twisted world of crime and suspense.

Spoiler-Free Zone
This review is completely spoiler-free, no twists revealed, no key plot points given away. It’s safe to keep reading, even if you haven’t started the book yet.

The Butcher – Book Synopsis

Consider adding The Butcher to your TBR list on Goodreads.

The Butcher – Quick Summary

The Butcher – Trigger Warnings, Sensitive Topics and Age Rating

Before we go any further, I always like to include a quick note on sensitive content. Every reader is different, and some themes in this book might be difficult for certain people.

If you prefer to check content warnings before reading, just click below to reveal the list of trigger warnings, sensitive topics and age ratting.

Plot Overview

The novel opens in 1985, when Edward Shank, a respected Seattle police chief, gains public praise for stopping a well-known serial killer. Years later, now 80, Edward decides to pass his elegant Victorian home in the upscale Sweetbay neighborhood to his grandson, Matt. Matt is a hardworking chef focused on building his food empire. He looks forward to a fresh start in the house where he grew up. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Samantha, a true crime writer, sees this new chapter as a chance to grow closer. However, Matt stays focused on his career, his restaurants, and the success he’s worked hard to build through discipline and ambition.

Soon after, a discovery during a home renovation forces Matt to question everything he thought he knew about his family. At the same time, Samantha begins her own investigation, following clues that may connect to Seattle’s dark past, and to her own.

As the story moves forward, secrets start to surface, not just from Matt’s life, but from Samantha’s as well. Loyalties are tested, and both characters are pulled into a dangerous search for the truth.

Jennifer Hillier delivers a fast-paced and graphic thriller that blends suspense with emotional depth. The novel explores themes of trust, ambition, and how far people will go to protect what they love, or to keep the truth buried.

My Thoughts

What I Loved

To start, I really enjoy dark and twisted plots, and this book delivered that completely. As the story went on, the secrets became even more disturbing, and that made it even more gripping for me. Personally, I like when a story isn’t afraid to explore the darker side of human nature, and The Butcher does exactly that. Throughout the book, it dives into obsession, control, and what people are capable of when they think no one is watching. There were plenty of jaw-dropping moments, yes, with lots of unintentional gasps and speechless moments.

On top of that, what I loved most about The Butcher is how fast-paced and sharp it is. From the first chapter, the story moves quickly, almost like a movie. There are no slow parts, each chapter flows smoothly into the next. Also, the way the story switches between the past and the present works really well. Hillier’s writing is clean and simple, which makes the book very hard to put down. You keep telling yourself, “just one more chapter,” then one more, and another, and before you know it, it’s two in the morning and you still have to wake up early for work.

What Surprised Me

I didn’t expect the story to explore the killer’s dark side so deeply. It takes you into his mind through present actions, flashbacks, quiet confessions, and the disturbing things he leaves behind. His thoughts are cold and calculated. He doesn’t feel any guilt. In fact, he seems to enjoy the power and takes pride in what he’s done, which makes it even more chilling, and strangely fascinating.

Vibe Check

Right, let’s talk about the vibe. The Butcher is dark, tense, and gripping from the very first page. There’s no warm-up or gentle buildup, it dives straight into one unsettling scene after another. The story blends crime, mystery, and psychological drama, creating a mood that feels both intense and uneasy. Some moments are deeply uncomfortable. The descriptions and some of the language are intense, honestly, pretty disturbing at times, and that’s what gives the book its raw, gritty edge.

What Didn’t Work for Me

I love The Butcher, no doubt about it, but it’s not a full five stars for me, and that’s mostly because of the characters. Many of them felt underdeveloped and a bit too flat. They’re also not very likeable. Some, like Samantha and Matt, had a lot of potential, but their emotional depth wasn’t fully explored. Matt, in particular, plays a key role in how everything unfolds, but his actions and motivations didn’t always feel clear to me.

A few side characters also felt unnecessary. There were some cringe-worthy scenes that seemed to be there just to fill space and didn’t add much to the story.

There’s also a cheesy romance subplot that didn’t work for me at all. To be honest, I rushed through those chapters because they showed up right in the middle of some really dark, intense scenes, and I just wanted to get back to the good stuff. Choosing a romantic relationship instead of a strong friendship to support the Samantha’s character felt like the wrong call, in my opinion.

Still, even that didn’t ruin the experience for me. In the end, despite these flaws, the story flows beautifully, and the killer’s personality completely steals the show.

About The Plot Twist

To be honest, there isn’t a big twist here. We know who the killer is from the start, and we follow him through most of the book. So when the final reveal happens, it’s not exactly a surprise, we already have a good idea of what’s coming. But that doesn’t make it any less interesting. In fact, it makes the story even more gripping, because we get to watch everyone interact with the killer without knowing the truth. The tension comes from wondering how and when they’ll finally figure it out, and how they’ll react once they do.

Conclusion

The Butcher was an amazing surprise. I flew through the pages and didn’t want it to end. It’s a fast-paced, character-driven story that focuses on the killer and how his presence affects everyone around him. You spend a lot of time inside his mind, which makes the story feel intense, personal, and deeply unsettling, in the best, most unhinged way.

You’ll be hooked from the first chapter, and I bet you won’t want to stop reading until the very end. It’s super engaging and honestly, pure dark entertainment.

Is it perfect? Not really. There are a few cringe moments, and some of the romance felt unnecessary. But those small things didn’t ruin the experience for me.

I recommend The Butcher to readers who are okay with dark themes. The story deals with things like serial murder, family secrets, and emotional trauma. It’s not for the faint of heart, there are graphic scenes, disturbing details, and moments that might make you uncomfortable. But if you enjoy thrillers that go deep into the dark side of people, this one is definitely worth reading.

I loved the jaw-dropping moments, the kind that make you pause, gasp, and quickly turn the page to see what happens next.

Some Book Quotes

“He didn’t kill for pleasure, not exactly. He killed for peace.“

“The truth was a slippery thing. It twisted and turned, depending on who was telling it.“

“He’d built his life on lies, and now they were cracking wide open.“

Let’s Chat!

The Butcher was my first Jennifer Hillier book, and it definitely won’t be my last.

I’m so excited to read more from her! If you’re already a fan, let me know in the comments, what should I read next? I’d love to hear your favourites and any other dark thrillers you think I should check out!