"This Girl's a Killer" introduces us to Cordelia Black, a character who redefines moral ambiguity with her double life as a pharmaceutical rep by day and vigilante by night. Cordelia’s world is carefully crafted, balancing her affinity for her chosen family and her need to "correct" injustices. Emma C. Wells explores Cordelia's psychology effectively, making her a fascinating yet unsettling protagonist who navigates South Louisiana’s seedy underbelly.

The plot intensifies as Cordelia’s carefully managed world begins to fracture, especially when her best friend Diane starts dating someone Cordelia distrusts. However, the story's tension sometimes feels diluted by pacing issues, and the stakes could have been higher to match the strong, suspenseful setup.

Overall, "This Girl's a Killer" is an intriguing read that grapples with justice and morality, though it lacks the punch to make it truly memorable. Fans of morally complex antiheroes may find Cordelia’s character appealing but might wish for more consistent thrills.

This isn’t the type of book I’d usually pick up, but I was immediately drawn in by the main character’s mindset and the way she thought through her actions. It was fascinating—and a little unsettling—to see how her mind worked and to follow her process. If you’re a fan of Dexter, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. Definitely an intriguing read!

This Girl’s a Killer offers an intriguing premise reminiscent of the TV show Dexter, diving into the psyche of a young woman grappling with her dark urges. The concept of exploring morality through a killer's perspective is compelling and has great potential for tension and depth.

However, the pacing of the narrative often undermines its impact. There are moments where the story drags, leaving me feeling more bored than engaged. While I appreciated the character development, the slow buildup felt prolonged, detracting from the thrilling elements I was hoping for.

Overall, while the storyline is promising and has moments of brilliance, it struggles with pacing issues that might leave readers yearning for a more gripping experience.

I can't help being OBSESSED with female main characters who are intent on getting murderous revenge on toxic/evil male side characters. This debut book by Emma C. Wells is a great addition to the new genre of feminist revenge fiction that has the protagonist killing “bad” men for the sake of the betterment of the female race. It was great as an audiobook and perfect for fans of books like How to kill men and get away with it by Katy Brent. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This storyline was a thought-provoking read of how one woman was trying to make the world a better place in her own way. I did not fully see all of these outcomes coming around.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC early!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have a personal interest in serial killers, specifically the psychology, the motivations to commit murder, and the person beneath. Cordelia is morally grey to her core, making her a unique and interesting main character because she genuinely believes in her cause and deeply cares for those she loves. I would be incredibly interested to see how the relationships change between Cordelia and Di ongoing, and loved the found family trope.

An amazing book, I would 100% recommend and would read again

A deliciously unhinged, somewhat satirical take on a serial killer plot, This Girl’s a Killer evoked a somewhat milder Dexter down to its core. The best two pieces of this one, however? Those were easily the giggle-worthy dark humor and Cordelia herself. Between her perfectly crafted evil yet root-for-able persona and the fun, character-driven plot, all of her monstrous, gut-wrenching deeds had me flying through the pages in just under twenty-four hours.

Speaking of Cordelia, she wasn’t the only winning character in this delightful crazy train ride. From the best friend who was the perfect foil in all of her goodness to an individual you’ll just love to hate, there was a bit of everything to satisfy you down to your bones. The take-no-prisoners protagonist, however, was still my favorite by far. A killer with a code, I loved watching her setting bad men to rights—thankfully in a mostly non-graphic way.

Just so we’re clear, though, as much as I loved these personas and the events that unfurled, I wouldn’t exactly call either of them true-to-life. Oh no. You’re definitely going to need to suspend all disbelief before diving into this one with glee. After all, I have to believe that in reality Cordelia would’ve been caught long ago. That’s not to say that it wasn’t entertaining in the extreme. With chaos running amok and drama taking center stage, I thoroughly enjoyed speeding through this epic rollercoaster ride of suspense.

All said and done, from the smile-inducing friendship between Cordelia and Diane to the fast-paced, almost frantic unraveling, I seriously had palpitations as I raced to learn what was going to happen. Now I just need to know if there’s going to be a book two. Please say that it’s so, my dear Ms. Wells? I mean, who could pass up a dark, twisted premise with an almost cozy-esque vibe? Okay. Now it’s time for you to order this one ASAP. Surely you knew that was coming. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to Emma C. Wells, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

This book focuses on Cordelia Black, a pharmacy rep by day and a killer of bad men at night. She kills men who are abusers, pedophiles, predators. Her best friend, Diane and Diane’s daughter are her whole world. When Diane introduces her to her new love interest, Cordelia gets a bad vibe from him. Is he next on her list? But now, the authorities are focusing on a potential serial killer in the area. She needs to be careful.

This started out okay, but never really got more than that for me. I guess I wanted something darker and this had more of a comedic feel to it. Also, it felt too long.

Thank you go Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ACR!

I was REALLY looking forward to reading this, but now that I have, I want to scream "NOOO" at the top of my lungs.

Honestly a 2.5/5 (rounded to 3 for Mango)

I liked Cordelia's intentions to begin with but as she trudged through the plot I felt that every sentence she uttered was forced upon her. She constantly reminded us (And herself 'cause she was insecure?) that Cordelia Black was meticulous and perfect and never messed up. HA! I swear if I took a shot every time she said "Cordelia Black"(Or Sugar/Sugarbug in the first chapter for that matter), I would most certainly be writing this review intoxicated. To summarize, if you couldn't already tell, I did not like the protagonist. I liked her character, but definitely not her personality. I would've liked her more if she actually took ownership of her mess-ups rather than blame the "monsters" she was hunting. The only thing I absolutely LOVED about her (because I could relate) is the "smoke" she saw in her victim's eyes. For me, it's smell but I understood EXACTLY what she feels/sees.

Other than Samantha and Diane none of the other characters were important. Just small filler scenes to drag and move the plot forward.

I don't want to get too much into the plot because it was unpredictable in the worst way possible. It had all the tropes of a good serial killer story <spoiler>(embedding in the investigation, the downward spiral 'cause emotions got in the way)</spoiler> but very poorly executed.

If the author was aiming for Dexter then this is Dexter with <spoiler>happy endings</spoiler> with really pretty bows.

If there's a second book, will I read it? Nope. I'll be watching Dexter instead.

This was a very interesting plot, as we followed Cordelia through her plans to make the world a safer place! Her plan takes a turn, though, and she finds herself in quite a predicament. I thought this was a very good debut for the author!

This Girl's a Killer follows Cordelia Black, a successful pharmaceutical rep by day and killer of unscrupulous men by night. Her best friend Diane and goddaughter Samantha (aka Sugar) are the most important people in her life. When Diane starts dating a man Cordelia gets a bad vibe from, she loses control of her carefully crafted life.

I loved the idea of a female Dexter but wasn’t very fond of Cordelia. Between the Bosephan recall, the missing men making the news and Diane’s new boyfriend, she starts making a lot of mistakes. Understandable considering everything was unravelling at once but for someone who believes herself to be so meticulous about planning, it bothered me.
I kept wanting her to get her priorities straight - the dead body literally stinking up her house should have been concern #1 especially after a few close calls but, it wasn’t.
While I liked the focus on strong female friendships, her thoughts did border on creepy obsession toward Diane.

Mango stole the show though and I’m so happy with the way that particular subplot worked out!

The pacing was good and the suspense kept me reading. With everything going on, I just had to know how Cordelia was going to get out of the mess she found herself in. It felt like the ending wrapped up a little too neatly though and there were a few loose ends I was hoping would be cleared up.

“There was something beautiful about death - something so calm. Something so final”

What better could your read for spooky season than a thriller book with an FMC, who’s little murdering monsters? And by monsters I mean all kind of worst evil men on the planet? All to keep her loved ones and all the other innocent people free from them and safe? This book was great!!! I had an amazing time getting through it and Cordelia was one of the funniest serial unaliver I have ever had the pleasure to meet in my reading experience! Is she a troubled, traumatised, morally grey character? Absolutely !! After all, who said it has to be only men? But she is amazing to read and amazing to love and obsess over!!! Getting through her head and following her story was fun and thrilling and intense and her family (because we’re talking about found family here too) was the best! Every interaction was analysed in detail and every glance was possibly problematic but at the end of the day if there’s grey in the eyes, she knows !!! And she will do something about it!!! I’ve never had more fun reading about a thriller book!!!

I loved this book simply because the storyline was so different from every other mystery/thriller I've read lately. This was easily one of my favorite books this year!

First of all, female serial killer as the MC (although Cordelia Black would never call herself that)?! Say less. Cordelia is very likeable. She is very protective of her best friend and goddaughter, and she kills bad men for the greater good.

This book very much reminds me of Dexter, as Cordelia is very planned and careful. She works as a pharmaceutical rep by day and killer by night. She even dates to keep up appearances. But her problems arise when her most popular drug at work is recalled, she rushes her process, and her best friend's love life crosses with Cordelia's own nighttime activities.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Such a fun spooky season read, perfect for those who enjoy books/shows like Dexter. I quickly became invested in the MC and ate through the second half of this book. I couldn’t put it down, needing to know what happened next, and stayed up well into the night to finish. I felt the MCs emotions thought the book, and loved her sass and wit. The drama of the story and the MCs relationship with her family was really well done, and I LOVED the ending. Cant wait to see what this author does next!

Another in a series of “good for her,” “I support women’s rights AND wrongs.” This was a quick read, probably would be a good slump-buster for people who like the female vigilantes. I really appreciated that one of the big moves happened early in the story, instead of the plot being a long game of cat and mouse. It made it more interesting, to me at least, to see how Cordelia dealt with THAT situation instead of what is the typical stuff (can’t say much, as it feels like a spoiler).
I will say, I was expecting and hoping for more out of the Bosephan plot line; it wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly. And, while I understand WHY the author did this, constantly referring to herself in third person (“Cordelia Black would never do that” or “Cordelia Black is the type of woman who…”) got really obnoxious the 83rd time she said it.
Overall, solid story, and nicely set up for a series!

This Girl's a Killer tells the story of Cordelia Black, a pharma sales rep with a side hobby of using her product to help her kill off horrific men. Cordelia is extremely devoted to her best friend, Diane and her goddaughter, Sugar (aka Samantha). While Cordelia is usually a methodical planner when it comes to her...disposals, things go haywire when she has an off encounter with Diane's new fling.

I think folks will really enjoy the female Dexter - Cordelia is smart and also cares deeply for Diane and Sugar. She is also though very materialistic, which started to grate on me while I was reading the book. The book on the whole didn't quite work for me, but potentially for different reasons than other folks might have. I work in pharma and so was particularly frustrated by some of the characterizations and particularly the quote that "bad medicine is part of the process" when it came to some terrible side effects for the drug that Cordelia was responsible for selling. It made the company/some of the things Cordelia was touting feel a bit too close to Purdue Pharma and made it harder for me to feel endeared toward her as a character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book.

"But I also could thank her for my grit. The kind of grit you don't get from having things handed to you. The kind of grit you can only obtain through overcoming."

Wow, this book took me on a ride I was not necessarily expecting but really enjoyed. Cordelia is one of those women many of us wish we could be if vigilante justice were legal. I was not expecting to relate to her as much as I did but dang, did I. The grit referred to in the above quote can only come about from being a victim and coming out the other side. After attempting to bury her past, vulnerable self who was victimized, Cordelia becomes a protector she needed but didn't have as a child. One who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the innocent when the justice system won't.

I love that the author wasn't afraid to bring address the multitude of sexual crimes individuals of all ages face and even go as far as referencing real situations that have happened where justice did not prevail. I'm sure most victims in the real world have fantasized about some vigilante justice or karma reaching their abusers in some way, shape or form. The injustices victims continually face is truly appalling. But I digress.

As a victim myself, I really did find this book oddly healing and cathartic. And to put the icing on the cake, not only did horrible people get a real dose of karma, but the story of friendship through it all was also very relatable. I am blessed to have a village of my own who would respond the way Diane ultimately did. Hypothetically speaking of course.

I really liked this one. It starts slow in my opinion, but even then it has a good amount of tension that holds and then keeps building. And then becomes compulsively readable.

And the story is smart. It’s generous with details that feel well-researched. There are moments that border on the implausible, and yet there is an explanation or development that allows you to stay with the story. And watching the unraveling of the main character’s perfectly constructed and maintained life is both stressful and entertaining. Both dark and funny, this book has strong Finlay Donovan meets Dexter vibes.

And the main character herself? Cordelia Black is fascinating – ruthless and driven and scary in her complete conviction that her actions are justifiable. She’s fiercely loyal to her chosen family. She’s perfectly controlled…until she isn’t, and her devolution is captivating. And her relationship with her neighbor, and his dog, is my favorite minor plot point in this story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC (available October 29, 2024) for review.

Cordelia Black is the antiheroine I didn’t know I needed. Bold, razor-sharp, and unapologetic, she’s part avenger, part loyal best friend, and one hundred percent unforgettable. Wells draws you in with Cordelia's dark sense of justice and keeps you hooked with suspense and wit.

Cordelia’s "bad men" list was chillingly satisfying to read, and watching her carefully crafted world start to unravel was pure, edge-of-your-seat suspense. As she wrestles with the lines she’s crossed, you can’t help but root for her every step of the way. A must-read if you’re into thrillers with a powerful, morally complex protagonist who’s on her own terms.

Thank you Emma C. Wells, Poisoned Pen Press, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#ThisGirlsAKiller #NetGalley

The premise is great - a female Dexter, with fashion sense! There was a focus on Cordelia’s dislike of the word serial killer to describe the probable outcome of the men she unalived. After I got through the fluffiness of the first few chapters, I really got into Cordelia and how she was going to deal with the bad men in her life. And the body in the bathtub! Overall, if you like a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, a feminist FMC, and lots of revenge, this one’s for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance reader’s copy.