3.5⭐️-I really enjoyed this debut novel about a female serial killer (think Dexter) dolling out punishment to the scum of the earth.
I will say, I wish there was more background information on Cordelia and her friendship with Diane was a little more fleshed out. I think that could have been done by not spending so much time on what she was wearing and dropping brand names.
I did enjoy it overall and it seemed like there was room for a sequel, so maybe we’ll get a better look into the kind of Cor.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC for review!

I was a huge Dexter fan back in the day. I love just desserts and a vigilante who gets away with making things somehow seem right. Cordelia Black is a dark heroine I can get behind. she is smart, organized, principled, and snarky. I loved that she is a fashionista drug rep with a shoe problem and a troubled childhood she only hints at. I do hope this goes on to be a series as I feel I am just getting to know her as a person and all her complexities. And of course, there are so many more well-deserving objects for her little... hobby.

A solid 4.25 stars for this intriguing debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Cordelia Black is a vigilante serial killer, with her targets being men who have done women wrong and have gotten away with it. Cordelia feels it is her calling to bring forth justice. When her best friend, Diane, starts dating a guy Simon, Cordelia instantly knows something is off. She makes it her job to find out what it is and bring an end to it.
I really enjoyed this book. Cordelia is unhinged and I loved every moment of it! She goes out and practically stalks her prey before going in for the killer. And after the kill, she creates art with her victim's blood (literally). She's nuts, and I loved it! It added a lot to her character. She's also clearly obsessive and has this odd obsession with her best friend, Diane. It was quite excessive, however, I found myself wishing the author would have touched more on that or added a spin or twist that would have really had us at really questioning Cordelia's unhinged nature. Although the book wasn't as thrilling as I would have liked, it was still good. I didn't care for Diane much. She just seemed like a gullible teenage girl most of the time. I enjoyed Cordelia's character and how she somehow found herself in the most ridiculous scenarios yet still made it out unscathed. A solid 4-star read!
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Emma C. Wells for this read!

4 stars

This was so good!!
The characters. The whole plot. The *memories* (ugh check triggers). The girlhood. The girls protect girls. Everything was so good.
If you like Dexter or The Mindf*ck series (without the steamy scenes) or if you're into "I support women's rights but also women's wrongs," then this book is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cordelia Black is meticulous, controlled, organized, cautious, determined, and self-assured. I mean, you have to be when you’re someone whose side job/purpose in life is killing men for vengeance. This doesn’t make her a serial killer, though. Certainly not, though when the media starts classifying the mysterious missing men as potential victims of a serial killer, one might understand why this assumption is made. I mean, she does kill men. Plural. But rather than focus on this, Cordelia focuses on the smoke while providing justice and safety for the women in her community who have become unwilling victims of these dangerous men.

And when things begin to unravel for pharmaceutical rep Cordelia we’ll see all that painstaking organization and contingency planning unravel even as our unreliable narrator Cordelia assures herself (and readers) that she is indeed a scrupulous planner.

A quick and easy read with depth and humour, “This Girl’s a Killer” will have you rooting for the strong female vigilante over the bad guys and hoping she somehow manages to evade even her new date. While the ending wrapped everything up nicely, there is the possibility of new adventures with Cordelia, best friend Diane, and goddaughter Samantha.

This debut novel by @emma.c.wells.books will be on shelves October 29, 2024! Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the advance ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Hey feminist Dexter, hey! A fast-paced, couldn’t put it down read. It may not be the most groundbreaking concept, but it’s highly entertaining. Perfect for fans of serial killer tales with a fresh twist!

Nope.

There are way better books about feminine rage and killing the bad guys that don't get childish, insulting, and somehow also manage to be extremely boring. I will always at least try a book in this subgenre, but Cordelia just wasn't it, and this felt very, very debut-y.

While I generally don't like writing negative reviews, I feel obligated to write this one because I received an ARC from NetGalley.

There's something about a revenge plot that is just so deeply satisfying, pair that with my love for serial killers and you'll understand just how much I absolutely adored Cordelia.

Fine, I'll say it! This is a female Dexter Morgan, but with better fashion sense and a conscience. Her life, job, wardrobe, and found family are all wonderful until one day things start falling apart. The storyline follows Cordelia as her main income source is pulled from the market. It wouldn't be so bad except she'd been skimming product to help with her evening adventures. And then when something threatens the only people she truly cares about, Cordelia has to decide what she is willing to risk and how much she is willing to break her own rules to keep the life she has created. This felt a bit more campy than the Dexter series but I also felt this had more depth than Finlay Donovan. I just wish this could somehow be a series! I am going to miss these characters.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC! "This Girl's a Killer" throws you straight into the action and mind of our protagonist, Cordelia Black - self made powerful HBIC with a razor wit and a hidden tragic past. The concept for this book, a female serial killer taking out bad men that the system won't, is always a fun one, but what made this one extra fun was that she is a medical sales rep. That tidbit added some extra tension throughout the book and helped add believability to her cause. My one complaint would be that there is a lot of telling from inside Cordelia's head rather than showing, and I did find some points in the book where I was skimming because it was a repetition of earlier plot/character information. Overall, if you like stories with female rage, karma, found family, and thrills, you'll enjoy this book.

If you like anything by Freida McFadden and you enjoyed Butcher & Blackbird - This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Wells is going to be for you!! 🫀

By day, Cordelia Black is a pharmaceutical rep with a high reputation and penchant for designer pieces. By night, Cor is tracking and hunting monsters who prey on the vulnerable and bringing them to justice through her own hands. I've seen her referred to as "female Dexter"…and I love it! 🔪🩸💉

But when there's public pressure about a serial killer on the loose and Cor's best friend Diane starts dating a man Cor thinks should be on her list of unsavory men... Cor's world begins to spiral. Her anxiety and paranoia sent me pretty much through the roof. 🤯

Similar to Freida's style, there were MAAAANY times where the leading lady made the mOsT qUeStIoNaBlE decisions that got her into even more trouble, but it definitely kept me hooked. This also had the element of gore and murder for justice like Butcher & Blackbird, but DEF did not have any spice like in B&B. 💖

This was just a fun, fun story about a likeable serial killer who is fiercely loyal to her inner circle and determined to rid the world of predators. 👌🏻

Loved the title, loved the cover. Loved the female rage and sassiness of the female main character. 🐩

I read this book but i've seen that it is a fabulous audiobook too - if that's your jam! 🎧

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Releases October 29, 2024! ☠️

4.5 stars rounded down to 4 !

Cordelia Black !! Best character of 2024 award goes to you my girl ! 🏆🥇

Absolutely fun read about serial killer Cordelia Black who kills awful men for justice! Cordelia is hilarious , savage , and she serves and protects those she loves by doing anything it takes. Her relationship with Diane and Sugar , her best friend and god daughter, was so fun and witty and just had me smiling throughout all their interactions.

This book definitely gave me Finlay Donovan vibes, but way better and darker!

Although a little repetitive at times, this book caused me so much anxiety ! It was like a train wreck that just kept going and going . The ending was perfect though and so satisfying.

I can’t wait for more Cordelia Black !!

💋Book Review💋
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Summary- Ask Cordelia Black why she did it. The answer will always be: He had it coming.
Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.
By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men―monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.
But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.
Soon enough Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family, and her freedom, depend on it.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- thank you @poisonedpenpress for the advanced audio arc I loved this one so much !! Cordelia was just the most lovable, hot mess, psychopathic main character and I am here for it. 😍 this one reminded me of early Finlay Donovan meets like promising young woman. So much fun, all for vigilante justice over shitty men. This beauty comes out 10/29 grab it where books are sold today 🥰
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QOTD- what was the best part of your weekend ?! Mine was spending Sunday with my whole family, my heart is just so happy ❤️.
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If you’re looking for a fun thriller with Dexter vibes and a touch of Blackbird’s energy, you’ll love The Girl’s a Killer. The story features a female bisexual serial killer with an irresistible personality, making you root for the “bad girl” every step of the way.

This might be the most fun stabby book I’ve ever read. Cordelia is offing men. But only those who deserve it. I found her real and likeable. And the love she had for her found family was unmatched.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eArc.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks for the ARC of "The Girl's a Killer" in exchange for an honest review.
Bravo to this darkly amusing romp of a thriller. It belongs to that peculiar sub-genre whose lead character leads an active life as a serial killer-avenger who wreaks overdue Karma and gruesome carnage upon really bad guys. To borrow a line I heard in a movie, Cordelia Black, a gorgeous Pharma sales rep, enthusiastically functions as the 11th Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Get Away With It.
Cordelia, her identity and persona reinvented after surviving her own horrific childhood, now delivers unmerciful torture and death to monstrous rapist-killers of women and girls. They may have escaped the law, but there's no escaping Cordelia once they catch her attention. In what you might call her "normal" life, she's staunchly devoted and protective of the two people she considers her own little family - her best friend since college Diane and Diane's 12 year old daughter (and Cordelia's beloved goddaughter) Samantha.
The fun here comes from author Emma C. Wells throwing a non-stop blizzard of troubles in Cordelia's path, most of which will expose her bloody pastime and land her in prison. At work, her job and reputation fall into jeopardy in the aftermath of a defective drug she represented. And her personal life turns upside down and backwards when Diane falls head over heels for a fake 'nice guy' who sets off Cordelia's sixth sense for smelling a rat.
I wouldn't dream of spoiling anybody's fun describing the sometimes, grisly, sometimes witty parade of catastrophes that befall Cordelia as she desperately dodges in and around every new tribulation thrown at her. And since this is all from her point of view, you find yourself somehow rooting for her every step of the way.
Not only does this book take a reader along for a hairpin-turn ride, when it's over, you just find yourself craving a sequel. How about it, Ms. Wells?

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ask Cordelia Black why she did it. The answer will always be: He had it coming.

Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.

By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men—monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.

But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.

Overall, this was honestly fantastic! I love books with a Serial Killer as a protagonist. Cordelia is a woman who like control in her life and has a very specific system in place to keep all the balls in the air. The only people she loves is her best friend and her god daughter that she will do absolutely anything for. So when the best friend starts dating a new suitor (after already establishing she's not the best when it comes to judgement. I mean her best friend is a killer and she has no idea) Cordelia is a bit concerned and definitely keeping a good eye on this guy. Unfortunately this happens at the same time that the other two things she loves start falling apart. So, of course, she's doing what she can to get everything back in order. I loved that we got a glimpse of Cordelia's back story on why the things she loves most are so important to her. I'm hoping there will be a sequel because I would love to the story progress after the dust settles.

If you are a fan of Dexter and girl power than this is the read for you!

I really enjoyed the story of a business woman by day and serial killer vigilante by night. Literal roles reversed Dexter and I’m here for it. I don’t have much to say because the pretty much sums it up hah. The pacing was great, I read through this one super fast, it could have been one sitting if work didn’t get in the way lol.
I enjoyed our main character Cordelia and I’d actually like more of her origin story. I’m hoping there’s a second book or a prequel. I liked that she overcame her shitty upbringing and because a girl boss and didn’t take shit from men. She stood up for herself and always looked out for her best friend. And I mean I know we all joke about having a friend there if you ever murderer someone and they most certainly did.
Was it the most original story no, but was it entertaining yes! I would recommend this to fans of serial killers like Dexter.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy to read and review.

4 ⭐ 0 🌶️ 5 🎧

I really loved this, it was so much morbid fun. It didn't have as much suspense or as many twists as I was expecting, but I was captivated from beginning to end.

I adored Cordelia; she was so funny and such a baddie. I thought the way she overcame her abuse was really interesting and the Joanie twist had me shooketh.

The audio was great. I love Stephanie Kay and thought she did a fantastic job with this story. And I am really excited to read more from Emma.

This book started off really slowwww and by slow I mean like I read two other books while reading the first half of this book slow. Like I kept coming to Goodreads to read the 5 star reviews to figure out what I was missing slow. There was also a lot (and I mean A LOT) of brand name dropping and over-explaining, which I do not like. I feel like it ruins the story (if you’re into that then this is the book for you!).
Since I have this motto of finishing what I started I decided to push through and I’m glad that I did. After 50% this book did a 180. I felt like I read two different books with how different the last half was. After the 50% mark it actually got really good. I couldn’t put it down. Some parts were still annoying and I still didn’t think the MC and her best friend were likable but it did hook me. The book doesn’t really give a satisfying ending but it seems the author did that to set it up for a sequel (which I will definitely read just because I already read this one)

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.