I actually couldn't finish this book. The main charachter isn't likeabke, and her repetitive thoughts just made me annoyed by her. This had potential, and I'm extremely disappointed by this book.

I don’t want to be too harsh on a debut novel, but this felt like “Dexter” as a FMC with no depth. The author didn’t give enough context to her past to make me empathize with her and it just felt very clunky and messy. She’s not likable, but it’s written like she’s supposed to be?? The ending was also disappointing for me in terms of all the actual gaslighting/lying she did throughout the book having unsatisfactory outcomes for me. Can’t say more without spoiling it.

It’s almost a one star read, but some of it was funny and I think the author does have potential to write something less cliché and potentially a sequel that would make the book better. For that I’ll upgrade to 2 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

For a debut novel this book is very well written. The story moves right along. I found myself divided, I wasn’t sure if I should be cheering the main character or booing her. You will have to make up your own mind. Be aware that some scenes may be too graphic if you have trouble with bloody circumstances. I could easily see this as a series. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Disclosure: thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review purposes. All of the above opinions are my own.

ТНΙЅ GΙRL'Ѕ A ĸΙLLER
By Emma C Wells
DEBUT RELEASE DATE 10/29/2024

In this debut thriller, you will meet Cordelia Black.
Every girl needs a friend like Cordelia; she’ll kill for you, literally, physically, and figuratively.
Cordelia and Diane are lifelong friends; when Diane starts dating a man who sends bad juju signals her way, she immediately begins to plot his demise.
However, this time, it doesn’t go exactly as planned.
Can she pull this one off???🫣🫣🫣 add this to your TBR TODAY🙌🏼
From the book 📚
This Girl’s A Killer is about friendship and finding family. It’s also about trauma and, well, a serial killer. Cordelia Black commits murder. It is violent, and she enjoys it. And you’ll enjoy reading her enjoying it.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S̤̈

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Cordelia Black is a boss babe / *best* friend / loving godmother by day and a vigilante Dexter-esque killer by night, targeting unscrupulous men in Baton Rouge. Her double life threatens to be revealed when a flaw in her system emerges and her best friend starts dating a man who gives off the vibe of the monsters she usually handles by night. The resulting situations force Cordelia to confront the potential consequences of her actions. As pressure mounts, Cordelia must navigate the thin line between justice and murder to protect her chosen family and her freedom.

I absolutely TORE through this book over the last day. I picked it up in the evening after work and couldn't put it down. It felt like a Finlay Donovan X Butcher & Blackbird hybrid, but with less romance / games from the latter.
The main character, Cordelia, makes you feel conflicted because, yeah, she's murdering people but she's doing it to get justice for those who may not get it through more traditional routes. She's clearly traumatized from her childhood but most times, she appears and feels like a well adjusted adult who has overcome her past. (Hey, I said most times. This clearly doesn't include her nighttime activities.)

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a dose of feminine rage, justice, and a bit of discomfort while wondering how Cordelia will get herself out of a mess of her own making. Heads up though, this does lean more towards the Butcher & Blackbird grotesque murdery elements but wasn't quite as graphic.

Thanks to Emma C Wells, Netgalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read this ARC.

"The world may do nothing for women - but within these four walls - Cordelia Black did."

Can a book be called a power anthem? I fell in love with Emma's writing style and our main character, Cordelia, almost immediately. Her writing style is very easy to digest and while descriptive, it doesn't feel long-winded. The narrative feels very rooted in reality, with just enough humor and snark to really flush out the characters. I really liked the character development but felt there were a few details that didn't quite make sense with the storyline, hence the 4-star rating. I finished this book wanting to pick up the next one immediately! I can't wait to see where else we get to follow Cordelia Black.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

2.5/5. I nearly gave up about a quarter of the way in due to non-relatable characters, but was amused by the Murphy’s law series of events when things first start to unravel. The ending was ridiculous and so much of the story over the top - this read like Finlay Donovan fan-fic without any redeeming personal qualities in the main character.

I really enjoyed this book! It was equal parts funny and heartstopping, keeping me on the edge of my seat and focused on finishing the story. Cordelia was a likable character, despite her “proclivities,” and I found myself rooting for her. I was thrilled when she wound up keeping Mango. The animal lover in me always enjoys a sweet touch like this! I would definitely read more by this author.

3.5⭐

(Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an eARC of the book to review.)

The story had an interesting premise and a complex main character. It was eery; the pace was slow initially but became faster-paced and suspenseful when things started unraveling for Cordelia. The scenes were described enough that it was easy to imagine them as they happened. Overall, I thought the story was well-written and I enjoyed reading the story.

I thought there could've been a better way to describe characters' voices being raised instead of repeatedly saying their voices went up an octave. I also found Cordelia's reasons and thoughts on her kills repetitive; one or two times is fine, but similar thoughts and feelings were reiterated every time she hunted down a new target.

Content Warning: drug use, blood, brief descriptions of murder, misogyny, brief mentions of corpse decomposition, cursing, brief mention of addiction, death, toxic family relationship, brief mention of childhood abuse, child predator, physical abuse

A real page-turner unlike anything I’ve read. A female anti-hero who all readers will cheer for as she eliminates those who deserve it. Vivid in its detail and fast-paced. I almost feel guilty rooting for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

"This Girl's a Killer" by Emma C. Wells is a fast-paced and gripping thriller that dives deep into the world of espionage and survival. The story follows Jenna Davis, a seemingly ordinary young woman with an extraordinary secret—she's a trained assassin on the run from her past.

Wells' writing is sharp and engaging, with a plot that unfolds at breakneck speed. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and heart-pounding action scenes that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Jenna is a complex and intriguing protagonist, whose inner struggles and fierce determination drive the story forward.

The book skillfully balances intense action with moments of introspection, exploring themes of identity, redemption, and the consequences of a life lived in the shadows. The supporting characters are well-developed, adding depth and dimension to the story.

Overall, "This Girl's a Killer" is a thrilling read that will appeal to fans of spy novels and action-packed mysteries. Emma C. Wells delivers a captivating and suspenseful tale that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Meet Cordelia Black. Cordelia loves exactly three things: her chosen family composed of her best friend Diane and her goddaughter; her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip); and killing bad men.’

I was excited to get my hands on Wells debut novel, being a Louisiana native…

& While it was a fun read, it was also slightly predictable, a twee bit implausible & ended in such a way that leads readers to believe there’s more to come.

Nevertheless, This Girl’s a Killer was a solid debut & I will definitely be on the hook waiting to see what happens next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub date: 10.29.24.

Guuuuuuuurrrrllll!! This one was so freaking fun! From the first line, I was hooked! "Nothing stains like red frosting -not even blood." Like okay attention grabber! I live! I was a Dexter fanatic and my favorite movie is Legally Blonde, so the pitch totally had me! But this was so good! I cannot wait to see what Emma does next because I'm definitely adding to cart and I cannot wait to add the physical copy of this to my shelf! This book was fun and emotional and thrilling and just so refreshing. Her style reminded me a bit of Rachel Harrison, who is one of my ultimate favorites! If you are craving a badass girly written by another badass girly in horror, check this one out! More women in horror 2024! Get your hands on this one when it hits shelves for sure! 💁🏼‍♀️🕶🩸🔪

A propulsive read! I couldn't decide whether to love Cordelia Black or hate her. Either way, I was glued to the page!

Really well written, though in the ARC I discovered many typos and a few higher order errors. Like do they really use the verb 'sat' when they mean 'set' in Louisiana? Sheriff Longmire does it too, though not as often. Is this a mannerism of people west of the Mississippi? I can accept that, but there were a bunch of other little things.

Anyway, this is way more than a women's version of Dexter. The central character (who is the narrator) has some problems coming at her from her "regular" life, and it's fascinating to see it from there. The exposition of her serial killing MO comes out very cleverly, and, honestly I think I would kill her victims too if I had the chance; she's just more motivated than I am. So it is with the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the sin of our origin. We're good at justifying our actions.

The development of her character is beautifully done too, coming out chapter by chapter as things get more and more complicated. I had to take a break from reading sometimes just to calm down and try to process this, a luxury the character doesn't have.

The story rushes to a very satisfying ending, which I mustn't even hint at for fear of giving a serious spoiler (very much against my reviewing policy), but questions arose more and more about how this was going to end. Fantastic!

Cordelia Black is the female 'Dexter', ridding the world of the murderers, rapists, and child predators with a swish of her knife and help from her handy body collector, Clarence. She thinks she's invincible until her best friends' new boyfriend shows up and gives her cause to rethink her plans.

You see Cordelia can tell when a man is bad. There's a tell in their eyes she sees, which started as a child; being raised by her drug addicted mom, who had her share of sketchy boyfriends. Once Cordelia suspects someone is bad, she waits until she sees the 'smoke in their eyes', then dispatches them accordingly.

You must suspend disbelief throughout the book, as she easily murders men 2-3x her size without being overpowered. She does drug them, so that helps, but still. She never gets caught because who would suspect a beautiful Prada wearing, Louis Vuitton carrying woman?
There are many subplots here. She works for a pharmaceutical company whose latest best selling drug is being investigated for falsifying clinical trial data. Unfortunately, their biggest selling drug is also the one she uses to drug her prey, using doctors prescriptions in exchange for cash.

So she's constantly trying to cover up her tracks saying 'this would not happen to Cordelia', as she tries to erase the version of her younger, insecure self.

When her best friend finds evidence of her latest victim and questions her motives and morality, things come to a head and Cordelia has to decide if telling the truth outweighs the risk of losing her best friend forever.

This reminded me of another book about a female serial killer called 'How to Kill Men and Get Away with it'. They always seem to get away with it and no one suspects a thing.

What I would have liked from this book is more backstory on Cordelia. Why is she driven to kill so much? Why does she think it's up to her? What she does in the way of body disposal is pretty graphic and gory and most people could not go through with that but she seems to relish in it. When they briefly talk about her childhood, they don't go into much detail except that her mom was an addict and she was probably neglected. They didn't discuss any abuse at all. So some more detail there would have been interesting.

All in all, the writing style kept me engaged as I wanted to know how she'd get out of each situation as it got more and more ridiculous. An entertaining beach read for sure.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Emma C. Wells for this ARC! This is a solid 4.5 star book for me, as I really enjoyed reading this one. The main character Cordelia reminded me of a female version of Dexter which is bad a**
Can’t wait to read future books by this author!

"This Girl’s a Killer" by Emma C Wells falls short of delivering a well-crafted suspense novel. The premise behind this novel is solid and I really wanted to root for Cordelia, however, the character development is insufficient. Her childhood and the impact of the adults involved in her upbringing are presented in broad and incomplete strokes, leaving readers with only a superficial understanding of her motivations.

The plot relies too heavily on convenient coincidences, diminishing any real sense of mystery or suspense. Instead of portraying a strong female protagonist, Cordelia often finds herself in implausible situations due to a lack of organization and preparedness, which contradicts the author's intention to depict her as highly skilled and capable.

The numerous disjointed storylines are untidy, resulting in a narrative that struggles to stay coherent. Overall, the book glosses over tough subjects with unrealistic behaviors and weak humor, failing to deliver a satisfying experience.

Thank you Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this but I didn't! I made it about 30% through before I was just... bored. I love both thrillers and cozy mysteries, but this is something in between. The main character didn't quite click for me (beautiful high-heels wearing lady serial killer who believes she's doing good? I'd've liked it better if she leaned into her own badness a little more). It seemed pretty clear where some of the storylines were going but I didn't have a good idea of the overall plot (the drug recall? the best friend's new boyfriend? the cop? I can see how they tie together but not why it's a good plot). I'm sure this is a great read for some folks, but it never hit for me!

I think I finished this in 3 days! Enjoyable read, I didn't really find any areas slow like some other reviews stated. I did figure the "twist" out about halfway through but that didn't change anything for me. I was invested in seeing how she'd get out of all this, and I really kind of fell for Diane along the way, she seems like a wholesome cinnamon roll of a best friend and I love her. I'd read another if this became a series!