I've read a handful of these sort of 'feminine rage/revenge" type of stories now and this one is exactly what I wanted out of that trope. Our MC is basically a female Dexter-type character but Wells does such a great job developing her character that comparing her to Dexter feels a little lacking. I absolutely loved the tension built in this read when the plot starts really picking up. Our MC has a very distinctive voice that I absolutely loved and gave so much personality to what could be just another revenge serial killer read. I also loved the relationships with the other characters and seeing the dichotomy of her internal monologue with her external presentation was fantastic.

This Girl’s a Killer is a fast-paced, entertaining read with a sharp, witty protagonist. The action keeps things moving, and there are some great moments of humor and suspense. While I wished for a bit more depth in character development, it was still an enjoyable ride overall!

Cordelia Black fiercely guards those she loves with a sharp knife, a testament to her unwavering loyalty. When a killing gone wrong threatens to unravel Cordelia's carefully constructed life, she embarks on a journey to discover the true essence of who she was meant to be. This Girl's a Killer strives to challenge the conventional portrayal of vigilante killers, painting Cordelia as cold and calculated in her pursuit of justice against her targets. While readers are encouraged to feel compassion for her plight and align with her cause, given that her victims are indeed bad men, the execution ultimately leaves her feeling flat and unlikable. It’s often perplexing to see how someone so skilled can make such misguided choices. This slow-burning narrative, populated with superficial characters, may struggle to resonate deeply with readers, leaving them yearning for more emotional connection.

A woman serial killer who only targets "bad" men, sign me up. This book is perfect for anyone who loved watching Dexter.

Cordelia is such a morally gray FMC who has a code when it comes to killing. Ultimately, she wants to protect those closest to her and get rid of bad guys. With funny moments mixed in, like dealing with the annoying neighbor dog, this book will keep you entertained.

I really enjoyed it and hope it will become a show or a movie in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for selecting me for this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

If you want a twisted thriller with a fun edge, This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells delivers. Cordelia Black is a pharma rep by day and vigilante killer by night, targeting men she believes deserve it. Think a slightly lighter Dexter but with more humor and drama—especially since Cordelia fiercely loves her found family. Things get sticky when her best friend dates a shady guy who might expose her secret. Some parts drag a bit, and the flashbacks can be confusing, but overall, it’s an entertaining read. If you like morally gray characters with a dash of dark humor, you’ll zip through this one.

Wow! This was not what I expected and I loved every shocking second of it. While there were some lulls the overall story line and plot were on point. It left me wanting more.

4.5 rounded up. This was so good! I got a little torn away from the story with how conveniently some things happened but it wasn’t so bad to make me not like the book. I loved how Cordelia was the perfect image to get away with everything she did and the love between her and Sugar and Diane was super sweet. I wish we had some kind of explanation for the “smoke” that was referenced a lot.

This was a fun read! It’s about a serial killer who has a moral compass and only kills “monsters”. Suddenly, everything goes wrong when her job is at stake and her realizes her best friend is dating one of those monsters! This book was the perfect combination of keeping me guessing while also being sarcastic and making me laugh!

This book is action packed and fast paced. It’s hard to put down once you get into the story. Despite being a murderer, Cordelia a sympathetic character. Her past is well thought out by Wells, and it explains why Cordelia is the way that she is. Wells does a great job of getting the reader to root for Cordelia all throughout the book. The mystery element is well done. The twists and turns will keep you guessing. The themes in this book are good. However, Well’s is a little heavy handed with the message.

The majority of this book revolves around the relationship of Cordelia and Diana. At its core it’s a book about the power of female friendship. Cordelia and Diana have a strong friendship. In fact, Cordelia is the godmother of Diana’s daughter. The history between Diana and Cordelia is explained in the book. It could have been more fleshed out. The most heart wrenching conflict in the book is the growing distance between Diana and Cordelia. Had the relationship between them been more concrete and explained, it would have been easier to understand Cordelia’s motivations.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book to read. It’s easily finished in an afternoon. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery and thriller books. If you enjoyed Butcher and Blackbird, then you would likely enjoy this book. It does lack the element of romance, but there is a similar vibe to the storyline.

Cordelia Black is a likeable serial killer akin to Dexter Morgan; she's a hot mess but her life just keeps you on your toes. You want her to succeed, and you're anxious that she might not. I also just love a character who is willing to do anything for the people they love. The end was a bit predictable, and sometimes I felt like she should've been caught. And there was one small thing about her ability to choose which men to kill that made me roll my eyes a bit. Overall, it was unhinged and lowkey badass.

This Girl’s A Killer by Emma C. Wells is a darkly intriguing, edgy thriller that follows Cordelia Black, a seemingly ordinary woman by day, but a cold, calculated avenger by night. With a razor-sharp wit and a sense of moral justice, Cordelia targets men she deems “monsters,” eliminating them with precision. But when her carefully controlled world begins to unravel, she’s forced to confront the consequences of her actions. Wells masterfully blends humor with suspense, creating a compelling anti-heroine whose complex motivations keep readers hooked. This book is an engaging and thought-provoking dive into vengeance, morality, and self-destruction.

I believe in women’s rights, but more importantly I believe in women’s wrongs. Cordelia Black is both a role model and an inspiration, and the world would be a safer place if she was real.

Is murder the worst crime you can commit? Are there crimes where you think “I wish they were dead” after you learn about them? Do you believe in the death penalty? Depending on your answer to these questions, you might have the same beliefs as Cordelia Black, hand of justice. (Not murder, she doesn’t like to apply such a label to herself. After all, she’s only cleaning up the streets and making them safer, it’s not like she’s doing anything without a purpose!)

I was sucked into Cordelia’s world from the first hints that her outer appearance was more of a facade to a darker pastime. She’s detail-oriented, efficient, and on top of everything - or she was, until a new boyfriend comes into her best friend’s life. Simon. The worst guy you can think of to date a woman with a teen daughter. Flashy, charming, and kind on the surface - but with just something to make you raise your hackles whenever he’s around. Luckily for her chosen family, Cordelia is there to keep them safe.

I loved getting into Cordelia’s head, and found myself rooting for her during the entire novel. I wanted her to get away with it all, and was at the edge of my seat every time something happened that just hinted that she was about to lose it all. This book is filled with red herrings - both in events and characters - and until it’s resolved you’re never certain how it will shake out for Cordelia. Semi-dating a cop on the case of her own murders, a best friend with a shitty boyfriend that she’s trying to figure out how to dispose of, and the pharmaceutical drug she’s a spokeswoman for launching her into an investigation - there’s a lot that could cause her to trip up and make a mistake.

While I’ve never watched Dexter myself, I did find myself thinking that some scenes were similar in vibe - intensity and comedic relief - as Santa Clarita Diet.. No, there’s no cannibalism or a couple in this book, but some of the situations felt like they’d fit right on a television show. Answering the door to a cop while you desperately try to cover the blood spatter on yourself, refusing to let him in because there’s a dead body in your kitchen? Opening the freezer to jokingly talk to the head you keep in there until you can find a good location to dump it? Hysterical. This book was both intense and hilarious, and I think it’d make an excellent show or movie if it were expanded upon. I, myself, would love to watch Cordelia Black rid the world of evil men.

If you’re fans of stories centering around serial killers, bad men getting what’s coming to them, and female empowerment, then look no further than This Girl’s a Killer. Cordelia Black is here to keep the streets safe, if only she can stick to her meticulous and proven safeguards and avoid getting caught.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press or providing this e-ARC.

This book was good! I liked it but didn’t love it. I definitely see potential in it and look forward to seeing what else the author does.

This was a crazy thrill ride from start to finish. If Dexter was a woman it would definitely be Cordelia Black. This female serial killer will have you cheering her on and laughing all at the same time. This thriller is addictive, suspenseful, and very entertaining. To say this thriller is intense is an understatement. This was fun, fast-paced, and empowering. Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my copy.

I will start off with, this book is worth the read.

Now to get into it.

I had some highs and lows with this book. I would get very hooked and then it would kind of lose my interest but it did always pull me back in.

Also girllll you got away with it. Stop while you’re ahead - stressing me out!!

All and all it wasn’t a top 2024 read for me but it was still enjoyable! No regrets taking it all the way.

This Girl's a Killer is a fast-paced, darkly comedic thriller that follows a charismatic yet morally complex protagonist. The writing is sharp, and the story is filled with suspense and twists that keep me engaged. But in the second half, the plot kind of dragged.

Pharmaceutical rep Cordelia reverse Me-Too's (aka kills terrible men) her way through town in this book that's perfect for fans of Dexter, Joe Goldberg, Kitty Collins and other "likable" serial killers, darkly comedic thrillers, and feminist rage. If you can't wait to read a thriller and internally shout: "Good for you, girl", then this is the book for you.

Tropes:
- Female rage
- Morally gray characters
- Found family

I loved the dark humor in this book, and I loved Cordelia as a character. I was on the edge of my seat, turning pages, and highly entertained the entire time. There were a few repetitive beats, but overall I really enjoyed this addictive feminist thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Emma C. Wells for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a satisfying thrill ride! I enjoyed the writing and the story. Our bad girl for good is sharp and I would love to see what could happen next. The twists and turns were great. This book hits all the right notes from the beginning and I was rooting for this good bad girl!

I gasped! I yelled! I said "good for her!"

THIS GIRL'S A KILLER is about Cordelia, who takes out the trash in south Louisiana by killing the men who get away with everything. One day, her bff starts dating someone that Cordelia can't quite get a finger on.

Emma C. Well's writing is exceptional for a debut novel. She manages to capture a complete character that you will love despite her being someone who kills. Each character is well thought out, well rounded, and the reader really gets an insight into who each person is, their motivations, and how they would actually interact in this world.

This book is for those Dexter fans who love a serial killer with a conscious. It moves at a very fast pace, the writing was easy to read, and the book will leave you with lots of thoughts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

You can't help rooting for Cordelia Black in this book that is a combo of Dexter & every female protagonist you have ever rooted for! Even when her actions make you cringe.....you can't help but root for her not to become a victim of our own actions!


Description:

For readers of Finlay Donovan is Killing It and The Bandit Queens comes a bright and biting thriller following Cordelia Black, a best friend, a businesswoman, and, in her spare time, a killer of bad men.

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.