What an absolutely entertaining, glorious, murder-y read! This Girl’s A Killer is a feminist “Dexter”-like thrill ride that will have you rooting for the main character to literally get away with murder.

One of the things I really loved was that Cordelia was written so thoroughly. Turns out a woman can be a feminist, and care about her appearance, and like brunch, and sometimes get jealous, and have a rough upbringing, and have a career, and care about family, and sometimes be shallow, and respect peoples pronouns, and experience complex feelings, and sometimes be a control freak, and like name brand things, and be absolutely sick of the world telling her that somehow, because she is a woman, she was “asking for it”. Because, as it turns out, women are human and humans are complex. Who knew? Cordelia not being pigeon holed into just one stereotype was so fun, so refreshing, and made it so much easier to just go along on her wild ride with her. And this ride, it’s wild. Once you pick this book up, every time you put it down you will think about it until you pick it back up again.

Adding Emma C. Wells to my list of new favorite authors, because if this is her debut, I can’t WAIT to see what’s next.

Cordelia Black is the protagonist and narrator of the novel.

Cordelia's has a simple life including her job, her best friend Diane, and Diane's daughter, Sugar. Cordelia considers these two people are her family. Sugar, is her goddaughter.
Another thing Cordelia is devoted to in her life is "killing dangerous, bad men."

This Girl's a Killer reminded me of Dexter from its first chapters. However, I guess I don't generally read many novels written from the killer's perspective. I'm more used to getting to know a killer through the detectives' eyes. For this reason, the novel will be more satisfying to those who like to read the whole process from the killer's eyes.

Some scenes may be disturbing while reading. Because Cordelia also explains how she get rid of the men's body that she killed. If you don't generally enjoy reading or watching scenes of detailed physical harm, you may find it difficult to read at sometimes.

There are not many characters in the novel. Characters other than Cordelia are described as much as how Cordelia feels towards them. The main person the author wants to introduce to us is Cordelia. And her hatred towards men. Her hatred for bad men.

Chapters are short. There are quick-read chapters, short paragraphs and sentences. The novel progresses in a very "active" way. There is constant movement. Thoughts constantly move together with physical movement. It's easy to focus on the novel while reading. There were moments where I felt like someone who had trouble concentrating was explaining something quickly.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

ig: karelervesayfalar

Cordelia Black is giving MAX "Pop, Six, Squish, Uh-uh, Cicero, Lipschitz" energy in Emma C. Wells' 'This Girl's a Killer' by eliminating monstrous men that liter Baton Rouge, LA. After her bestie Diane, introduces her to the new man in her life, Cordelia soon finds herself caught in a tangle that quickly upends her carefully curated life which sets in motion a series of events that makes Cordelia question everything she's held herself too.

With elements of Dexter on a feminist slant (I mean...perfect) this one was definitely a ride and not for the squeamish. Overall I enjoyed this book. I felt the characters were engaging and the prose kept me interested (read: stressed) throughout (even if certain parts did turn my stomach, iykyk).

The plot did feel a little predictable and I was able to sort of guess the turn it was taking as I read but it didn't completely take me out of it. And I could be wrong here but this definitely feels like Emma is setting us up for a potential series with Cordelia and the gang which I wouldn't be opposed to given the way this book ended.

While this wasn't at the top of my reads list i've already read this year, I do feel 'This Girl's a Killer' is a solid first novel and a solid 3 ⭐️!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC of This Girl's a Killer!

WOW! If you miss Dexter, here is your chance to follow Cordelia Black, the female version of Dexter. Yes, she kills men but they are bad men. Men who should be stopped. Cordelia would do anything to keep her best friend and goddaughter safe but will her secret get out?

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this book before publication!

Wowza - this book is highly disturbing and riveting all at the same time?! It has you rooting for a serial killer and *dying* to see how the unraveling plot ends. This debut sets itself up perfectly for a sequel, and I’ll be reading (even though I’ll be thoroughly creeped out the whole time haha).

This is such a fun read. I loved the dark humor of it. Cordelia is such a fun character.. I would definitely recommend

Vigilante woman stories never get old. Bad men will never be eliminated in full. Cordelia, Sugar and Diane’s dynamic was easy to get swept into. There were a few twists but mostly this was a story that held tension and kept you on the edge of your seat. When things began unraveling for Cordelia, I could feel my own blood pressure rising. It was so much fun to read. I can’t wait to check out more by this author.

I get the inclusion of Cordelia’s job situation for the added stress, but I don’t really think it was *necessary* for the overall plot. Same with McSmiley really.

RELEASE DATE: September 10, 2024
GENRE: thriller
TOPIC & THEMES: murder, revenge, dark humor, twisted, anti hero, vigilante, horror elements

While I can appreciate the fact that this was a debut novel I can also see how this is a debut novel. I can see the grace given to the debut but also the criticism of the story.
A story perfect for Lana Myers fans.


- Thanks to the NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book...

The killer was Cordelia Black. She took predators off the streets. All men. Whenever she heard that a man was taking advantage of innocent women, she took care of them.

Her best friend, Diane, had a daughter named Samantha. Diane was seeing a man by the name of Simon. Cordelia didn't like Simon; she's out. There was something off about him. One day, Cordelia was out having a meal and she saw Simon with another woman. She was in disguise but Simon recognized her. So that night, he went to her house and threatened her. He had followed her to her storage unit where she had a dead body there. He told her that if she told Diane about him being with another woman that he'd tell the police about the dead body. He had hinted to Cordelia that he was going to sexually molest Samantha. That was all it took. She killed him. Afterwards, she got a hold of his phone and found sexually explicit pictures there. He was a pervert and a pedophile.

Diane was depressed because she hadn't heard anything from Simon. In the meantime, Cordelia had cut up Simon and put him in her freezer. In the midst of Diane's depression, she phoned Cordelia and told her that she was going to meet her at her house. Cordelia wasn't there and didn't want Diane going there and discovering Simon's body, since had a key to Cordelia's house. Cordelia tried to warn Diane not to go to the house but the call was disconnected. When she got home, Diane was there, crying on the floor holding a butcher knife. She'd found Simon's body. At first she threatened to call the police but Cordelia was able to get her calm and explain to her why she had killed him. Diane fully understood and was glad he was dead.

Diane worked at a hospital where they had a brand new incinerator. It was decided that Cordelia would dispose of Simon's body there. And that she did.

When Cordelia killed, she sold the bodies to a man named Clarence. She didn't like him but he was a means to an end.

The author had thrown in several plot twists and turns which made for an entertaining murder mystery. The characters were all very believable and the storyline had me from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and gave it five stars.

Such a fun read! I’m thinking a Cordelia Black series? Fingers crossed! 🤞🏼

If you love a strong female MC with a vigilante attitude to bad men, then you will love this debut novel! It is full of funny hijinks and crazy twists.

The only criticism I really have is Cordelia’s inner monologue is somewhat repetitive. I guess that’s how ours brains probably really work but I found I’d rather skim over those parts. Other than that, this is a strong debut and I’d love to meet Cor in Florida for her next adventure!

This Girls a Killer is an absolutely nerve wracking story. Cordelia Black has it all put together, great job, a best friend and beautiful goddaughter, but behind closed doors she has a secret. Things start to unravel as things at work become tense. And someone knows her secret.

This was a thrilling read. It really had me nervous for Cordelia. Could almost feel her anxiety off the page! I was hooked from the beginning and did not expect things to end the way they did! I cannot wait to read more by Emma C. Wells because this book has helped me find a new favourite author!

Thanks to netgalley and Poisend Pen Press for the arc for this phenomenal story!

This Girl's a Killer was a fun thriller that left me wanting just a liiittle bit more from Emma C. Wells.

I had been highly anticipating this book as I thought it would be action-packed with ridding the streets of violent predators. Which our FMC did, don't get me wrong. But I did feel the book moved very slowly in the beginning, and I didn't start getting "into it" until at least 50% of the way through. I applaud Emma C. Wells for her debut novel, I really enjoyed the writing itself, but it wasn't quite the twisty thriller I had expected. I do believe this book will find the right audience, and I will definitely read another book by Wells in the future. Cheers on your debut!

This review will be published on Goodreads and Instagram one week prior to pub date, unless the publisher would like me to wait until after release. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-arc!

In this riveting novel, Emma C. Wells takes readers on a thrilling journey through the life of a mysterious and dangerous woman. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates the complexities of her dark past and uncertain future. Wells' writing is both captivating and suspenseful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

"This Girl's a Killer" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and suspense. Wells' intricate plot twists and well-developed characters make for a truly engaging read. From the first page to the last, readers will be hooked on this gripping tale of love, betrayal, and redemption.

Overall, "This Girl's a Killer" is a compelling and well-crafted novel that will leave readers wanting more. Emma C. Wells has proven herself to be a talented storyteller, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press! Fun and easy read. I think had I never watched Dexter I would have liked this book a lot more, but I did, and it all felt a little derivative of it. Certainly a very different character, with a very different point of view. But, the actual mechanics of the plotting, and obstacles she faces to remain free didn't feel particularly inventive in light of Dexter existing. In theory the bulk of what happens in the book is done in the name of protecting her god daughter, but there's really not much actual connection with the kid demonstrated in the book. The last interaction with her she mostly just scares her, and that never really gets resolved. The whole thing with pretending to date the cop to get info never really amounts to much. Fun book. Just wish the plotting had been a little more inventive, and original.

This book was SO GOOD. Cordelia was so strong, multi-dimensional, but also relatable. She's loyal to a fault and protective of those she loves. I loved the humor and the drama. It was giving female empowerment, Dexter, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles type hijinks.

This book had me hooked from page 1. It was hard to put down. It's so well written and even though many of the chapters were longer, I actually really enjoyed every single one of them. This book creeped me out, made me laugh, gave me anxiety, made me hopeful, and left me wanting more!

If you love horror/thrillers with humor this is your book! I would read this again and I need more Cordelia Black! It was left on a note that seemed like Cordelia would be back... and I really hope she will be.

If you like the Finlay Donovan series you need to read this book. It was hilarious and gory and impossible for me to put down. I laughed more times than I can count, I gasped, my eyes were for sure bugging out of my head at times. I love the character Cordelia and how bad*ss she was, even when nothing is going her way she figures out a solution for everything. I can't believe this was a debut book, Emma C. Wells is a master at writing a fantastic thriller with so many hilarious twists. This book gave me Finlay Donovan vibes as well as Butcher and Blackbird but without the steam and romance. I loved the relationship between Cordelia and her best friend and her little mini bestie. Somehow I was not expecting such feel good wholesome feelings after reading this book but I loved everything about it and the ending left me deeply intrigued.

A special thanks to Poisonned Press and NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this one.
I DNF'd at 30% because of many fact checking errors and so many repetition. The FMC was interesting and the plot is fast paced, but I just couldn't get past the errors I found it too irritating.

This was a wild ride from start to finish, Cordelia Black was a badass throughout and I loved her and Diane. the writing was fast-paced and I enjoyed reading about her getting away with everything that she does. However its a three star as I found it predictable, I knew from the get go that she was going to kill Simon, Diane find out about it, is ok with it and Cordelia gets away with it. I did like that she got away with it but I would have preferred it to be less predictable than it was.

For a debut thriller this is a really good book! I was not expecting it to end the way it did. Every time I thought something would finally catch up I was surprised. It definitely kept me on my toes. It’s crazy when Cordelia is described you really would never think she is a killer. But just goes to show looks can be deceiving. Speaking of the way it ended, I would love another book. I need to know more about McSmiley!
Thank you Emma C. Wells, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC for my review.

4 stars!

What an interesting concept, I really enjoyed this one!

I loved the portrayal of Cordelia's "chosen family" and also thoroughly enjoyed Mango's storyline!

I'd definitely recommend this one to all thriller lovers. I am a big fan of Dexter and it gave off some of the same vibes.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!