I enjoyed this book; it gave me DEXTER vibes. I liked the Cordelia character; she was fun but in a dark way. This story was a little slow but still very interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a good read.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this book.

I can not believe that this is a debut! I highly recommend this. I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

If you like the fast pace of Finlay Donovan books (minus the awkward and cringy romance) and really miss Dexter, you will love This Girl's a Killer. Not only is she a killer, but you won't mind. She's the new antihero. She will do anything for the people she loves and a lot for people she doesn't even know. I really hope this is book 1 of many.

'This Girl's a Killer' is a tumultuous adventure and rife with tension through friendship and found family told from the POV of a serial killer - a serial killer who just wants to be loved unconditionally and to protect others the way she wishes she had been protected as a child.

Cordelia Black is a strong, successful, wealthy woman on a mission. Her mission? To eradicate the worst of the worst from society. The ones the justice system isn't able to punish (or have the money/connections to pay their way out of trouble). And she does it in luxury/designer clothes and Christian Louboutin stilettos her uniform, her method revolving around complete and total control. Life is coming up roses for Cordelia. If she isn't at work, she's spending time with hee ride-or-die, Diane, and Diane's daughter, who they call Sugar-the most important people in her life.

That is, until a potential serial killer is mentioned on the news and her date ends up being with a cop. Diane revealing a new boyfriend that trips some of Cordelia's mental alarms, sending her into a tailspin. The control she values so highly starts slipping as the tension rises, and then rises some more as she struggles to get a hand on things. 🤏🏼 Maybe if Mango, the neighbor's dog, would stop 💩 in her yard and darting into her house at the least opportune times-maybe then she could have a moment's peace to try and get a hand on the chaos that has become her life. Can she keep her world from unraveling, keep her little family safe and together?

"Nothing stains like red frosting—not even blood."

📖 The quote ⬆️ is the first line in the book, and had me compelled to read more. By about 15%, I was invested. Once I got to about 40% I couldn't put it down.

The chaotic twists and turns are well executed, leaving you never knowing how it's going to end - but hoping somehow, someway, she doesn't get caught. 100% I'm ready to join Cordelia Black. 😆

✍️🏼 I enjoyed the writing, loved it. It flows well, is descriptive, and felt like a good friend was telling the story. Even in my tense discomfort, I felt at ease (if that makes any sense at all 😂).

The dialogue is amazing. It felt and read as natural, and fit the characters perfectly. I love the bits of dark humor and found them well placed and timed so as to bring just enough levity. I enjoy dark humor, so it really worked for me.

🔪🩸It does get fairly descriptive in a couple places, but overall isn't detailed on the gore. Enough that you get a clear idea and picture, for sure.

⏳️The pacing is great, with no pointless meandering. It's fast paced with mostly shorter chapters, making for a fairly quick read.

👥 I loved/loved to hate the characters. Their personalities show in various ways and they feel real, dimensional.

💞 There's very little romance in this book and no spice. There is a focus on familial love, though, and how strong that bond can be. The things we would do to protect those we love most, those we call family regardless of DNA.

📚 If you like Dexter, the Mindf*ck series, Butcher and Blackbird, or other 'likeable' serial killer fiction, I think you would enjoy this book.

⚠️ CW/TW: If you're concerned, please go to
www.emmaCwells.com - theyre under the menu tab labeled content warnings.

Thank you to @emma.c.wells.books @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

I was hooked from the start! The humour and the drama were honestly done so well. I can go behind serial killers who have good intentions of killing bad people. This girl ruined her own ritual and started getting so paranoid and anxious about everything and when I’ll tell you my anxiety went through the roof reading that. The way people kept showing up at her house out of nowhere made me so anxious.

3.5⭐️ Female Dexter, yes please! Cordelia Black is a serial killer with a code. She loves her friend Diane and Diane’s daughter Sammy. When Diane gets a new beau Cordelia senses something is not quite right.
This story kept me interested til the end. I couldn’t wait see how Cordelia would get out of the mess she found herself in. She’s a killer with a code and only kills bad men.

Interesting characters, fast paced thriller, with a cute neighbor dog, Mango.

Thank you NetGalley and Poison Pen Press publisher for the Arc in exchange for my honest review

While Cordelia Black may not be the ideal girl next door that doesn't mean she doesn't have her strong points. She has a successful career as a pharmaceutical rep, she is totally devoted to the family she has made, and she has a killer wardrobe. However, she also has a side gig in which she kills men she thinks the world would be better off without.
This Girl's a Killer is told in Cordelia's voice. She is witty, sassy and pulls no punches. You couldn't ask for a better friend. She thrives on order and plans. In her orchestrated life, there is no room for mistakes. So, when something unplanned happens her life implodes.
Beautifully crafted, the narrative follows Cordelia as she navigates one disaster after another. Just when it seems things can't get any worse, they do. From one land mine to another Cordelia does not disappoint right up to the unexpected conclusion.
This book was an absolute pleasure to read! This Girl's a Killer is well plotted and has a great protagonist! Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Emma Wells for providing an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book. Below is my honest review.

A very rare 5 star review.
I'm not sure I'm supposed to like a serial killer but I do, I love Cordelia Black. Champion of women done wrong, doling out justice with a bit of vengeance in it. She's doing what I sometimes want to try my hand at, righting a disturbing wrong. Most people balk at killing but as the saying goes - sometimes a man just needs killing. I am not happy with one thing, McSmiley deserved so much better than an afterthought. Good men are hard to find, handsome considerate men are keepers. An enjoyable, if a little creepy, read.

#NetGalley #ThisGirl'saKiller #EmmaWells #Poisoned Pen Press #serialkiller #killingbadmen #doilinoutjustice #murder

This book was a killer!!! (Literally) Cordelia Black is a serial killer. She only kills guys who deserve it, like child predators, women abusers, etc. She is a pharmaceutical rep. by day!! I have to say I probably lost weight reading this book because my heart rate was elevated every time I picked it up to read. I was so anxious that she was going to get caught. It is a little dark, but it is also very entertaining. It has a cast of characters: best friend Diane and her daughter Samantha, the next door neighbor Mr. Percival, Mango, the next door neighbors dog, McSmiley, a police officer, the guy who buys her bodies and the monsters she feels she needs to kill. I found myself liking Cordelia. She was funny. She dressed in designer clothes. She always had cheese for the dog next door and she took care of her chosen family. This is definitely a fun read from a debut author who I think must be a little warped! Ha Ha
Thanks to #netgalley, #poisenedpenpress and @emma.c.wells.books for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had such a blast reading this! Cordelia's story kept me hooked and even triggered a bit of anxiety-in a fun, heart-pounding way. The book dives into loyalty and morality, and her sharp, witty voice had me laughing out loud. You know she's in the wrong, but you still root for her, thinking, "Good for her!" The pacing is spot-on, making it easy to breeze through. My only quip is a small plot point that hinted at a possible romance for a side character-I wish it had played out! Still, it's got serious Dexter vibes, and I can totally picture this as a TV show or movie. Fans of dark antiheroes will love this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this book so I can give my honest review.

Emma C. Wells’ debut novel, This Girl’s A Killer, was an entertaining surprise. Cordelia Black is a well polished and accomplished individual taking the pharmaceutical industry by storm with a pristine reputation but what you see is not what you get. By night, Cordelia rids the world of deplorable men through a rigorous process to keep them from hurting anyone else and to keep her best friend and goddaughter safe. But when her best friend starts dating a man that sets Cordelia on edge, she must come up with a plan to get him out of their lives but nothing goes according to plan and Cordelia’s careful constructed world starts to crumble.

At first, Cordelia comes off so well put together but soon you realize she’s a mess just like everyone else with a heart of gold. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her best friend and goddaughter even if that means putting her own life at risk.

This story flowed effortlessly and was a fun read. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Wells puts out next. Hopefully it’s another Cordelia Black story.


Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

This book is a a very intriguing read.

Cordelia Black works as a pharmaceutical rep and grew up in a very dysfunctional family. Her best friend is Diane whom she went to college with. When Diane got pregnant and almost dies Cordelia made a promise to Diane on the way to the hospital that she will look after her forever.

Diane’s daughter CiCi, whom Cordelia calls Sugar loves Cor as she calls her as if she were her second mother. They are like a family unit. Cor goes over to Diane’s so she can do her hair since she has a blind date and Sugar tells her that her mother is seeing this guy Simon she doesn’t like so now Cor doesn’t like Simon also. This is so interesting how this pans out now.

Cordelia goes on her blind date to find out he is a policeman that she ran into earlier. Since Cordelia has a second secret life this may end up a good thing so she can find out first hand information on the investigation of missing men.

I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good fast paced read that keeps you wanting more after the first sentence.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can understand why THIS GIRL’S A KILLER by Emma C. Wells is on some ‘most anticipated’ lists this fall. As the temperatures drop, the heat picks up in this intense dark thriller.

Cordelia ‘CiCi’ Black is an unassuming pharma rep by day, but her nights are full of the hunt for the ‘bad men’ that escape justice. And her system is flawless. When her best friend, Diane begins dating Simon, the hairs on the back of CiCi’s neck begin to rise. She must protect Diane and her goddaughter, Samantha at all costs. Meanwhile, she meets and begins dating Christopher. ‘McSmiley’, a cop who is investigating the case of the missing men in south Louisiana. Could Simon and McSmiley bring an end to CiCi’s reign of terror? And what is she to do about the big Pharma drug that is proving to be downright dangerous? And neighbor Percival C. Manchester and his dog Margo could prove to drive her to distraction causing mistakes she can’t afford to make.

As CiCi is looking into Simon, Simon is following her and inadvertently stumbles upon her drop to the bodysnatcher who sells body parts as a way to make money. There can only be one solution to keep her nighttime activities quiet. As Diane mourns the fact that Simon has ghosted her, Cordelia knows that ‘ghosted’ could not be more true.

This one had me hooked from beginning to end. The tension ratcheded up at every turn. I could feel my pulse quicken as CiCi tried to cover all her bases. The twist and turns were fast and furious and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was shocked to learn that this was a debut novel and I will certainly be following Emma C Wells in the future. I can’t wait to see where she goes next. I suspect that she will be a new voice in the psychological thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The following review has been shared to my Bookstagram (@mads.is.booking), Goodreads and StoryGraph. It will be posted on Amazon as soon as it clears their review process.

This was a fun one, but nothing life changing. I loved the concept, but probably expected a little bit more out of than I got. I don't know if this quite fits my definition of a thriller. There was really just one "big" plot twist, which I had figured out quite early on. It was feminist rage fiction more than anything. Nothing against that, but I think I would've enjoyed it more had I known that going in.

Cordelia was sassy and cunning and, honestly, you couldn't help but cheer for her. When I say she was going through it, I mean she was GOING THROUGH IT. Nothing describes "hot mess" quite like the situations Cordelia found herself in. A personal pet peeve of mine is when people refer to themselves in third person and this book had plenty of that. "Sweet Cordelia" and "The Cordelia Black" were all too common phrases.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but not quite the thriller I was expecting!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This intense thriller kept me on edge with every twist and turn. The story is fast-paced and follows Cordelia, a main character with a whirlwind of close calls and near breakdowns, making it hard to decide if I was truly rooting for her. The rapid-fire plot points kept the suspense high, but I wanted more depth from the other characters to balance Cordelia’s confident, unhinged perspective. There weren’t any big revelations or takeaways for me, but it’s an engaging read that filled me with anticipation to see how it would turn out. If you’re in the mood for a quick, snappy slasher centered on unapologetic female rage, she’s got you covered!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the early access.

I finished this one really quickly because the thrill is written pretty well. I just don't find it very satisfying to read, though. The main character does not really become a better person or suffer any consequences. I was waiting for something to happen the entire time but it didn't come. I really didn't like the main character and she was very stubborn and a know it all - very controlling of her best friend Diane, too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early advanced copy.

📚: This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

The gist: Cordelia Black’s hobby can be summed up in a Taylor Swift quote. “I don’t start it but I can tell you how it ends. Don’t get sad, get even.”

And what hobby would that be? Killing very bad men. (Literal vigilante s**t.) But when she starts to lose control of the narrative, she finds herself, her best friend, and her goddaughter all in danger.

The good: I love a feminine rage, vigilante s**t sub-genre (see: my five star review for They Never Learn by Layne Fargo). This is a plot that I will always pick up and hope it delivers.

The pacing of this read was spot on - I finished it in a single evening (yes, it’s far past my bedtime right now because I wanted to see how this ended).

The eh: Why do I dislike Cordelia so much? Her character brings a light tone to what honestly should be a dark plot, and it doesn’t mix well. Her character is in her 30s but comes across as thought she’s a main character in a YA novel - that just isn’t the vibe that works here. The ending simultaneously gave me whiplash and (without spoiling), somehow left a few plot points left hanging. I got into this book but didn’t necessarily enjoy it.

Big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This Girl’s a Killer is out today!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I was very excited to read from a new author. This storyline was so fascinating. I could not wait to get to read it. It was a quick read that I finished in a day. I loved all the characters. It was a very entertaining read.

This book was everything that I love about a “supporting women’s wrongs” type of story!

Our FMC, Cordelia Black, is a big-shot pharmaceutical rep by day, and a karma-dealing serial killer by night. She's made it her mission to rid the world of the monsters that walk it, but when her best friend starts dating one of said monsters, her two worlds threaten to cave in on her.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, I thought she did a very good job of creating that anxious/paranoid feeling that comes with a downward spiral. From about the halfway point on I was on the edge of my seat, literally unable to put this book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. It's kind of a pet peeve of mine when, specifically in crime fiction, things start to feel unbelievable, but that never happened for me in this book. I thought the way Cornelia's life started to unravel helped the story feel... dare I say relatable? I think most people know that feeling of when nothing is going your way and you just can't catch a break.

I also thought she did an excellent job of crafting a main character who is clearly unhinged and loosing control, but I still couldn’t help rooting for. I am so hoping there will be another Cordelia Black book as it would seem her work is far from finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells is a fun, Dexter-esque serial killer story. Cordelia, the main character, eliminates bad guys, but unlike Dexter, she’s not emotionless. As everything in her carefully controlled life starts to go wrong at once, we watch her unravel in ways that feel genuine and relatable. The characters here all felt like real people, and the story has a bit of a campy vibe, but that only adds to its charm. It’s an easy, fast-paced read that was engaging throughout.