The premise of this book is exactly what I would look for in a story. Unfortunately this one was just too repetitive for me to really get engaged with the storyline or the characters. I wasn’t looking forward to picking it upz

You know when you find a book you like and you kick your feet as you read it? No? Just me? This book did that. I like the killer perspective. It was different. They as a couple were different. They knew how to identify and take down the bad guys. Who can be mad at that? Ha. 4.8!

Fox and Hazel seem to have it all; a lavish lifestyle and an adorable little girl but something is missing. They used to be so in love and living a wild life until Hazel became pregnant and everything changed. No more exciting parties and trips around the world but most of all not more killing. How will they adjust to being a normal suburban family? Can their marriage survive this dramatic adjustment or will one of them have to go?

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

LOVED ! This was such a fun quick read !
Haze , although a tad crazy is hilarious & relatable with her marriage issues (outside of the murder part) but yeah she did kind of bug me throughout with her spoiled ass behavior. Her kid was more self aware .
Definitely had a lot of dark issues mentioned but the author doesn't dwell on it & make this a depressing book.
My only complaint is I didn't love how Haze kept referring to her life ending when she saw those 2 blue lines & her life sentence....
The ending was a bit of a surprise & I loved it.
Shoutout to Helga . I love her & want her in my life ❤️🙃

Thanks Netgalley for another great Arc
" SerialKillersGuideToMarriage ❤️🗡️

Bantam eARC
Think married couple that kill like Dexter but stop because they become parents. This book was interesting watching Haze and Fox figure out what to do when they lose their stress outlet and shared habit. It created some great conflict, some frustration with both of them, and made me consider how parenthood restructures everything. The middle dragged a bit, but the ending surprised me in the best way.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was my first 5 star read for 2025 and it won’t soon be forgotten! It totally gave me Mr. And Mrs. Smith vibes, just a murderous couple trying to live a normal suburban life. I loved all the secrets and deception between the two, when underneath they both really love their daughter and each other. At times it felt like a comedy of errors and had me literally laughing out loud. I would highly recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers told from both parties points of view!

I liked it! I really enjoyed/appreciated Asia Mackay’s writing- short, easily read, POV identified, well written chapters. I didn’t see the twists coming- never a dull moment in the lives of serial killers, I guess….. By the end I was cheering Haze and Fox on.
Although I initially struggled with the idea of serial killing being justified primarily because of who the victims were /their actions, I continued to read; about a third of the way into the book, I realized that I gotten invested in the characters and their story.
Thank You to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the invitation to read and guiltily enjoy this ARC.

In A SERIAL KILLER'S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE by Asia Mackay, things are not happy in a couple's suburban house and home with baby and the life you're supposed to want. Possibly the fact they met over murder and lived exciting and rewarding times at the start have spoiled the chances for Hazel and Fox. I loved the perspective of former murderer Hazel viewing the dramas of suburban life, the preschool issues and sizing up the everyday ordinary when Fox seems happy being a "normal" person. Twists and turns of the plot, tight and fascinating dialogue, deep characters I fell like I know....this book has it all for a lighthearted look at what happens when happily ever after isn't what you thought you wanted -- ever. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

What a great book!! Vigilante serial killer couple trying to live in suburbia?! So good. I loved the humor and drama. The secrets that kept you guessing the whole time and how everything was connected! Would definitely recommend.

I read "A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage" by Asia Mackay on NetGalley. I would never have thought that I would be rooting for 2 serial killers to make their marriage work, but I did with this book. The couple, known as Hazel & Fox, worked as killers together until Hazel got pregnant and they decided to try raising a family. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from the author.

Being a mom is tough! Not only is her two year old daughter still not completely potty trained, but her marriage has fallen into a rut and she's had to take a step back from her career...serial killing.

This is the most fun book I've read this year...and a book that is very poignant about the challenges of long term marriages and raising a child. I'm not a serial killer, but I've found the balance of raising my son and trying to balance a career I love, while trying to still be the fun person I was before I had my son (with a pre-baby body.) At one point, Hazel admits that “I wanted to be an amazing, awe inspiring mother without doing the actual work required to be an amazing, awe inspiring mother.” It's incredibly relatable! While the book is centred around Hazel's relationship with her husband, Fox - I laughed out loud when Fox went to AA for his killing addiction - after all, if they can help you cope with alcoholism, they can help you with any addiction, right? The secondary characters were also incredibly enjoyable, from Helga the nanny (who never mentions that Hazel isn't quite dressed appropriately for book club) to Fox's brother Julian (who would rather not know what Fox is up to, so that they can keep a good relationship). I never thought a book about the compromises of motherhood and murder would be so hilariously entertaining.

Finally, the real heart of the book is Hazel's friendship with another mom, Jenny. Details of her life (which I won't spoil here) make the friendship a bit difficult, but the protectiveness Hazel has for her is genuinely heartwarming and a real sign of Hazel learning to trust other people. And the book ends in its own version of a happy ending - the only ending which really fit.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who can handle some dark humour about motherhood, or anyone who has ever enjoyed a true crime podcast over a glass of wine.

I'm sure many moms can relate to Hazel's dilemma. She gave up a beloved career to stay home with their little girl Bibi. Her time as a serial killer partner to her husband Fox ended with the arrival of their daughter. Essentially both agreed it was safer for their new family member if they pursued tamer and legal activities.

Once I got past the abundance of f-bombs at the beginning of the book, the plot really hooked me. I did enjoy the end of the book much more than the beginning. And it was difficult to love Hazel -- I tried. Fox was more nurturing despite his history and of the two.

Asia Mackay makes a delightful statement in her Acknowledgments about the result of a five star review:
every time you rate a book five stars on any public forum rainbows light up the sky, fluffy bunnies leap with joy, and a writer ecstatically cries how it was all worth it?!
I am so sorry to deprive you of a star, Ms. Mackay. I am probably too much of a rule follower to appreciate this story. I did really like it!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. This book was scheduled to be released on January 14, 2025.

So I forgot I had the ARC and just bought this book again.
The story unfolds from the POV’s of BOTH Hazel and Fox, in the BOTH the past and the present, Haze, a passionate artist with a troubled childhood, is impulsive, sexy, and in her mid-thirties. Recently a new mom, she struggles with suburban life and keeping her promise to her husband not to kill anymore. Her unfulfilled bloodthirst leaves her feeling dull and questioning her life choices.

Her husband, Fox, is in his early forties, working in finance, trying to be a good father, and a bit controlling. He comes from a wealthy but sociopathic family that knows about his desire to kill but covered it up in exchange for sending him to Europe and banning him from returning to the U.S. However, it was during his time in Paris that he met Haze—his perfect match—while she was killing a dangerous man.

Their whirlwind romance led to marriage within six months, but their dreamy, dark, and steamy European vacation came to a halt when Haze discovered she was pregnant. Now, Haze feels trapped in the suburbs, struggling to paint, and forced to socialize with other moms. She eventually befriends Jenny, who initially seems needy and eager to please, but there’s more to her than meets the eye, particularly when it comes to her abusive ex, which intrigues Haze, making her think she could be Jenny’s savior.

Meanwhile, Fox is also struggling with secrets, keeping two women in his life hidden from his wife. Why do his parents want him back in the States so badly? What leverage do they have over him? Is he having an affair? And what’s really going on behind those closed doors with the eccentric strangers he meets?

Haze, on the other hand, hasn’t kept her promise—there’s already blood on her hands. But it was self-defense, right? She doesn’t realize that breaking her promise just once could unravel everything, setting her carefully planned life on fire! And she may have chosen the worst possible person to befriend.

I had so much fun. I absolutely loved it! I do prefer my thrillers on the darker side but every once in a while I need something mild as a palate cleanser. This fit the bill.

🔪 Dual Pov
🔪Dark Humor
🔪 Serial Killer Partner's in Crime
🔪 London Setting


The couple that slays together stays together. At least, that's what Hazel and Fox had in mind. Together, they kill "bad men." When Hazel finds out that she's pregnant, they realize that this lifestyle is dangerous for their new family. They put down roots and portray the picturesque lifestyle with their daughter Bibi. After the years, the monotony of the day to day life with the little one starts to weigh on Hazel. One day, after accidentally ending up killing a man, Hazel must clean up the mess she made while keeping it from Fox. Little does she know Fox is keeping secrets, too.

This was a fun read. It gave me Finlay Donovan vibes but with a domestic thriller vibe. The fast-paced chapters kept my attention. The characters were interesting and had depth. I loved how we see these flawed characters and get insight into authentic struggles that readers can relate to, like a toxic family or struggles with motherhood.

This book just dropped on January 14. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Four and a half stars rounded up to five. Fox and Haze are your typical couple, with one difference. They are serial killers. They only kill bad men, but when Haze fell pregnant, they hung up their knives. That was three years ago, and Haze is over the suburban lifestyle. She misses the excitement and satisfaction of killing. How long will she be able to keep her urges at bay?
I loved this book. I read it in basically one sitting. I've read books about serial killers before, but this work felt fresh and original. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Highly, highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Thanks NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC!

I overall liked this book. Haze and Fox are THAT couple- they have it all. Nice house, cute kid... a nice life. But they're serial killers, who've stopped killing to protect their daughter. And they are resenting each other for it, especially because they only kill bad guys. I loved the way they struggled through new parenthood like "normal" people (sort of lol). What knocked points off was their lack of talking to each other which would have solved half their problems- you guys trust each other enough to commit murders together but you can't have a conversation? (I also hate the miscommunication trope so I am biased here). I loved that they became a little trio with Jenny at the end and got rid of her shitty ex. This was a fun read for sure.

The idea of our main characters being former serial killers who ended up married caught my attention right away. I can't imagine stopping cold turkey like they do when their daughter arrives. Then again, I can't imagine every doing what they did, haha. A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is told through dual POV and we get the past and present.

I have to say while I did enjoy this book, it took quite a while for me to be pulled in. The beginning was very slow and felt a bit repetitive to me when we were in the present reading from Hazel's POV. They're both trying to find a new routine after giving up a big part of their lives. This leads to frustration and a lot of miscommunication. In all honesty, I think this story would've been a lot more fun if the characters were just open about how they were feeling.

Around the halfway mark things started to get really interesting and it kept me hooked. The twists along the way were clever and the ending of the story was an interesting and surprising way to wrap the story up. You do have to stretch reality a bit to enjoy the ending of this one, but in the end I did have a good time.

Fox and Hazel (Haze) had a wonderful life doing what they loved: Killing bad men. (Haze has 18 kills under her belt.) They were the perfect couple glamming around Europe and killing as they went along. But, when Haze found she was pregnant, Fox put a screeching halt to this life. Hr wanted the best things for their child. Now, they live in a nice home, are friendly with neighbors and adore their baby girl, Bibi, 29 months. As a good mother does, Haze takes Bibi to music sessions and makes nice with the other mothers. One needy woman, Jenny, latches onto her and Haze ends up saying more things than she should. Turns out this poor woman’s baby’s father borrowed money from her and when he found she was pregnant, he dumped her.

Haze misses her life when she and Fox were killing men. It was exciting and fulfilling for her. She knows that Fox is right in that they must stop this and concentrate on raising their daughter. But a misstep along the way has her keeping a big secret from Fox. Will she be able to pull this off without being found out?

This book, is definitely different from any I’ve ever read before. Of course I’m familiar with Dexter and enjoyed a lot of those shows. I can honestly say that I did not like Haze - not for her killing ways - but for the fact that she acted like a spoiled, entitled wife. Yes, they have money but she just wasn’t wife material. The ending has some humor and I enjoyed how that wrapped up the story. Do read this one because I think there will be lots of comments on this book for sure. I’m curious to see what readers have to say.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Haze and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a doting daughter, Bibi. Except they’re not all that ordinary because they used to be serial killers. Haze and Fox find each other one night after both going for the same kill and instantly fall in love. They spend years in a Dexter-esque phase of love and killing, as they only go after the “bad guys” who deserve to be killed. Once Haze finds she is pregnant with Bibi, they reach an agreement to stop their life’s work to ensure the safety of their family.

Haze doesn’t quite adjust to the suburban housewife life like it seems that Fox has; absolutely miserable at neighborhood outings and get togethers. She longs to keep killing. When a murder happens in their neighborhood and they could possible be linked to not only that kill, but various others across Europe from their past, Haze begins to spiral while Fox seems he is up to no good behind her back.

This book starts out very fast paced, but I found it to get pretty slow after the first few chapters. It has varying viewpoints from Haze and Fox, both present and past, which does add some mystery after each chapter. While I don’t think there’s much filler, the middle of this book didn’t keep me as interested as I’d like. It wraps up very quickly in the last 15% of the book, but overall a great ending that finishes the story well.

These people are bananas! This was a quick and fun read! This was my 1st book by Asia Mackay but will not be my last.

#ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage
#NetGalley