Out now! Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the copy to read and review.

I missed reading this pre-pub but was able to get an audio copy from the library to do an immersion read on this one. Not the point of this review but the narrators were great! Each of them brought their respective characters to life perfectly and I couldn't get enough of the narration.

I loved the storyline of this one! It felt so unique in the world of thrillers these days. I felt it was easy to understand the characters, especially Haze and how bored she is of her life. I loved the multi-POV and multi-timeline aspects of this. It was well done and for me was super easy to follow the perspectives.

This leans HEAVY on the miscommunication trope which I usually hate. Especially when these are grown ass adults that are supposed to be open to each other with EVERYTHING, I mean they have literally K!LLED together! BUT for whatever reason it seemed to work in this, maybe I understood the reasoning each character had for their deceptions.

This did not unwind like I thought it would but I loved the ending! This gives serious vibes that it might become a series! (Prettyyy pleaseeee?)

[Side note: I FSTG if I heard "Bad Man" one more freaking time I was going to go all Hazel on this book.]

I was excited about reading this one, only to be disappointed. It was boring and had unlikeable characters. The miscommunication between the two main characters bothered me. Furthermore, a lot could have been avoided if they just spoke to one another. The book felt like it was trying to be more of a dark comedy than a thriller. I love both genres, but not in this book. It did not give me thriller vibes at all and the dark humor wasn’t even funny to me. This book was predictable and forgettable.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is about a Husband and a Wife that enjoy murdering people. Even before they were Married, both of them were murderers. Everything was great for them until they had a baby. When the baby was born, they gave up being murderers and focused on being a Mom and Dad. However, they both get the urge to still murder after they had their baby. Will they continue murdering people after the baby is born? Will they do whatever it takes to keep their family safe?

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book was published on January 14, 2025 and is available to read. Overall, I rate the boring book a 2.25 out of 5 stars.

3.5 stars. The blurb totally excited me and I was looking forward to picking this up, but it fell a little flat for me. I just couldn’t connect with with the characters.

The review sounded great and I'm sure it will be popular, but it wasn't for me. We will purchase it for the library. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Fun little thriller about a serial killer couple! Love that concept. The little romance aspect too was fun.

A Serial Killers Guide to Murder

I wanted to love this book so much. The description sounded like something that I would love. Unfortunately, this book was almost a chore to read. Hazel complains so much and the entire book is just poor communication. If they had trusted each other and worked as a team this book could have been a blazing five star. It did start to pick up more at the end and I would have liked to hear more POV from Fox. I enjoyed how Hazel incorporated the murders into her art, but this was very similar to another book I have read in that aspect. I did how like it tied up at the end but the journey to get there was a bumpy ride. i do really like the cover.

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! Who doesn't love reading about two serial killers who fell in love and are now trying to balance their need to kill with their household duties? Fun, funny, and such a wonderful premise. I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I plan to buy my own copy for my bookshelf!

This book was actually very good. I think the overall premise of a married assassin duo that “kill bad men that harm women” was very contrived. I also think that the story moved a little to slow for my liking. Overall, I was entertained at the story but it took way too long to get to the reveal of the story and then it was very quickly all revealed at the end. I really did love the ending but I wish there were more pages written about the ending and less in the middle. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Fox and Hazel met because they were both serial killers. They liked being heroes and killing bad men, together they were an iconic duo. Then Hazel got pregnant. They settled down in suburbia paradise for happily ever after with no more murder! Until everything goes to shit. Their marriage is crumbling, they’re lying to each other, and their spark is gone. How can they rekindle it without that same homicidal flame that brought them together? Can they?

This was such a fun read. One of its strengths was its fast-paced plot. It’s set in both present and past, told by Fox and Hazel, with messages Hazel sends to her dead best friend and descriptions of her art intertwining. The dark humor was witty without being suffocating, just a bit millennial-core at times.

I had a blast reading this book. Its dark humor and its murderous main characters were so much fun. This is a great take on what would happen if two serial killers just happen to get married? Haze and Fox have their own code and morals. They just enjoy killing together. Super fun book! I will definitely be interested in reading more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage
by Asia Mackay

🔪🔪🔪🔪

I just couldn’t put this book down! This book is about two serial killers (Hazel and Fox) who have a baby and give up their vigilante killings!! One seems to be struggling more than the other which leads to quite a few pickles in the book! This book has two points of view (Haze and Fox) and from the past and current times! It was really enjoyable! I will say I was not rooting for either of the main characters but I also couldn’t stop reading the book! It kind of reminds me of Dexter the tv show a bit! I also loved the lavish lifestyle and fashion references!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Add this fun novel to your TBR!!

If you were a fan of You on Netflix this book is right up your alley. Hazel and Fox were both serial killers who put all that aside for a suburban life with their daughter. Hazel is trying to adjust while Fox seems to take it in stride but both know what lie beneath the surface of their carefully crafted facade. I hadn’t read a book with both main characters being psychopaths but this book balanced out the tension and dark humor well and has a wonderful witty narrative and writing style. I really enjoyed this book and it was a nice fresh take on the dark romance genre.

I was used to reading one partner being the "naughty" one and trying to cover his/her tracks, but this is the first time I'm seeing being ethical serial killers leading into marriage. Haze and Fox was not Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Their aim was to get rid of waste of space men who were bane to women and children's existence. They wanted to channel their anger and psychopathy into those.

Also, they were parents to a little girl, who put them on a murder hiatus. Because you would not want their child walk into a clean up or action itself. Their means and connections were keeping them safe until the baby, so they could pretend like nothing happened and solve their addiction with 12 step programs. Until Haze got a mommy friend as part of her suburban life...

I enjoyed how realistic was the conversations Haze, Fox and Jenny had. It was not this flowery language that screams "yes, I'm a literary fiction". I'm sure that how even most loving partners talk to each other on certain days. It was definitely how friends talk to each other and their children. As much as I loved the story, I hope this will not turn into a series. Because we have enough of those and sometimes you need to end things at its peak.

*A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage* by [Author’s Name] is a deliciously twisted, darkly humorous thriller that plunges deep into the psyche of two former serial killers as they try—unsuccessfully—to leave their violent past behind. This razor-sharp, wildly original narrative offers readers an unforgettable experience that seamlessly blends crime, domestic life, and psychological tension.

Hazel and Fox, once a dynamic duo in their vigilante killing spree, now find themselves leading what seems like an ordinary suburban life. But their past lives as ruthless murderers, who meticulously “rid the world of bad men,” lurk just below the surface. Hazel, once an unstoppable force of chaos, now finds herself trapped in the mundanity of motherhood and suburban expectations, struggling to reconcile her violent urges with her current role as a stay-at-home mom. Meanwhile, Fox, the more methodical and planner-minded of the two, has adjusted to fatherhood with surprising ease. He embraces the new routine of playdates and diapers, but he also knows, deep down, that both he and Hazel are incapable of completely escaping their old habits.

The brilliance of this novel lies in the author’s ability to balance the tension of their murderous past with the comedic absurdity of their present life. Hazel’s internal battle with the “murderous itch” she feels is both disturbing and oddly relatable. As she tries to suppress the urges that once drove her, the reader is given an up-close look at the chaos brewing beneath the surface. Fox, ever the planner, provides an interesting counterbalance to Hazel’s restlessness, but as the story unfolds, his own violent tendencies come into sharper focus. Their relationship is dynamic, complicated, and, at times, even tender, which adds depth to their twisted partnership.

The plot is thrilling and packed with unexpected twists. When Hazel kills again—this time without Fox's knowledge—their fragile new life begins to crack. As the police start sniffing around, the couple’s carefully crafted facade starts to crumble, and the stakes rise exponentially. The resulting tension between Hazel and Fox is palpable, and the suspense builds as they navigate the dangerous web they've woven for themselves.

The book is also sprinkled with dark humor that cuts through the tension, making the characters’ otherwise horrific actions somehow captivating and even oddly endearing. The author’s witty, sharp writing and the couple’s sardonic humor give the story a unique voice that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Ultimately, *A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage* is a masterful blend of suspense, dark comedy, and psychological exploration. The dynamic between Hazel and Fox is electric, and the story delves into themes of identity, control, and the complexities of relationships, all while offering a chilling yet entertaining look at what happens when two murderers try to lead a normal life. This is the perfect read for fans of dark thrillers who enjoy morally ambiguous characters and twisted, edge-of-your-seat narratives.

In conclusion, this book is a thrilling, fast-paced rollercoaster that will leave readers questioning how far one would go to protect their family—and how impossible it is to escape the darker parts of ourselves. It’s gripping, inventive, and certainly not for the faint of heart.

It's giving Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith and a little bit of You (Netflix) and while I was here for the premise, the execution fell a little flat for me. The pacing was disjointed and the writing was redundant and I sadly DNF-ed at about the 40% mark. I had to give my honest opinion in exchange for the ARC, so there you have it. I don't think I was the right audience for this one. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley.

This book didn't quite hit the mark for me. It was good, not great and hasn't been my favorite read.

A married couple of two former serial killers navigate their 10 year itch, a baby, and loss of their main "hobby" while living a typical suburban life. This was less serial killer mystery/thriller and more a book about their marriage. Surprisingly really funny including some laugh out loud moments. Not always a fan of dual POV but this one worked so well. Loved the couple and their lives. Cant wait to read what this author writes next

I had high hopes for this book based on the description. Unfortunately, I don't think it quite came together the way I had hoped it would. It was ok, not great.

Was intrigued by the plot premise, but found the book to be rather slow until near the end. Lots of twists at that point, so I'm glad I hung in until the end. The writing itself was good and very descriptive. I found the main characters to be sad results of troubled childhoods, not heroes in their quest to rid the world of evil. However, I'm not averse to reading more from this author.

I appreciate the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Hazel and Fox used to have an unusual hobby—hunting down and eliminating bad guys. Their life was thrilling, dangerous, and fueled by their intense love for each other. But everything changed when Hazel got pregnant. Suddenly, their world shifted from high-stakes missions to suburban routines, playdates, and PTA meetings. Fox embraced family life, but Hazel struggled to adjust.

When Hazel secretly kills someone, her craving for excitement spirals into something much bigger. At the same time, Fox starts keeping secrets of his own, and their carefully crafted life begins to unravel.

Hazel’s sharp humor adds a fun edge to the story, especially in her awkward attempts to fit in with other moms. The thriller elements keep things engaging, though I wished for more moments between Hazel and Fox—their chemistry is electric. The pacing slows in the middle, but Fox’s chaotic American family brings plenty of entertainment with their mix of dysfunction and comedy.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! It’s dark, funny, and surprisingly relatable—because, let’s be honest, every relationship has its secrets.