This book is unique and highly entertaining. The opening reminded me of the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The alternating POVs between Hazel and Fox flowed seamlessly and kept the pace moving along well. I read this book in one day! It's the perfect mix of humor, mystery, twists, and dark romance. The author did a great job with the characters and delving into their personalities. I will be on the lookout for more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this novel, but I absolutely loved it! Fox and Hazel had spent years killing horrible men all over Europe. Rapists, pedophiles, abusive men. Then Hazel got pregnant, and he convinced her to keep the baby, and they settled down. Now, even though Haze loves her daughter, Bibi, she is very bitter and wants to start murdering people again.

The author did an excellent job bringing the characters to life, and especially Hazel's journey through the book in coming to terms with a friend's suicide. The grief and guilt. That it took her over ten years to grieve as she still felt it was her fault for not knowing her best friend was depressed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My opinions are my own and are freely given.

Please seek help if you are suffering with depression. Call the suicide prevention helpline. Talk to friends or family, or talk to a therapist. You are important.

Oh my god. This book was amazing i couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much. Sometimes when i read a book i start skimming when i get bored. But i never skimmed once. I loved this so much 10/10.

I liked it despite the awful and completely unbelievable ending.

I was definitely drawn in and interested in every chapter even though any book about motherhood is boring so maybe I appreciated that Haze also found it empty and meaningless. Haze cursed so much she became unbelievable as a crafty and smart serial killer. She came off as uneducated and stupid. If you want us to root for the serial killer, make them clever + don't give them a brash nonsensical potty. She just curses for no reason. Like all the time. And I'm only so annoyed at this b/c I otherwise liked her character and backstory.

SPOLIERS
Why I hated the ending: No one goes from being catfished to becoming besties with people.
And then covert operations together as a threesome sharing a nanny while they kill people [AS IF] - Jenny was supposed to be a pillar of good and have some sort of moral compass.
Having Jenny take out revenge or turn them in would've give her more substance. Instead, she just instantly joins team serial killer?

5 STARS for this book without the ending though
I did like - I just happen to be an excellent book complainer - kinda like Haze. lol

What a fun read!

I enjoyed the twist of a marriage guide being used as the foundation of Hazel and Fox’s current marital status. The additional marriage advice from Hazel had me chuckling. I wasn't sure where this author was going to take me and the unknown certainly had me a bit anxious as Hazel is struggling with this new way of living. I didn't know if I was headed into complete laugh out loud territory or a dark thriller. This was nothing I expected and a whole lot of I'm glad I read it.

United States Publication: January 14, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Thirteen years ago, Hazel and Fox met in a dark Paris alleyway under strange circumstances. She had just stabbed a man, and he happened to witness it. Instead of turning her into the authorities or being turned off by what he had just seen, Fox knew he had found his soulmate. Hazel was amazed that someone else existed who got her and understood the mission she was on. That mission? To take out as many evil men as she could before inevitably getting caught someday. For 10 wonderful years, Haze and Fox traveled the world, literally, and killed evil men. But one day, it all changed. Hazel became pregnant, and Fox made them quit their serial killer lifestyle. It's been 1,169 days since Haze and Fox scratched the itch, and they are trying to cope in very different ways. Haze is having a hard time embracing the mom life. She loves Bibi, their daughter, but the mom gig? Not so much. And who is she married to? The guy named Fox lying in the bed beside her is not the guy she's been married to for 12 years. She barely recognizes this guy. Just trying to be a typical suburban family is stressful enough for both Fox and Haze, but when his disapproving parents show up, and Hazel accidentally kills a man who attacks her in the park, the stress increases. Instead of talking to each other, they both try to fix the messes they have landed their family in, and it culminates in a showdown between serial killers. Can they survive this together?

This was okay. I liked some parts of it and thought they were clever. Other parts felt undeveloped or oddly placed within the story. The part of the storyline that included Fox's parents was "meh" and, for me, detracted from the overall story. The part of the storyline that provided a reason, I guess, for Hazel's mission to kill evil men didn't make a whole lot of sense. Those two backstories could have been cut from the book, and I don't think they would have been missed. The vigilante theme seems to be a popular one in crime books these days - namely, women (and some men) killing or disposing of men who are drains on humanity. I think it's a commentary through fiction about how absolutely furious women worldwide are. And make no mistake, we are furious.

I received this book as a preview from NetGalley to hear my honest review. Thank you!
I really enjoyed the idea of this book, as I am a huge "Dexter" fan!! The husband and wife both have the desire to kill, but only those who deserve it that hurt women and children mainly. They met while Haze (the wife) was in the middle of a kill. They had a whirlwind romance and married and began killing together. Fox (the husband) did the planning and covering up to make sure they didn't get caught. He had been pushed out of the US by his rich parents who knew a part of what he had done. His parents did not want a blemish on their family. So as long as Fox behaved, he had unlimited funds.
But as the romance and killing was at a high, Haze becomes pregnant and things change. Fox believes it is time to stop killing so their child would be safe and have parents that were not in prison! Haze was not as excited about stopping because the killing was what completed her and gave her inspiration for her painting. This is when their marriage started having problems and secrets. Haze makes a new mommy friend through Fox's encouragement, but as Haze and her new friend begin to connect, secrets come to a head and Fox's family begin to interfere.
Do they end up staying together? Does the killing continue??

I enjoyed this, but it seemed to move very slowly at first. Haze spent A LOT of time complaining about her husband and her lack of killing. It just seemed like a lot of complaining over and over. Also, I am not opposed to cursing in books when it is necessary or is part of the character, but I felt the F- word was very much overused. Not a huge problem, but definitely noticeable. All in all it was a good book with a surprise ending. If you like shows like Dexter, you will probably like it.

Married partners Hazel and Fox are both serial killers that enjoy killing bad men and other dangerous criminals. When Hazel gives birth to her daughter, Fox no longer murders people as a way to protect their young child. He implores Hazel to do the same and she does so grudgingly.

Narrated in dual perspectives, A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage also contains art reviews interspersed in its chapters. Each piece breaks son the rage that the female protagonist feels as a result of her killings.

Told with a feisty, tongue in cheek style, this satire was a a fun read, though I did find about 25% of it bit of a slog. I much preferred Hazel’s parts of the story to her husband’s. I rate it 3.75 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

When I say I loved this book, I mean I absolutely loved it. The main characters were so complex and layered that I found myself cheering them on, while simultaneously excusing their violent tendencies. The author did such a great job of making them feel real, flaws and all. What really stood out to me was how the story wasn’t just about their killing sprees; it delved into their personal struggles, especially within their marriage. That made it more than just a thriller—it made me genuinely invested in their lives. I found myself connecting with them in ways I didn’t initially expect to.

The pacing was also spot on, with short chapters that kept things moving quickly. I’m a huge fan of that writing style, as it never allows for a dull moment. Honestly, there’s nothing I would change about the book, except that I just wanted more. The story left me wondering what happens next (in the best way).

Overall I would highly recommend this book to someone wanting a fun fast paced thriller. And here’s hoping for a sequel!

What a wacky premise and a basis for marriage. A lot of fun to read and I loved the nanny just taking care of business. The ending seemed really quick though.

Thank you NetGalley for a fun read!

Man what a book, I loved it !! was beautifully written. I like how the author wrote about the good and ugly things about marriage. I liked the dual povs between fox and Haze. It gave us readers a glimpse into how each other felt about certain issues in their marriage. My favorite part over all was the suspense and the ending was phenomenal I definitely didn’t see it coming!!!



Thank you NetGalley and Bantam publishers for a e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the chapters about the past and the ending, but I found most of the marriage stuff boring. Like all relationships that collapse, all they needed to do was be honest with each other. I wanted more serial killers and less marriage. I wish the whole book had been like the last chapters.

I liked Haze and Jenny, but I found Fox kind of boring. I think because we didn’t get many chapters from his pov so I didn’t really get to know him. His pov also seemed less detailed then Haze’s.

I wouldn’t recommend this book for people who are more focused on the serial killer aspect rather than a story about marriage.

I really liked this one! It was more black dramedy than I am used to in thrillers, but I thought the tone was done so well. It was fun and kept me from putting it down. Plus, the chapters are so short which is always a plus, and makes you feel like you can always squeeze in one more. I never got bored and i read it super quickly. My one critique is that I did care a lot more about the mfc than the mmc. Whenever his chapters came up, I was less excited. But, I think it's more about how much I enjoyed the female lead. She was so interesting, and I loved her complexities.

Hazel and Fox fell in love over a shared passion for killing people. Think Dexter though and being more of a vigilante killer. Fox made sure to keep track of everything so that no one could discover what they did. And all was going well until Hazel ended up pregnant and they had to stop. Could Hazel and Fox adjust to normal suburban life?

Hazel is an artist and is looking to rediscover her art. She's also trying to make a fellow mom friend as a way to not think about her past. And Fox spends his time working or attending AA meetings. While not a drunk, he thinks the meetings will help to control his addiction to killing. Together they try to navigate their new normal with their daughter, while meanwhile still playing a bit of a cat and mouse game between the two of them. Yet, they keep getting pulled back into their old life.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and the characters of Hazel and Fox. The focus on them, as well as their relationship, kept me turning the pages. There were a few moments where the story slowed down, or a twist was introduced that didn't seem to make as much sense to the overall story.

Thank you to Bantam for the opportunity to read and review.

3.5 Stars
Haze and Fox are living in a London suburb with their young daughter, Bibi. Fox is in finance and Haze is an artist. They appear to have everything- money, style, looks, social life, but Haze is miserable. When she got pregnant, Fox insisted they give up the hobby that had brought them together, killing people. Specifically, killing men that deserved it. Fox didn't want to risk the what the fallout could mean to their daughter if they were ever caught. But without this, Haze doesn't seem to be able to paint, Fox has lost his Midas touch in picking investments, and things are falling apart for them.

This book started a bit slow, but once the action started, it moved along quickly. I really liked how unlikeable Haze was, and her sarcastic inner monologue. The author does such a great job of showing us how Haze is feeling and why, that you can almost forget she is not really a good person. I am definitely going to check out the authors other work!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A quirky and interesting premise, Haze and Fox fell in love and married while operating as serial killers. Taking a break when they have a child, their marriage begins to strain and they start keeping secrets from each other. It’s quite outlandish but is neatly tied up in the end.

It gives off Mr and Mrs Smith vibes, but not quite. It’s full of biting sarcasm that makes for a fun read but something was missing for me, hence the 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was another one where a comparison that I read somewhere captured my attention enough for me to want to read it. For the record, this really isn’t all that similar to Mr & Mrs Smith (that infamous Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie movie). If anything, it would be more like a Mr & Mrs Smith sequel or better yet, Mr & Mrs Dexter. Fox and Haze are straight up sociopaths, who like Dexter, have a code to only kill bad people. So, if you’re not a fan of the stories/movie/tv show, then you probably wouldn’t enjoy this story. JMHO However, I was a fan of the movie/show/books, at least enough to want to read this story.

Anyway, the book summary lays out the whole primary storyline of how Fox and Haze agree to giving up killing (after a decade long killing spree), so they can be there for their daughter, Bibi. However, Haze, basically falls off the wagon by killing someone, who was indeed a bad guy, so there’s that. Haze, who was bored out of her mind with domesticity, began to resent Fox for not being there for her while she struggled to maintain their new life, so, she takes things into own hands (without Fox). There is also kind of a secondary storyline about Haze’s friend, Jenny, who is having problems with her abusive ex/baby daddy, who refuses to help support their baby.

The story flips back and forth between Fox and Haze, as well as back and forth between present day and pre-marriage and Bibi. The reader gets a pretty clear and full picture of who Fox and Haze are, as well as how and why they started killing. Mackay also reveals how Fox and Haze have always gotten away with it by following a very specific set of rules, every time. This latest kill by Haze pretty much broke all rules and is basically seen by Fox, and even Haze, as a violation of their marriage vows, the same that infidelity would be seen.

The character development of Fox and Haze was well done, and the reader gets a really clear picture of who they were before Bibi and who they are now and how this incident affected them and their marriage. The problem for me was that Fox and Haze aren’t likeable people, at all, and neither are any of the other characters. Like so many domestic dramas, the only characters I cared about were the kids Bibi and Felix, who I felt sorry for because they got stuck with such crappy parents. From the get-go, I was thinking Fox and Haze would remind me of Dexter, but they don’t. As a character driven reader, unlikeable MC’s are, more times than not, a dealbreaker for me. The pacing of the first part of the story was really slow and I struggled getting through it. The pace picks up after the murder by Haze. The storyline was ok, but I’m kind of at a loss as to what to say about the writing. I’m not a writer and the only thing I know about writing is what I like and don’t like. I’m just going to leave it at that.

I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.5 that I’m not feeling compelled to round up. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingBallantine #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage

Clever and witty, had me either smiling or laughing out loud throughout the story. Whoever thought you would want a serial killer as a best friend? I loved the rollercoaster storyline plot, entertaining from the first page. I look forward to reading more book from Asia MacKay! Thank you Penguin Random House for providing me this book for review consideration via NetGallery. All opinions re my own.

Two serial killers (Hazel & Fox) who were individually targeting terrible men accidentally meet, fall in love, jet around Europe killing a bunch of creeps together, get married, have a baby, move to the suburbs, and then everything falls apart.

I loved the premise (one of my faves — I can never pass up some sweet, sweet vigilante justice and adding in some hints of romcom - the dream!), but the plot was 99% based on miscommunication, which is pretty much my least favorite thing ever. All of the back and forth of keeping secrets and rather ineptly sneaking around got very tedious and made the middle third or so of the book drag. If you two dummies are so madly in love…. Just. Have. A. Conversation. Blargh.

There were some very funny lines and a healthy dose of snark throughout, and I thought the ending was great, but it overall didn’t quite live up to what I was hoping for.

(2.5 rounded up)

4.5 ⭐️ A Serial Killers Guide to Marriage was such a fun and witty, yet ironically dark read. Hazel and Fox were so beautifully written. The miscommunication KILLED me, but at the same time it was so entertaining watching everything play out, the plot twists were so funny. Although, it did seem to be a bit repetitive, but the extremely short chapters made up for it, and made it an easy read.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC!!