3.5

Moments of this were really fun and other times it felt a bit repetitive. At its core it’s about marriage and how parenthood changes a couple, which I liked and related to a lot. With a dash of Dexter thrown in which made it a good time. Fun couple of twists too. It’s not reinventing the wheel, you may have read something similar before, but it was a fast and engaging read. I liked the character of Haze and her development, but I do wish the book didn’t rely on miscommunication as much as it did.

Thank you net galley and the author for letting me read this ARC. . I really enjoyed the writing style and the character of Haze. She isn't likable but you still root for her.

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Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Great premise, and I admit the cover is what made me want to read this. Unfortunately, the story never pulled me in - I was quite bored right from the beginning and that never got better. I really didn't care about any of the characters. I kept putting this down and going back to it, which is never a good sign for me. DNF.

A Ѕerιal ĸιller'ѕ gυιde тo мυrder
вy Aѕιa Мacĸay
releaѕe daтe 01/14/2025


Hazel and Fox were badass serial killers who turned their lives around when Hazel became unexpectedly pregnant with their daughter, Bibi.
Now they’re a boring couple, not killing people (to be fair, they only killed bad guys ), and both of them are itching for their old lives.
I loved two things about this book: #1—the female character is smart and clever and is wildly independent and dependent on herself.
(Damsel in Distress books are an absolute DNF for me)
This portrayal emphasizes her intelligence, charm, and the psychological complexity that drives her actions, creating a compelling and unsettling character. I loved her.
#2 The alternating pov and the storyline being told from past and present made this book super enjoyable. I hope there are plans for a prequel or sequel for these characters.
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S̤̈


#ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #netgalley #asiamackay #randomhouse #ballantine #thrillmemore
#serialkillerbooks #horrorbooks #bookreview #bookrecs #bookstagram #whatiread #booksirecommend #thrillerbookstagram #thrillerbooksaddict
#bookstagrammer

A Serial Killers Guide to Marriage

This grabbed me from the very first paragraph.

A few incidents lead toward all out marital breakdown, but this is about more than marriage. It also addresses parenting, controlling parents, and vigilante do-gooders who are conscientious killers. Sounds morbid? It’s not.

This is probably the most unusual dysfunctional marriage and most unusual relationship in a fiction book. How can a marriage survive when both spouse are denied their dark hobby?

The unpredictable plot made it difficult to put down. The ending is delightfully surprising.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Some of it was a little far fetched but I loved the little plot twists toward the end. There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud. It was a really fun read overall!

3.5 Stars rounded up

Creative ending that I wasn't necessarily predicting, however I do feel that the story was repetitive at times and could have been shorter. Took me about 35% to get into the story and want to read more. Interesting and unique plot, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was a bit more fast paced. I overall enjoyed this read & I appreciate the gifted ARC.

I liked the premise of this book but found it very slow moving and the ending just didn’t make sense to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine/Bantam for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve rarely been as hooked by a prologue as I was with this book, like if that’s what’s about to happen I cannot wait for the rest!

Fox and Haze seem completely different from each other, like they shouldn’t work and the journey? Is crazy!

There is so much that happens, and the secrets they keep from each other too finding just what they know, and then that ending?! I love it!

This was such a fun read! While I loved trying to uncover the clues on what was happening with Fox and Haze it really was just so much fun!

I'm a big fan of tongue-in-cheek thrillers that subvert tropes, so I was eager to read this title. And while the underlying plot could be fun and funny, instead I found the story to be slow and a bit depressing. A rich married couple who kills bad guys together but has gotten into a no-more-killing slump after having a child is what plays out for about 80% of the book, with all the ho-hum day-to-day that entails: one person thinks the other is cheating or lying, while the other thinks the first is doing this or that. Throw in some extra characters who threaten their identities, mostly with long-play subplots without much bite, and this is a lukewarm tale of two serial killers taking a break that only picks up slightly near the end.

The cover of this book led me to think that the story would be light and whimsical. But I found that the husband and wife, Fox and Haze, were actually serial killers, and had an incredible need to kill bad people. Married and with a baby girl, they had to control their killer instincts. But I could not relate to them at all. The F word fills their thoughts a lot. And though some found this story humorous, I found it "off putting". I only got through the first 20%, and I had to stop. I gave it 3 stars because it is well written, from the POV of both Fox and Haze, which allows readers to see into the minds of both.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage can be added to your feminine rage TBR if you’re into stories about women who enact revenge on men who do bad things. Haze is a serial killer who believes she is doing the world a service by ridding society of vile men who abuse women. She finds her perfect match in Fox, who also has a taste for killing wrongful people. They travel throughout Europe, living luxuriously and leaving a trail of the bodies of men who they feel deserved it. Then they marry, they have a baby, and they swear off killing to protect their family’s future. This book chronicles the downward spiral of their marriage post-baby and how resentment builds between the couple. Haze wants to go back to their pre-baby habits and satisfy her penchant for murder while Fox wants a normal life for their family. In an attempt to be normal, Haze befriends Jenny who turns out to be a criminal detective on maternity leave. Their friendship blossoms, but so does Jenny’s theory about a local serial killer after a body turns up in their neighborhood…In a marriage full of secrets and lies, Fox and Haze have to figure out how to manage their bloodlust while doing what is right for their child without getting caught.

I liked the premise of this story and found the first and last quarter of the book really intriguing. However, much of the middle felt slow and sometimes boring. It didn’t feel like a page-turner until the last ~20% of the book. The climax fell a little short for me, as I was interested in a more shocking twist. Much of the conflict between the married couple could have just been resolved with communication. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay releases on January 13, 2025!

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage was a surprising delight. I wasn't sure what to expect, but actually liking, and sometimes agreeing with, the main character wasn't it. I never thought I'd be able to relate to a faux serial killer, but Asia Mackay's writing not only made her relatable, but likeable. You find yourself rooting for the main female character throughout the book, even as she finds herself fighting the urge to kill or not kill. I also enjoyed the insights into marriage itself and how easily trust can break down. As someone who will be getting married next year, it was a reminder of how important it is to communicate and be honest with your partner. Not only can almost married couples learn this lesson, it can be a reminder to already married couples. I'd absolutely recommend this book to my fellow readers, as it can easily be enjoyed by a wide audience.

I liked the concept of this, but it was just so slow at the beginning and the twist and ending just didn't line up for me. I wish the drama started earlier I think it would have left more room to create a better twist.

Couples that kill together, stay together? I loved the playfulness about a couple who are both serial killers working together. I was actually rooting for them the whole time. When they got their groove back towards the end, I was really excited.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bantam for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

Hazel and Fox are a married couple that are also a serial killer team. Hazel and Fox met in Europe and fell in love with each over their murderous tendencies. Hazel and Fox only kill people who deserve to die (rapists and very bad people). Hazel and Fox are married and have a two year old daughter named Bibi (Sabrina is her actual name). Hazel is feeling restless because she hasn’t been able to kill anyone since being pregnant. Fox suggests that she should make a mom friend and befriends Julie who she later finds out is a police officer who is obsessed with finding the Backpack Butcher who happens to be Hazel and Fox. Hazel gets her off the trail by trying to get her to pursue a sex offender who owns nightclubs where men can meet underage girls that they film. Hazel kills someone and tries to fix it and thinks she got away with it until Fox figured things out. Hazel and Fox start fighting and Fox even kidnaps Julie since she knows to much. Hazel and Fox bring her into the fold and after she is reinstated to the force she helps keep their kills under the radar and Hazel and Fox’s relationship is better than ever. This book was so funny and very good.

3.5 stars rounded up for an unusual book about two serial killers. The book alternates between two narrators, Haze and Fox. They stopped killing when Haze became pregnant. There are flashbacks which demonstrate how they started killing people. When reading this book I thought of my wife, who has been known to mutter to herself "Some people just need killing" when she encounters a particularly evil person in a book that she is reading. She told me that phrase was the title of a book by Jinx Schwartz which she enjoyed.
These two killers only kill bad people and think of themselves as good serial killers. How they decide to go back to killing occupies most of the book.
One quote by Haze: "We all had secrets, so who was I to judge?
Especially as my secrets were fourteen dead men.
Yes, you read that right.
Fourteen.
But you know what?
They all deserved it."
Thanks to Vanessa Duque at Ballantine Bantam Dell | Random House Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #NetGalley

Pub Date Jan 14 2025 |

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage - Asia Mackay
Pub Date - 1/14/25
Rating - 2/5 (DNF)

Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. I made it to the end of part one (barely) because I was SO bored. I had read through 32% of the book and all it contained was complaining, whining, and how sad it was that this husband wife who got married and had a child so they can't kill anyone anymore. Literally nothing happens....and I found myself skipping pages, so decided to stop.

This book was a fast read, it hooked me in and never let go. They made the characters of the story loved and hated. I found myself consistently going between hating and loving them. The story was suspenseful and yet relatable to many people. I believe this book is good for a large or wide range of different readers.

Wow! This is my first read by Asia Mackay and I will definitely be reading more of her works. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. This was an excellent read that reeled me in from the prologue. I found myself eager to see what was to happen next. Haze and Fox have what some would equate as the perfect marriage, sans the serial killing and all haha. This connects them on a deep level, though. Having their baby in the midst of it all threw a wrench in plans and set up the scenario for boredom to sink in, but that doesn’t last for long!

I found the characters in the book to be very relatable. They’re “down to earth” and practical, not polished edge perfectionists. I think that’s what makes the book so great! It incorporates the humor and personalities of typical people. While the book did seem to be a bit unnecessarily detailed at times, I think this added to the overall appeal as well.

I would definitely recommend this read to others and can’t wait to delve further into her other compositions!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this amazing book. It was funny, suspenseful, and oddly relatable. Haze and Fox are a power couple whose closeness comes from their love of serial killing as a couple. They stop killing after their daughter is born and the resulting boredom is taking a toll on Haze. I love the characters in the story. Haze is quick witted and very funny.
I was hooked on this book from the first paragraph. It was such an enjoyable read. I will definitely read Asia Mackay’s books the second they come out!
I highly recommend this book!