A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay might not be for everyone, but it was absolutely for ME! I had a blast reading it. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions—I laughed, cried, gasped, and, at times, felt genuinely pissed off (in the best way).

At first glance, the cover might suggest something lighthearted, but don’t be fooled—this story tackles some heavy themes, including **trigger warnings for SA, DA, self-harm, depression**, and more. Please approach with care if these topics are sensitive for you.

The plot centers on two retired serial killers (targeting bad men, of course) who are navigating the chaos of parenthood and personal struggles. Haze is the most selfish yet somehow endearing character I’ve ever read, while her husband, Fox, is spiraling as he juggles keeping Haze happy and maintaining their cover. Their dynamic is messy, darkly humorous, and completely compelling.

This book delivers some mild twists, but what it lacks in shock value, it makes up for in emotional resonance. One twist added a fun, unexpected dynamic that elevated the rest of the story, while another brought a heartfelt sense of closure to a lingering subplot.

If you’re a fan of dark humor and love shows like *Dexter* or *You*, this will absolutely be your jam. It’s fast-paced, satisfying, and unapologetically bold. And yes—"I support women’s wrongs."

I can’t wait to shout about this book to everyone I know when it releases in 2025.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage" by Asia Mackay is a wild, exhilarating ride—think Dexter meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith with a splash of suburban drama and dark humor! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC.

Hazel and Fox seem like your picture-perfect suburban couple, but their past is anything but ordinary—they used to take down bad guys for fun. Their globe-trotting, justice-driven lifestyle screeches to a halt when Hazel gets pregnant. Suddenly, it’s all about baby Bibi, playdates, and PTA meetings. Fox dives headfirst into dad mode, while Hazel finds herself longing for the thrill of her old life.

Things take a dark turn when Hazel "accidentally" kills someone, and Fox starts hiding his own secrets. As their perfect facade begins to crumble, the story takes off with twists, tension, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments.

Hazel’s sharp wit and her hilarious struggles to blend into mom life had me in stitches. The thriller elements are gripping, and while the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, Fox’s chaotic American family brought plenty of dysfunctional hilarity to keep things moving. Hazel and Fox’s chemistry is electric, and I would’ve loved even more scenes of them together—it’s a dynamic that truly shines.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! It’s dark, funny, and surprisingly relatable. If you’ve ever kept a secret or wondered how far you’d go for family, this one’s for you.

Serial Killer fiction is absolutely having a moment, and this new release will delight readers who enjoy dark humor, morally grey characters, and shows such as Dexter or You.

Two vigilante serial killers fall in love, marry, and then exchange their glamorous jet setting European lifestyle for a house in the burbs. They also give up their ‘habit’ to ensure the safety and security of their daughter. And then… everything falls apart. Miscommunication and jaded dreams plague both Hazel and Fox as they attempt to adjust to parenthood and their new lifestyle. I especially enjoyed Hazel’s snarky humor and criticism of suburban motherhood, and found her attempts at integration into a mommy group and finding female friendship to be comedic and relatable! I spent most of the book just wishing her and Fox would have a good sit-down chat about their unhappiness, but also found this to be related for most married couples. Short chapters, fast-paced plot, and a fun premise made this a quick bingeable read for me!

“A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” follows 2 serial killers who are trying to quit for the sake of their daughter. This sounded like an interesting plot but it fell short in some ways.

Let me start with the things I did like though:
* dual POV
* 2 morally grey/unreliable narrators
* The writing style was really good!

As far as the actual plot, it definitely dragged in several places. It took a while for me to get into the story & then it just dragged on for a while until I got to the end when it got interesting again. But even the big twist wasn’t super shocking or jaw-dropping like I would expect from a thriller. It didn’t really feel like much of a thriller in general.

I still enjoyed the overall story & I think the writing style helped with that because it kept me wanting to read more even when I wasn’t too invested in the plot.

Release date: January 14, 2025

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This was a fun, twisty read to finish out the year. I would call this a "tongue in cheek" domestic dramedy with light violence (the killing is minimal and not gory or described in great detail).

Haze and Fox's marriage is in trouble, but it's not for the usual reasons. Since becoming parents, they've given up their unusual "hobby" of killing bad men and household tensions are rising. Both are trying to pursue other interests with mixed results. POV bounces back and forth between Hazel (mostly) and Fox as well as switching between present (mostly) and past.

Overall, clever plot and I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tried to like this. I really did. I thought it would be a cool serial killer heist plot that would grip me from the very start, but instead it was the complete opposite. Maybe I just wasn’t the right audience for this book, who knows. From my perspective, Haze and Fox are completely miserable people that hate each other, resent their child, and live the most mundane lives for the most part despite their previous “jobs.” It felt like this was more of a book about an unloving couple and struggles with parenthood than a murderous thriller mystery. Haze’s POV chapters were full of her complaining about her husband and the fact that her life came to a halt when her daughter was born, and Fox’s POV was just plain boring. I thought of DNFing this multiple times, but kept pushing through because the reviews are great so I thought it would end better, but nope it never did. The ending was very far-fetched and unrealistic. Unfortunately this book just fell flat for me and took me forever to want to finish hence why it took me a month to get through.

*The Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage* by Asia Mackay is a witty, darkly funny thriller that takes an unconventional look at both crime and relationships. The story follows Lex Tyler, a hitwoman trying to balance her deadly career with her role as a wife and mother. Mackay combines sharp humor with suspense, crafting a fast-paced, twisty plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Lex’s witty inner monologue adds depth to her character, and while the book has its moments of dark absurdity, it also explores themes of loyalty, love, and identity in a unique way. If you’re into a blend of crime, humor, and a touch of chaos, this is a book you won’t want to miss.

70/100 or 3.5 stars

I think this book gave me exactly what I was expecting, and I had a good time with this story!
Even though there are parts of this that were predictable, I still felt engaged with the story and invested in how the author was going to end it (no pun intended). The characters were complicated and interesting enough to keep me invested. It is for sure possible to make this into a series. I would probably give the second book a try, as there are so many fun ways the author could take a series with the world they have created! (I also think this story would be fine as a standalone book too.)

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a darkly humorous and thrilling novel that blends crime, suspense, and witty commentary on relationships. The story follows a female assassin who balances her dangerous profession with the challenges of married life and motherhood. Mackay’s writing is sharp, with a perfect mix of dark comedy and action, as the protagonist navigates her unusual lifestyle while trying to maintain her personal life. The book is fast-paced, engaging, and filled with clever twists, making it an enjoyable read for those who like their thrillers with a touch of humor and complexity.

When you bond over murder, what do you do when the white picket fence goes up? A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia MacKay is a commentary of how a some couples drift apart as their life evolves to be about the 9-5 job, marriage, and kids. It just so happens to also be about two former serial killers struggling with adjusting to life in the suburbs. Overall, a well-written read! I felt like I was able to understand where Haze and Fox were coming from even though I obviously haven’t gone down the serial killing path. ;)

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this fabulous book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this book. I think I may have scared my husband by telling him how much I enjoyed this book about two serial killers who fall in love and then try to go straight for the kids.

Reminiscent of shows like Dexter and You, this is one of those stories where the main character is absolutely a “bad guy,” but you love them anyhow. It always amazes me when an author manages to make a murderer into a sympathetic character. I found myself rooting for the killers to not get caught, for them to save their marriage, and for them to succeed for the sake of their adorable daughter.

My only negative comment is something that I hope was just an editing issue that will be fixed by the time it is officially released - the excessive and distracting use of all caps for a partial sentence at the beginning of each chapter and randomly in the middle of the chapter. One time they even changed from all caps to lowercase in the middle of a word. It really felt completely random, and I found myself asking WHY?! after the first few chapters.

Luckily, the story was so good that I couldn’t put it down, and eventually stopped noticing the weird choice of capitalization.

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who involves a good murdery thriller.

This book was a hilarious and quick read! I am appreciative of the opportunity to receive an advance reader copy from the author and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Per the title, it involves two (former) serial killers who are married, and their adventures while raising a young toddler in suburbia. To add to the premise and depth of the book, there is a cat and mouse chase threatening to undermine their current lives, all tied to their past. Overall, the book was a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 for me, and while it was great (especially the humor in the writing), the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book. I would certainly like to read more adventures by the author featuring the couple in the book, as the premise leaves many opportunities for future reads. For similar content and humor, the Findlay Donovan is Killing It series by Elle Cosimano is on par with similar humor, and for books featuring serial killers, those by Brynne Weaver in the Ruinous Love Trilogy (including Butcher & Blackbird, Leather & Lark) resonate, but do have a darker humor undertone/romance than the current read.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the publisher, Random House Publishing-Ballantine/Bantam, for the eGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Dark, scandalous, twisted, messy, wild, you name it- this one had a lot of the "guilty pleasure" style qualities with a great story to go along with. Hazel and Fox's alternating perspectives built the plot and kept the pages turning for me. I enjoyed reading this while traveling- it was a book that demanded your attention and helped reality fall away.

The ending was also very creative and fun, you will be guessing until the final page! Looking forward to reading more by Asia Mackay in the future.

This was an absolutely spectacular book! This story follows Haze and Fox who have found in each other a common hobby which happens to be ridding the world of the worst kind of men. Throw marriage, a baby, and life in suburbia into the mix and their lives get a little messier.
I was hooked from the first chapter and read the entire book in one day, as I couldn’t wait to continue exploring their relationships. I absolutely adored this book and will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author!

I was excited to read this book, but after trying to get engaged and returning to it many times, I could not finish. The writing style starts off dynamic and thought-provoking, but then the story gets mired down with minutiae, and/or the plot gets lost. losing steam. I expected more after 70% but it just didn't deliver. Great cover and premise, didn't get there

Have you ever wished that Dexter's wife, Rita, was also a serial killer? If so, this is the book for you!

It's the classic story of a husband and wife having a baby leading to them giving up their passions (killing bad men) and subsequently leading to marital problems. A tale as old as time lol

The story is full of righteous female rage and could have been a winner for me if the format was different. You get both Haze's and Fox's POVs and there are time jumps and there are newspaper clippings and there are text messages and and and and.... Because of choppy formatting, this one took me much longer to read than I anticipated. I enjoyed the content enough that it still sits at a 4 (3.5 rounded, honestly).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

Thank you for the opportunity ton read this arc!

I went in thinking I would love this book. The premise was so good but unfortunately as I began to read it I just seemed to fall flat. I wasn't really a fan of either of the main characters and really had to push through to complete the book.

This book gave me more of an action packed movie vibe vs. a suspenseful thriller. I am not a huge fan of action movies so this book was just alright for me. It kept me reading though but didn’t keep me up late at night needing to know asap what was happening next.

Thank you netgalley for an early release!

I got really close to putting this one down around the 25% mark. I wasn’t really jiving with either of the main characters. In the end, I didn’t love how the story was told. I wish that we’d either just had Hazel’s narration or that we got a true narration from Fox. Characters would enter his narration without explanation and it made me feel like I hadn’t been reading carefully enough. We weren’t privy to everything that Fox knew and that took some of the enjoyment out of the book for me as his POV is half the book.

Overall, I thought the author used the plight of these characters to make an interesting commentary on marriage in general, but then I thought the conclusion lacked…a conclusion. Perhaps she wasn’t trying to make a commentary on marriage? Because all the end of the book did was wrap up the surface level plot, but did nothing to address the deeper themes of marriage that I felt she was toying with the rest of the book.

Note: Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Haze and Fox were couple goals. They were rich, beautiful, fun, and madly in love. While they came from very different backgrounds - Fox a trust fund baby; Haz a foster child - they shared a hobby of killing bad men. When Haze got pregnant, they traded in their serial killer lifestyle for a generic suburban family one. Now, with a young daughter, Fox seems to adapting well while Haz is bored and uninspired. With Fox's encouragement, Haze makes friends with another mom and starts to think she can scratch her itch by helping her new friend stick it to her ex. When she kills without Fox and his parents reenter his life, the secrets between the couple keep piling up and resentments grow.

I absolutely loved this book! The chapters were short, which was really bad for the cycle of "just one more" before bed. Haze and Fox were both really captivating characters and I love vigilante justice stories. It is told from both of their POVs in both past and present tense so you get a feel for their history, both together and apart. It was a lot more humorous than I had been expecting and managed to brush over most of the disturbing details of what the bad men had done. Fox's narration did keep more secrets from the readers, but that actually added some suspense to the story and it worked really well when the whole truth came out. I highly recommend this read!