"We all had secrets, so who was I to judge? Especially as my secrets were fourteen dead men."

Hazel and Fox were a match made in heaven—or hell, considering they’re both serial killers. Or at least they <i>were</i>, before Hazel got pregnant and they decided to retire. The problem is that suburban life just doesn’t suit Hazel, and she’s itching to kill again. When Hazel finally snaps and kills again without telling Fox, it sets off a ripple of consequences that just might spell the end for their little family.

This is an interesting premise and a fine enough plot. It just wasn’t for me. I have to admit I didn’t like either of the main characters much, which might have been partially influenced by my previous months’ reads, which featured unlikeable but nonetheless interesting characters. Hazel and Fox were neither likable nor interesting to me. They just seemed underdeveloped and bland to me, and even when they had their moments, it was immediately smothered by either paragraphs of whinging or pacing issues. Sorry, but being a serial killer does not replace an actual personality. There are a million of these vigilante, Dexter-esque serial killer characters these days, and they just seem to disappoint half the time. I’m tired of these morally gray Dexter knockoffs with cardboard personalities.

As a fair warning, most of the plot comes from miscommunication. And, well, here’s a confession: nine times out of ten, I hate the miscommunication trope. This was not an exception. The amount of miscommunication here, from a couple who were supposedly madly in love and understood each other perfectly, was infuriating. The overall plot, though, of serial killers trying to go straight, was the sole redeeming factor. The pacing was bad, which made this a slog, but the ending was fun. I just don’t know that it was worth the time I spent reading this.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 stars

This book had a good pace and interesting premise, but I found pretty much every character to be extremely unlikeable. Everyone needs to go to therapy, and the ending was so unrealistic it made me mad.

thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

2.5⭐️, rounded down

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this book! It was 4.5 stars for me. I thought this was a funny, sharp (no pun intended!) not-quite-rom-com. Anyone who’s been in a relationship for a while can relate to Fox and Haze. Sort of.

Quick rundown of the story: Fox and Haze and their daughter, Bibi, live a normal suburban life. Like many new moms, Haze loves Bibi but misses their how things used to be with Fox before she came along. Their jet set lifestyle and unique…extracurriculars. Hilarity ensues as Haze tries to have it all.

I enjoyed the role reversal of Fox and Haze, where she is the one with cabin fever and unsatisfied with domestic life. The scenes in the book where Fox and Haze made plans to interact with their neighbors, and Haze’s attempts to get out of hanging out were funny. Without giving anything away, I love that the one friend she ends up with is the one friend she shouldn’t have.

On that same note, that friendship goes a bit too far and I don’t think the ending was believable. (Was any of the book believable?? No, but the ending was really not believable.) Two people can maybe keep a secret but three – no way.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was an entertaining book that drew me in right from the start and had me flipping the pages late into the night. The banter was witty, and the twists were good. Also, I don’t want to live near Fox and Haze.

Thank you @prhaudio for this #gifted audiobook, @randomhouse for the physical book and Ballantine for the eBook.

Serial killers Haze and Fox settle into married suburban life with their baby—vowing never to kill again. But with this agreement in place, their marriage begins to suffer. As they both keep secrets and drift apart they question whether their marriage will survive.

I love the book covers - (the UK version is pictured in my graphic) and the audiobook was fantastic. Both narrators portrayed the characters exactly how I imagined and their accents were on point. Georgia Tennant played Haze perfectly - great casting and not to be missed.*

Through dual POV, we learn how they met and where they both came from. At the same time, the couple starts to grow apart. This is about when the pace slowed right down. I was craving some kickass serial killing (like Haze), but husband Fox was having none of it.

This was definitely more domestic than dark, but still entertaining. We didn’t get as much Fox as we did Haze, and I was okay with that—she’s definitely one of my favorite characters. Her droll wit was such fun, and her brand of feminism was fantastic! I also really enjoyed BFF Jenny, who grew on me a lot. Thanks to Haze, she evolved which I love to see in a book.

I loved the reveals, twists, and the direction of the ending. But I wanted more—their finale was so thrilling that I wish we’d got more of that and less of Haze and Fox’s domestic issues - don’t mind me, I’ll be over here manifesting a sequel ✨🧘‍♀️

I really wanted to love this book. I did enjoy the humor and quirkiness of it, however, I just found myself having a hard time getting into it.

It dragged a little bit, and I am not a big fan of miscommunication tropes!

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay follows Fox and Haze, a married couple living their normal life, or almost normal as they used to be serial killers.
It is an interesting, very well-written book, it had Mr & Mrs Smith vibes, I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be recommending this book to others.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-arc of this book.

This book was more amazing than I thought it could be! The premise is hilarious, but with some meaningful and educational moments for the reader. The fast-paced and witty writing style had me finishing the book in 24 hours because I could not put it down. I absolutely loved the MC, Hazel, for her spunky but lovable attitude. Her inner thoughts were so funny and I loved her determination to get her family back on track, even with some questionable and dangerous antics. Hazel and Fox, her husband, are champions of women’s rights which makes their serial killer status all the more noble (even though still against the law). Thanks so much to Net Galley and Bantam Books Publishing for the ARC of this book for my honest and independent review!

I loved the idea of this book, however it was a bit drawn out in the beginning and I guessed part of the twist pretty quickly. In the end I enjoyed how the story wrapped up.

Loved this book! It was fun and light hearted with a great story line.

I love Hazel and Fox's story with opposite upbringings but having similar interest....even if the interest is a little illegal :)

It was great book about pulling apart from each other and then coming back together as a team as a lot of marriages can be like that and I loved that the author brought that all together for us. I am a sucker for different POVs within books so this was right up my alley.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage
By Asia Mackay

As you may guess from the title, this is a quirky novel with many twists and turns, "perfect crimes" and near misses. It is the story of Haze, the product of poverty and an abusive upbringing, and Fox, who has led a life of privilege – but raised by two sociopathic parents.

Haze and Fox meet at the scene of a crime. Haze has just killed a scumbag who attacked her. Fox, who also has a proclivity for killing bad men who deserve to die, decides he has found his soulmate.The two marry and spend several romantic years traveling around Europe on the proceeds of his trust fund, having plenty of sex, loving each other completely – and planning and executing the murders of their victims. This lifestyle comes to a halt when Haze accidentally becomes pregnant.

With the birth of their daughter, their goals for their marriage begin to diverge. They find themselves at odds, unable to communicate. The misunderstandings grow and both parties contemplate the end of their marriage. As things continue to deteriorate, the story becomes more complicated.

As the killers struggle to figure things out, the reader will be amazed to find that two serial killers face the same quandaries when love seems to be on its way out the door as the rest of us "normal" people!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

3.5 stars. This is a fun book reminiscent of Butcher and Blackbird or Joe and Love from You, but without the toxic sexual tension build up that makes those stories so… hot. This story is much more family friendly… or as much as murder can be “family friendly”.

Retired serial killers Hazel and Fox have settled down. They have the house, the lifestyle, and the baby. Fox holds a normal job he hates while Hazel raises their child and pretends not to hate the mundane of being a stay at home mom and trying to make “friends”. As they say, old habits die hard, and soon Hazel is keeping secrets from Fox… who is keeping secrets from her. And in a Mr and Mrs Smith face off, the only way out is if one of them takes out the other! …or not. But antics abound.

Overall I thought this was a cute read, but I wish we’d gotten more chemistry between Hazel and Fox. The build up to Hazel’s frustrations with their boring lives with the counterweight of their affection for each other wouldve brought a strong dynamic to the story. I also felt the ending was very abrupt and like I either missed a major section of the book, or it was an attempt at a shocking twist that didn’t really fit. Overall an enjoyable quick-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was awesome. It reminded me of Mr and Mrs Smith or A Lovely Marriage. The passion for killing was relentless and fun. It didn’t take itself too seriously.

Suburban Life, But Make It Murdery

Okay, this book is wild. Imagine you and your partner used to be serial killers, taking out the worst of the worst while living a glamorous life. Then you have a baby, trade in the thrill of the kill for baby wipes and playdates, and suddenly… life is boring as hell. That’s exactly Hazel’s problem—she’s itching for one more kill, and when she finally gives in? She does it without telling her husband. Now the cops are at their door, and everything starts spiraling.

Hazel is an absolute chaotic queen—funny, reckless, and just unhinged enough to make you root for her (even when you probably shouldn’t). Fox, on the other hand, is the cool-headed planner who’s way too good at covering tracks. Their chemistry? Chef’s kiss. The mix of dark humor, marital drama, and murder makes this such a fun, fast-paced read.

If anything, some parts go a little too over-the-top, and the pacing wobbles in places. But honestly? It’s such a fresh, hilarious, and twisted take on suburban life that I didn’t mind. If you like antiheroes, dark humor, and thrillers that don’t take themselves too seriously, you’ll love this one.

Thank you publisher for the free ARC for A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. I initially got a free paperback copy last summer at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival and was so excited to also have an ebook copy. I have now read it twice.
This book is a dark and humorous thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. There were unexpected twists, sharp wittiness, and a main character you can't help but root for throughout. It was the perfect blend of crime, comedy, and suspense. It was fast paced and funny. I loved it!

This was a fun read! It came close to a 5 star for me, but the ending went a bit too far for me. It went to the ridiculous and that held me back.

Picture your classic love story. Man saves woman in a dark alley. Woman didn’t need saving when she had her knife. Man and woman fall in love…. And then have a baby. Classic story right? Except there is nothing normal about either one!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this fun read!

A Deliciously Dark Pallet Cleanser!

I devoured 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage' in one sitting, and I'm still reeling from the experience! This book was the perfect antidote to my reading slump, serving up a wildly entertaining and unpredictable ride.

The plot was expertly woven, keeping me on the edge of my seat and firmly rooted in the protagonists' corner. Who needs heroes when you can root for villains?

What truly set this book apart was its thoughtful exploration of the human psyche. The author masterfully showcased the intricate thought processes and motivations that drive their characters, making them feel unsettlingly real.

The twisty ending was the icing on the cake – I did not see it coming, it made me crazy excited for what I hope could be a second book.

If you're looking for a gripping, unconventional book that will keep you guessing, look no further. 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage' is a must-read for fans of the darker side of human nature.

Book Review: A SERIAL KILLERS GUIDE TO MARRIAGE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Author: Asia Mackay @asia.mackay Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam @bantambooksuk @penguinrandomhouse Thank you to @netgalley for my ARC Meet Hazel and Fox the ultimate power couple living in London. They are fueled by their love of murder, luxury, and each other. When Hazel gets pregnant, they decide to hang up their killing boots and try suburban life. This doesn’t quite work well for Hazel as she is missing the thrill of the kill. Can you imagine a killer on mega hormones? With the pregnancy hormones running ramped she can not resist the urge and kills someone on her own all while trying to make some mom friendships and hiding her secret from Fox. But if one has a secret the others may too and boy does Fox have secrets! He is finding ways to deal with losing that high but doesn’t tell his wife! He also family in the USA who are basically mob people and he is trying to control them from afar. Once they have the baby it gets even more chaotic. The book also showcases the fears and issues that many face in marriage and parenthood. I loved the banter between these two and so appreciated the dual point of view. Hazel has such sharp wit and sarcasm that is fabulous and even more so with her mom friends. I so enjoyed this book and I hope the author is going to write a second book. #SerialKillers #MarriageMystery #CrimeAndLove #KillerCouples #DarkRomance #MurderAndMarriage #bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #bookporn #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #bookstagram #amreading #booksbooksbooks #instablog #booknerds #read

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is such a fun, twisty, wild ride! I could not put it down. It's Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith with viocey characters that'll keep you guessing the whole way through.

I was excited for this book as soon as I read the title and it did not disappoint. There was not a dull moment in the story and I enjoyed the main characters quite a bit. I will definitely recommend this to my book group!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook version of this title.

Sorry, but I didn't love this book. It felt so overdone. There have been so many books and movies done and redone about this subject, it was overdone. With multiple time lines and POV's, it was confusing and difficult to keep track of what was going on where. Not compelling reading, so when I would pick it up, I had to pick out details to figure out who and when I was.

Sorry, not for me.

2 stars - it was ok