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

Serial killers are at the top of my list of favorite topics to read about, both fiction and non-fiction. . The books I’ve read are usually darker, as one would imagine. Although there are two serial killers in this book, I found this to be a little light hearted and a pallet cleanser. It was a nice break and an easy read. Overall, it was entertaining.

Do you ever read a book that is so quirky you can’t believe you like? Murder, mystery and dark LOL humor?

Hazel and Fox are the perfect serial killer couple. They are beautiful and smart, he is wealthy, she is a talented artist and they share a desire for adventure. They are passionate about each other, and the thrill of murdering bad guys. All over the world. 🌏

Hazel has her own style of stabbing them, Fox is meticulous in his record keeping and clean up skills. He keeps Hazel in check and keeps her from being overly impulsive.

Their adventures come to a halt when Hazel becomes pregnant and Fox creates this meticulous life in the suburbs. He gets a job, Haze plays suburban mom, they host dinner parties and are both losing their minds. Without telling each other.

With the itch to kill, and living fake lives, they start to keep secrets from each other. This book can be a fun read, if you don’t take yourself too seriously.

Hazel can’t paint without murder for inspiration. She calls her dead friend’s voicemail and leaves messages telling him about her life. Her new friend left an abusive relationship, and her project becomes making her friend “better”. She has no idea who her friend was before becoming a mom.

Fox’s wealthy socialite parents found out he was a murderer and sent him away to Europe so he wouldn’t embarrass the family, now they want him back in the family fold. But why? He is working late, and getting mysterious calls so Hazel is convinced that Fox is up to something.

The end had a bizarre wrap up, but it was a fun read and tidy conclusion.

Thank you @NetGalley @randomhouse @asia.mackay for my ARC

This one was quite the roller coaster for me. I enjoyed it, but felt like there was too much happening for me to enjoy it as much as I wanted to. The end had me scrambling and confused - but in a way that felt utterly unbelievable and took away a bit from what I liked about the book and the characters. At several points I found myself begging for the characters to communictate - I understood why they didn;t, but I thought it would have been a less convoluted and better story.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this. This would be a 3.5 star read (rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads).

It’s like if you took the morally gray killer code of Dexter, the tumultuous relationship vibes of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and the banal realities of This is 40 - you would get this book.

When two serial killers (the good one who only kill bad men) decide they need to hang it up to give their daughter a normal life, things start to fizzle in their marriage. Everyone needs hobbies and when you aren’t allowed to pursue your interests, it can cause some issues (so what if your interests are murder).

The book follows the couple in their present as well as revealing the pieces of their past that brought them here. Twists and turns and dry humor. I feel like the ending wraps things up, but also leaves it open for a potential sequel.

Definitely a fun read.

Fox and Haze are two very normal presenting suburban toddler parents. Or at least that is what they would like you to think. Their secret is that they are serial killers on a hiatus. Fox has made Hazel promise to give up their life of killing bad guys in order to raise their daughter Sabina with two parents and a normal life. However Hazel is getting the itch. The stay at home mom life is not for her and she is getting the itch. Will she kill again? Will Fox help her? Or will the forever be at odds with each other?

Loved this book! I always enjoy when books humanize the bad guy. Sometimes things are not black and white. There is an area of gray and that is definitely where Fox and Hazel land. I loved getting in their heads and learning their "why". The twist and overall ending were a nice little surprise and I felt like everything wrapped up nicely!

This was a (surprisingly) cute read! I was expecting either more gore (given the serial killer-ness) or more spice (given, well, serial killers in love), but it was honestly far less of both. I could see this as a nice book club read for when you want something a little different, as there are several things to touch on re: social class and parenting.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage was such a fun read. I don’t think it was quite a “thriller” but it had some action and lots of secrets!

Hayes and Fox met overseas and bonded over their mutual love of murdering horrible men. Fast forward, and now they’re married with a young child. They decided to put their love of murder on the shelf, to protect their family and to be better parents. Not surprisingly, Hayes is unhappy and feeling unfulfilled. Enter: lots of secrets and lies 🫢

I loved the dual perspective between Hayes and Fox, and the little breadcrumbs Mackay left for the reader.

A quick, fun read. 4 stars 👏🏻

a fun little romp of a book - what happens when 2 serial killers settle down , get married and have a baby...nothing good apparently. Really enjoyed reading this book and enjoyed the differing POV's between the 2 main characters, especially the fact that they were both keeping secrets and not letting us, the reader, into their secrets until necessary,

I really like the premise and suspense of this novel, there were some moments that dragged but overall it was really great and had a satisfying ending. It's always a good time when women are killing terrible men and getting away with it. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good cheeky thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
How could you not want to read a book about serial killers giving marriage advice? What a fun story! A little drawn out at times- it probably could have been about 50 pages shorter, but still an enjoyable read.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes. This is a fun and entertaining read.

A good place of keeping you on the edge and humor!

This book is deliciously dark, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with enough sharp wit to rival its heroine’s knife collection. If you’ve ever thought marriage is hard, but what if you were also a serial killer?, congratulations, this book was made for you.

The protagonist is equal parts deadly and delightful, juggling love, murder, and domestic life like a true queen of multitasking. The humor is razor-sharp, the plot keeps you hooked, and honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t cheering her on.

TL;DR: If you love dark comedy, morally gray women who take no prisoners (literally), and a marriage story with way more bodies than usual, A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is an absolute must-read.

This book... on one hand, it’s a chilling, edge-of-your-seat thriller about a couple who are serial killers. On the other, it delves into everyday life—the mundane moments that most of us don't think about. What really struck me is how the author weaves these two elements together, constantly shifting between the normal and the shocking, keeping you feeling unsettled and captivated. It will keep you turning the pages.

The book has this uncanny way of normalizing the horrific. One minute, you're reading about the couple's quiet breakfast and the next, you're plunged into the depths of their sinister actions. The contrast between these moments of normalcy and the shocking, often violent scenes, creates a sense of tension that you can't shake. It feels like you're constantly on edge, but also, there's a weird fascination with how ordinary things can coexist with darkness.

Now, Hazel's character absolutely stole the show for me. Her backstory, especially her friendship with Matty, was one of the most compelling parts of the story. Their bond, filled with layers of loyalty, understanding, and unspoken complicity, made me genuinely invested in her. Hazel's artwork, too, was an incredible touch—it was like a window into her mind, hinting at the chaos and darkness simmering beneath her calm exterior. Her backstory, the "why" behind her actions, was gripping, offering insight into the psychological complexities that drove her to this life. It was fascinating to see her inner world unfold, and it felt like the author truly understood how to explore the nuances of her character (just a bit scary, Asia Mackay, considering! LOL)

Fox, while interesting, wasn’t quite as engaging to me as Hazel. He's important, but he didn’t hold the same emotional weight or depth. I felt his motivations were a bit more opaque and harder to connect with compared to Hazel’s raw emotion. Still, his role in the story was crucial, and his presence added a layer of tension and unpredictability.

And then there’s Jenny—her character arc was absolutely one of the highlights. Watching her evolve throughout the book was like witnessing a slow, tense unraveling of someone you thought you understood. The changes she undergoes, especially as she becomes more deeply involved with the couple’s dark world, were absolutely fascinating. Her journey is complex and emotional, and by the end of the book, I found myself reflecting on her transformation long after the final page.

This book isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you're looking for a read that challenges your perceptions, delves into the psyche of its characters, and balances the mundane with the terrifying, this is it. It’s haunting, it’s thrilling, and it’s one of those rare reads that will stick with you long after you’ve finished.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Two serial killers meet and marry and then try not to kill while living in the suburbs raising their child and things don't go as planned. A very different spill on the life of a new mom story with some kind of unexpected twists along the way. An original idea.

Have you ever read a book so cinematic that you could practically see it played out on the big screen?
This is one of those books!

This story was a wild ride—equal parts fun, emotional, and just the right amount of unhinged. It gave me all the feelings from both a male and female perspective. And let’s talk about Haze—she is every woman’s fantasy of unleashing her feminine rage in the most satisfying way possible. She took control, made men pay for their crimes against women, and still managed to be an amazing mom to her tiny human, whom she loved more than life itself. She had it all. She didn't apologize for who she was and she was taking down the patriarchy, one man at a time.

And then there’s Fox. Oh, Fox. The gold standard of men—supportive, accepting, and completely devoted to Haze. Was he perfect? Shrugs. Well, YEA....minus the serial killer tendencies. But hey, nobody’s perfect! Mackay mastered character development, making you root for these "good" serial killers like it was completely normal behavior.

This book gave me Dexter and Hannah vibes. Honestly, if I had a production company, I’d be throwing my wallet at this adaptation. Someone make it happen!

Bottom line? This book was an absolute blast. Read it, love it, and then come Rave about it with me.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the ARC.
3.5 stars!

It takes a LOT for me to want to finish an entire book without skipping anything - and I was hooked all the way to the explosive somewhat sarcastically hilarious ending. This is wild and absolutely not what I thought I was about to be reading? I think I thought it was going to be much darker really?

Both Hazel and Fox are characters that you 100% want to be friends with.. even if you might be a little bit scared of them. Vigilante justice for the win!!

I loved the premise of this book. That we meet two killers who settle down in the suburbs for they're growing family. The way you go along with Hazel and Fox's ride into leaving their "hobby" behind to start these new lives. I love dual point POVs and multiple timelines presented here. I felt like I was experiencing all these changes with them and the bits of humor sprinkled in helped keep my interest. It's that type of dark humor I can appreciate. Thanks NetGalley for providing this arc to me. It a minute to get to, but I read it one sitting. THANKS! :)