Picture this: you are serial unaliver...only of people who deserve it, and then you meet your perfect match - someone else who is a serial unaliver. Your meet-cute isn't sweet, but it is hot and the two of you embark on fun sojourns of pretending to be 'someone' and doing things to bad people which the vast majority of the population wouldn't think were socially acceptable. But then, one you is pregnant and you both make the decision to assimilate into a life in the 'burbs. At first, things are okay, and eventually you ordinary life is just ordinary. This is how Hazel reflects on her life. Her husband, Fox, is more relaxed in their new life.

Fox encourages Hazel to find a new friend and adjust to life as a stay-at-home mum. Hazel makes a friend alright, one who will have a huge impact on her life. Hazel thinks its a good idea to let out a little bit of pressure so she doesn't explode, but perhaps she's out of practice and Fox was always the better planner, because maybe things haven't gone as well as she thought they should have, but she still won't expose him to her worries. Fox has family who suck and unfortunately there is an increase pressure on him, which he doesn't want Hazel to worry about.

This pair are in need of some serious therapy sessions: communication is key, people. Lucky for us though their lack of communication results in a dark comedy of a book which I found hard to put down.

I really enjoyed the way the author crafted Hazel's and Fox's personalities and their reaction to the suburban life. Even without their serial extra-curricular activities, the adjustment to the life they once led would have a huge impact on someone. The author did this in a way that often had me laughing out loud (Hazel's assessment of people) and groaning with a slight edge of 'I don't know if this is a good plan' (Fox's outward appearance of calm, but his indulgence in risky behaviour was more than plausible and at times worrisome).

I also thought the development of the plot up to the third act crisis was believable because eventually with all the forces and the people involved, something would eventually have to give and I think it was tied together in a plausible way.

If you like books that are a little bit dark, includes comedy and snark, has actual character development over the book, includes twists and entertaining outcomes, then I don't think you will find this book lacking.

3? 3.5?!

Firstly, the entire premise of this is hilariously amazing. My recommendation is to go into this book not expecting a huge romance storyline. But a complex (unrealistic) story of acceptance, how to work through trauma, self-discovery, how to navigate friendships (again, unrealistically in this context), and the struggles of becoming a mum when it wasn't expected.

I did enjoy it, but I did feel like it dragged at some points and that nothing was happening. Not because of what was happening in the book because I love that these two unassuming people were out there killing shitty men. But because I just found Fox sooooo boring. Even when he was sneaking around doing what the plot twist at the end explained I still was like 'oh ok'. I think more flashback chapters would have broken this up a bit. BUT in hindsight, while this is titled as a 'guide to marriage', my biggest take away of this was how Haze navigated her life. Her friendship with Matty and then Jenny, and her own version of healing from her childhood. While there was 'romance' mostly in the flashbacks, it is not a romance book to me.

Also, as a new first time mum, there were some wildly relatable statements from Haze. The conflict of losing yourself but doing ANYTHING humanly possible for your child, and seeing that in words was wild and maybe that's why I also struggled through this book.

It is worth noting that while reading other reviews, some people really enjoyed Fox's chapters and not Haze's so this is really up to the reader and how they interpret this text!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hacehette ANZ for this earc!! I really appreciate it

DNF at 15% I really did not like the prose of writing but mostly I found the main character to be insufferable I just could not get into this book.

Overall I enjoyed the book & especially the plot. I just wasn't a big fan of the writing style. It was mostly the characters monologue on what was going on with very few interactions between all the characters

Hazel and Fox are an ex-serial killer, married couple. After Hazel falls pregnant, they agree that they need to stop the killings. However, Hazel is unable to give up her former life and ends up killing a man behind Fox's back. Now, she must do anything and everything to cover up what she did to save her marriage and protect her family. But what secrets of his own are Fox keeping?

I expected this book to be more serial-killing focused and less about relationships. Even though it was very heavy on marriage, parenthood and friendships, I still enjoyed it. The dual points-of-view of Hazel and Fox were effective in providing an insight into what they thought of each other. The secrets they kept from each other added suspense to the story. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the couple and their dry humour.

It’s always interesting to see the other side of a serial killer. We always get the victim on the run, or the detective trying to hunt them down, but very few books from the serial killers perspective.

However, I wasn’t hugely excited by the book. Don’t get me wrong, the beginning had me hooked. However it didn’t feel like a book about serial killers, but more so a couple that once were and were letting themselves fall apart by not killing.

For a serial killers book, it’s somewhat lighthearted and easy to read. However I was kind of left disliking most characters and the end didn’t do it for me unfortunately.

4.5/5 ⭐️ but rounding up because this was completely different to the usual genres of books I read and I absolutely LOVED it! This book reminds me of a cross between Butcher and Blackbird and Mr and Mrs Smith, with less spice and more plot. Asia Mackay has somehow turned a book set in suburban parenthood into an action-packed, anxiety-inducing book filled with adrenaline, suspense, and betrayal.

‘I locked eyes with his reflection. “I want you to help me remember what it feels like to be alive. To feel powerful and beautiful and invincible”.’

The story follows Haze, a passionate artist with a troubled upbringing, and Fox, a brooding and clever finance man, who comes from a wealthy and completely unhinged family. The pair meet abroad during a kill, and are swept off their feet in a whirlwind romance that turns into a (romantic?) affair of killing sprees. Unfortunately, their luxurious lifestyle and morbid pastime comes to an end when Haze finds out she’s pregnant, and the pair agree that they need to put the tools down, and adopt a life of nursery rhymes and nappies to protect their child.

‘Friendship was a wonderful thing. It was so much easier to destroy someone when you had all the inside info you could hope for.’

The book focuses on the secrets the pair begin keeping from one another, as well as Haze’s new blossoming (although begrudgingly to Haze) friendship with an unlikely woman. Throughout the pair’s stories, we explore their troubled pasts, their bumpy future, and the secrets that they are hiding from each other, and the world. A lot of the plot focuses on the breakdown of marriage, and how we often will do whatever it takes to keep our loved ones safe, and stop our relationships from falling apart. The characters are intricately explored and you can see how their pasts have influenced their character and why they have the flaws they do.

This book had me biting my nails, laughing out loud, and constantly picking sides as to which character was my favourite when the other one screwed up. I absolutely adored this book, and it was genuinely so cleverly written that I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand/Wildfire publishing for the e-ARC of this book. This review has been left voluntarily ✨

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Mr and Mrs Smith With A Deadly Twist

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Ok firstly, This book was a wild ride and I loved every page! 👏🏼

I love a book that has a storyline unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Murder, kidnapping, mystery, secrets - it’s all here, but wrapped up in a plot unlike any other. Asia Mackay somehow merges a relatable journey of motherhood with…being a serial killer. Who knew that could be a combo!? 😅

The husband and wife main character duo absolutely slay (pun intended) with their mix of everyday parenting struggles, friendship issues and relationship breakdown.. oh and don’t forget to add in the occasional who’s next on the hit list convo. Think Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but with a sharper, darker edge.

The writing of this story was super engaging and the story being told from each of the couples perspectives was so brilliantly executed.

This was a fun and thrilling story that I was not expecting! It had me guessing, gasping and laughing and now, definitely recommending to anyone looking for a great read.

A big thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for the sneak peek of this book they are calling ‘the hottest thriller of 2025’ - out January 14th.

The Review: So, I went into this one expecting something, but it’s safe to say I wasn’t quite prepared for the ride it took me on. I mean, we’ve got a serial killer navigating marriage—a mix of dark humor and the struggles of domestic life that’s both weirdly relatable and a little twisted.

I loved the fresh concept, and the main character is… surprisingly likable for someone who’s, you know, killing people. The whole premise of blending murder with marital woes was fun and really hooked me. But, if I’m being honest, it didn’t completely hit the mark. There were moments where the plot seemed to drift, and I was left wanting more depth in certain places, especially around the protagonist’s motives and emotions.

Overall, it was an entertaining, if not slightly chaotic, read. Definitely one to pick up if you’re in the mood for something dark but humorous. But if you’re looking for deep character development or intricate twists, you might feel a little underwhelmed. Still, it’s a fun ride for the sheer novelty factor alone!

Final Thoughts: Worth a read if you’re craving something quirky and offbeat. Just don’t expect it to dive too deep.

Meet Hazel and Fox, happily married with a young daughter living the dream in the London suburbs. They appear to be the perfect couple, but what people don’t know is that before the birth of their daughter they were serial killers, ridding the world of bad men across Europe. They gave it all up for their little girl, but Hazel is struggling to fight the urge. Fox is doing his best to keep the, safe, but both are hiding some pretty dark secrets from each other.

This was such a fun read! I do like anything with a serial killer and now we have 2. This made me laugh so many times. Hazel was very committed to keeping her secrets, even from her husband, who knew being a killer would put so much strain on a marriage 😅 I lost myself in this one over a day and am not mad about it at all.

Thanks so much to Hachette Australia on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on January 14th.

What do you get when serial killers marry? In this particular book you get a lot of murderous tension, and plenty of entertainment, with a brilliant ending! I can also very clearly see this playing out as a movie with all the drama, thrill and regular doses of humour sprinkled throughout. The writing is bright, bold and deliciously clever and Haze, Fox and Jenny were all perfectly balanced to make a complex story work. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

firstly thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Aus & NZ and Asia Mackay for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I loved the concept of this book, it was unique and the humour in this novel was great. my main issue with this book were the main character, they felt slightly underdeveloped and therefore I found it hard to be invested in their story both as a couple and as individual. I love a dual POV novel so this was also a strength for me.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage was a really amusing and exciting read. I got behind the story and the characters right from the start and it was fun following their exploits through the course of the story. Although I guessed some things in advance, there were still a couple of twists I didn't see coming, which added to the fun. There are thriller aspects to their tale, but as the blurb suggests, there is also a heavy dose of dark comedy. I could actually see this working well as a Netflix limited series; it has that kind of vibe. Overall, I enjoyed the book from start to finish. The idea was fun, the characters engaging and the pacing moved along well throughout. It certainly brought a smile to my face and was a breath of fresh air after finishing a couple of reads I had only found so-so. I am giving this one 4.5 stars.

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing this ARC for free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When I saw the description for this book on NetGalley, I immediately applied. A book about ex-serial killers, one of whom breaks their pact to stop killing? Count me in 🙂‍↕️

I was instantly hooked by the prologue. I loved the short chapters that kept me reading and reading and reading.

There are twists along the way - one of which literally had my jaw dropping. I also loved how the book started with one of the final scenes and we got to see how they ended up there.

I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. Hazel is brutal and her inner monologue is hilarious. If you like dry humour, you will love her.

First and foremost, this book is a thriller. However, it’s also been advertised as a romance. There isn’t really any romance in this book other than their marriage (which certainly has its challenges). If you’re aware of that going in you won’t feel like anything is missing.

The story wraps up very neatly. I would have enjoyed another little twist at the end, but overall I definitely recommend this book. I can see it becoming a movie someday.

A new take on the feminist serial killer thriller genre. I liked having both sides of the marriage and what they were struggling with.

Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they're ex-serial killers...

I cannot fault this book, such a great premise and so well executed. It was dark enough to be interesting and light hearted enough to be fun. It was witty, humorous, with a sprinkling of "how the other half live", throw in some marriage woes and it was the perfect mix.

I thought it was very clever, great characters, a fantastic storyline - think Mr and Mrs Smith, meets Why Women Kill meets Dexter. I enjoyed the backstories, the different POV's and the supporting characters - I was a big fan of Jenny. The writing was great, the twist at the end tied everything up nicely, leaving room for a sequel (please).

Can't wait to see more from Asia Mackay and wouldn't be surprised if I see A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage on our TV screens in the future.