This is the story of Jade, her first love, and her first time.

But Jade isn’t her real name. And this isn’t so much about her first sexual experience as her first murder.

Jade (also known as Sissy, though that’s not her real name either) has come to Rainwood, AZ for her first kill. She isn’t a stranger to murder, she’s cleaned up after several, but this will be the first time she actually commits the act.

There’s a formula: find the mark, make him your lover, murder him, move on. It’s a system that Jade and her sisters—identical triplets—have followed for years. But Jade can’t help but imagine different futures with Edison—her mark. And from the beginning, things don’t go as smoothly as planned.
With her sisters growing increasingly anxious for Jade/Sissy to kill Edison, the pressure is increasing. Does she stick with her family or risk committing the worst crime of all: disappointing her sisters?

How I’ll Kill You is an amazing new thriller from Ren DeStefano. It’s a fast paced, immersive read that will leave you deeply disturbed and craving more with every turn of the page. It’s truly got some dark and troubling story threads, so if that’s not your style look elsewhere. But if you love dark, twisty, appalling plot lines, this is the book for you. It’s so intense on the “will she or won’t she” scale and the serial murderer sisters dynamic is so captivating!
I love this book in the most dark and terrifying way.

How I’ll Kill You comes out March 21, 2023.

*I received a copy of How I’ll Kill You from Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

How I'll Kill you is a dark psychological thriller with a helping of dark romance. 25 year old triplets Iris, Moody, and Sissy have had a troubled life growing up in foster care after being abandoned as babies. While, Moody and Iris have both killed before, it is at their push that Sissy identifies her first victim. She has six months to make him her boyfriend and then kill him. She didn't expect to fall for him.

This is a twisty, unique, disturbing story that was honestly a bit unsettling to read. The author created a story that will linger in my mind for a long time.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy

How I'll Kill you.... wow, where do I begin?! This book was really good, one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in quite awhile.
Identical triplets, abandoned at birth and raised in foster care, grow up to become serial killers. Working together, they manage to pull it off time and time again; but then it's Sissy's turn. She wants her first kill to be special, and it is - she falls in love with her mark. She is now torn between her new love and the promise of this new life, or loyalty to her sisters and accomplishing the task she set out to do.
I wasn't sure how the author could pull of a good ending for this story, but for the most part it really works.
Yes, it might seem a little over the top, but it's fiction - it's supposed to be. So sit back, relax, ignore the lack of depth of the characters, and enjoy! Because this book was really fun.

How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano

Published: March 21, 2023
Berkley
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pages: 352
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Ren DeStefano lives in Connecticut, where she was born and raised. When she’s not writing thrillers, she’s listening to true crime podcasts and crocheting way too many blankets.

“The only predator in those four walls last night was me.”

Sissy knows that her life is unorthodox. She knows what she and her sisters do is not normal or alright. But it’s her turn, and she is excited. Moody and Iris are nervous about Sissy’s feelings, so they must continuously test her. Edison is a work in progress but is also fairly fragile.

I loved how this book was written. It was such a neat way to tell a story, and I enjoyed it. This was a hard book to put down. I didn’t want to sleep or focus the next day!

The characters are unique, being that they are triplets. But Sissy is our main character and I kind of love her. She really tried to be everything for everyone, but ultimately her heart won, and I love that. Moody was sneaky and bossy, much like I imagine an “older” sister would be. Iris was my least favorite triplet; she just seemed violent and angry.

Edison was flawed but trying, and I loved him for it. I love how he saw Sissy, and even when he was unaware of the plan, he loved her.

This book was intense. It would make an excellent series if done correctly. The plot was wild, and the characters were all well-defined. I was hooked from the first page.

I enjoyed the build-up; just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do. Because, of course, they do! This was such a powerful story of head versus heart and standing alone, even against the family.

This was a deliciously twisted anti-hero thriller featuring three identical triplet sisters who enjoy killing their partners for fun. Things get complicated though when one of the sisters falls for her mark and the other two don't take it well. I mean if you can't trust your sisters who can you trust?? Excellent on audio narrated by Karissa Vacker and perfect for fans of How to kill men and get away with it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and PRHAudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!

I was not fully prepared for how unique of a premise How I'll Kill You was going to be. I've read a lot of thrillers, but this was certainly the first time the book centered around the serial killers. Yes, serial killers - they are triplets. It was very different to see the story from their points of view, and why they are doing what they do (spoiler and trigger: trauma, child abandonment, abuse.)

The sisters fall in love and then proceed to kill their boyfriends. However, Sissy has yet to fall in love or kill, and when it's finally her turn, she begins to feel protective of Edison and has second thoughts.

I didn't expect to enjoy this story as much as I did, and while parts of the ending were expected, others were not.

If you're looking for a different kind of read, I encourage you to check out How I'll Kill You.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

"Your next stay-up-all-night thriller, about identical triplets who have a nasty habit of killing their boyfriends, and what happens when the youngest commits their worst crime yet: falling in love with her mark."-I didn't need to read the read of the blurb because I. Was. Sold.

The plot:

Sissy and her sisters were once famous for being abandoned as infants. Now in their mid-twenties, they now bounce around the country as they've bounced around foster homes, protecting each other in the most brutal way possible: by murdering the men who have broken their hearts. Except now, it's gone as far as hunting these men before they can hurt them. Sissy, having only cleaned up her sister's carnage, now finds herself next in line to make a kill. They settle in a small town in Arizona and she finds her mark: a church-going hottie named Edison. But her relationship with Edison as well as his stepdaughter and neighbor threaten to unravel Sissy's real identity. She's falling for Edison, but her sisters have other plans.

The characters:

Utterly ruthless. Sissy, Iris, and Moody will do anything for each other. They spent years apart in foster homes before finally being able to reunite and they will stop at nothing to protect one another. I especially loved Sissy's inner monologue when it comes to imagining the things she wanted to do to Edison. Her growth from seeing herself as just another one of her triplet sisters to being an individual with her own wants and needs was great to see.

Edison is more than a mark. He's recovering from both alcohol and the loss of his wife a year ago. He's such a good guy that I was almost scared for him.

Overall thoughts:

This book was a wild ride and everything I didn't know I needed in my life. It's violent yet heartwarming at the same time (HOW???) This will definitely become one of the best reads of 2023.

Thank you Let's Talk Books and Berkley Books for having me on the book tour for the twisted and fantastic book!

Of the more than 100 books I read and review each year, probably 99% are in the mystery/thriller/crime genre. And although it's unusual for me to find one I really, really don't much like, it's a downright cause for celebration to find one that's really, really something I haven't read before. That it is also riveting makes it even more special. Where else, I ask, might you find a set of serial-killing triplets?

But they're here, and they've been on a deadly path for a while now. Moody, Iris and Sissy - not necessarily their real names - emotionally scarred by years of abandonment, separation and abuse in foster care, are on a revenge rampage that focuses on identifying and coercing a lover and then doing him in. Moody and Iris have their first kills under their belts, with Sissy expertly handling clean-up chores. Now, it's Sissy's turn - but her experience takes a turn of a different sort: she falls in love with her intended victim. Now, she's torn; she loves her sisters, toward whom loyalty is never questioned - till now.

Woven in between are backstories of the sisters' lives, interactions with each other and Sissy's thoughts as she navigates new emotional territory with her new guy, all while trying to remain under the radar so they can continue their life of taking life from others. Readers get an in-depth look at Sissy's dilemma: if she betrays her sisters, will they betray her in the worst possible way?

All of that leads up to an exciting ending, although I confess I'm a little disappointed with it. As the climax approached, you see, my mind conjured up at least two scenarios for what I considered to be fitting under the circumstances, and both were just as macabre - maybe even more so - than the rest of the story. Neither came to pass, and what actually did was somewhat of a letdown in my mind. That aside, though, this whole adventure was a heck of a ride, and I offer more than one thank-you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me on the train via a pre-release copy to read and review. Definitely a winner in my book!

I just finished How I'll Kill You and read it in a day. It was so completely twisted that I felt as if I was watching it live.
Three identical triplets who get "off" by hooking in a man and then killing him is their past time. They take turns on picking the "mark". Sissy is given the opportunity to pick her first "mark" and she has every intent on killing him, until she doesn't.

Filled with angst, there are themes of parentlessness, foster care, mental illness and sisterhood.

Crazy premise yet carried out well.

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) “For murder to be committed well, it must first be an act of love. And so many vile people in this world are not worth loving. The key is to find someone who is, and to give that person all your heart. Kill them with passion, bury them with love, obsess over every detail the way that only a lover could, and you won’t make a careless mistake.”

I’m still reeling from this one! In the best way. It’s a ride that is dark and twisted and fascinatingly horrible.

It’s best to go into this one blind, only knowing they are identical triplet sisters that kill their lovers. You don’t need more than that, just read it!

Something about the cadence of the writing felt familiar and comfortable. Considering the subject matter, that’s saying a lot. But I think that’s what drew me in. The writing made it so understandable. So justifiable. I debated with myself the entire book why I was loving this. It’s the writing. She drew me in and made Jade relatable, real and honest. Even if she was a sociopath.

“If someone in this world had wanted us, our lives might have been different. But we learned the truth at the very beginning, which is that there are three of us—only three—and there will never be room for more.”

There are details of their past, their foster care and how it changed them. The abandonment they felt with the only thing keeping them sane- each other. There are details of how they live; where the money comes, how they pull off the cons that lead to murders. The manipulation is brilliantly and effectively done. This is what I want. Those tiny details that fill in all the empty spaces in my head. It fell into place and I could see their world, feel their love for each other.

Even now I debate my love for this book because it feels.. wrong. But oh I ate this up and loved every second. Call me crazy!

“If I had a daughter, I would tell her the truth, which is that the whole world is bad and you had better learn how to use anything at your disposal as a weapon.”

“There’s no shortage of people who deserve to die, and if I tried to kill them all, I’d be caught in a heartbeat; we’d all go down together if one of us did.”

“He understands that goodness is more of an image and less of a human characteristic.”

“It isn’t just the ones who walk down alleyways at night. It can be the woman pushing a baby stroller in the grocery store, or the man in the three-piece suit waiting for the crosswalk signal to turn. All it takes is someone with an insatiable need, and by the time such a person has chosen you, it’s already over.”

“Nothing takes more strength than loving someone.”

Thank you to Berkley and Shelf Awareness for the giveaway win!

The book releases March 21, 2023

The idea of triplets choosing and killing men they have made love them was fascinating. This is the author's debut and early readers seem to like it. For me, it was disturbing, although I have to admit that I read it in just a couple of days curious to find out what would happen.

FIRST SENTENCE: "What about that one?"

THE STORY: Raised in mostly unpleasant foster homes, identical sisters Iris, Moody, and Sissy now stay together to protect each other. They have rules. They choose vulnerable men, make their lives wonderful, kill them, and move on undetected.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Tension is high throughout the story but new information keeps the action moving forward. Sentences are short and sometimes repetitive. Hoping for a good thriller, it was surprising how much of a love story it was.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED with reservations.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "How I'll Kill You" by Ren DeStefano from NetGalley/Berkley Publishing Group for an honest review.

Identical triplets were let down by love, so they've vowed never to let that happen again - by killing every many that falls i love with them. They methodically search for marks, then BAM. Then one of the sisters has to go and fall in love. Great for fans of suspense with humor balanced on a knife edge.

A solid debut! I do think some readers may be misled into thinking this is a twisted thriller when in fact it’s more of a sister drama/romantic suspense.

I loved the triplet sister Murder concept and thought the author did a great job at developing their past and the present day conflicts.

I did think the ending dragged a bit too long and could have been tidied up a bit.

Overall a very enjoyable read!

Holy family dynamics! Moody, Sissy, and Iris are triplets brought up in the foster care system. Abandoned when they were babies, they are cruelly separated when they are children and each of them have a less than stellar childhood. All they want is to be together, but that won’t happen until they grow up.
Told from Sissy’s POV, she has always been the cleaner for her sister’s messes. What kinds of messes? Why killing their boyfriends. Yep they are serial killers. And now it’s time for Sissy to join the club.
Everything we learn from Sissy’s POV, and let me just say, one minute she’s making dinner and then next she’s thinking about how she will kill her boyfriend Edison. This story was just Cray Cray.
The pages flew by and I wanted out of Sissy’s head, and yet I couldn’t wait to hear more about her twisted plans and those of her sisters. I just flew through this book all the while with my fingers crossed that Edison, would somehow survive this demented trio.
I’m just not going to say anything more because of spoilers,but if you like a twisty, twisty story, How I’ll Kill You was excellent.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for sending along this early copy to me. HOW I'LL KILL YOU publishes on March 21.

This book is so unique and it feels like a story that will stick with me, which if you know me, is a big deal. I'm the worst at remembering books after I've read them, I think it's because I read so many. Anyways... I highly recommend this one! It features a shocking storyline that feels a little like Caroline Kepnes' YOU but also it gave me DEAD TO ME and even DEXTER vibes. If I haven't convinced you yet, how about serial killer sisters? Is this book on your list yet?

How I’ll Kill You centers around 3 identical triplet sisters, Iris, Moody, and Sissy who all are serial killers. The sisters travel all across the United States and prey on vulnerable men. Sissy is preparing for her first target, a young widower named Edison. But something happens that shocks them all, Sissy falls in love with Edison. Now Sissy must choose between her family and the man she loves.

How I’ll kill You is a genre-defying story that’s part thriller and part romance. The author did a great job creating the three sisters' characters and making their personalities unique. We learn the sisters' difficult history of growing up in foster care and suffering from abuse which explains why they are serial murderers. The story also does a quick delve into the lasting effects of childhood abandonment.

The only issue I had was the romance parts were a bit too slow and I found myself losing interest in the story. But the ending made up for those parts!

Overall, I found How I’ll Kill You to be a fast and entertaining read and I think a lot of readers will feel the same. How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano will be available on March 21. Many thanks to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

I really wanted to like this book more but I think I just wasn't in the mood to read about all the ways to kill someone. Sissy is one of a set of triplets who get men to fall in love with them and them kill him. Iris and Moody both have multiple kills under their belt and are pushing Sissy to make her first kill. She has been acting as the cleaner for her sisters up to this point.

When Sissy meets Edison, a young widower, she figures she has met her mark. Pretty predictably, she falls in love and then doesn't want to kill him. Of course we have to listen to her thoughts about how she'll do it and where she will bury him.

The sisters had been brought up in the foster system and it can safely be said that they are pretty messed up. But their premise of killing someone just for falling in love with one of them never made sense to me, thus the need for the ending.

I kept reading and I wanted to know how it would end, so the tension was there.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A twisty little serial killer novel about three sisters, maybe, that plot and plan meticulously to murder randomly across the Phoenix area. Well done almost in the nerve on American Psycho. in its prose.

WOWWWW. This was a wild freaking ride!! I loved it SO much. It was super dark, but the way the narrator tells it, makes it seem almost normal – which then makes it feel even darker! It also has a lot of romance and some steamy scenes which I wasn’t expecting but made it a lot of fun. The ending of this was absolutely perfect but I have so many questions! And I think that’s the brilliance of this book! Thank you so much to Berkeley for sending me an early copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

The author has quite the imagination to create this unique and crazy story. Through the eyes of Sissy, readers will see into the minds of the identical triplets as they plot to kill their next victim. Dark thriller! Twisted!