Wow. I just finished this book and that was one heck of a ride. I highly recommend this book to anyone who was a Dexter fan.
Cordelia had a rough childhood but managed to reinvent herself into a highly successful woman, with a secret hobby. She stalks and kills bad guys.
I loved the characters. The interaction between Cordelia, Diane and Samantha was great. I wish we’d gotten more of Christopher. And Mango was awesome. Who doesn’t like a cheese loving dog?
This is my first book by this author and I’ll be checking to see if she has more.
I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

One of my college jobs was salesgirl at a shoe store.

My manager—smart, sweet, attractive, and never-behind-bars (that’ll be relevant in a second)—was great to work with.

But, I seriously questioned her choice in movies.

Her favorite genre was a mashup of female empowerment and vigilante fantasies—women in jail, enduring horrible things, only to finally exact graphic, brutal revenge on the men that had hurt them.

Back then, I didn’t understand the appeal... but after finishing Emma C. Wells’ debut novel, This Girl’s a Killer, I think—at long last—I’m starting to.


Cordelia Black has—from the outside—one of those enviable lives.

She’s attractive. Put-together. Healthy. Independent. Self-sufficient, with a well-paying job—Big Pharma rep—that easily funds her love of very nice things (Manolo Blah and Louboutin stilettos, and a collection of Louis Vuitton handbags).

She’s beloved by her BFF since freshman year in college, Diane, and is the proud godmother/ doting auntie of Diane’s child.

But looking at someone’s life from the outside rarely tells the whole story.

Because in Cordelia’s spare time? She’s also a killer.

And not a “whoops, didn’t mean to hit that pedestrian I couldn’t see in the pouring rain” or “but I had no idea he had a deadly nut allergy when I made those brownies with extra walnuts” accidental killer... but a full-on “I’m goin’ all-out MURDER on his a$$” kinda killer.

While it isn’t something she brags about—she isn’t stupid, she knows people would get squicky about the whole concept of killing people—she’s firmly convinced she’s in the right.

After all, she only kills Really. Bad. Men. (And the world is surely better off without them around, right?!?)

But, when something unexpectedly goes wrong, and a person she wasn’t trying to kill winds up dead... by her hand, in her home... Cordelia’s normally calm, cool, and collected plan for exterminating terrible dudes goes out the window.

And now? The beautiful life she’s built, putting her energy, love, and passion into, since college, is in danger, as well.


This Girl’s a Killer is one of the most unusual takes on the serial killer trope I’ve read in... well, maybe ever, and I heartily applaud Emma C. Wells in this debut, because she’s created a superb suspense... and delivered us a ballsy, FEMALE anti-hero.

I mean, Cordelia isn’t just a killer... she’s a serial killer.

But she’s a serial killer we actually like, and can relate to.

Sure, she’s got her own little eccentricities and weirdness going on... but honestly, don’t we all?

Plus, she’s fulfilling many a woman’s dream—much like my shoe-store manager (and whether we’ve ever acknowledged it or not)—to put an end to some truly-horrible man’s mistreatment of women, once and for all.

This Girl’s a Killer won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But, if you’ve ever been exposed to (first-, second-, or thirdhand) too much male aggression... cruelty... or abuse, you’ll probably find a kindred spirit in Cordelia Black.

You’ll be rooting for her.

And you’ll be glad that at least someone—if only fictionally—is righting some of the wrongs that would otherwise continue to go unpunished.

In my book, This Girl’s a Killer is a winner.
~GlamKitty

[Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are, as always, entirely my own.]

Cordelia Black has come a long way since she met het best friend Diane in college. She’s now a successful pharmaceutical sales rep, Godmother to Diane’s daughter Samantha, and a great hunter. A hunter of monsters. Cordelia doesn’t have an ordinary side hustle - she spends her time hunting and killing bad men. She always trusts her gut, researches her subjects, and executes her plan flawlessly. Until one night when everything goes awry and a series of events is set into motion. A series of events that could ruin her life, her found family’s life, and land her in prison forever. Can she beat the clock and find a solution before someone else finds out what she’s done?

This was a quick paced, engaging read. It definitely gave me Dexter vibes - so if you liked that show I think you’ll really like this book. It was more on the popcorn side of the thriller spectrum but the story was well fleshed out and had a satisfying conclusion. I definitely recommend adding this to your TBR!

Well, I mean, I guess the title says it all. Cordelia Black takes justice into her own hands by seeking vengeance on terrible men who do terrible things. Somehow I felt like the reader doesn't get as much of the perspective of what the men have done, but skips right to the act. She's not very likable...even outside of her um, proclivities. I guess I was looking for some more wit or cleverness.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C Wells
Mystery thriller.
Cordelia Black is a killer. But only to those that deserve to be killed. Bad men. Men that could be arrested if or when caught. Cordelia takes justice into her own hands when she finds the opportunity. She has a special setup with plastic for wrapping, drainage for those fluids and a contact that will take care of the body when she calls. She also has the method to immobilize them initially. Cordelia is a pharmaceutical representative and there is one drug in particular she uses that fits her needs perfectly. Unfortunately for her though, the drug has been recalled and she has to wrap up her records to make sure the police don’t come calling.
Meanwhile her best friend starts dating and Cordelia feels something’s off with him.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook which was narrated by Stephanie Kaye. The performance is fantastic and will definitely hold your attention. The last couple of chapters had me riveted to see what was going to happen next.
I listened to the audiobook at 1.5 which is my preferred speed.

It’s a thriller, with a bit of comedy. Or maybe a comedy of errors would be a better description from Cordelia’s POV. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would once I realized the title was dead on. Maybe because they are “bad” men but I didn’t hate this killer.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.

Loved it. Kept me up all night to finish it. Very suspenseful. I will definitely check out more books by this author.

This Girl's A Killer offers an intriguing premise with its vigilante protagonist, Cordelia Black, who hunts down "bad men" while balancing her chaotic life as a pharmaceutical sales rep. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. Cordelia's character is inconsistent—repeatedly described as meticulous, yet her actions contradict this claim, as she frequently makes impulsive, messy decisions. The plot suffers from undeveloped side stories and underwhelming character arcs, with many promising subplots fizzling out unresolved.

While the book has moments of humor and suspense, the writing can be repetitive, and the characters feel one-dimensional. The pacing is decent, but the narrative struggles to build meaningful connections or delve into Cordelia’s motivations beyond surface-level descriptions of her past.

Overall, while the novel has potential with its feminist revenge premise, it ultimately falls flat, leaving readers with more questions than satisfaction. It’s an easy read, but not a memorable one.

Give me Dexter vibes and I’m signing myself up! This was soooo good!!!! I loved the narration in first person. The story flowed and the characters were likeable. I really enjoyed this I don’t want to give too much away. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this amazing book

This was a fun read that gave Dexter vibes! Cordelia was smart about how she did the things and even in crisis mode she kept a level head. The other characters were well thought out, I didn’t care for her friend Diane because of a few situations with her daughter but because that was the driving force behind Cordelia I get it. I think this was a great debut for this author and I would like to check out her books in the future! Thank you to @emma.c.wells.books and @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc!

3.5 stars

This was a pretty good debut. It’s like Dexter but she’s a woman! Cordelia is our quirky main character serial killer with a hard past.. as you can imagine. But she has a code. The men she kills are monsters.

This was entertaining despite a few details that you’ve got to suspend your disbelief for. Some of Cordelia’s inner monologue was repetitive and got annoying. Definite TW for some gruesome gore.

For fans of the Finlay Donovan series, This Girl’s a Killer will take you on a wild ride-try to just enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

I would give this book, 3.25 STARS overall.

As you can tell from the title, our FMC is a killer, but she has a moral code. She feels justified in who she kills, and according to her, she plans and executes her kills well. One day, in the protection of her best friend, she has to decide whether or not to follow her moral code.

I like how this book started out, and I enjoyed the writing. But at about half way thru the book, I decided I just didn't like the FMC. She isn't as careful and masterful at the killings as she brags. I saw multiple flaws in what she does, and those flaws led to her having to make a major decision that affected the lives of her and her best friend. I don't think there was enough background developed for the FMC, to explain why she felt justified in killing. That was a bit shallow and therefore I didn't have a strong desire to root for the FMC.

While the book is well-paced, and the writing is enjoyable, I easily figured out the end of the book. The book has a bit of humor, and at other times the FMC is just insufferable and shallow. It was hard for me to root for her. The final scenes of the book, didn't fit with the overall tone, as there is a leap into reality.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.

I’ve never read a book that’s given me so much anxiety before! I truly didn’t know how this book was going to play out and I absolutely loved the ride!
This is female Dexter but way better in my opinion. Cordelia’s life is in complete shambles and things just go from bad to worse and just wow!

I loved this book! It is truly a fun concept. (Gotta love a female hero, always!)

The book vibe is a female Dexter (Cordelia), avenging the wrongs in the world, all while looking out for the best interest of her best friend and goddaughter. This book will keep you on the edge while the threat of being discovered looms over Cordelia. The novel is well written with tons of quirky puns that fellow Millenials will adore. Very entertaining and a fun read.

Thank you #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for the ARC #TheGirlsAKiller by Emma Wells that hit shelves October 29th.

I always worry with books like this that it will feel generic because it is such a popular theme. But I was pleasantly surprised.

I really liked the main character, Cordelia. And I loved her relationship with Diane and Sugar/Samantha. I feel like more books are focusing on female friendships now and I’m all for it.

I could see this being a series. Not sure how many I would read because it could get repetitive. But for a debut novel this is great!

Definitely check it out if you enjoy satirical thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley, Emma C. Wells, and Poisoned Pen Press. I have written this review voluntarily.

This was a fantastic debut almost like Carrie Bradshaw and Dexter had a kid!! One a few books that just kept me up all night because i just had to know how it ended!! I’m really hoping for more of Cordelia Black!! I found my shelf really rooting for Cordelia despite she’s a murderer and i did find some parts funny. A must read!!!

THIS GIRL’S A KILLER was a really fun and fresh read with a twist on serial killers and an easy to like, relatable narrator in Cordelia. There were some humorous moments as various events collided quickly and the book was easy to read despite the length. It did start feeling a little outlandish at certain points with some over the top scenarios and coincidences, especially towards the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review THIS GIRL’S A KILLER.

Lovable Serial Killer with a ride or die BFF. This read was fun and I enjoyed Cordelia Black, her Dexter-ish code, love of shoes and found family. Story was well paced, audio narrator was easy to follow and enjoyable. I look forward from more from Emma C. Wells.

There is nothing more gratifying then a story of bad people getting what they deserve.

This was a good book. A little slow at times but the story itself was awesome. She's like her own little female Dexter and I'm here for it.

Cordelia Black was just out there doing the lords work! LoL 😂

*Thank you to the Netgalley and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book early. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

📚ARC Review 📚

This Girl’s a Killer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cordelia Black is a successful business woman who loves three things: her found family, her hairdresser and killing bad men. She’s a successful pharmaceutical rep that makes great money and loves to spoil herself with designer items. By night, she takes care of men that always seem to escape the justice system. She always has a plan, which is why everything always goes accordingly. That is until her pharmaceutical company is under investigation, her best friend introduces her to a guy that seems shady, and her neighbors dog can’t just say in its own yard. Things start to unravel and Cordelia finds herself in a mess.

This debut thriller by Emma C. Wells was so good! I was hooked immediately and didn’t see the twist that was coming. This book was giving me Dexter and You vibes. Cordelia’s character was very interesting and had so many different emotions. I also liked all of the side characters and seeing how things would unravel with each of them. I’m hoping there will be a second book coming soon to follow up with how this one ended. Overall, it was really good and perfect for those who like thrillers with a strong FMC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

I read this book with a reading group, and we all found this read to be very enjoyable and the characters to be very unlikeable. I would recommend this to any of my thriller readers as it was executed perfectly. Loved the plot and thought it was tied up nicely at the end! All in all, had a great time reading and will be looking forward to more from this author.