Cordelia Black uses designer clothes and her flawless reputation as a drug rep as a cover for her real passion - killing bad men. While I loved the “Dexter” vibes of taking back control and taking things in your own hands, this book was lacking on a few aspects for me to really love it. I needed a better back story for Cordelia - as a reader all we really get is that she had a “bad childhood” with generic bad mom, drugs and abuse but never really get any scene to really justify her rage. No sort of psychological or emotional explanation which felt unfinished to me. The other part I struggled with was the overall vibes and mood of the book, it felt like it was trying too hard to be light and funny (think Finlay Donovan) but it missed that mark and landed somewhere between dark and delusional. Otherwise, I was fairly entertained, and enjoyed the plot and how hard Cordelia fought for the ones she loves, however misguided. I listened to this one on audio and I think it did the job, but wasn’t overly remarkable.

This book was absolutely phenomenal and such a crazy ride. I enjoyed every second of reading this book!

Behind every mysteriously disappeared man is an equally mysterious woman, and in the case of the serial missing men in Louisiana that mysterious woman is Cordelia Black. I loved the main character; she was confident, quirky, crazy and fabulous. The novel has great moments of horror, dark humor, and psychological twists, not to mention nods towards Taylor Swift! A lot of Cordelia's self monologues are repetitions of the same thoughts but later when she starts to unravel you notice how her speeches change and more truths come out so there is a good pay off to it. The only aspect of the book that I didn't fully grasp was the smoke in the eyes that Cordelia sees in bad men. I was waiting for an anti-hero with super powers explanation but it never came, so I am chalking up the phenomenon as Cordelia being a bit of a false narrator. Which shouldn't surprise me really considering that she is a serial killer who has to lie to everyone in her life to protect herself from her crimes.

I really wanted to like this. The premise was good and I really liked the idea of the vigilante justice against predators. This woman was a hunter and a very well accessorized one at that. I think if it would have been the split between pharm rep by day and hunter on the side, it would have been fine. The repetitive diatribes about her feelings and thoughts and the continuous mention of some paperwork needing signed was so mind numbingly painful to read. The last 20% or so of this book it really started to pick up and became more thrilling. The book really just did not work for me at the end of the day. It lacked execution and was just all over the place. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

3.5 stars

This was a really captivating read!! I’ll never turn down a book about serial killers who kill bad people, because doesn’t everyone dream of a world where that can happen??

This Girl’s a Killer was a really strong debut! I loved Cordelia’s character - she was strong, determined, and unapologetic. I did find myself getting irritated when she’d make mistakes or start getting sloppy, but no one is perfect! I thought she was powerful and I really appreciated her relationship with her best friend and god-daughter, they were such an adorable trio, and I would’ve loved more Sugar content.

The overarching story was really easy to become invested in - I kept turning the pages, determined to know what would happen next, and I really appreciated the ending. I did think there were a couple of loose ends that could’ve been tied up, but overall I was happy with the plot of the novel - it was lots of fun.

I do have to say that I wasn’t surprised by majority of the plot twists - they were a bit basic and easy to guess, but nonetheless I enjoyed. Overall, a captivating read!

Think Dexter, but make him female! This was captivating read that had me hooked from the beginning. If you like female rage and dark humor, a la Butcher and Blackbird, you'll love this one!

I was pulled in from the first and wasn’t let go until the last. This is a new to me author, and I can’t wait to read more of her works. With all the twists and turns and suspense going on this had me on the edge of my seat. I hope there is going to be more to this story. I will definitely be looking forward to it.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The book had a strong start and kept me hooked until around the 75% mark. Cordelia Black was initially portrayed as a character with a clear plan, but as the story progressed, her decisions became increasingly impulsive and chaotic. Additionally, there were several underdeveloped side plots, with a noticeable lack of background information to fully explain certain elements, leaving parts of the story feeling incomplete.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the neighbor's dog, Mango. The scenes with Mango added a charming touch that brought some lightness to the story. I found myself looking forward to every time Mango appeared—it was a delightful break from the intensity of the main plot.

Overall, 3 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

This was an entertaining read, and I’m surprised it’s a debut novel—the writing was excellent!

The protagonist, Cordelia Black, reminded me of a female Dexter, targeting and murdering bad men. She was a fascinating and complex character.

The plot was thrilling and suspenseful, though I felt like the book was a bit too long. That said, I’d definitely recommend this book to thriller fans. I’m excited to read the author’s next book!

3.5⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC of this book via NetGalley for review.

I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

Cordelia Black is a pharmaceutical rep who has a great reputation and loves her designer wardrobe. She is also great at solving problems and thinking things through. Which is why she is so successful at killing the bad men that she runs into. These monsters don't stand a chance against Cordelia. When Cordelia meets her best friend's new boyfriend, she instantly doesn't like him, but can't figure out if he is a bad guy, to give her a good reason to kill, or not. Soon, Cordelia's life starts to unfurl and she is not on her game. Are these small mistakes the way she is going to go down?

I wasn't sure I was going to like this at first as I do not like to read about serial killers, but Emma Wells brought Cordelia to life with lots of detail. It helped that it was also quite funny! This wasn't gory like I thought it might be, which I absolutely cannot do.

Great story. Great writing. Only complaint is the repetitiveness of certain statements. Solid 4 stars. I'd definitely read more from this author.

"𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰'𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄. 𝑨 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄, 𝒎𝒂𝒏-𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃*𝒕𝒄𝒉."


Not much dialog, mostly internal monologing, which wasn't terrible, just not my fav. This was a fast paced read, never the less. I loved the grimy details, and the sheer panic that ensues.
I love that it feels like a cat and mouse chase, but it's not a police procedural. It's actually more about the bond between friends and how karma is a b*tch. Lol

This story in general is amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Highly recommend this read!

This Girl’s A Killer

Emma C. Wells

Cordelia is a killer, cool, blonde who keeps it all together. Everything goes according to her plans. Always. Until it doesn’t. Her whole world is her friend, tender hearted Diane and Diane’s daughter, Samantha aka Sugar but not Sammy. Cordelia’s job as a pharmaceutical rep keeps her life and status going the way she wants it so she can keep up with a side hustle as a killer. She kills to protect and avenge. The ending leaves a continuation of the story which I look forward to reading. There are definitely things about the characters that can be fleshed out. Cordelia seems older than her years and Diane younger but things are not always as they seem but Cordelia trusts her gut. I recommend reading book. You should. Thank you to Poison Pen Press, the author, and Netgalley for a digital copy to review.

This book was everything I thought it would be. I have never read from this author and it wont be my last. Such a good story for sure.

Loved that this book is basically a female version of Dexter!! I would have loved a bit more suspense, but it was overall a great read. The only thing I would change is the word "Cis" they used for straight men. There isn't a need for everyone to have a "woke" label.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC

This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells was a fun and engaging read, particularly for fans of darker, character-driven thrillers. It had a strong Dexter-like vibe, with its complex, morally gray protagonist who takes justice into her own hands. The first half of the book was gripping and kept me hooked, offering an interesting mix of suspense, wit, and a unique perspective on crime.

That said, the story began to lose momentum for me in the final act. Without giving too much away, I found it hard to believe that the protagonist’s best friend would so willingly go along with everything after discovering the truth. I get that close friendships can be intense, but that felt a bit too far-fetched for my taste. It took me out of the story a little, and unfortunately, the climax didn’t quite stick the landing.

Despite that, I still had a great time with this book! The pacing, characters, and writing are all solid, and it’s definitely worth picking up for anyone who enjoys dark thrillers. Also, I split my time between the ebook and audiobook, and the audiobook narrator (Stefanie Kay) really brought the story to life – her performance was a highlight and kept me invested throughout.

Thank you SO much to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

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.