Sometimes I just want a cozy-esque thriller with some revenge fantasy motifs, and THIS GIRL'S A KILLER definitely delivers those kinds of vibes. I enjoy the idea of a girlboss business woman being a serial killer of predatory men under cloak of darkness, and I enjoyed some of the witty and snippy dialogue and inner thoughts of Cordelia. But I also didn't find Cordelia or really any of the characters to be much more than two dimensional characters, which was a bit of a disappointment. Overall I found this book fun and frothy, but not really reinventing the wheel or anything like that.

Really enjoyed this thriller! Love the main character and how bad ass she is! And the setting! Highly recommend for those who love female killers.

I did not like our FMC but also did? She was annoying but a total badass killer queen (literally). I couldn't put this down and ate up every page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good thriller with a strong but flawed FMC.

This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Well - WOW! This book was everything you want in a thriller. The narrator was fantastic. I could not stop listening! So many twists and turns, dark and unputdownable! This is definitely a must read!!!

"This Girl's a Killer" is a sharp and thrilling ride through the life of Cordelia Black, a captivating anti-heroine who operates in the morally gray areas of justice. Emma C. Wells delivers a bright and biting narrative that blends dark humor with a compelling exploration of ethics, loyalty, and the consequences of one’s choices.

Cordelia is not your typical protagonist. By day, she’s a polished pharma rep, navigating the corporate world with confidence and charm. But by night, she transforms into a vigilante, targeting the bad men of South Louisiana who think they’ve escaped justice. Her motto, “He had it coming,” speaks volumes about her mindset and the twisted sense of righteousness that drives her.

Wells does an exceptional job of fleshing out Cordelia’s character, making her both relatable and deeply flawed. Her love for her chosen family and her meticulous approach to her dual life create a fascinating dichotomy that keeps readers invested. The pacing is brisk, and the plot is woven with tension as Cordelia’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel, particularly when her best friend starts dating a man who raises red flags.

The author’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a clever blend of wit and suspense. The dialogue sparkles, often infused with a biting humor that highlights Cordelia’s confidence and charisma. Yet, beneath the humor lies a deeper commentary on justice, morality, and the lengths one might go to protect loved ones. The stakes rise as Cordelia grapples with the implications of her actions, leading to moments of introspection that add depth to the otherwise adrenaline-fueled narrative.

The thriller aspect is expertly crafted, with a series of twists that keep readers guessing. Just when you think you know where the story is headed, Wells throws in surprises that challenge Cordelia's convictions and force her to confront her own flaws. The tension mounts as she faces not only external threats but also the internal struggle of reconciling her dual identity.

"This Girl's Killer" is not just a thriller; it’s a thought-provoking exploration of morality and the complexities of human nature. Wells invites readers to consider what it truly means to seek justice and the price one pays for taking the law into their own hands.

In conclusion, Emma C. Wells has crafted a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Cordelia Black is a heroine unlike any other, and her story is one that lingers long after the final page. For those who enjoy dark humor, complex characters, and a thrilling plot, this book is a must-read!

This was such a fun ride! Great pacing, drama, humor and likeable characters. I was hooked right from the first page and couldn't put it down. The main character - Cordelia is very loyal to her best friend and her daughter, she will do everything for them. She has everything under control....well until she doesn't :)
The best part of the book was when things just started to fall apart for her. I think I actually giggled a little. Kudos to the author for adding some humor to the dark topic of this book.

One of the best books I have read in 2024. Highly recommend it!

Thank you Poison Pen Press and the author for a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Love the idea of this - a vigilante serial killer full of feminine rage. It sounded too good not to pick up.

Cordelia was an interesting character - a woman coming from a traumatic childhood who transformed into the woman she always wanted to be, and in the process became a protector of the vulnerable. Something she didn’t have as a young person. She was definitely unhinged, but in a good way? And when it comes to her chosen family, her best-friend and god daughter, there is one rule - don’t hurt them.

This was darkly comedic book, that was fun to read. There were parts of internal rambling and I did feel like a lot of time was spent among up the ending, but it was very anticlimactic. Overall it was a decent read.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I LOVED this one.

Initially, when I tried to read it I had to put it down, was not in the right mood to enjoy it. Few weeks later, checked out the audio book and boy did it hit perfectly! I typically don't love a sole first person narrator for a book so the audio made it feel varied.

A woman vigilante will always be top notch in my book. Her work was "necessary" (don't come for me!) and I rooted for her every step of the way. She was a fierce protector of Diane and Sugar.

This was a fun edge of your seat read with lots of drama. Loved it!

I’ve had the pleasure of reading a lot of good books this year. So far, I’ve been surprised and impressed more often than not, and this last read was no exception.

When I received an invitation from Poisoned Pen Press to read This Girl’s a Killer, I was a little apprehensive, as I don’t usually read horror or “scary” books. But I loved Finlay Donovan, so I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did because I was absolutely blown away. This is why I love new authors; you never know what you’re going to find.

Cordelia Black isn’t crazy. She’s organized. She’s punctual. She has a killer wardrobe. She loves her best friend and goddaughter. She isn’t crazy. She’s just… Karma.

Everything is going just fine until it isn’t. Watching Cordelia’s perfect world fall apart actually gave me anxiety while making me laugh. It was an interesting paradox. This book is dark, twisty, and funny.

I cannot wait to see what Emma Wells comes up with next.

The synopsis for this book sounded right up my alley. Alas I DNF'd it at 18%. I just didn't care for Cordelia and didn't want to continue reading it, since everything was being told from her perspective at that point.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was such a fun book! This book had lots of twists and turns, and the characters were perfect. Cordelia Black is like a female Dexter, sure she stalks and kills; but only bad men. Cordelia has been killing for years, she has a great system set up and she thought of everything. She has a best friend Diane and a goddaughter nicknamed Sugar that she would do anything for him and has done anything for. When Diane starts dating a new man, a chain of events falls into place that puts everything Cordelia has been doing in jeopardy. can Cordelia set everything in place, and escape or will this be what takes her down?

This book was so much fun to read, and I really enjoyed the characters and the pace of the story. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

So, I read this book in less than 24 hours-- and for most of it, I sat on edge, filled with anxiety and stress. I held my breathe while reading through many chapters; I was wholly invested in her friendship, her hobbies, and her freedom.

I was riddled with anxiety as she worked through her latest problem; even more so, when she wasn't the only one who knew what her lastest problem was.

But as the strong FMC she was, I patiently waited as she got her shit together, found herself once again, and fixed the things that had gotten out of control.

From early on in this book, I felt I was reading a female, feminist version of Dexter. I could definitely see a second book on the horizon.

This book delivers a thrilling and addictive ride with its morally complex, sassy serial killer protagonist, Cordelia, whose dark humor and fierce loyalty make for an unforgettable story. Fans of Dexter and vigilante justice will be hooked from the first page, rooting for this unapologetically bold and entertaining anti-heroine.

The MC of this debut is a female Dexter mixed with a tiny bit of Finlay Donovan. The beginning of the book felt a little too much like Dexter, but then it took a bit of a turn and things wrapped up in a way that was a little hard for me to wrap my head around.

This one fell really flat for me. I had higher hopes based off the description, but the book kind of played out like a Lifetime Original Movie.
A loooooot of time is dedicated to showing how spunky and cool the main character is. Supporting characters. As soon as the easiest path isn’t available to take, the main character spirals out which made me more irritated than tense.
(For example: she has a dog covered in blood from a crime that occurred within hours, but since all official dog-grooming businesses do not have same-day openings, she just decides the only option is to hold on to this dirty bloody dog for two weeks until a grooming appointment??? )
I found myself speed-reading through most of the book and the ending was “meh.” I think there are plenty of people who would really enjoy this; it was just a lot fluffier of a read than I expected based on the marketing and description

I enjoyed this debut novel by Emma C. Wells, which follows a serial killer who targets only bad men. I’d heard that fans of the TV series Dexter would enjoy it, and while I did, I felt there were a few too many similarities to the show, which knocked my rating down a bit.

“Serial killer. I loathed those words. They weren’t fair—not when used against me. Had I made those men disappear? Okay. Yes—but I dealt in karma—not murder.”

Ask Cordelia Black why she did it.
The answer would always be:
𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈.

4.5 stars! Cordelia is the female Dexter and I am rooting for her like I rooted for him! Wheeee what a wild ride this was. An author has to be very talented to make you not only fall in love with but actually root for a serial killer to get away with murder.

“Flowerpots sat empty, or with brittle plant skeletons, because I’d lied, monsters weren’t all I killed.” 🪴 💀 😂

So imagine, if you will, Dexter…but with the added complications of hair highlights left on too long, Loubitans on bloody surfaces, fake Louis Vuitton’s, and one rude and annoying neighbor with a overly intrusive dog. Gold! Gold I’ll tell ya.

This is also one of the most quotable books I’ve read this year. I just love Cordelia! What a spitfire.

“I’d given him the chance to confess his crimes and go free, but it’s difficult to talk when you’re gagged, with your lips duct-taped closed, so on my table he’d remained.” 😳🫣

Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for this fantastic ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was such a fun rollercoaster of a book! This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Wells had me laughing out loud. This story follows Cordelia Black a pharmaceutical rep by day and Dexter like killer by night. Her best friend Diane and Diane's daughter Samantha (Sugar for short) are Cordelia's family. She would do anything for them, and when Diane starts dating a new guy who isn't what he seems Cordelia had to make some tough choices... like killing him and hiding the body. I really liked this book and I am really hoping for a book 2! I would highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eArc.

Glamorous pharmaceutical sales rep Cordelia Black is living her best life, full of designer brands and her best friend Diane. In her spare time, she carves up monsters in a storage unit, sells them to a body snatcher, and adorns her walls with paintings made with their blood. She has it all down to a science.

When Diane starts dating a new guy, Cordelia pisses him off. He threatens to blow up her whole operation, and Cordelia has to find a way out of the BIG mess she’s made.

Despite the dark subject, the story had some humorous moments, well balanced with tension. However, there was also a lot of repetition, especially with Cordelia thinking about Joanie. That, combined with the one million mentions of Dior and Givenchy and Fendi and whatever other luxury brands, took me out of the flow.

I thought this was a pretty fun twist on the typical tropes, but the premise reminded me of the HBO show Dexter (which I never watched) so I’m not sure how original it really is… and depending on what you hope happens to our murderess, the ending may not be fully satisfying for you. Either way, it was a quick and engaging story that kept me interested through the end.

Fun, but fell flat.

This Girl's a Killer is about a female vigilante purging society of bad men. While the concept is pretty cool, I found this thriller a bit lackluster. The first 70% is slow, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters.

The FMC, Cordelia, has a very weird mix of characteristics. She's a cold-blooded killer but also irrationally emotional. She's borderline co-dependent on her best friend but also an empowered career woman. She's sharp and witty but also a poor decision-maker. She prides herself on being an excellent planner and manipulator but can't foresee obvious consequences. The result was an unrelatable (and sort of annoying) narrator.

There was a lot of dialogue, which dragged the plot to a snail's pace. I wish there was more action and suspense. The last part of the book was much more intense and if the rest of the story had mimicked that format, it could have been an amazing thriller.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an ARC.