This book was a killer!!! (Literally) Cordelia Black is a serial killer. She only kills guys who deserve it, like child predators, women abusers, etc. She is a pharmaceutical rep. by day!! I have to say I probably lost weight reading this book because my heart rate was elevated every time I picked it up to read. I was so anxious that she was going to get caught. It is a little dark, but it is also very entertaining. It has a cast of characters: best friend Diane and her daughter Samantha, the next door neighbor Mr. Percival, Mango, the next door neighbors dog, McSmiley, a police officer, the guy who buys her bodies and the monsters she feels she needs to kill. I found myself liking Cordelia. She was funny. She dressed in designer clothes. She always had cheese for the dog next door and she took care of her chosen family. This is definitely a fun read from a debut author who I think must be a little warped! Ha Ha
Thanks to #netgalley, #poisenedpenpress and @emma.c.wells.books for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had such a blast reading this! Cordelia's story kept me hooked and even triggered a bit of anxiety-in a fun, heart-pounding way. The book dives into loyalty and morality, and her sharp, witty voice had me laughing out loud. You know she's in the wrong, but you still root for her, thinking, "Good for her!" The pacing is spot-on, making it easy to breeze through. My only quip is a small plot point that hinted at a possible romance for a side character-I wish it had played out! Still, it's got serious Dexter vibes, and I can totally picture this as a TV show or movie. Fans of dark antiheroes will love this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this book so I can give my honest review.

Emma C. Wells’ debut novel, This Girl’s A Killer, was an entertaining surprise. Cordelia Black is a well polished and accomplished individual taking the pharmaceutical industry by storm with a pristine reputation but what you see is not what you get. By night, Cordelia rids the world of deplorable men through a rigorous process to keep them from hurting anyone else and to keep her best friend and goddaughter safe. But when her best friend starts dating a man that sets Cordelia on edge, she must come up with a plan to get him out of their lives but nothing goes according to plan and Cordelia’s careful constructed world starts to crumble.

At first, Cordelia comes off so well put together but soon you realize she’s a mess just like everyone else with a heart of gold. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her best friend and goddaughter even if that means putting her own life at risk.

This story flowed effortlessly and was a fun read. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Wells puts out next. Hopefully it’s another Cordelia Black story.


Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

This book is a a very intriguing read.

Cordelia Black works as a pharmaceutical rep and grew up in a very dysfunctional family. Her best friend is Diane whom she went to college with. When Diane got pregnant and almost dies Cordelia made a promise to Diane on the way to the hospital that she will look after her forever.

Diane’s daughter CiCi, whom Cordelia calls Sugar loves Cor as she calls her as if she were her second mother. They are like a family unit. Cor goes over to Diane’s so she can do her hair since she has a blind date and Sugar tells her that her mother is seeing this guy Simon she doesn’t like so now Cor doesn’t like Simon also. This is so interesting how this pans out now.

Cordelia goes on her blind date to find out he is a policeman that she ran into earlier. Since Cordelia has a second secret life this may end up a good thing so she can find out first hand information on the investigation of missing men.

I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good fast paced read that keeps you wanting more after the first sentence.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can understand why THIS GIRL’S A KILLER by Emma C. Wells is on some ‘most anticipated’ lists this fall. As the temperatures drop, the heat picks up in this intense dark thriller.

Cordelia ‘CiCi’ Black is an unassuming pharma rep by day, but her nights are full of the hunt for the ‘bad men’ that escape justice. And her system is flawless. When her best friend, Diane begins dating Simon, the hairs on the back of CiCi’s neck begin to rise. She must protect Diane and her goddaughter, Samantha at all costs. Meanwhile, she meets and begins dating Christopher. ‘McSmiley’, a cop who is investigating the case of the missing men in south Louisiana. Could Simon and McSmiley bring an end to CiCi’s reign of terror? And what is she to do about the big Pharma drug that is proving to be downright dangerous? And neighbor Percival C. Manchester and his dog Margo could prove to drive her to distraction causing mistakes she can’t afford to make.

As CiCi is looking into Simon, Simon is following her and inadvertently stumbles upon her drop to the bodysnatcher who sells body parts as a way to make money. There can only be one solution to keep her nighttime activities quiet. As Diane mourns the fact that Simon has ghosted her, Cordelia knows that ‘ghosted’ could not be more true.

This one had me hooked from beginning to end. The tension ratcheded up at every turn. I could feel my pulse quicken as CiCi tried to cover all her bases. The twist and turns were fast and furious and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was shocked to learn that this was a debut novel and I will certainly be following Emma C Wells in the future. I can’t wait to see where she goes next. I suspect that she will be a new voice in the psychological thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The following review has been shared to my Bookstagram (@mads.is.booking), Goodreads and StoryGraph. It will be posted on Amazon as soon as it clears their review process.

This was a fun one, but nothing life changing. I loved the concept, but probably expected a little bit more out of than I got. I don't know if this quite fits my definition of a thriller. There was really just one "big" plot twist, which I had figured out quite early on. It was feminist rage fiction more than anything. Nothing against that, but I think I would've enjoyed it more had I known that going in.

Cordelia was sassy and cunning and, honestly, you couldn't help but cheer for her. When I say she was going through it, I mean she was GOING THROUGH IT. Nothing describes "hot mess" quite like the situations Cordelia found herself in. A personal pet peeve of mine is when people refer to themselves in third person and this book had plenty of that. "Sweet Cordelia" and "The Cordelia Black" were all too common phrases.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but not quite the thriller I was expecting!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This intense thriller kept me on edge with every twist and turn. The story is fast-paced and follows Cordelia, a main character with a whirlwind of close calls and near breakdowns, making it hard to decide if I was truly rooting for her. The rapid-fire plot points kept the suspense high, but I wanted more depth from the other characters to balance Cordelia’s confident, unhinged perspective. There weren’t any big revelations or takeaways for me, but it’s an engaging read that filled me with anticipation to see how it would turn out. If you’re in the mood for a quick, snappy slasher centered on unapologetic female rage, she’s got you covered!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the early access.

I finished this one really quickly because the thrill is written pretty well. I just don't find it very satisfying to read, though. The main character does not really become a better person or suffer any consequences. I was waiting for something to happen the entire time but it didn't come. I really didn't like the main character and she was very stubborn and a know it all - very controlling of her best friend Diane, too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early advanced copy.

📚: This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

The gist: Cordelia Black’s hobby can be summed up in a Taylor Swift quote. “I don’t start it but I can tell you how it ends. Don’t get sad, get even.”

And what hobby would that be? Killing very bad men. (Literal vigilante s**t.) But when she starts to lose control of the narrative, she finds herself, her best friend, and her goddaughter all in danger.

The good: I love a feminine rage, vigilante s**t sub-genre (see: my five star review for They Never Learn by Layne Fargo). This is a plot that I will always pick up and hope it delivers.

The pacing of this read was spot on - I finished it in a single evening (yes, it’s far past my bedtime right now because I wanted to see how this ended).

The eh: Why do I dislike Cordelia so much? Her character brings a light tone to what honestly should be a dark plot, and it doesn’t mix well. Her character is in her 30s but comes across as thought she’s a main character in a YA novel - that just isn’t the vibe that works here. The ending simultaneously gave me whiplash and (without spoiling), somehow left a few plot points left hanging. I got into this book but didn’t necessarily enjoy it.

Big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This Girl’s a Killer is out today!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I was very excited to read from a new author. This storyline was so fascinating. I could not wait to get to read it. It was a quick read that I finished in a day. I loved all the characters. It was a very entertaining read.

This book was everything that I love about a “supporting women’s wrongs” type of story!

Our FMC, Cordelia Black, is a big-shot pharmaceutical rep by day, and a karma-dealing serial killer by night. She's made it her mission to rid the world of the monsters that walk it, but when her best friend starts dating one of said monsters, her two worlds threaten to cave in on her.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, I thought she did a very good job of creating that anxious/paranoid feeling that comes with a downward spiral. From about the halfway point on I was on the edge of my seat, literally unable to put this book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. It's kind of a pet peeve of mine when, specifically in crime fiction, things start to feel unbelievable, but that never happened for me in this book. I thought the way Cornelia's life started to unravel helped the story feel... dare I say relatable? I think most people know that feeling of when nothing is going your way and you just can't catch a break.

I also thought she did an excellent job of crafting a main character who is clearly unhinged and loosing control, but I still couldn’t help rooting for. I am so hoping there will be another Cordelia Black book as it would seem her work is far from finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells is a fun, Dexter-esque serial killer story. Cordelia, the main character, eliminates bad guys, but unlike Dexter, she’s not emotionless. As everything in her carefully controlled life starts to go wrong at once, we watch her unravel in ways that feel genuine and relatable. The characters here all felt like real people, and the story has a bit of a campy vibe, but that only adds to its charm. It’s an easy, fast-paced read that was engaging throughout.

Nobody messes with Cordelia Black!
What a ride! Everything about this chaotic serial killer was perfect, things kept going from bad to worse and it made me devoured this book because I could just not stop reading, impossible.
Loved the characters and the story, it did felt repetitive at times specially in the beginning and it took some time for things to really get good but once it picked up, it was fantastic.

🩸🩸🩸🩸/5

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: October 29, 2024

A female serial killer who targets men who are “evil and violent” and then paints portraits of her victims with their own blood as part of her ritual. Gory, pathological, and full of female rage and vigilante justice.

There are obnoxiously frequent references to brand names and luxury clothing. Who cares if you wore Louboutins? You told me once, you didn’t have to remind me endlessly. Annoying because of how poorly planned this is—for someone who has done this a number of times and talks about how meticulous she is, Cordelia is wildly unknowledgeable. This came across poorly researched, as many YA thrillers have had smarter characters. It’s a bit all over the place, with a number of subplots that abruptly dead end (her work drama, the cop she pseudo-dated). While this was an easy/quick read, there are just better options with similar plots out there.

If you are a Dexter fan, then this is the book for you!

Meet Cordelia, a female serial killer who only kills monsters. She has a strict system and her own set of rules. Then we have her best friend in the world, Diane, who has absolutely no clue what Cordelia does in her spare time. These two characters, along with Diane's daughter and the crazy neighbors dog, make for an entertaining storyline and a whole lot of dark humor. At times, Cordelia drove me crazy, but I was truly invested and rooted for her every step of the way.

3.5 / 5 stars

Cordelia Black is a well-heeled pharmaceutical rep with a full roster of happy clients. She's a talented artist. She's a loving godmother and devoted best friend.

Cordelia Black is a monster hunter. She has a meticulous system for who she will kill, why, how, and when. She has been ridding Baton Rogue of horrible predators by carefully sticking to her plans.

But when a kill does not go to plan and other loose ends start to fray from Cordelia's life, she finds herself scrambling to protect the identity she has carefully crafted for herself -- and, more importantly, she must prevent her best friend and goddaughter from discovering her double life as a serial killer.

This darkly humorous thriller reminded me of the fun I had while I was reading Listen for the Lie. Cordelia is a force to be reckoned with, and I enjoyed watching her wrestle with her inner struggles as well as the comedy of errors piling up around her. There are some magical realism elements that feel slightly out of place (the smoke Cordelia senses in her victims' eyes), and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the novel's resolution. Overall, a fun read, but please check the author's content warnings!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 400 / Genre: Serial Killer Thriller
Audiobook Narrator: Stephanie Kay
Duration: 10 hours 51 minutes
Release Date: October 29, 2024
🥳#HappyPubDay!🎉

Cordelia Black is a serial killer. She’s also a hero. She only kills bad men who hurt and abuse others and she’s really good at it. Everything is going great until the day it all starts falling apart and once it does, it snowballs in a major way.

I loved this book. The amount of things that go wrong is a bit out of control but that’s what made it so incredibly addicting. Every time something happens, you have to read one more chapter and then another and another. If you want a bingeable, entertaining read, this is it for sure.

I absolutely loved Cordelia. When things got tough, she just got tougher. She didn’t break down, she figured out what she needed to do and did it. I love characters like this. I also appreciated her dedication to her bestie Diane. Five stars from this Diane. 💁🏻‍♀️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I got advanced copies of the ebook and audiobook so I alternated between reading and listening on this one. Stephanie Kay did a great job narrating. I think her voice was a perfect fit for Cordelia.

Thank you, @Emma.C.Wells.books, @PoisonedPenPress, @Dreamscape_Media, and @NetGalley for my gifted copies. I loved it!

This Girl’s a Killer was so much fun to read. Our main character is a busy woman. She’s got this work situation going that doesn’t seem to be letting up and a little hobby of killing deplorable individuals and both kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how she gets out of these messes. I liked the end and thought it was tied up all nice and neat into a perfect little bow. If you’re a fan of Dexter, or enjoyed Butcher and Blackbird (but no spice in this one) I think you’d enjoy this. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my eARC. This Girl’s a Killer published today.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. The first couple of chapters, I was skeptical. It starts out about slow but give it time. It quickly picks up and sucks you in! I loved the whole vibe of this book, Cordelia is a good person offs bad men. I love her loyalty to her best friend and her daughter and i love that even though she was a serial killer, i was rooting for her the whole time!!!!

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up

Review: I loved every single thing about this and I so desperately hope that this is the beginning of a series. It was funny, snarky, and as always I support women's rights and their wrongs. This is the kind of mystery/thriller I'm looking for. Always. You won't regret checking it out.

Synopsis: Ask Cordelia Black why she did it. The answer will always be: He had it coming.

Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.

By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men―monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.

But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.

Soon enough Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family, and her freedom, depend on it.