
Member Reviews

I will preface by this book is absolutely unhinged and violent and is not to be taken as a real life suggestion. But once you get past that it’s honestly pretty good. The female friendship is sweet and the action keeps coming. I do wish they dug keeper into the backstories rather than just quick mentions of history.

This book was fun! It reminded me of a female Dexter-esque character - a vigilante serial killer on the prowl for unsavory characters. There was so much going on in the book that was deeper - I’d say the essence of the story deals with the power of female friendships - but there are just so many wacky things that happen, that you just have to read this book to experience it. It’s a wild ride.

This girls a killer is a fun, page-turning read! Cordelia black is a pharm rep by day and a serial killer by night. Cordelia delivers justice to men who need to face karma for their wrong doing in life. Cordelia’s best friend brings home a boyfriend that Cordelia gets a bad feeling about and her life gets even more complicated in her quest to
Protect her friend and daughter..
This is a feminist spin on Dexter-a fun, witty, and off-turning read. Cordelia is an engaging character that you will root for, even as she’s breaking laws! I would love to hear more of her backstory and am hoping for a sequel! Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is a crazy wild ride and perfect for fans of Dexter or the MindF*ck Series!! Cordelia is a serial ki!!er and at the moment everything is going wrong for her. We get an intimate view of her thought process and justification for what and how she does it. The whole book your questioning will there be a mistake in all this that gets her caught.

This book was funny in a dark humor sort of way. I enjoyed it and found it easy to read. She was so paranoid and anxious that it made her all the more relatable as a character. I’d like to see more.

Holy Crap Cordelia Black. This book was great, lots of twists and secrets. I loved the relationship between Diana, Cordelia and Sugar. I personally think there could easily be a series about her and her "adventures". Will definitely be reading the author again.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars, rounded up. Cordelia Black is definitely an interesting character, and readers will love and hate her in equal measure. A serial killer with a code of ethics in the vein of some fictional characters we've read before, things are not going to plan for Cordelia as one thing after the other seems to fall apart. This is definitely a bit gross/gory at points, contrasted with Cordelia's taste in the finer things. It's an entertaining one, but a little too long and light on character development.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Ms. Wells for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
I'm no stranger to the "Dexter" concept (a serial killer who preys on bad people) - I believe Butcher & Blackbird was the most recent I've read prior to this one - but this was a fun ride. I really liked Cordelia, who had such a traumatic and anxiety-ridden childhood and whose rules and rituals were so clearly built to keep her functioning. I also really liked that Cordelia humored her friend Diane and persisted with "trying" dating for Diane's sake but was honest about not really being interested in men or romance. Her friend Diane and her goddaughter Samantha were enough for her. It was a nice change to have romance be off the table.
For all the dark themes, the book's overtones veered more on the humorous side; Cordelia's anxiety attakcs were honestly more difficult for me to read than her rituals dispatching pedophiles, abusers and rapists. I would recommend this to readers with strong enough stomachs to handle the MC being a serial killer. It was a GREAT Halloween read! 🔪🔪

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.
This was a fun read. If you liked Dexter then you should check this one out. Cordelia is a woman with a penchant for murder. But she has a code and only kills men who victimize others. She has a code and a process which has served her well. The pressure around her rises as the drug she's selling is pulled from the market, she starts dating a cop and her best friend starts dating a guy who she badly wants to get rid of but can't prove meets her code.
You do need to check reality at the door a bit for this one. But it's fun if you like a quirky psychopath MC.

This book is bad ass! If you love thrillers and the show Dexter this book is an instant hit.
I couldnt put it down and read it in two days!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC.
Book releases Oct 29th just in time for Halloween!!!

Is there such a thing as a likeable serial killer? Cordelia Black might be just that! By day a successful pharmaceutical rep in designer clothes, she also has a calling to rid the earth of bad men when the justice system fails their victims.
Her life starts spiraling down when her pharma product gets recalled and a lawsuit is imminent, and on top of that, her best friend since college, single mother to Cordelia’s goddaughter, falls for a guy who may not be the nice guy that he seems to be. Cordelia knows that - to be successful - it’s crucial to be super organized and to always have a meticulous plan but now things just start to go wrong. Dating a cop while she is still hunting bad guys doesn’t make it easier. In the end, protecting her loved ones remains Cordelia’s highest priority even if she risks her own safety.
I was skeptical at first to read about a female serial killer but I have to say, the story is so tastefully written that you can’t but cheer for Cordelia, and even her actions are never overly gruesome. Around the middle of the book, I was Team Cordelia 100%. The pacing of the story is fast with multiple twists. I couldn’t put the book down and couldn’t wait to find out how all would end for Cordelia. All in all a great debut novel and an entertaining read with a lot of humor, suspense and drama. Cordelia’s friendship and loyalty to her BFF and goddaughter are admirable. And I absolutely loved the side story about Mango, the dog!
Thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Emma C Wells for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for more from the author. Above is my honest review and own opinion.

"This Girl's a Killer" introduces us to Cordelia Black, a character who redefines moral ambiguity with her double life as a pharmaceutical rep by day and vigilante by night. Cordelia’s world is carefully crafted, balancing her affinity for her chosen family and her need to "correct" injustices. Emma C. Wells explores Cordelia's psychology effectively, making her a fascinating yet unsettling protagonist who navigates South Louisiana’s seedy underbelly.
The plot intensifies as Cordelia’s carefully managed world begins to fracture, especially when her best friend Diane starts dating someone Cordelia distrusts. However, the story's tension sometimes feels diluted by pacing issues, and the stakes could have been higher to match the strong, suspenseful setup.
Overall, "This Girl's a Killer" is an intriguing read that grapples with justice and morality, though it lacks the punch to make it truly memorable. Fans of morally complex antiheroes may find Cordelia’s character appealing but might wish for more consistent thrills.

This isn’t the type of book I’d usually pick up, but I was immediately drawn in by the main character’s mindset and the way she thought through her actions. It was fascinating—and a little unsettling—to see how her mind worked and to follow her process. If you’re a fan of Dexter, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. Definitely an intriguing read!

This Girl’s a Killer offers an intriguing premise reminiscent of the TV show Dexter, diving into the psyche of a young woman grappling with her dark urges. The concept of exploring morality through a killer's perspective is compelling and has great potential for tension and depth.
However, the pacing of the narrative often undermines its impact. There are moments where the story drags, leaving me feeling more bored than engaged. While I appreciated the character development, the slow buildup felt prolonged, detracting from the thrilling elements I was hoping for.
Overall, while the storyline is promising and has moments of brilliance, it struggles with pacing issues that might leave readers yearning for a more gripping experience.

I can't help being OBSESSED with female main characters who are intent on getting murderous revenge on toxic/evil male side characters. This debut book by Emma C. Wells is a great addition to the new genre of feminist revenge fiction that has the protagonist killing “bad” men for the sake of the betterment of the female race. It was great as an audiobook and perfect for fans of books like How to kill men and get away with it by Katy Brent. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This storyline was a thought-provoking read of how one woman was trying to make the world a better place in her own way. I did not fully see all of these outcomes coming around.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC early!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have a personal interest in serial killers, specifically the psychology, the motivations to commit murder, and the person beneath. Cordelia is morally grey to her core, making her a unique and interesting main character because she genuinely believes in her cause and deeply cares for those she loves. I would be incredibly interested to see how the relationships change between Cordelia and Di ongoing, and loved the found family trope.
An amazing book, I would 100% recommend and would read again

A deliciously unhinged, somewhat satirical take on a serial killer plot, This Girl’s a Killer evoked a somewhat milder Dexter down to its core. The best two pieces of this one, however? Those were easily the giggle-worthy dark humor and Cordelia herself. Between her perfectly crafted evil yet root-for-able persona and the fun, character-driven plot, all of her monstrous, gut-wrenching deeds had me flying through the pages in just under twenty-four hours.
Speaking of Cordelia, she wasn’t the only winning character in this delightful crazy train ride. From the best friend who was the perfect foil in all of her goodness to an individual you’ll just love to hate, there was a bit of everything to satisfy you down to your bones. The take-no-prisoners protagonist, however, was still my favorite by far. A killer with a code, I loved watching her setting bad men to rights—thankfully in a mostly non-graphic way.
Just so we’re clear, though, as much as I loved these personas and the events that unfurled, I wouldn’t exactly call either of them true-to-life. Oh no. You’re definitely going to need to suspend all disbelief before diving into this one with glee. After all, I have to believe that in reality Cordelia would’ve been caught long ago. That’s not to say that it wasn’t entertaining in the extreme. With chaos running amok and drama taking center stage, I thoroughly enjoyed speeding through this epic rollercoaster ride of suspense.
All said and done, from the smile-inducing friendship between Cordelia and Diane to the fast-paced, almost frantic unraveling, I seriously had palpitations as I raced to learn what was going to happen. Now I just need to know if there’s going to be a book two. Please say that it’s so, my dear Ms. Wells? I mean, who could pass up a dark, twisted premise with an almost cozy-esque vibe? Okay. Now it’s time for you to order this one ASAP. Surely you knew that was coming. Rating of 4 stars.
Thank you to Emma C. Wells, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

This book focuses on Cordelia Black, a pharmacy rep by day and a killer of bad men at night. She kills men who are abusers, pedophiles, predators. Her best friend, Diane and Diane’s daughter are her whole world. When Diane introduces her to her new love interest, Cordelia gets a bad vibe from him. Is he next on her list? But now, the authorities are focusing on a potential serial killer in the area. She needs to be careful.
This started out okay, but never really got more than that for me. I guess I wanted something darker and this had more of a comedic feel to it. Also, it felt too long.
Thank you go Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ACR!
I was REALLY looking forward to reading this, but now that I have, I want to scream "NOOO" at the top of my lungs.
Honestly a 2.5/5 (rounded to 3 for Mango)
I liked Cordelia's intentions to begin with but as she trudged through the plot I felt that every sentence she uttered was forced upon her. She constantly reminded us (And herself 'cause she was insecure?) that Cordelia Black was meticulous and perfect and never messed up. HA! I swear if I took a shot every time she said "Cordelia Black"(Or Sugar/Sugarbug in the first chapter for that matter), I would most certainly be writing this review intoxicated. To summarize, if you couldn't already tell, I did not like the protagonist. I liked her character, but definitely not her personality. I would've liked her more if she actually took ownership of her mess-ups rather than blame the "monsters" she was hunting. The only thing I absolutely LOVED about her (because I could relate) is the "smoke" she saw in her victim's eyes. For me, it's smell but I understood EXACTLY what she feels/sees.
Other than Samantha and Diane none of the other characters were important. Just small filler scenes to drag and move the plot forward.
I don't want to get too much into the plot because it was unpredictable in the worst way possible. It had all the tropes of a good serial killer story <spoiler>(embedding in the investigation, the downward spiral 'cause emotions got in the way)</spoiler> but very poorly executed.
If the author was aiming for Dexter then this is Dexter with <spoiler>happy endings</spoiler> with really pretty bows.
If there's a second book, will I read it? Nope. I'll be watching Dexter instead.