This story is definitely for the feint of heart but would make for fascinating discussion as a book club pick. Cordelia has totally reinvented herself and believes she is doing good work. The plot of the story is solid. The author use dialogue creatively to show the characters thinking. It is also well used to show the tight bond between the friends. It is an interesting and easy to read story.

I found myself laughing out loud so many times! Cordelia and her friend are hilarious and their banter provides so much comedic relief during tense times of the book. There were some scenes that I was sweating it out, rooting Cordelia along the entire time! The fact that the author is able to make you cheer for a serial killer just shows how well done this book is! I did the audiobook thanks to @dreamscape and I loved it! I would highly recommend that for my audiobook lovers! I could get lost in this story so easily! There’s still time to preorder before it comes out next week!

Even though the plot felt a little predictable the humor was what kept me in it! I worry the book lingered a little too much on Cordelia’s trauma and not her overcoming it. The book itself moved rapidly and kept me engaged.

Thank you NetGalley! I throughly enjoyed this book. Love a good female serial killer story. I was sucked in immediately at the beginning. Can’t wait to read more from this author

Oh, this was a fun one! Full of tension, humor, trauma and vigilante justice, This Girl’s A Killer had me on the edge of my seat pretty much the entire time I was reading. Cordelia was such a fun protagonist. Pharmaceutical rep with a designer wardrobe by day, killer of evil men by night. I loved her friendships with Diana and Sugar. That was such a sweet part of the book. There were a few plot points that were a big deal in the beginning and then fell to the wayside that I felt needed a bit more closure or explanation. Also, a few of Cordelia’s decisions were just plain ridiculous, but to be fair, I might make some bad decisions out of panic/stress in this situation too. Even with those little things, I still had such a great time reading this one. If you enjoy seeing bad men get what’s coming to them, check this one out!
Mini spoiler: the dogs ends up just fine!
CW: violence, mentions of animal death, animal abuse, murder, stalking

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Love love love me a book from the serial killer's POV. This was not as disturbing as other books I've read, more of a women's popcorn type of thriller but still dark and gruesome.

This book is about a woman serial killer - she has her life together. A great job, a great friendship, and a hobby that keeps her happy - killing bad men. Until everything falls apart and starts to spiral out of control. The town Cordelia lives in starts to notice that men are disappearing, and are investigating it as a case of serial killer. And now they caught the body snatcher that Cordelia used to get rid of her bodies through. Oh and she went on a date with the police officer that is on this case. Did I mention the weird acting new boyfriend of her best friend's? He needs to go. But how, especially when everything is kind of on fire?
This book was kind of hilarious. But I wasn't sure if I wanted Cordelia to get caught or get away with everything. She is not a bad person, but she does horrible things. And when she gets stuck with a dead decomposing body in her freezer in the Louisiana heat, I couldn't help but laugh at her situation.

I completely enjoyed the audio book and the narrator. The story was propulsive and full of character. I hope this becomes a series and I can find Cordelia in more crazy situations.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this novel.

Even many of those who think they know Cordelia Black fairly well would never guess that she is, despite the cool businesswoman exterior, an assassin at heart. And in reality. And many would-be readers might be put off just reading the publicity blurbs that reveal her true vocation. I started this debut novel with some concern about that myself. But the author’s crisp writing and fast-paced storytelling had me quickly hooked.

Cordelia is no gun-for-hire, nor is she a simple sociopath, though people who kill, repeatedly, in a calculated manner certainly are sociopathic. Cordelia can be described more as a justice-seeker. In a world where women are the highest category of victims of male violence, she has a certain Robin Hood-like proclivity for ‘redistribution’ as well as retribution. She targets bad men only, and not simply in her view. These are men who, by any definition, should pay for their very real crimes against women. Justice, through all the established mechanisms, has failed to be enacted. So Cordelia Black takes action. When her work hours as a pharmaceutical sales rep are over, she traces them in the streets of South Louisiana. And invariably finds (and kills) her man.

A story like this might well raise moral hackles concerning the anarchy that would ensue if systems of law, justice and punishment were ignored in favour of vigilante action. But Brown presents a female protagonist who is very easy to support in her dogged pursuit of Truly Evil Men. This is a smart novel and Cordelia is a smart woman with whom anyone, male or female, who is frustrated with countless examples of powerful men getting away with blatant abuses of power, will admire and identify with. Of course merely culling the city of bad men can’t be the proverbial walk in the park, so the tension is not just in that impressive act but also in the fine line between getting it done and the personal repercussions of being a serial killer. This really comes to the fore when Cordelia watches her best friend Diane fall for a man who just may not be good. But how bad is he? And how bad is Cordelia?

This is a taut, suspenseful tale with quirky and definitely memorable main characters, shot through with feminine loyalty and compassion, and written with humour. Despite my initial misgivings, it’s not just a revenge tale. It says a lot about women’s choices, and their limits, even in the 21st century.

Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy.

This Girls A Killer follows Cordelia (a woman serial killer, even though she hates this title), and how she navigates being both a "normal" member of society with friends/family, a job, and dating and her more nefarious activities. The story starts with the drug Cordelia is pushing to doctors' offices (down with big pharma), and meeting her best friend's new bf (who we hate instantly). For about the first 35% we flip between tense meetings with Diane's bf and awkward dates with a cop, and Cordelia lowkey having a bad time, but little does she know it's about to get so much worse. At about 35% Cordelia is up to some nefarious shit and it starts with encountering Simon (the shitty gross bf of her bff) on a date with another woman, and quickly falls off a cliff. Cordelia is in a full on spiral with her serial killing business and by 61% it's not getting better.

While I found the first third of the book is slow, once Cordelia really starts having a bad time the author definitely finds their stride with the prose. If you don't love slow starts to books, then you probably won't like this, but if you're willing to stick it out I think the payoff is worth it.

This was very Dexter. While I did enjoy it, there was just something that didn't really wow me. It was good with some jokes through in. However, the main character seemed to be more chaotic than she would claim to be. Always covering up her mistakes. The best friend, was annoying to me.

3.5⭐️-I really enjoyed this debut novel about a female serial killer (think Dexter) dolling out punishment to the scum of the earth.
I will say, I wish there was more background information on Cordelia and her friendship with Diane was a little more fleshed out. I think that could have been done by not spending so much time on what she was wearing and dropping brand names.
I did enjoy it overall and it seemed like there was room for a sequel, so maybe we’ll get a better look into the kind of Cor.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC for review!

I was a huge Dexter fan back in the day. I love just desserts and a vigilante who gets away with making things somehow seem right. Cordelia Black is a dark heroine I can get behind. she is smart, organized, principled, and snarky. I loved that she is a fashionista drug rep with a shoe problem and a troubled childhood she only hints at. I do hope this goes on to be a series as I feel I am just getting to know her as a person and all her complexities. And of course, there are so many more well-deserving objects for her little... hobby.

A solid 4.25 stars for this intriguing debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Cordelia Black is a vigilante serial killer, with her targets being men who have done women wrong and have gotten away with it. Cordelia feels it is her calling to bring forth justice. When her best friend, Diane, starts dating a guy Simon, Cordelia instantly knows something is off. She makes it her job to find out what it is and bring an end to it.
I really enjoyed this book. Cordelia is unhinged and I loved every moment of it! She goes out and practically stalks her prey before going in for the killer. And after the kill, she creates art with her victim's blood (literally). She's nuts, and I loved it! It added a lot to her character. She's also clearly obsessive and has this odd obsession with her best friend, Diane. It was quite excessive, however, I found myself wishing the author would have touched more on that or added a spin or twist that would have really had us at really questioning Cordelia's unhinged nature. Although the book wasn't as thrilling as I would have liked, it was still good. I didn't care for Diane much. She just seemed like a gullible teenage girl most of the time. I enjoyed Cordelia's character and how she somehow found herself in the most ridiculous scenarios yet still made it out unscathed. A solid 4-star read!
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Emma C. Wells for this read!

4 stars

This was so good!!
The characters. The whole plot. The *memories* (ugh check triggers). The girlhood. The girls protect girls. Everything was so good.
If you like Dexter or The Mindf*ck series (without the steamy scenes) or if you're into "I support women's rights but also women's wrongs," then this book is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cordelia Black is meticulous, controlled, organized, cautious, determined, and self-assured. I mean, you have to be when you’re someone whose side job/purpose in life is killing men for vengeance. This doesn’t make her a serial killer, though. Certainly not, though when the media starts classifying the mysterious missing men as potential victims of a serial killer, one might understand why this assumption is made. I mean, she does kill men. Plural. But rather than focus on this, Cordelia focuses on the smoke while providing justice and safety for the women in her community who have become unwilling victims of these dangerous men.

And when things begin to unravel for pharmaceutical rep Cordelia we’ll see all that painstaking organization and contingency planning unravel even as our unreliable narrator Cordelia assures herself (and readers) that she is indeed a scrupulous planner.

A quick and easy read with depth and humour, “This Girl’s a Killer” will have you rooting for the strong female vigilante over the bad guys and hoping she somehow manages to evade even her new date. While the ending wrapped everything up nicely, there is the possibility of new adventures with Cordelia, best friend Diane, and goddaughter Samantha.

This debut novel by @emma.c.wells.books will be on shelves October 29, 2024! Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the advance ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Hey feminist Dexter, hey! A fast-paced, couldn’t put it down read. It may not be the most groundbreaking concept, but it’s highly entertaining. Perfect for fans of serial killer tales with a fresh twist!

Nope.

There are way better books about feminine rage and killing the bad guys that don't get childish, insulting, and somehow also manage to be extremely boring. I will always at least try a book in this subgenre, but Cordelia just wasn't it, and this felt very, very debut-y.

While I generally don't like writing negative reviews, I feel obligated to write this one because I received an ARC from NetGalley.

There's something about a revenge plot that is just so deeply satisfying, pair that with my love for serial killers and you'll understand just how much I absolutely adored Cordelia.

Fine, I'll say it! This is a female Dexter Morgan, but with better fashion sense and a conscience. Her life, job, wardrobe, and found family are all wonderful until one day things start falling apart. The storyline follows Cordelia as her main income source is pulled from the market. It wouldn't be so bad except she'd been skimming product to help with her evening adventures. And then when something threatens the only people she truly cares about, Cordelia has to decide what she is willing to risk and how much she is willing to break her own rules to keep the life she has created. This felt a bit more campy than the Dexter series but I also felt this had more depth than Finlay Donovan. I just wish this could somehow be a series! I am going to miss these characters.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC! "This Girl's a Killer" throws you straight into the action and mind of our protagonist, Cordelia Black - self made powerful HBIC with a razor wit and a hidden tragic past. The concept for this book, a female serial killer taking out bad men that the system won't, is always a fun one, but what made this one extra fun was that she is a medical sales rep. That tidbit added some extra tension throughout the book and helped add believability to her cause. My one complaint would be that there is a lot of telling from inside Cordelia's head rather than showing, and I did find some points in the book where I was skimming because it was a repetition of earlier plot/character information. Overall, if you like stories with female rage, karma, found family, and thrills, you'll enjoy this book.

If you like anything by Freida McFadden and you enjoyed Butcher & Blackbird - This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Wells is going to be for you!! 🫀

By day, Cordelia Black is a pharmaceutical rep with a high reputation and penchant for designer pieces. By night, Cor is tracking and hunting monsters who prey on the vulnerable and bringing them to justice through her own hands. I've seen her referred to as "female Dexter"…and I love it! 🔪🩸💉

But when there's public pressure about a serial killer on the loose and Cor's best friend Diane starts dating a man Cor thinks should be on her list of unsavory men... Cor's world begins to spiral. Her anxiety and paranoia sent me pretty much through the roof. 🤯

Similar to Freida's style, there were MAAAANY times where the leading lady made the mOsT qUeStIoNaBlE decisions that got her into even more trouble, but it definitely kept me hooked. This also had the element of gore and murder for justice like Butcher & Blackbird, but DEF did not have any spice like in B&B. 💖

This was just a fun, fun story about a likeable serial killer who is fiercely loyal to her inner circle and determined to rid the world of predators. 👌🏻

Loved the title, loved the cover. Loved the female rage and sassiness of the female main character. 🐩

I read this book but i've seen that it is a fabulous audiobook too - if that's your jam! 🎧

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Releases October 29, 2024! ☠️