I usually love books of this genre, but this one was not for me.

First off though, I really appreciated the author's trigger warning at the beginning. I wish more authors took the time to do this.

But I just couldn't get into this one. While reading, it reminded me a bit of the Finlay Donovan series. For this book, I liked the idea - strong female character avenging crimes against women/children, but it didn't work for me. Cordelia was really unlikeable. What did me in though was her downfall. All of the book talks about her perfectionism/professionalism/plans around her "work", but then she moves forward with a murder after running into someone she knows. This seemed so off and after it happened I lost interest.

There were also many secondary plot lines going on that don't get resolved at all - the pharmaceutical issue, the cop relationship, etc.. It seems like this is being set up to be the first in a series, but it took away from the read.

I'm thankful I got to read the ARC from NetGalley, but it was not a fave.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would’ve. It was okay but nothing great. I enjoyed the writing style and some of the plot.

Where do I start? Although I did enjoy the book, I wanted to really LOVE it more than I did.

The premise was great, someone avenging people and being a vigilante , removing those who are doing evil things. Cordelia prowls the city searching for men preying on others, and then she preys on them..

I felt there was a lot going on . The subplot with the drug, as well as the murders. I must confess, the "art" was a little disturbing.

I was disappointed in how she was outed. It just seemed so sloppy after the author spent so much time telling us how meticulous she was. I also felt as if the city itself could have been more of the story, and that there needed to be more of an explanation as to how Cordelia became Cordelia.

The ending was somewhat clever and tied things up nicely. I am not sure I would read another book with this character, but would be interested in other books by this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher who provided a copy in exchange for my thoughts.

I was happily surprised with this book. When it first started and the MC was name dropping labels I thought I would be rolling my eyes, but I quickly grew to love Cordelia Black. Love the revenge/moral killings aspect. Was a very fun thriller to read, Will absolutely be recommending.

This was awesome it is worth the hype and I felt a connection to multiple characters and enjoyed the plot and pace of this book

Cordelia Black is a pharmaceutical rep by day and serves justice to terrible men by night. She has a sense of morality and only takes down the worst of the worst men. Cordelia has an amazing found family in her best friend, Daine and her god daughter, Samantha. She also has an incredible wardrobe.

I wanted to love this book. I would categorize it as a murderous beach read with a lot of drama. Is that even a thing? I'm not sure. But this was a quick read for me that I finished in one day. There is a lot of dialogue between characters which left little room for scene building and suspense. The premise of the book drew me in but a lot of the mystery thriller elements fell flat.

Thank you to Net Galley, Emma C. Wells and Poisoned Pen Press for the EARC

DNF @55%

I really wanted to like this book as I am all about female rage, but I just couldn't push through anymore.

The writing itself was okay although perhaps a little bit repetitive, but I found the plot really dragged. I pushed through hoping that the pace would pick up after the first third of the book (and to be fair it did, things happened around the halfway mark) but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters anymore by that point. It kind of just felt like everyone was a side character in Cordelia's story, which is fine if you like Cordelia's character, but unfortunately I did not.

I can work with character driven books, (some of my favourite books have little to no plot), but I didn't find the characters in this book to have enough depth to make reading about them enjoyable. For example, we get very small glimpses into Cordelia's back story through errant thoughts that she has, but not enough to truly understand her upbringing. So we never really get to see much into her personality other than that she loves to dress nice and that her childhood was rough.

She almost has 2 sides to her character:
1. The lover of Diane and Sugar
2. The killer of bad men.

And that's kind of it. I just wanted more of an explanation to really get Cordelia (maybe that happens later on but if it does I wish it had happened much sooner). I think this lacking was especially pronounced since Cordelia's whole thing is to put on different facades so it makes it even more difficult to understand her as a character. Yes, I know that she made herself into "Cordelia Black" but that emphasis doesn't really work for me when I don't know who she was before.

Even though I am dnf'ing this I think it deserves at least 2 stars since while the story itself may not be for me, I think other people may find it to be more compelling.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I generally love a vigilante lady but very much did not love Cordelia. She spends half of the book talking about how meticulous and controlled she is and the other half of the book trying to clean up her impulsive, chaotic mistakes. There were some funny lines here and there, and some vaguely slapstick moments, so I got the feeling this was supposed to have some Findlay Donovan-style wacky hijinks vibes, but it just felt disjointed and disorganized and like it didn’t quite know what it was trying to be.

I read this for a buddy read, and we had pretty wide-ranging reactions to it, so I wouldn’t discourage people from trying it, even though it didn’t work for me.

"This Girl's a Killer" by Emma C. Wells is an exhilarating journey that seamlessly combines elements of suspense, action, and a touch of dark humor. From the outset, Wells grips the reader with a fast-paced plot and a protagonist who is as intriguing as she is formidable.

The story centers around a strong, multi-dimensional heroine whose sharp wit and relentless drive make her a standout character. Wells excels at creating vivid, dynamic scenes that pull the reader into the heart of the action, making every twist and turn feel immediate and impactful.

Wells’ writing is crisp and engaging, with dialogue that crackles and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. The balance of tension and character development is expertly handled, ensuring that the narrative remains compelling throughout.

"This Girl's a Killer" is more than just a thriller; it’s a smart, well-crafted tale that delves into themes of resilience and justice. Emma C. Wells has penned a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for fans of gripping, character-driven mysteries. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

“This Girl’s a Killer” is a fantastic and quick read! It gave off major Dexter vibes (and some similarities) but with a strong willed and beautiful, sexy fmc. The characters are easy to adore with story lines based on the bonds and strengths of found/chosen family relationships over blood family.

Several parts had me on the edge and left me wondering how exactly was this going to end, could she really get away with this?

If there’s a book 2, I’m looking forward to it!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free arc.

#thisgirlsakiller #netgalley #emmacwells

I love an unlikable female main character but I also didn’t feel like I was rooting for her. I loved the premise of a female Dexter-type character with a “code” of only killing monsters. The end felt rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of This Girl's a Killer.

Would you believe this isn't the first book I've read that was narrated by a female serial killer?

No, this is the fifth or sixth book, I think, just this year, and I get the feeling it's only going to get worse.

I wouldn't mind this new trend since I enjoyed Dexter (book and TV show) very much but when the female serial characters are unlikable, annoying twits, it makes it hard for me to enjoy these books I'm seeing a bit too often.

Take Cordelia Black, for example.

She's a successful pharma rep, dressed to the nines in designer clothes, a fake blond, and incredibly self assured and confident. Naturally, she's the complete opposite of who she used to be, a young girl struggling to survive a traumatic childhood and upbringing.

This trauma is only alluded to so we don't know why exactly Cordelia is the way she is.

What we do know is that she loves her Louboutins, loves to name drop and loves her BFF and goddaughter, Samantha.

And that's the other thing: I love their close friendship but after a few chapters of Cordelia stressing just how much they mean to her and what she's willing to do to keep them as her family, the friendship began to sound like...obsession.

Of course, if Cordelia is the efficient and organized serial killer she claims to be, nothing can go wrong, right?

NOT! Everything goes off the rails when she kills someone she hadn't planned far in advance for and hijinks ensue.

It got super duper, almost rom-com silly by this point, as Cordelia tries to go about her day and figure out what to do while a body is decomposing in her tub.

It was difficult to suspend disbelief for.

I know it doesn't help that I couldn't stand Cordelia; she doesn't seem capable of being a serial killer.

Then, there's the pharma scandal and the blackmailing scheme with the office manager. What was the point of that?

McSmiley was a typical trope; handsome and the standard romantic partner, and it didn't hurt he was a cop so Cordelia could gain some insight into the ongoing investigation.

Despite the narrative revolving around a serial killer, there was very little suspense and urgency.

I do love the title and Mango!

Reading this book felt like diving into a mix of Dexter and the Mindf*ck series. From the first page, Cordelia Black pulls you into her double life—by day, she's a polished pharmaceutical rep, and by night, she's a vigilante serving her own idea of justice. Cordelia’s character makes you question your own sense of right and wrong as she takes down men who definitely have it coming. It’s a quick read, taking me just a few hours.

The tension in the last third of the book was so intense that I had to put it down and take deep breaths more than once. It was stressful! The author steadily raises the pressure, keeping you on the edge of your seat as Cordelia’s house of cards begins to crumble. Her best friend’s creepy new boyfriend adds another layer of suspense, and you can’t help but wonder if Cordelia’s sense of justice will end up being her downfall.

One aspect that left me confused was the recurring “smoke” in people's eyes that Cordelia sees. Is it just a figment of her trauma-induced imagination or something else? The book leaves this question unanswered, which seems like a missed opportunity. It left me unsure if she deep in the throes of mental illness or if the book just had a supernatural aspect.

Overall, I’d rate this book 3.75 out of 5, rounding up to 4 stars. If you enjoy dark, morally complex thrillers with a fierce female lead, this book is worth a read. Just be prepared for some graphic scenes and a lot of suspense that will keep you hooked until the very end.

This book was excellent. I just flew through it. It kept me turning the pages. I loved the way Cordelias character is written. She was smart and knew how to play people who were in turn trying to play her. Excellent read. I gave it 5 stars and will be eagerly awaiting her next book. Will definitely recommend this one.

Cordelia Black is Patrick Bateman, updated for the mid-2020s. She's a serial killer with a mission, to protect vulnerable women and girls, especially her ride or die BFF, Diane, and her goddaughter, Samantha. She's no softie, but something about Cordelia and her totally messed up, horrible, no good, awful week, makes you want to love her. Someone needs to cut her a break from her haircut gone wrong, her pharmaceutical job at risk due to a drug's side effects, and her crochety neighbor's dog pooping in her yard.

This needs to be adapted into a film!

I loved this! Cordelia Black’s a serial killer, meticulous and plastic-clad a la Dexter. And similar to Dexter, she only goes for the bad guys.
I had so much fun with this one - it’s a fast, addicting read. You fall immediately for Cordelia (or at least I did) because of her love for her chosen family. She’s chic, polished, and very Type-A… a killer bitch, but in the best way. Cordelia’s ride-or-die, Diane, has found a new Beau. Cordelia rarely approves over Diane’s partners, but this one is particularly annoying. What she can’t figure out is whether he’s just annoying, or actually dangerous. And if it’s the latter, he might be qualified to die at her hands. If you’re looking for a book you just can’t put down (with some gorgeous feminine rage), this is it.

I was surprised this was a debut novel. Loved the characters and the story instantly gained my attention.

A most unusual plot which I found delightful! Cordelia does not think of herself as a killer, rather an executioner. She only kills monsters, not bad men, but real monsters-the monsters that prey on children and vulnerable women. There is no graphic detail in the story which I appreciated but she shows how she proves to herself that the monster is real. A delightful story which I highly recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book starts just as Cordelia Black's life begins to tailspin. We learn who she is as a professional when her job and professional relationships are on the brink of collapse. We meet her adopted family just as her best friend's new boyfriend threatens to distance them by emotional and physical miles. We learn of her creative and artistic side as she laments the loss of time to create her artwork. It is her hobby, however, that actually defines who she is as a person at her core. We only learn of her past and her metamorphosis into the avenger that she has become as she scrambles to hold onto the life she has made. Wells has blurred right and wrong and has revealed the acceptable levels of grey. Cordelia is no killer; she tells you this multiple times throughout the book. What Cordelia is, instead, is a phoenix, a protector, an investigator, judge and avenger. And Cordelia is a survivor. Cordelia takes back her life as she kills and buries her past, transforms into the person she wants to be and doesn't look back. Despite everything falling apart, piece by piece, she refuses to give up on the life she has made. Cordelia is the superhero we all want to be, being our best self and protecting our family no matter the cost! This story intrigues you right from the start; once hooked, you just can't put the book down until the final body disposal! Wonderfully written to be edge-of-your-seat exciting and therapeutic and funny even though it touches on some heavy social issues.

I really enjoyed this book. A true quick read thriller. Cordelia is like a female Dexter, killing only bad men. While some things were a little far fetched, this was still an enjoyable read for me.