
Member Reviews

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.

Cordelia Black is a pharma rep by day and serial killer by night. She prides herself on ridding the world of evil men.
Without giving away too much, I would say that it was interesting enough to want to know what happens next but not in the sense of "I need to know what happens right this minute."
I guess for a debut novel, it was good. However, if I were rating the suspense and pacing against other mystery, thriller, or even romantic suspense books I have read, I wouldn't say it was amazing.
I did love that it was written in the first person, though. You get to enjoy the psyche of a serial killer. It could have been executed a little better as I would imagine that Cordelia would have been more meticulous about certain things. I think overall, there were good traits and tidbits, and it just needed to be meshed together more seamlessly and flow from chapter to chapter, beginning to end.
I would have liked her past to be explored more. As a reader, I felt I was reading from the outside or looking in through a window and not submerging myself into the storyline. I ended the book feeling like there were so many unanswered questions and almost as if I was stopped mid-chapter.
The supporting characters didn't get the conclusions I would have liked either.
Overall, I would rate this 3 stars. It wasn't amazing, however, for a debut, it was good. As I'm sure writing a thriller can be difficult.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy
2 1/2 stars rounded up
A female serial killer breaks her rules and mayhem ensues. She sees herself more as a justified vigilante (she only kills "bad" men). Although her reasoning and rationalizing is flawed, the author seems to agree. This should be a quick one day beach read but dragged for me. It was in great need of editing for length and misspellings. All the characters were unlikable and I particularly don't like designer brand name-dropping liberally sprinkled about. The sub plot about the main character working for a thinly veiled Purdue Pharma didn't ever get fully developed or resolved.
Basically , it was meh for me

Love love love love!!! I want more of this book!! I want more of Cordelia Black all day everyday. I don’t think I can sing its praises enough.
As a HUGE Dexter fan, this felt like a hug from Dexter himself!!! I felt there was inspiration from him, but on its own its own it’s incredible. A female serial killer who does away with evil men??? Yes. Yes. Yes. Sign me up. AND she’s a girls girl??? Again, yes please. I was so invested in Cordelia’s friendship and I had no idea how it would end but boy did it have me turning pages.
Is this a love story? No. I did love the side plot and love interest because it contributed to her whole story. I absolutely rooted for the serial killer. And the way it ended? I need a second book now, tomorrow, ASAP.
A first/debut by Emma Wells and one heck of a first impression. It’s been a week since I’ve finished this book and I’m still thinking of it!!
Thanks so much NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

Thank you to Netgallery and Poisoned Pen Press for an early release copy of This Girl’s A Killer by Emma C Wells.
I was so excited to get into This Girls A killer as soon as I seen the trigger warnings! I knew that this was going to be a gory and graphic story, it certainly delivers. I want to mention before the review that the trigger warnings can be found by going to Emma C Wells website www.emmaCwells.com this is stated in the authors note before the book starts as some people can think trigger warnings can be spoiling, while I agree that they can be I don’t think everyone is going to want to go searching for a website, I think it would be a good idea to include a list of trigger warnings at the end of the book and mention the list is in the back of the book.
This story is exactly what kind of read I was in the mood for, the story kept me hooked from the start and was extremely hard to put down. Emma C Wells does a good job at writing characters that are interesting to read and care about, I was genuinely invested in Cordelia, Diane, and Sugar (Samantha) characters. The trigger warnings immediately had me excited for a graphic story and this girls a killer is definitely graphic in both gory kills and just subjects that are graphic in nature. I enjoyed our workshop scenes, Cordelia’s way of art, and the whole dilemma that we get during the second half of the book. I kind of liked the short “romance” that we don’t really get much of. Christopher seemed like a nice guy but I didn’t necessarily think that the two of them would have clicked. Cordelia even says that she feels like she is kissing her brother, so I’m kind of hoping If we get a second book that their relationship is more on the friendly side.
I did find it a bit repetitive that Cordelia keeps mentioning that she always has a plan, that is meticulously, or always remembers things yet during the second half you can definitely feel a slip in her character. I wish we would have gotten a few more moments with Diane, Sugar, and Cordelia I think if we got some more past flashbacks or even present scenes the connection that readers felt for them would be even stronger. We see some in the story that they are close and view each other as family but I wanted to see more of how they bonded together instead of being just told everything. I would have loved some past and present pov chapters, it could have showed more about Cordelia’s home life and how she became the person she is today.
The writing here is enjoyable, I feel it’s detailed and while graphic in nature I don’t feel that it’s overly graphic. I would definitely like to see more from this author, I’d love to see more from Cordelia, maybe she could find a way to convince Diane to help her with the bad men and make the world a safer place.

If you like dexter this book is for you, it follows Cordelia who works is a pharmaceutical sales rep by day and at night she is a killer. She is a loyal and protective best friend and godmother and will do whatever she needs to do to keep her family safe.
PROS:
- keeps you engaged and gives you just enough each chapter to have to continue to see what happens next making it a quick read.
-the chapters were not super long
-the friendship between Cordelia and Diana, and the love they have for each other and for Samantha.
-Mango. I love a good rescue story.
CONS:
-I felt towards the middle that the plot was moving bit to fast and the conclusion to the book would leave much to be desired.
-Not enough backstory to help us understand why Cordelia is they was she is.
-the fact that Cordelia is supposed to be this women who is meticulous and plans everything out, but the whole second half of the book she didn't give the same vibes.
Over all, I enjoyed reading this book and if there were ever a book 2 i would probably read that too, to see what happened next!
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ARC.

This Girl's a Killer was a fun, quirky and fast-paced read that made for a good time. I don't believe the book was meant to be all that dramatic or suspenseful; to me it came across as an enjoyable beach read - it was meant to be easy and entertaining. And, if you go into it with that mindset, I think it delivers. This book, despite being a mystery, is not dark or twisty - there are no big shocking plot twists, no huge revelations at the end - it's straightforward, comedic, and a bit of a respite from your typical read. The main character, Cordelia, is a little annoying and neurotic, but in an incredibly endearing way. The way the author makes the shallow characters likeable through humour is impressive.
If you're looking for something fun to read, then I'd steer this direction. 4/5 stars.

This book is so fun. Cordelia is a character that is shocking, hysterical, and does things most people wouldn’t. As in, she slays monsters. More specifically, men that do bad things. And she gets away with it. Her family is her best friend Diane and Diane’s daughter Samantha. When a monster (bad man) starts dating Diane, the executing becomes more of an emotional job then a duty and things don’t go as planned. Did I mention Cordelia is dating a cop? All under the guise of “gaining insider information” on the serial killer out there killing all these men. What could go wrong?
Fellow readers: you will LOVE Cordelia Black.

This was a fun read! Cordelia is a professional pharmaceutical rep and a serial killer. In the beginning, it appears that Cordelia has EVERYTHING under control, but that quickly changes when her pharmaceutical job is suddenly threatened and her best friend meets a new man. I thought it was interesting that Cordelia's murdering started with her trying to protect her friends. There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

This was a really fun read about a female vigilante killer. I really enjoyed reading this, and I loved how all of the misogyny was called out. I also noticed the obvious parallels between real life cases and some of the predators in the story. Fine work! I kept me sucked in and didn’t let go until the last page. Incredible story, this author rocks!!

"Goodbye Earl" meets Dexter!!
If you're looking to enter the mind of a morally grey serial killer full of female rage and fierce love for her found family, then this is the book for you!
Be sure to check CW before reading. Cordelia has a code of honor and only kills *bad men* which means there is mention of some pretty triggering subjects.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

This girl is a killer was great thriller. Pharmaceutical rep by day killer by night, can she get away with it?? I really enjoyed this book and I think it will be a great read for fall time.

This Girl's a Killer by Emma Wells is a riveting thriller with dark humor. Cordelia Black, is a complex and intriguing character who leads a double life. By day, she is a successful pharmaceutical rep, but by night, she turns into a vigilante, eliminating men who have escaped justice. Cordelia is both relatable in her fierce loyalty to her chosen family and chilling in her methodical approach to her night time activities. The tension mounts as her perfectly controlled world starts to unravel, especially when her best friend begins dating a man who might not be as innocent as he seems. The writing was engaging and fast paced, with twists and turns throughout. The book explores themes of justice, morality, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones.

OOOhhh WEEEEEE!!! I am not even sure what or how to think about this book. I was describing it to one of my co-workers and she said she loved it and would want to read it. What a wild ride. I caught myself holding my breath. Cordelia takes care of men that fall through the justice crack, or are just really good at hiding their monster!! Yes, she kills bad men and she likes it.

This book reminds me of the TV show Dexter. It starts out a little slow. The twist towards the end was great. I really enjoyed reading it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First off, thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alright, so I was a huge fan of Dexter back in the day (minus the final season; I refuse to acknowledge the series had a season 8), so I was super hyped for this book. Unfortunately, in my opinion, This Girl’s a Killer didn’t live up to its potential.
Things I liked:
-The found family trope felt well done.
-The humor, especially involving the blind date and Samantha.
-The pacing.
-Mango.
Things I didn’t:
-How the drug scandal (and the MC’s personal feelings towards learning the drug actually harmed people) faded away from importance and became a black mailing scheme instead.
-WHO CASUALLY GOES ON A DATE AND TO LUNCH WITH A BODY STINKING UP THEIR HOUSE? Like seriously? You have multiple near misses of being discovered and getting rid of your melting meat sack isn’t priority number 1?!
-The ending (although not nearly as bad as dumping your sister’s body off a boat and disappearing along with her, right Dexter?)
-The book’s overall length. It felt like it was around 100 pages too long.
Overall, This Girl’s a Killer wasn’t a terrible read by any means, but I was disappointed by it; I went into it expecting a delicious 3 course meal and ended up with a partially frozen TV dinner.
(Unless you want to compare it to Dexter’s ending… then this was a masterpiece, no questions asked).

I enjoyed this book, though I was quite startled at the similarity to Butcher & Blackbird (with no spice). The main character was funny and smart, which I love in a FMC especially. I also really enjoyed the relationship between the women as best friends and basically surrogate sisters. Ms. Wells NAILED the 6th grade/preteen attitude and eye rolling with Sugar. Sounds just like my daughter. :)
Overall, I just wanted a little more from this book. I'm afraid that when it hits the market, due to it being so similar to B&B, that it won't have the same success due to the lack of spice. That said, I found this one really hard to put down, so I hope people give it a shot!