It's sloppy to start a review with "I really want to like..." and I did, I really wanted to like this based on the cover, title, and blurb. The first 3 chapters almost convinced me I had the wrong book. At that point I got it, Cordelia is a narcissistic rep for a big Pharma company that she skims narcotics from to subsidize her lucrative sideline of murdering men she recognizes as predators because they have smoke in their eyes. There is the obligatory best friend who stumbles into a murder gone haywire but this is where the book does seem to evolve into a true buddy caper. My advice is to wait a few years for the daughter to age out of the story and write the caper novels they are meant to be.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This is an independent review.

I have recently been really into thrillers so was excited to get the chance to read this book. However I’d say the story kind of fell short. I felt the FMC was built up to be this strong, confident, in control character who served justice, to only then spiral into constant little mistakes. It didn’t make sense for her character development to be honest. The best part of this book for me was the friendship and found family aspect between Cordelia, her best friend Diane, and Diane’s daughter.

3.25 stars

Cordelia Black: pharmaceutical rep by day, vigilante serial killer by night. Her calling is ridding the world of bad men, and she'll do anything to keep her best friend, Diane, and Diane's daughter, Samantha, safe. Cordelia Black has a handle on everything... Until she doesn't. Her life starts spiraling out of control, and she has to figure out how to keep it all together.

This Girl's a Killer had me absolutely HOOKED for the first 2/3 of the book. Cordelia is quite neurotic underneath a well-put-together facade, and watching her unravel was such a fascinating journey. But once we hit the 2/3 mark, certain pieces of the story began to wrap up too nicely and others didn't wrap up at all, which was disappointing.

As a debut novel, it was well-written, and I enjoyed my time reading it overall, but I think a stronger ending would have given This Girl's a Killer the boost it needed. That said, I'm really looking forward to reading future books by Emma C. Wells.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book should be on the top of everybody's lists to pick up when it releases in September! I haven't been this obsessed with a book in a long time. Really hoping there is a 2nd book but also really like how cleanly this one was wrapped up.

If you enjoy vigilante killing, fashion and a fun story pick this one up! It reminded me of Dexter but sexier.

It is hard for me to believe this book is a debut by the author, I can not wait to read more from her.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I LOVE a book about a serial killer with good intentions. This book is just that! It follows Cordelia who is living a double life. During the day she is a pharmaceutical rep badass, and by night she takes care of bad men. I loved the relationships between her best friend and with her goddaughter. It was fast paced, great writing, and lovable characters. I would definitely recommend!

Reading this main character was like sustaining the moments before a panic attack for four hours. She seemed to always have a plan, but...it was always a seriously bad plan. I found myself continuously thinking things like "everyone knows you can't xyz when you need to deal with a corpse, like, common sense much?" Then I had uncomfortable questions for myself, if you see what I mean.

The writing was decent, but it does need a heavy pass or two with a good copy editor before going out into the world. The story wasn't bad, but it felt very much like the author was trying to tell the female version of Dexter, or saw the Carey Mulligan movie Promising Young Woman and borrowed heavily from those works. I also had a hard time liking or feeling any compassion for Cordelia's character, and when a protagonist doesn't pull feelings from a reader, it generally makes the book far less enjoyable. I'd give it 2.5 stars as it stands, but with some rewriting it could bump up a bit.

A different read! Cordelia has come from a bad childhood and seeks revenge on all monsters. She is skilled and a master at her craft.
I felt her character was too masculine and overconfident. Not a story I would normally care to read. Half way through I almost gave up reading because it was getting annoying to read.’

Thank you to netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC ebook in exchange for my honest opinions. This is a debut novel and I can only that her next one will be even better! I gave this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the main character with all her sassy behaviors. I feel like some more of her backstory was missing along with Simon's. Overall, the book was a solid debut thriller novel!

A "killer" story! Wells nails this character and book. It's fast-paced and intriguing. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow! This book was hilarious with a hint of anticipation! I need a friend like Cordelia Black! This witty, spunky woman took care of business to protect the ones she loved. What a great book!!

This was honestly so fun to read, despite how dark the content is. The psychological aspect to it + feminine rage was such a chilling thing to experience. How many other books do you find yourself rooting for a serial killer? (Let alone a female one!) I wish there was a little more of a conclusion; I felt like it ended pretty suddenly but maybe the author has plans for another book? I hope so, because Cordelia Black is such a fascinating protagonist!

I had such high expectations for this book. I hyped it up too much for myself. I was expecting something deep and compelling. A tense and suspenseful thriller. Something along the lines of the movie Promising Young Woman except the main character actually kills the men she lures.

Instead what I read was a messy plot full of holes with one dimensional characters. The whole thing was so utterly ridiculous. And I can still enjoy a book like that if I know that's what I'm in for and I'm in the mood for it. Had I known this was more like a Jeneva Rose book I most likely would have passed on it.

I gave it two stars because it was humorous and because of Mango the dog. Also it was entertaining. I just had to suspend all disbelief and ignore every inconsistency. So many coincidental facts or character actions that had me rolling my eyes. Despite all that I was able to look at it objectively and rated it based on what it was and not what I wanted it to be. This Girl's a Killer just fell flat and wasn't deep at all. But it has many five star reviews so clearly I'm an outlier. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I don't typically go for female rage stories. I find them to be very cringe and millennial core, so I stay far away. But Cordelia, the MC, really surprised me. She was so well written and complex that she felt like a real person and not a caricature. Not to say that Cordelia should be mistaken for a "good" person. The lady definitely is chaotic with a dash of evil but I revel in every opportunity to root for a serial killer. This book is very camp and a little ridiculous at times but it worked for me and I loved this book so much.

Finlay Donovan meets Dexter in this brilliant debut novel. While this wasn't as suspenseful as most thrillers that I enjoy, I didn't even notice because I loved the characters so much. I devoured this one. The ending definitely makes it seem like there will be a book 2, and I'm here for it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The beginning of the book had me a bit bored, it read almost as if the author didn't know how or where to begin. But the unraveling of the main character was chaotic and gave me a pit in my stomach with sympathy anxiety. I didn't want to put the book down. Ending had me a bit bummed, where did Christopher go??! I wish he was somewhere there in the end even if it was her using him for more information.

I have to say my least favorite character arc is "strong women who claim you will never see them cry, queueing them crying and unraveling every moment on".

This is a fabulous story. I could not put it down. Ms. Wells has triumphed in the serial killer genre. She keeps the reader engaged with the underlying story while fully developing the characters both individually and through their relationships. She also found ways of breaking the tension with some laugh out loud sections. I certainly hope this will become a series. Because, of course!

This Girl’s a Killer
By Emma C. Wells
#thisgirlsakiller #NetGalley


Absolutely loved this gripping, thrilling, & entertaining story. Wells does a phenomenal job of curating and giving these characters real depth and well roundness. The main character Cordelia is a girls girl with expensive tastes, who values her found family, and protects at all cost. Action packed & enthralling I highly recommend this mystery/thriller/adult-fiction/women’s-fiction


📚Expected Release October 29, 2024📚
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, & the brilliant author Emma C. Wells. I’m super appreciative & gave my honest opinion❤️

Unfortunately I did have to DNF this. I was expecting a more serious thriller, but this felt more like a drama. Now re-reading the summary about found family I see that I missed that. I think if someone is looking to moralize a morally gray FMC and add a more heartwarming twist, this will hit well! But this just was not what I was expecting. I may pick this up again at another point though!

I got this book as an ARC through NetGalley, but I also had already preordered it because of course I’m supporting local authors debut novels. The main character was similar to Dexter except think female rage. I loved the best friend relationship in this book and the storyline. It was fast paced and I stayed up later than I should have because I didn’t want to stop reading. It was refreshing to read a book that gets Louisiana right, especially being that it took place in my home town of Baton Rouge. I was definitely going to notice if those details were wrong. I have DNF a book for exactly that reason before. The way this book ended, I’m hoping it may have a sequel! If not, it’s a great ending, but I would definitely read more of Cordelia!