I really enjoyed this, I loved finding out the backstory and how they came to be married and serial killers, it’s not like they both enjoy the same boring hobby!
I loved the fact that apart from them being serial killers their marriage went through the same ups and downs as everyone else’s.
I really connected with Hazel and her loneliness after having a baby and attending all the classes without having any friends and struggling to make them.
The twist at the end was something I didn’t see coming at all but I loved it! I love how Hazel empowered another woman and gave Jenny her power back after going through what she did!
This was gripping, funny, sad but also really relatable (not the serial killer bit)
Would love a sequal!
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - 16th January 2025

ADVANCED REVIEW COPY - NET GALLEY


This take on the Mr & Mrs Smith story starts as a fun read. We get to share the viewpoint from both lead characters, the married "former" serial killers ...Haze, happy as a Mum but limited by the boredom
of domesticity, and Fox who has moved on in his own head and wants a quieter (almost) legal life of family and friends.


Author, Asia Mackay, is new to me. This is her third novel. The previous books were about a British spy returning to the fold after maternity leave so there is a theme of sorts running through her work it seems.


A third of the way in and I have to be honest, I've not warmed to the characters or the story which is getting a bit repetitive in respect of bemoaning the lack of killing time - the number of days since the last "job" surely doesn't
need updating/repeating? The point was taken the first time , the boring repetition of nursery Mums playtimes, office routine and home life...I want to read books where something happens that keeps me page turning...I realised this morning that I've not picked
up the book for a whole weekend (for pedants that's before Friday evening and upto Monday lunchtime), a good read keeps the interest and thus far mine has waned...and then something happens and dots get joined - though not necessarily in the right order!...


Talk about a game of two halves - somewhere around the 38% mark the book stepped up a great and met my page turner requirement... Things began to happen, plots began to thicken and herrings of a red variety twisted into the narrative...


At the end of the day I have to give this one four stars as three feels a bit curmudgeonly... If you pick it up then persevere as in the end it's worth the effort I reckon.

This was a fun read! The plot was outrageous, and a novel take on the ‘serial-killers-but-only-bad-guys’ genre. I have read quite a few of these books recently though, and that probably hampered my enjoyment a little bit, as the story was similar to other books I’ve read recently. I did love the humour in this one - the references to life as a suburban parent were spot on. All in all, a decent read if you’re a fan of the genre.

Absolutely loved listening to the audiobook version of this book, Hazel and Fox are such a non standard couple, there are many humorous moments in the book amongst the dark ones!
Georgia Tennant has an amazing voice and it’s a pleasure to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio for letting me review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this light hearted read, it was witty and kept me hooked all of the way through. I loved the style and will be looking for more similar books and books from Mackay

A dark and wickedly satirical take on life in suburbia with the added frisson of the protagonists being serial killers albeit ones on a sabbatical until their nine-month surprise and reason for their newly found domesticity daughter Bibi reaches eighteen. Perhaps if the husband Fox aka Nathaniel to the neighbours hadn’t expected his wife to go cold turkey it might’ve been easier on her but after three years of play groups and yummy mummies, Hazel is ready to kill the first person who looks at her the wrong way. After years of a glamorous lifestyle, travelling Europe and ‘unaliving’ people, no matter how much she loved her daughter, the ‘burbs just didn’t cut it, and she missed the anonymity of their old life. Most of all she missed her dashing husband who had become a middle-aged paper pusher overnight seemingly happy with their new life

This was my first read from this author and if A Serial Killers Guide to Marriage is anything to go by, it won’t be the last. With a fabulous flow Asia Mackay’s style of writing sucked me right with her wickedly tongue-in-cheek dark humour and with enough twists and turns to keep me absorbed throughout. I did get distinct Dexter vibes in so much that they only killed bad men, and I would’ve loved to have had more of their past live together. One part I especially loved were the little windows into Hazel’s psyche highlighted at the beginning of each section that had a light-hearted air of pure sarcasm about them as she and Fox dealt with their relationship issues like millions of couples out there – by ignoring each other…..well I suppose they couldn’t very well go to marriage guidance without having to kill the counsellor afterwards. Fortunately, they were able to find their way back to each other by reconnecting over their first love. This is definitely an author to keep an eye on.

I'm not sure why the serial killer genre has become so popular in recent years, but this story of Fox and Haze trying to retire from "killing bad men" and become perfect suburban parents after the birth of their daughter kept me turning the pages. It feels like the author has set it up for a possible sequel and I will be looking out for it.
Thank you to netgalley and headline for an advance copy of this book

The book started off quite slowly & there were times that it felt a bit dull. However, it really picked up around the halfway point & I thoroughly enjoyed the last 50%, especially the ending, which I thought was great. It’s a bit disappointing, as the premise seemed so promising. That said, I would still recommend it, as I think others might enjoy it more, it just didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Two broken and dangerous people find each other but what happens when only one wants to change? This was a great twist on the “hidden lives of serial killers” and gave Mr & Mrs Smith vibes - they walk among us after all! Pacing and story were good even if the ending was a tad unrealistic. Avoiding spoilers, I’d really love to know if our protagonist was being set up all along or if it was just a happy coincidence of unburdening to the right person…

I never felt that this book fully got going, I was looking for a bit more on the next page, and it never came. That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it, it’s a fun, flowing read - I just feel the characters could have been further developed so as to give the story more depth.
The premise is a great set-up for miscommunication and mishaps and both were used and written well. It had a real air of British black comedy about it, mixed with suspense which made for engaging situations.
I neither loved nor hated it.

A Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage is a comedic masterpiece, following a killer couple who have to stop when they discover they are pregnant. They each have their ways of coping, but when things start to spiral in their relationship, can they find a way of getting back to how they were in the beginning?
Haze the wife, makes friends with a girl who she thinks needs a supportive friend, while she’s at baby group, but what she discovers about this girl makes her realise she has made no real
effort to find out anything about her.
Fox the husband, on the other hand, embraces fatherhood, and does all the right things to bring up a healthy happy child. It all looks good on the outside, but keeping things from his wife is not the right thing to do!!
This is a funny, interesting take on a guide to marriage, and I loved it!!
Many thanks to Headline Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #HeadlineBooks, #Asia.Mackay.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage, by Asia Mackay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RELEASE DATE TODAY!!

Hazels constant attitude to everyone around her, especially when trying to make friends, is hilarious and relatable. I think I like the name Fox too much?? I also DEFINITELY liked Fox too much 🤣
I enjoyed the changing POVs and the suspicions around both Haze and Fox’s storylines was intriguing and engaging. The couple were very real at times and that made it pretty funny to read (especially if you have a dark sense of humour).
Some parts of the story were a bit shallow and it would’ve benefitted from extra detail - Hazel and Fox’s backstory, for example. There are references to their relationship being so strong and wild before having a child, but the reader doesn’t see much of that. It could’ve been more show than tell.
Think this could have been more gripping as a thriller, but Ido think I’m pretty good at predicting how these plots will go! It was a solid 4 ⭐️ read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 🫶🏼

Dark humour at its best, this is a wild ride of a book - but one that can’t fail to make you smile!

Fox and Haze and their daughter Bibi are leading the archetypal well to do life in suburban Berkshire. Fox is a banker, Haze is a stay at home mother - but prior to parenthood their lives were very different. Together they travelled extensively and killed “bad men” for fun, but gave it all up when Haze got pregnant. Fox seems to have embraced their new life, but life as a yummy mummy has left Haze feeling a little underwhelmed, missing the excitement of their previous life. But both are hiding secrets from the other as it seems old habits are hard to break …. what does that mean for their marriage?

This is such a fun read! There is plenty of humour, both dark and otherwise, but cleverly woven amongst the crazy capers are some very relatable issues around marriage and parenthood. And who would have thought two serial killers, who we get to know through alternating chapters, could be quite so likeable!

I raced through this one - if you are looking for something clever, darkly funny and just a really good read, then add it to your TBR!

Hazel and Fox, two Serial Killers get married, but when they have a baby they vow to stop the killing for their daughters sake. Can they live with each other now that they can't kill with each other?

We get a 'Dexter-esque' story of two unique individuals pretending to be normal. Each chapter is written from Hazel or Fox's point of view, with Hazel being the primary narrator.

She was a damaged child, moving between foster homes whereas Fox is the exact opposite,  coming from a very wealthy American family, yet just as damaged.

Through flashbacks, we learn about each of their pasts, their childhood and their murdering spree across Europe. They were very much the discerning killers, ensuring each of their victims were the nastiest of society who didn't deserve to live. So, even though they're serial killers, they're not 'bad guys'.

Their world begins to unravel when Hazel is attacked by a mugger and she does what comes naturally to her, then covers it up, keeping the event a secret from her husband.

This really is an interesting read as we see how Hazel wants to rebel against family life and yet is besotted with her family. Fox is struggling to hold everything together, his relationship with Hazel and his estranged parents.

The short and snappy prose, the back and forth between points of view and the growth of characters make this book well worth a read. A comfortable four out of five stars from me.

I would like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions are my own.

This novel is due to be published on 14th January 2025 in the UK by Headline/Wildfire.

Hello book lovers 📚

Thank you @netgalley for this arc review. All opinions are my own.

A Serial Killers Guide to Marriage by @asia.mackay

Hazel and fox live a life of partying in city to city and the life any rich couple might, with the exception that they have a killer hobby literally. They murder the bad guys. That is until Haze falls pregnant and Fox decides that it’s time to live like ‘normal’ people in the suburbs.

They agree to stop killing and they both kept their promise, until Haze murders a man one night.

The book starts getting interesting around here as the lies and the paranoia begin. Fox and Haze both start to hide things from one another leading to chaos, trust issues, and more murder.

Haze befriends a single mum called Jenny, who over lunch drops a bombshell and this new info leads Haze to put her detective hat on to save her family. I liked Jenny‘s character as she added another layer and depth to the story.

The book touches on some themes that people may find heavy so I would suggest checking the triggers beforehand. Whilst I enjoyed this book, I felt that some of the storyline was far-fetched and in the middle quite repetitive. It was nice to understand their life before Bibi and how having a baby changed the dynamics.

Haze was portrayed as so selfish whilst Fox just wanted them to be safe. Every other chapter was Haze expressing her boredom in the marriage. I’m glad the book didn’t end on this note to be honest.

All in all it was an easy read that at times had me chuckling. I enjoyed the ending although it wasn’t the ending I thought it would’ve been. A nice twist.

Okay so, this was a little bit of a roller coaster for me. I LOVED the premise, the start was pretty good, and then we took a dive in the middle, only to absolutely smash it out the park at the end!

A forced retirement for a serial killing couple, who only kill bad men who deserve it, so they can be good parents to their daughter? Absolutely sign me up. Haze's rage was palpable, I could feel how frustrated and out of control she was feeling at these men existing happily while conducting such abuse to women. How powerful she felt after putting a stop to them, how she felt like she was making a difference in making the world a better place. I really enjoyed her character and how complex she was, getting to dive into what she was feeling and how she changed over the course of the book.

I also liked getting to see flashes of their past together, of their life before Bibi and what they were like, but it did sometimes take us out of the flow of the story.

My biggest issue was repetitiveness. It got to around the halfway point and I was tired of circling the same points. Of how powerless and frustrated and unhappy Haze was currently, how she thought the marriage was falling apart. Should they still be together, did they really like each other. About how Fox was the responsible planner and its his actions that keep them all safe, that he was doing it all for them, he was their hero. I felt like even though time was moving and events were happing we were literally just going around in a circle.

But, once we got out of that and back into the build up to the end, all sins were forgiven.

I'm so, so glad that we didn't end on Haze becoming a 'better person' and abandoning the serial killing justice that she holds to dear. Adding Jenny to the mix was honestly perfect. I assumed we would either end the book with Haze killing Fox, or with them just never killing again, the typical boring cookie cutter stuff. But thank god that was not the case. AND we got to see a six month flash forward, which is what I always beg for!!

Haze, you are an icon, a solid 4 stars even with the slump in the middle!

"I may have questioned many things in my life, but I have never questioned whether the men I killed deserved to die"

This is definitely a different dynamic than I have read before which made it a very interesting read overall. I read it very quickly, it was easy to read.

Fun and gripping debut about a couple who share their deepest secret and deepest desire - murder! I loved this novel, it felt original and was fast-paced and tense. Shall we anticipate a sequel? 4 stars

first of all, thank you to headline and netgalley for this arc in return for my review!!

lets just say I am obsessed with this book, and even after finishing I am still thinking about it...like wow. I think what has most stuck with me from this book is the way both Haze and Fox just get each other, in all ways possible. nothing is kept a secret no matter how hard they try to hide from each other their worsts.

I read within two sittings, I just couldn't put it down. this book for me was such mr and mrs smith vibes, and I now really just need to watch that film again!! I think in my head, they were the characters.

to summarize, Haze, who was an extremely passionate artist with a troubled past, was such an impulsive character. as a new mum, she struggled with the suburban lifestyle and ignoring the itch to kill someone, potentially questioning their life and meaning now.

Fox works in finance, trying to be a good father and husband. coming from a wealthy but controlling family, who knew of his extra 'hobbies' but agreed to cover it up, probably more to protect themselves than Fox...however, it led him to meeting his other half, partner in crime Haze.

within a whirlwind of killing sprees, their steamy romance and a marriage within months, their idyllic vacation came to a halt when Haze fell pregnant. feeling trapped, losing inspiration to create art, and socialising with suburban couples...and eventually befriending Jenny, who on the cover seems eager to make friends, but is there more than meets the eye?

but someone hasn’t kept their promise— meaning there’s already blood on their hands.....but breaking the most important promise in their life could cause everything they've built to come crumbling down...and potentially befriending the wrong person has put everything at stake....

Will they fix the mess they have both made??

if you haven't read this book already....please do!! release date of the 14th, add your calanders now :)

Absolutely gripping. I was hooked from the first page wanting to know more as it flipped between then and now.
The premise felt new and it was a great read. I managed to guess at some of the twists but I had never plot out so much of what actually happened. Definitely a page turner!
You really get to know the characters as you read it and I feel it went really in depth to understand what drove them. I really enjoyed this as it meant I could guess at their motivations and actions that made sense to the character to keep to engaged with the book.
It's a reasonably long book at 400 pages but honestly with the good pace it didn't feel like it was dragging at all.
Overall, a great read.
Favourite Quote - Hunt, kill, hold hands. That was our love language,
Favourite Character - Jenny