Thank you to NetGalley & The Publisher for a free ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review!
I have BIG feelings about this book. As I was reading it, I kept thinking "This is going to be my first 5 star read of the year" until the last few chapters. But I will get to that.
First of all, I find the cover to be very deceiving. I typically associate cartoon covers with cozies, and this read so much more like a full thriller, which I loved! The wedding dress is confusing, because there's no wedding in the story and they even talk about how Haze & Fox didn't have a real wedding themselves, so I don't feel like that aligned with the story very well.
Okay so the actual story!
Fox & Haze have the perfect marriage, or so it seemed. With a beautiful house, a love for their daughter so strong it keeps them going, and all the typical life troubles, nothing stands out about this couple, except the fact that they're serial killers. But they're retired, bad-guys-only serial killers, so it's okay? I guess? I'll go with it. I loved the premise of this story, and the flashbacks we got from then-to-now. I thought Haze was incredibly well developed, but I could've used a little bit more out of Fox. Overall, the plot of this story was enough to keep me wanting more and flying through the book. I loved the relationship between Jenny & Haze, and even Bibi and Felix. Their relationship felt incredibly organic, and started off incredibly realistic with Haze going into it the only way she knew how, selfishly. Realizing down the round that the bond organically strengthened and became something real was a really cool evolution.
Okay, here's my issues. I have two very big ones that honestly made this book harder to love the more I thought on it. Through the book, we see the issues in Haze & Fox's marriage. They're very real problems, and every one of them made sense and I could see the strain they would put on any marriage. The characters even realize that all of their issues could've gone away with a conversation and honesty, which is exactly what magically solves this huge martial issues. Each one of these characters did something horrible to the other (Haze killing without telling Fox, which to them is a huge issue. And Fox literally doing ALL HE DID), and they just magically let it go. I cannot believe Haze would just magically forgive Fox for what he did in the last chapters.
Second, the character arc of Jenny was just too unbelievable for me. There was nothing leading me to believe she would have made that jump into morally gray. She couldn't even go after her own ex for money, but the reader is supposed to believe she would be totally fine going vigilante? It just shook me very hard out of this story.
Overall, I gave it 4 stars because I loved the first 90% of this book, but if I had to give it an overall rating, it would be 3 stars because that ending just crashed the whole thing for me.

What a treat for fans of thrillers that showcase women who are frighteningly competent lethal weapons. If you’ve enjoyed Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age and/or Cindy Dees’s Second Shot, A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is right up your alley.

Like the quartet of female assassins in Killers of a Certain Age, Hazel has no qualms or regrets about the people she killed. They were bad folks, and they got what was coming to them. She and her partner—her husband Fox—made a great team. In common with Cindy Dees’s “retired” U.S. government assassin Helen Warwick, Hazel does not like being put out to pasture, now that she and Fox are living quietly in the suburbs. Hazel had a difficult childhood—her father missing from the picture, her mother an alcoholic, foster homes her lot until she graduates and goes to art school. She finds her niche in art school but tragically, for a girl who finds friendships very difficult, her bestie, Matty, kills himself. They were not romantically involved, Matty was gay, but Hazel, on some anguished level, hates him for leaving her and hates herself for not seeing how utterly depressed he was.

Everything changes for Hazel when she meets and marries Fox.

A small registry office ceremony followed by the honeymoon of our dreams—and our victims’ nightmares. Sex, bloodshed, and room service. All my favorite things. I loved calling him my husband: “My husband will be right back,” “My husband is just paying the bill,” “My husband is going to make you bleed.”



For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. He was a part of me now. We were a team and together we soared. We had years and years of flying high. We got so much work done. So many bad men finished. So many good times enjoyed.



And then everything changed. He changed. I wanted to have it all; he wanted to give it all up. The passion that had peppered our early years quickly drained away. There was no spice there anymore. Forget fifty shades of grey, it was death by a thousand shades of Farrow & Ball white.

Clearly, Hazel and Fox lived an extraordinary life in London and on the continent but since the birth of their daughter Bibi, they’ve been immured in the countryside. Haze feels enclosed and confined: “I’d never thought it would be down to the man I loved firing a baby into my belly, a house in the suburbs, and a whine about doing the right thing. Yet here I was. Trapped. Caged. Bored. So. Fucking. Bored.” It doesn’t take a genius to know that something’s got to give.

Lest you think that the reader only gets Hazel’s point of view, nope, Fox also comes to life. Fox is an expat, the oldest son of an extremely wealthy New York City family. When his family becomes aware of his propensity to kill his fellowman, instead of turning him over to the police or getting him psychiatric help, they paper over the incidents and grant him unlimited access to his trust fund. That is if he’ll leave the United States for good. It was inevitable that Hazel and Fox would meet, marry, and murder: they have so much in common.

In the same way, Fox embraced the science of killing those who, in his estimation, needed to be eliminated, he transformed himself into the perfect doting suburban father. He can’t understand why Haze seems unable to put the needs of their daughter above her yearning for excitement and danger. Asia Mackay cleverly discloses how Fox, an adrenaline junkie in his former life, keeps his urges and memories in check. For years he has gone to AA meetings—because he’s addicted too, just not to alcohol.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage doesn’t only concern itself with the thrill of the chase and the high that results after a successful elimination—readers will wonder after they get to know Hazel and Fox, “can this marriage be saved?” Especially after Hazel breaks her marriage pact with Fox and kills someone (yes, someone awful, someone who trying to rape her and who knows what else).

You simply must read A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage to see how this macabre and often deliciously funny story unfolds. No spoilers but I guarantee that you will not guess how the story ends. Brava Asia Mackay!

These serial killer soul mates were made for each other. Unique, funny and completely unexpected, A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is the perfect dark comedy/suspense book. i couldn't put this book down and lamented when I had to. I will be reading anything else that Mackay writes.

Loved it and it was very impress with the book. Really enjoy the complexities of their relationship, it gave a realistic sense of and feel to the characters. We dig into strong topic that gives that reality and depth to the book. Hard to put down after the twists and turns that the storyline took and you just want to know how all will end.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam books for this ARC for review. Marriage is hard. Marriage is even harder when two former serial killers get married and try to live the normal suburban lifestyle. Hazel and Fox are just an ordinary married couple now with a baby. No more killing. They quit cold turkey when Hazel got pregnant. Before that, they had it. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to rid from the world. They were vigilante killers, only bad people. But now, they are soooo bored. But Fox is an amazing father. But Hazel is dying. She needs just one more kill. It’s an addiction. Just to take the edge off. But she doesn’t tell Fox. This book was amazing and hilarious!! About the reality of marriage and having a kid, (not the murder part, per se, but hey, we listen and we don’t judge 🤷‍♀️) but about communicating and dealing with losing that part of you from before and getting through it together. I loved this book!

OMGGGGGG this book was one I was SO HOPING to get an ARC of because I was just dying to get my hands on it!!! YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!! This is definitely one of my favorite reads so far, and I’m sure it will be in one of my top spots for 2025 fave reads!

This wasn’t a great read for me. I just had a hard time getting into it for some reason.
Others may love this book.
I encourage you to give it a go and see what you think. It just may be your jam :)
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a fun and fast-paced read with surprising depth beneath its quirky premise. With vibes reminiscent of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (the TV version, because #TeamJennifer), it balances the relatable struggles of a couple losing their connection with the high-stakes intrigue of, well, serial killers.

The story is an entertaining mix of humor, tension, and heartfelt moments, making the wild concept feel unexpectedly grounded. However, some of the ending reveals left me feeling a bit icky, and certain beats started to feel repetitive as the story progressed. Still, it’s an enjoyable ride for fans of dark humor and unconventional romance.

What a fun book! Haze is not very likeable but she grows on you. We all know someone like that and her new best friend sees that in her too. Her husband is acting pretty shady though. Or is that a miscommunication trope I see? Either way, besides some of the repetitive internal monologue, this was a super fun book about vigilantes and marriage!

This was my first read by this author, and I received this advanced copy from NetGalley. From the start, the enticing prologue and engaging, conversational writing style effortlessly drew me in. I devoured the dark humor and sardonic tone, which brilliantly lightened the tale of two ex-serial killers battling their murderous urges. "When the worst had happened repeatedly, it was hard to expect goodness in people." While the character-driven storyline might not resonate with everyone, I found the complexities of Hazel and Fox's strained marriage refreshingly raw and realistic. Additional themes of loss, depression, sexual assault, and privilege further enriched the story, adding depth and relatability that kept me invested. The only drawback was that the deep dive into both characters led to a relatively mundane start and some concepts being rehashed a few times. This all shifts around halfway, with several twists and turns escalating the tension in the story. It became increasingly hard to put this book down as I was eager to see how the story would be wrapped up. Sadly, the ending was a bit of a stretch, offering a resolution that was more convenient than believable. Still, it tied up the story nicely enough, so I won't complain too much.
"Familiarity breeds contempt." The main characters, Hazel and Fox, are impressively well-crafted, with rich backstories that greatly influence their actions and growth. Even Hazel, who I did not find likable or relatable due to her snide, manipulative, and fiery nature, remained interesting because of her troubled past and authentic struggles as a mother, wife, and friend. I also found myself rooting for Fox because of his toxic family dynamics and his efforts to mend his relationship with Hazel. The narrators, Georgia Tennant and Kyle Soller, brilliantly brought these characters to life and enriched the listening experience with natural, emotive vocal variety, along with sound effects. Other characters nicely drive various aspects of the storyline but did not stand out to me beyond this, as they felt one-dimensional.

Some books are so good, they make you wish you could break the rating scale—and this is one of them. Smartly written with a sharp sense of humor, this story delivers fully fleshed-out characters. I found myself rooting for them, and wishing I could befriend them in real life.

From start to finish, this book was a delight. So much so, I deliberately slowed down my reading pace, knowing that whatever I picked up next wouldn’t live up to it. It’s rare to find a book that leaves you with a genuine hangover, but this one does just that. The whole experience was perfection, and the ending? Absolute chef’s kiss—the perfect cherry on top.

The best part? I’ve now discovered a new author to add to my auto-read list. I cannot wait to see what they write next!

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and for giving me the chance to fall in love with this incredible book and author.

This was definitely fun and a good palette cleanser, but just entertaining, nothing really special to me. A married serial killer couple settled into domestic life, can’t go wrong.

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MARRIAGE

Hazel and Fox believed they had the ideal marriage, and in their eyes, it was. They were highly compatible, very much in love, and passionate about one thing: ridding the world of evil men. They had taken this passion to the level of serial killing. They were methodical, and Fox kept meticulous records so that they would not get careless and commit murders in the same manner or leave the bodies in the same condition. One thing they always made sure of was that their victims suffered a slow and excruciating death. They traveled the world and lived a high life until a complication occurred. They had a child, and they made a vow that their killing spree must stop. Fox turned into the ideal Dad. Hazel loved their daughter but missed the thrill of the kill and began to resent their no-kill agreement. Can their marriage be saved? At what lengths will each of them go to save their family? This novel is an interesting read. It is on the dark side. I found the language to be very offensive. The author chose to use one four-letter word repeatedly, and it does not add anything to the story.

Bantam and NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. However, my opinions are entirely my own and uninfluenced.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one sitting! I absolutely could not put it down! I loved the characters and the storyline. I would definitely recommend this book.

Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is such a fun, dark, and clever read. If you love suspenseful thrillers with a touch of humor, this book is for you. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys stories that dive into the darker side of love and relationships with plenty of twists along the way."

They say having a baby changes you, but what about if you're a serial killer?

I think this story has good examples of what marriage is like. How secrets can effect your bond with your spouse. It was interesting getting to see both their perspectives on what they were going through, although throwing in the flashbacks sometimes made the timeline go a little wonky. I did enjoy the book and besides a couple times where the flashback threw me, I didn't have a problem following along.

Really enjoyed this book the whole way through. Such an easy read that kept me intrigued for its entirety. It’s a serious topic obviously, but the book still had some light hearted moments. Really loved it, and appreciate the ARC!

I enjoyed this book so much that instead of flying through it I took my time reading to fully immerse myself in story. There’s a saying that There’s Somebody for Everybody and this rings true when by chance 2 serial killers meet, gets married and starts a family which is unconventional. However there are conventional elements once the family moves to the suburbs with the complexities of married life. There was a lot I was able to relate to when it came to one of the main characters Haze and her unfulfillment with her current life. My one only big critique is I wished the murders were fleshed out and more descriptive. Overall this was a modern take on a Bonnie and Clyde type couple once the honeymoon stage vanishes and what’s left is a rich, couple trying to find thier way back to the beginning of their love and happiness.

REVIEW CONTAINS BOOK DETAILS:

“A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” is a stunningly accurate portrayal of the complex emotions that come with mourning your past self while embracing the joy and challenges of building a future with a child. The author masterfully weaves a narrative that explores themes of identity, parenthood, and the shifting dynamics of relationships.

The story alternates between the husband’s and wife’s perspectives, adding a layer of intrigue and mystery. The husband’s viewpoint, in particular, leaves the reader piecing together details, as his narrative remains deliberately incomplete. This dual perspective enriches the story, offering insight into both characters’ experiences and emotions.

One of the book’s standout qualities is its honest depiction of the struggles parents face—making new friends, maintaining old friendships, and navigating feelings of resentment toward life changes, all while cherishing the gift of a child. The author captures this duality with remarkable sensitivity and depth.

The plot’s metaphor of killing as an addiction was another creative and engaging element, adding a darkly fascinating edge to the story. It was a fun and thought-provoking read, blending relatable struggles with a unique and unexpected premise.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that the alternating points of view, combined with flashbacks, can occasionally be confusing. The shifts in perspective and timeline require focus to follow, which may pull some readers out of the flow.

Overall, “A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that deftly balances mystery, emotion, and creativity. It’s a read I’d recommend to anyone looking for a unique exploration of relationships and personal transformation.

Hazel and Fox are serial killers. Well, they were until they had a baby. Now, they are living dull lives in the suburbs. Hazel is bored. Fox is stressed. Hazel eventually kills someone, but thinks she can keep it from Fox.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage uses dual points of view, so the reader gets Hazel and Fox’s viewpoints. Hazel misses their old lives, and wants more excitement. She’s an artist. She’s passionate and impulsive. Fox is a business man. He’s organized and the one responsible for planning their kills. When Hazel kills behind Fox’s back, she’s trying to keep that hidden, but Fox is hiding his own secrets. Oh, and Hazel’s new bestie is a police officer, which does complicate things a bit.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is a fun and entertaining thriller. Dark humor, secrets, and serial killers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.