This was such a good book! I really hope there is a sequel in the works or this ends up becoming a series.

Hazel & Fox have marriage problems soon after the birth of their baby girl. Fox is concerned that their hobby might risk their family. But Hazel is bored without the constant thrills of murdering men “who really deserve it”. Thus starts the new thriller, A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage.

The idea of merging Mr. And Mrs. Smith with Dexter is an intriguing one. However in this book, the two main characters were pretty annoying. Also, very unlikable. Detestable even. I was hoping they would both die, or at least go to jail, by the conclusion. Speaking of the conclusion, it was totally unbelievable even by comic serial killer plot (is that a sub-genre now?) standards. In fact after reading A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, I still wasn’t sure if this book was trying to be a parody, of plots that I liked much better, or not.

Obviously, I didn’t enjoy this book very much. But you may be okay with it if you:
1. Don’t mind disliking the main characters in a book,
2. Are okay with unbelievable book conclusions, and
3. Feel intense animosity towards an ex and need a healthy outlet for your frustrations that doesn’t end with jail time

Now that I’ve written it down, I can see that this book might have a wider audience than I assumed. I’ll give it 3 stars to average my rating with the general consensus toward a 4 star ranking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an advanced review copy.

This book was not for me the main point of conflict in this book was miscommunication and it frustrated me to no end. This book follows Hazel and Fox two “ good” serial killers who get married and start a family and have to retire to keep their family safe. We follow the couple years later as they are trying to stay clean but family drama may cause these killers to slip up.I wanted to like this book the writing was good the plot was entertaining but I absolutely hated the two main characters which just made this book drag for me. This was my first book by this author but I would definitely try another from them. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This book is not a romance. What it does do is focus attention on a couple who have arrived at the point where the “honeymoon period” has ended. The two main characters – Hazel (or Haze) and Fox - both remember the time now passed when they were so totally in sync that they thought alike, acted in perfect harmony, and shared everything that happened: good and bad. Now, even though they are still deeply in love, they are more willing to move off on their own and keep to themselves things that they feel they don't want to share.

This might seem a strange analysis of a book that carries the title that this one does, but at heart the book is about the marriage issues of two people. These issues are serious enough to threaten the entire fabric of their marriage.

Haze and Fox came from very different kinds of dysfunctional childhoods. While Haze was raised by a single mother who, frankly, did not want Haze in her life and never had. As soon as Haze was of age, she struck out on her own with all her built up anger and frustrations. Fox, on the other hand, was the scion of an extremely successful and wealthy family who wanted nothing more than to have their son follow lockstep in their path. Fox, however, had dreams of his own. The clash between Fox and his parents only resulted in less and less control over his own path in life.

The end result was that both Haze and Fox found themselves on an identical path, though they did so on their own. They both became serial killers, vigilantes, really. Neither killed willy-nilly; both only chose as their targets those “bad guys” who seemed to escape the legal system. In their eyes, their targets were evil enough to deserved capital punishment because of the pain they had inflicted on innocent people.

Then Haze and Fox met up and discovered that someone else was like them. They fell in love and when they discovered that Haze was pregnant, they married and became a family. They also vowed solemnly to give up their past lives and become the kind of parents that their daughter deserved. What follows is an analysis of that happens when each each makes some serious mistakes. One of those mistakes results in news stories of the return of the “Backpacking Butcher”, as they were collectively known. This was a breach of the sacred vow on which their marriage was based. So what happens if a decision is made to attempt to cover up that mistake and not let their spouse know?

I found this book fascinating, thought provoking, and remarkable true to life—even though the basis of the story in the lives of two serial killers is way over the top. I highly recommend this book and suggest that it might be a great read for the right kind of book discussion group. I appreciated the opportunity NetGalley game me to read and offer my honest review of this book.

This is the kind of book where when you finish, you sit in awed silence while you process what you read. This took me on such a wild ride through so many emotions, and I never thought a story about serial killers would move me to tears. Every time I thought I knew what was happening there was another unexpected twist. This book will definitely get a reread.

Take another look at who you think is the perfect suburban couple, we meet Hazel and Fox an ordinary married couple with a baby they are rich and beautiful and living a life we would dream about having.. but behind that Façade they are living a whole other life we find out that they are a couple of serial killers who .
But now they have to raise their daughter which is turning out to be not what they expected.
Hazel is now feeling depressed and angry and Fox finds hisself working a lot.
This is a darkly comedic and thrilling novel that explores the life of an ordinary married couple with an extraordinary past.

A great thriller with well developed characters of a married couple who share an odd affinity for murder.
Murder is what brought Hazel and Fox together. However, once they become parents, the thrill of committing justice killing must stop for the safety of the family. One of the spouses disagrees, and this is where the novel comes alive. Thanks, Netgally, for the advance ebook.

If you're looking for a book with one hilarious foot firmly in the world of social satire and the other kicking up its heels in the shock and kill world of murderous serial killers, then Asia Mackay's new novel is made for you!

I can not tell you how many times I laughed (loudly!) at the plight of two SERIAL KILLERS navigating the highs and lows of marriage, parenthood, suburbia, the workplace, friendships, playgrounds, and toddler music classes WHILST yearning for the "good old days." You know, those rosy pre-child years of living their best life and removing some unsavory, immoral, or downright BAD PEOPLE from the world as needed. (Think righteous superheroes - without capes - but with sharp and pointy weapons.😳)

In addition to the over-the-top, cinema-ready serial killer story, Mackay infuses the story with astute observations about the very real life journey of folks who attempt to navigate this mysterious thing called "adulting." This aspect is what kept me reading and thinking throughout my giggles and gasps.

I wholeheartedly recommend this original and entertaining novel for your enjoyment.

I received an advanced digital copy of "A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage" from NetGalley. This review reflects my own thoughts and opinions.

This novel has a publish date of January 14, 2025.

I was so pleased to receive the ARC. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers. However, I found the book lacking in interest. It's quite slow, with no real surprises.

I like the premise but the execution was boring and disappointing. Not much was happening most of the time. I didn't really like either main character, but I especially hated Hazel. She was obnoxious from begining to end.

OMG, this book is insanely good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The twists and turns this book takes are so damn good. This is an entertaining look into a serial killers head, and it is so good you can't put it down until the last page!!!!!!!!

Hazel and Fox aren't your traditional suburban couple. Before having their daughter, they were vigilante serial killers - justifying their impulses by killing bad men who didn't deserve to live. For the sake of their family, they decide to give up their risky hobby, but neither of them are happy about it. Without an outlet for their energy, their marriage struggles until they stumble upon an unlikely solution.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage was just okay for me. It seemed to drag on, which is never a good feeling to have while reading. Miscommunication is my least favorite romance trope, and there was a lot of it in this story. I didn't find either character sympathetic and thought Haze was insufferable until she was redeemed at the end. I did enjoy the ending and how the story was wrapped up. I think other people would enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced reader copy!

Now this was a fun read! Huge thank you to Random House for the ARC of this book.

If you’re a fan of Brynne Weaver’s Butcher & Blackbird or Leather & Lark, this is absolutely a read for you. Think an extended epilogue of either book, where we follow our couple as they navigate parenting & suburbia, while giving up their passion on ~unaliving~ the way they want to. A Serial Killers Guide to Marriage did not disappoint!

These are some of my favorite serial killers. Two married people killing bad people and then trying to normalize themselves for the sake of their daughter. It was kind of sweet. But you just can't stop doing what you love, right? The cast of characters surrounding them were perfect foils for their attempts to be regular parents in suburbia. I will read their further adventures.

Hazel and Fox are the perfect suburban couple, rich and beautiful and living a life that seems perfect as they raise their little girl. Underneath, they're a couple of serial killers who met, fell in love, and went on a rampage throughout Europe taking out very bad men until pregnancy and a desire to raise their daughter right sees them moving to the suburbs. Trying to live a 'normal' life is a challenge for both of them, with Hazel feeling depressed and angry all the time and Fox burying himself in work and pulling away from Hazel. Until things come to a head and they both have to face their true desires and expose their secrets.

It's a weird one. There are some very dark moments and implications that actually have you cheering for Hazel whenever she takes out a bad guy. It also reads a bit depressive before things really take off, which is a testament to Mackay making it so that feelings bleed off the page so that you feel what the characters are feeling. There are also some sincerely funny and positive moments that balance out the darkness quite nicely. All of this combines to make a story where you're not sure you should be cheering for the serial killers but they're totally in love and you want to cheer for true, understanding love to persevere.

Fox and Hazel truly are perfect for each other and it's obvious once they stop trying to solve things themselves and confess everything to each other. There was a point somewhere around the middle where I needed to know what was really going on and couldn't put the book down. It entertained me while also making me think, which is always a great thing in fiction.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the interesting read!

The premise of this book is exactly what I would look for in a story. Unfortunately this one was just too repetitive for me to really get engaged with the storyline or the characters. I wasn’t looking forward to picking it upz

You know when you find a book you like and you kick your feet as you read it? No? Just me? This book did that. I like the killer perspective. It was different. They as a couple were different. They knew how to identify and take down the bad guys. Who can be mad at that? Ha. 4.8!

Fox and Hazel seem to have it all; a lavish lifestyle and an adorable little girl but something is missing. They used to be so in love and living a wild life until Hazel became pregnant and everything changed. No more exciting parties and trips around the world but most of all not more killing. How will they adjust to being a normal suburban family? Can their marriage survive this dramatic adjustment or will one of them have to go?

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

LOVED ! This was such a fun quick read !
Haze , although a tad crazy is hilarious & relatable with her marriage issues (outside of the murder part) but yeah she did kind of bug me throughout with her spoiled ass behavior. Her kid was more self aware .
Definitely had a lot of dark issues mentioned but the author doesn't dwell on it & make this a depressing book.
My only complaint is I didn't love how Haze kept referring to her life ending when she saw those 2 blue lines & her life sentence....
The ending was a bit of a surprise & I loved it.
Shoutout to Helga . I love her & want her in my life ❤️🙃

Thanks Netgalley for another great Arc
" SerialKillersGuideToMarriage ❤️🗡️

Bantam eARC
Think married couple that kill like Dexter but stop because they become parents. This book was interesting watching Haze and Fox figure out what to do when they lose their stress outlet and shared habit. It created some great conflict, some frustration with both of them, and made me consider how parenthood restructures everything. The middle dragged a bit, but the ending surprised me in the best way.