I liked the author's writing style, but I didn't enjoy the plot of this book. The premise of having an urge to kill sin't one that I like. I did like Hazel and I hoped that everything would turn out well for her.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage" in exchange for an honest review.
Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I'm starting to lose track of how many books I've read about serial killers who specialize in eliminating only rapists, bullies, abusers, generally obnoxious guys.....and other serial killers.. If this was happening in real life, you'd think the crime rate would've taken a deep dive by now.
Well here's a book that not only sticks it to the patriarchy (literally), but provides an all-too-true portrait of the hills and valleys of married life. Or in this case, the married life of a couple who happily rids the world of terrible people. we'd all be better off without.
Hazel and Fox fell deeply in love as they discovered their shared mutual love of offing really bad guys, just for the fun and thrill of it. These crazy kids can't keep their hands off each other, not to mention a whole lot of other unlucky suckers who long had it comin' to them.
Fox came from wealth, now estranged from his reptilian parents who exiled him to Europe when they discovered his....uh...proclivities. Hazel, on the other hand, came up from a hard scrabble unhappy childhood but can reinvent herself to walk amongst her betters. Once they connect and wed, they're a couple to die for, and any number of guys do just that.
Thanks to Fox's trust fund, our lovebirds live a carefree life, touring Europe, littering the continent with corpses. But then baby Bibi comes along and suddenly they're a family of three. And as in all marriages, even the ones that don't pursue homicide as a hobby, Fox and Hazel settle into the normal everyday life of a London family. Fox, who's embraced fatherhood with a passion, decrees an end to their killing careers, which rankles Hazel. Their sweet union moves into the bumpy 'who left the wet towel on the bathroom floor' stage.
Hazel tries her best at normality, befriending a single mom with troubles of her own. But her itch to kill gets the better of her, plunging her and Fox's marriage into already choppy waters. Every couple has their spats, but usually not with knives in hand......
If you're getting the idea that this book's a buncha fun to read, you're right. Author Asia Mackay throws all manner of twists and complications at Fox and Hazel and takes us through an unflinching honest tour of how marriages constantly evolve, through the pressures of raising children. Quite a balancing act since the book's also tossing dead bodies into the mix too.
Had a swell time with this one and wouldn't mind a sequel to see what the merry marital murder squad's up to next.

Publication date: 14 Jan 2025 (Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review). I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The middle was a little repetitive and slow to me, but then it picked up pace. It was a great quick read that I'm happy I read!

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage. A classic romance about two beautiful people who meet in an alleyway, murder a man, bang it out, have a lust (blood included) fueled decade of marriage before getting pregnant, hanging up their knives, & settling into domesticity for the sake of their child. Hmm, I’m pretty sure this is a rip off of Austen 🤔😝

I loved this! It is utterly bonkers in every best way. This story is gritty, yet consistently maintains levity through delightfully #darkhumor & reminders that even serial killers watch Peppa Pig if they have a toddler. Hazel & Fox are trying to be good. Fox has a job as an executive & is a doting father. Hazel is staying home to raise their daughter, Bibi, & is even trying to make a, ugh, friend. They’ll do anything to have a safe life for their daughter. Sure, Hazel hasn’t created any art since they stopped killing. And yes, Fox is finding other ways to chase that high without ever telling his wife. And fiiiine, maybe they both feel a bit unfulfilled, never have sex, & barely talk. But they can’t give in to their urges & neither will admit to their spouse how hard this is for them. As tension tears this once perfect couple apart their paranoia & lies compound until it seems like the secret to marriage might just be killing your spouse.

This was laugh out loud funny. Told in dual POV, Mackay did an impressive job of giving Hazel & Fox distinctive voices. She not only created two unique characters, but she made them likable. Even though you know they have a trail of death in their wake, you still end up charmed & rooting for them. Hazel is delightfully foul mouthed & keeps it very real, except when she’s lying of course. Fox seems so put together & truly reformed, but always keeps thing close to him chest. They’re alluring. As is Mackay’s writing.

The ending is a wee bit unbelievable & too perfectly packaged, but honestly I didn’t mind & would have been devastated if it ended any other way. This is absolutely worth the read & will be a wild romp I won’t forget anytime soon. ❤️🔪

Think Mr and Mrs. Smith but serial killers who knew about each other. This book was really engaging and I found myself gripped by the miscommunication, the decisions the main characters made, and the little twists and foreshadowing throughout. 3.75/5

I read about 10% and just couldn't get into it. I think I thought it'd be more thriller-y, and less about domestic life. The female main character was whiny to me, I didn't find myself wanting to pick this back up.

Fox and Haze are partners in more ways than one, but what happens when they give up a part of what makes them them; they are determined to make a better life for their daughter no matter the cost. When Haze begins to get tired of the housewife days, she starts reflecting on their past, and the craving becomes overwhelming. What happens if she gives in? Can she handle everything herself, without her husband’s attention to detail? As she and her friend grow closer, more truths are revealed. During Fox’s chapters, it is seen that he too has the cravings and will do anything to protect his girls. This was a marriage in crisis story that could have been helped had they communicated with each other.

This is a fun and lighthearted take on a killer family trying their best to lead normal lives. Their killer instincts are just itching to break free, leading to a unique blend of family drama and a few scares. While definitely not true to life, it's a thrilling and enjoyable ride from start to finish. A whole lot of fun in the end!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay was laugh out loud hilarious! Think Mr. And Mrs. Smith meets Dexter. It also had some Butcher and Blackbird vibes but less spice and heavy on the thriller plot. Hazel Matthews and Nathaniel Foxton (Fox) Cabot used to travel the world eliminating bad men. The type of bad men who are rich and powerful and who seem to get away with everything. Now Hazel and Fox's life looks different. They have reluctantly given up the serial killing for their beautiful little girl Bibi. Now instead of globe trotting it's suburbia, Mommy and Me classes and organic food. Fox has adjusted in his role of perfect father but Hazel is having a difficult time. It's not that she doesn't love Bibi, it's just that she loves killing bad men too. She feels lost and dull and her artwork is suffering as well. Hazel know that to keep her daughter safe this is the right thing to do, but how is she going to cope? She has no mommy friends, well no friends really at all, so when she meets another mom at a music class for kiddos she decides to try friendship on for size. But what happens when restless Hazel cheats on Fox? Not with another man in that way, but by killing him. How can she hide this from Fox and put an end to the killing for good? Does she even want to stop?
This book was a wild ride! It kept me completely enthralled and I finished it in less than a day. The dark humor of Hazel's thoughts and actions was hilarious! The story goes between the POVs of Hazel and Fox and also jumps from past to present. I loved the quick pace of this story and I found myself rooting for Hazel and Fox the whole time. It definitely feels like there could be a sequel or a spin-off and if that's so then sign me up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Asia Mackay and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC. Expected publishing date is January 14th 2025.

Cute.

Haze and Fox have come from completely different backgrounds. Haze was taken away from her alcoholic mother when she was only 8 years old. She then lived with her grandmother before she died 3 months later. Then she bounced around from foster home to foster home, getting mistreated by the "fathers." She aged out of the system at 18 and attended art school where she excelled. That's also when she discovered that she had a hunger for hurting men who prey on innocent women.

Fox grew up in NY to an entitled, wealthy family. But his parents were not big on affection nor showing emotions. They thrived on controlling his life. Fox needed to get back some of his control, and the only way how was protecting the innocent. His parents, finally fed up with cleaning up his messes, gave him early access to his trust fund and banished him to Europe.

That's where he met Haze. She was in an alley in Paris and a drunk man tried to attack her. But Haze surprised Fox by fighting back on her own, killing the guy. It was love at first sight. They were married 6 months later and traveled throughout Europe getting rid of evil men. When Haze realizes that she's pregnant, Fox immediately stops their side job.

Haze loves her daughter, but she misses the thrill of the hunt and kill. She befriends a new mom, Jenny, who happens to be a cop without her knowing it. Now she has to convince Jenny that neither she nor Fox are the famous serial killer who used to run around Europe several years ago.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hazel and Fox tell this story of what happened after they stopped killing bad men. After Bibi was born and they moved to the suburbs where Hazel finds herself seething and unable to paint. What a pair! He's the scion of an uberwealthy (and loathsome) American family who exiled himself to Europe and she's a survivor of the British foster system who has only ever had one friend, now, sadly dead. And then she meets the irreverent Jenny who has her own interesting and relevant back story. Although Fox made Hazel swear they would not kill anyone until Bibi turns 18, Hazel's struggling and then, well, she breaks. Hazel and Fox find themselves trying to outgame one another, with Hazel trying to hide what she's done and Fox doing the same (although he's done something else). There's some pointed commentary about the art world, the mommy group, and life in general. There's also some very good twists (no spoilers from me). The storytelling carries the day and will keep you turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was quite the ride! I read the majority of this in one sitting, as the short chapters kept me going. I absolutely loved the tongue-in-cheek humor that the author uses to personify the characters that have their own dark hobbies. I have been loving books that are written with this sort of dark humor and this book is no exception. I did not see the end coming at all which surprised me, and I was satisfied with the ending. Giving this one 4 stars because there were parts in the middle that seemed to drag just a bit. Overall though, this is a great and fun read that I would recommend.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a really wonderfully written story.
It was a super quick read for me because I just could not put it down I had to now what was going to happen next.
The characters are wonderfully written and the storytelling is just amazing.
This was a fabulously fun crime read.

I really enjoyed this surprisingly cute read about two serial killers who stumble across one another, fall in love, and get married. Hazel and Fox and are doing their best to leave their former lifestyle behind, bit after the birth of their baby Hazel especially feels lost and searching for identity. It felt like a sequel to Mrs. and Mrs. Smith.

I rate this book five stars. It was funny and easy to read.

The story is told with multiple perspectives which helps the reader know both main characters well.

I enjoy a story that takes a character out of their comfort zone and sees how they react. Watching how the main characters try to move on from the life they had is fascinating.

This book has themes around marriage and finding yourself after giving up your passion. It is dark but funny at the same time.

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the advanced reader copy.

#aserialkillersguidetomarriage #asiamackay #ballatinebooks

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage
by Asia Mackay
Pub Date: Jan 14 2025

The story unfolds from the POV’s of both Hazel and Fox, in the past and the present, This is a fast, entertaining read, I read it in one sitting! If you've ever seen the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith, this is sorta what I thought of while reading this book! A very entertaining read.

Synopsis: Two former serial killers trying to keep their past buried realize that old habits die hard in this “wildly original, razor-sharp thriller”. Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they're murderers. Well, they used to be. They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to rid from the world. Then Hazel got pregnant.

Many thanks to #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this very entertaining read!

This was such a fun read! I loved the idea of two serial killers trying to live a normal life with their baby (but of course can't), and this absolutely lived up to my expectations! There were so many great twists. I really enjoyed it!

“Life isn’t a fairy tale. A happy ending is a story that hasn’t finished. We’re all going to die. That’s the real end, and it’s not very happy is it? Living with the same person for decades is wholly unhealthy. They’re going to annoy the hell out of you. But with any luck, there’ll be some good bits too. Do what you can so that when your time comes (and it will) you both look back and go ‘yep I did okay-I spent a lifetime with that man and I didn’t kill him.’”
After absolutely devouring Butcher & Blackbird and then seeing this be compared to that, I was excited when I got sent a widget for this book. This one is different from that in that there is no sex scenes but it does have multi-dimensional characters and a highly entertaining story.
Hazel is an artist with a troubled childhood. She’s struggling now to keep the monotony of her suburban life satisfying as she has made a promise to her husband, Fox, not to return to her old ways-those old ways being killing bad men that hurt women. Hazel and Fix met in an alleyway when Hazel took care of a man harassing women in a pub but Fox wants all that to be behind them now that they are parents to young Bibi. She eventually befriends Jenny, the mom of a kid in her mommy and me class, who is also desperate for a friend-but there is more to Jenny’s story than meets the eye. Jenny is a police officer who is on leave and she also has an abusive ex, which intrigues Hazel because for once she has a female friend, but she also wants to save Jenny from her ex. There’s more than just protecting her and her husband from getting caught as Hazel has to work towards fixing her marriage as well because something is going on with Fox too.
If you’re a fan of My Lovely Wife, you’ll likely be sucked into this one.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves the Dexter TV show. Two serial killers married to each other, trying to live a normal life - what could go wrong! This book was fast-paced and tense, and I found myself rooting for the main characters at every secret, lie, and miscommunication. This book really showcases the ups and downs of married life, in a very real and raw way, just with a little extra crime thrown in. This is definitely going to be one of my favorite reads of the year, and part of me secretly hopes that we get a sequel one day!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random house publishing Group for the chance to read this book.

I originally wanted a chance at this book because I thought it would be close enough to my normal Genre of book to catch my attention and keep me interested the whole time, but also be funny at the same time. Although, I didn't end up finding it very funny, I surprisingly wasn't disappointed at all!
I had NO trouble staying interested in this book, If anything I had trouble with everything else I was supposed to do yesterday, because after the first chapter of this book I was not putting it down for anything in the world!! I absolutely loved every sentence in this book!!! From start to finish I was captivated in Haze & Fox's story, loved having both of their POVs on some things, wasn't complicated to go back and forth at all, I was actually wanting more of Fox's POV sometimes with certain things happening in the story. Was really happy with all the twists and the ending was so good, It was exactly the ending I wanted to happen!!! If the other possibilities were to happen, I would have been so upset, but I felt there was no other way for the story to end properly! I'll leave you with this from the author herself:

"Finally, to anyone who read this all the way through to this very last sentence- Did you know that every time you rate a book five stars on any public forum rainbows light up the sky, fluffy bunnies leap with Joy, and a writer ecstatically cries how it was all worth it?!"

GO FORTH RAINBOWS AND BUNNIES! LEAP WITH ALL THE ECSTATIC JOY YOU CAN !
This five star rating was highly deserved! <3
Thank you so much for the awesome experience of getting to read this book!