I got an ARC of "A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage" by Asia Mackay, and while it definitely promised a dark, wildly original thriller, it ended up being a pretty mixed bag for me. The idea of two former serial killers, Hazel and Fox, trying to embrace suburban domesticity with a baby after a life of "vigilante justice" definitely sounds like a wild ride—kind of a mix between Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets Dexter, if those two concepts had a very edgy, dark baby.

The book explores what happens when Hazel, finding her new mom life terribly dull, starts to feel that murderous itch again, especially when Fox seems perfectly content with diapers over daggers. Things naturally spiral when Hazel makes a kill without telling him, bringing the police right to their doorstep. The setup has all the ingredients for a truly dark comedy or a deeply unsettling psychological thriller.

However, where the book really fell short for me was with the characters and the overall believability. Honestly, none of the characters were particularly likable, which made it hard to root for anyone or care much about their predicament. Hazel’s boredom felt a bit one-note, and Fox's "planner" personality didn't make them any more endearing. Beyond that, the story just became too unbelievable for me to fully invest in it. The plot twists and turns felt increasingly far-fetched, to the point where I struggled to suspend my disbelief. It started out with a clever, edgy concept, but the execution eventually stretched into territory that just didn't hold together realistically, even for a thriller trying to be darkly humorous.

Despite that original premise, the lack of likable characters and the wildly improbable story developments ultimately made it a struggle to connect with. It had its moments, but overall, it just didn't land for me.

★★☆☆☆

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This book was a weird one to rate for me. I really liked the blurb and premise, but a lot of the actual story had pacing issues and was also predictable? But I would love to read more with the same idea, if that makes sense. 3 stars.

This was such a fun read! It was like Dexter meets Desperate Housewives. I’d read 100 more or these books!

This book had a really fun title and premise, but I thought the execution was fairly average. My attention faded in and out a lot in this one. It did really grab hold of me a few times though and was pretty entertaining overall.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a copy of “A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage”. Rounded up from 3.5 stars. I was hooked by this book pretty quickly. It was fast paced with a lot of short chapters which I love. The premise felt very original and fun. It had me rolling my eyes at Fox being a “good father” and not letting Haze murder anyone. I will say the climax felt rushed and awkward. Especially just having Fox be cagey and weird and then a big reveal and having to believe that’s what had been going on the whole time. I liked the ending though and felt like it was a fun way to end the book. Overall, if you love thrillers and want something a little different, I think this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

From beginning to end, this book doesn't stop to let you breathe. This is literally Mr. and Mrs. Smith....I loved it. I've also seen a lot of comparisons to Butcher and Blackbird, so if you're a fan of either of those, definitely give this a read!

At first with this book it was giving “nightbitch” vibes to me. It connected this way to me because Haze was clearly unhappy being a stay at home mom despite having a job (artist) and not being able to kill (serial killer and all). But as the story progressed I actually really started to enjoy the Haze and Fox. His POV was fun since it was so “I am man, I work to make the bread for the family, my wife should be happy raising the kids” yet didn’t really do anything after noticing how unhappy Haze was and yeah that irritated me but oh my god was it funny at the end.

This book had all the ingredients for a compelling story. Unfortunately, it felt like it never quite found its footing.

The characters and storyline, while initially promising, felt underdeveloped. There were glimpses of depth and complexity, but the characters never truly came to life on the page. I found it hard to form a real connection with them.

Overall, while I admire the ambition, the execution left me wanting more cohesion, depth, and authenticity.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Asia Mackay for the chance to read ‘A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage’! I always love a book where the main character is the 'villain'. That said, I found both main characters deeply unlikeable (and not because of the murdering). The constant self pity was really just not my cup of tea.

As a big Dexter fan, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book—and it definitely delivered on the dark, twisted vibes. The story follows Haze and Fox, a married couple who share a secret hobby: killing people who hurt women and children. They actually met while Haze was in the middle of a kill (talk about romance!), and their whirlwind relationship turned into a deadly partnership. Fox handles the planning and cover-ups, while Haze finds inspiration for her art in the violence.

Fox’s backstory added another layer—his wealthy parents basically exiled him after finding out just enough to keep him at arm’s length, all while still funding his life as long as he stayed under the radar. But everything shifts when Haze gets pregnant. Fox wants to stop killing and focus on their future as parents, but Haze isn’t ready to give it up. The killings complete her—and that’s when the cracks in their relationship really start to show. Add in a new “mom friend” with secrets of her own and interference from Fox’s family, and things start to spiral fast.

I did enjoy this book overall, especially the premise and the ending twist. That said, the pacing felt a bit slow in the beginning. Haze spends a lot of time complaining about Fox and missing the thrill of killing, which got repetitive after a while. Also, the F-bomb was dropped constantly—totally fine when it fits, but here it started to feel a little overused.

Still, if you’re into dark thrillers with a twisted couple dynamic, especially if you’re a Dexter fan, this is worth checking out!

I thoroughly enjoyed A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. I think the alternating point of view chapters were the aspect that I loved the most.....and the delicious characters as well. Five stars

Hazel and Fox appear to be the perfect suburban couple—living in an upscale London neighborhood with their young daughter, Bibi. But behind the playdates and school runs lies a much darker past: they’re both former serial killers who once roamed the city, eliminating bad men with deadly precision.

Everything changed when Hazel got pregnant, and the pair traded murder for middle-class monotony. But three years into their new life, Hazel is suffocating in domesticity and secretly longing for her old ways. When she accidentally kills someone—without Fox—it sets off a chain of chaos she must manage without him finding out. Meanwhile, Fox has secrets of his own, and as their lies pile up, the stakes quickly rise higher than either of them could have imagined.

This book was such a fun, fast-paced read! It masterfully blends dark comedy with genuine suspense. Each chapter peeled back a new layer of secrets, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what twist would come next. If you enjoyed Butcher and Blackbird, this should be your next read—sharp, witty, and wickedly entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing (Ballantine) for my DRC!

Okay…honestly I feel like this book was good but some parts of it just dragged. There were also a couple of plot holes that were confusing and didn’t seem all that necessary, but overall I give this a 3/5.

I have to admit, the title of this book really got me. The reading experience of this book was great and I really enjoyed it. The plot was great and I really enjoyed the characters. I was able to dive into this book from the very beginning and I wasn't disappointed. I really recommend this book so go pick it up.

This one was just meh for me. It was okay for the most part. But I was really hoping for more of a thriller aspect.

This quick read follows the married couple Fox and Hazel. Fox comes from a prestigious wealthy upbringing and Hazel is a product of the foster system. But both find love with each other through their mutual love of murder… but they only murder bad guys.

Once their daughter is born, Fox wants to stop, move to the suburbs and focus on his day job. Hazel tries hard to fit into the suburban mom life but struggles… until she finds another new mama, Jenny. Maybe they could be the perfect couple… if only they can keep out of trouble…

Told in alternating POVs from Fox and Hazel, this novel is not a twisty thriller or murder mystery. The characters were super flawed but lacked real depth. The “twist” at the end was meh but wrapped up everyone’s lives in a neat bow. It gives the vibes of “My Lovely Wife” by Samantha Downing.

Thank you to @ballantine @randomhouse @netgalley for a #gifted early digital copy of this novel.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Now that was a seriously fun book to read! Funny, thought provoking, introspective (in a serial killer kind of way;) and all out hilarious. Fox and Hazel are vigilante serial killers. They are married, very much in love and are enjoying a ten year honeymoon galavanting around the world knocking off bad guys and getting away with it. And then they have a baby. They take an oath that in order to protect their little family they must hang up their knives and play 'normal' in suburbia. This does not set well for either of them. Hazel is having a harder time of it than Fox and when she is given the opportunity to take out another bad guy she takes it and keeps it a secret from her husband. Keeping secrets from your spouse is never a good thing even for serial killers and things go a bit wonky for them until they manage to find their way back to each other and their true natures. This is a really, really fun book and I loved how clever it was. Totally unbelievable of course but SO MUCH FUN! Highly, highly recommended. 5 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a chance to read an ARC version of this book.

Mackay's writing is sharp and witty, delivering a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The dual perspectives of Hazel and Fox provide insight into their complex relationship and the challenges of leaving behind a violent past. The novel's blend of humor and suspense keeps readers engaged, offering a unique take on the thriller genre.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy dark humor, complex characters, and unconventional narratives. Fans of thrillers with a satirical edge, such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, will find this novel particularly appealing.

DNF after 10%. This book was just slow and I couldn't get into it. Based on the cover and title, I thought it was going to be dark comedy, but it wasn't...