A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a darkly humorous domestic thriller that blends suburban monotony with a murderous twist.

Hazel and Fox are not your typical couple—they’re a team of serial killers who eliminate “bad men” while living a luxurious, globetrotting life. But when Hazel becomes pregnant, they trade their knives in for suburbia, with the desire and hope to raise their daughter, Bibi, in a “normal” environment. Unfortunately for Hazel & Fox… settling down isn’t as easy as they anticipated.

Hazel, stifled by the dull routine of suburban life and yearning for the adrenaline of her former life, begins secretly killing again….. and her actions draw police attention, her carefully presented suburban front starts to crack.

Meanwhile, Fox has his own secrets and struggles with the loss of their shared “hobby.” The story follows both Hazel and Fox in dual POVs, with flashbacks and creative snippets….

While the premise is clever and offers sharp humor (reminiscent of Dexter and Butcher & Blackbird - both I LOVED)

This isn’t a gritty, blood-soaked thriller read, but more of a lighter, satirical take on serial-killer tropes, making it a fun, quick read. Fans of dark humor, suburban drama, and unconventional protagonists will likely enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

The idea for the book is really interesting because it involves not one, but two serial killers! And they are married to each other! They have a kind of Mr. and Mrs. Smith thing going on.

I struggled for a little bit because I didn't really like Hazel's character. But she's not really someone you are supposed to like at first. She did grow on me a little bit though. The characters show growth as the story progresses which is always nice. The book contains text messages, news articles, and descriptions of Hazel's art.

If you want more like this I recommend checking out: This Girl's A Killer by Emma C. Wells and The Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer. Thank you to NetGalley, Asia Mackay, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the opportunity to read A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

This story, I do not believe, was supposed to be funny, but having been married for so many years, I found myself chuckling a great deal at these characters. I could relate to them totally except for not being (emphasis on “not”) a serial killer. Having said that Hazel and Fox were a unique couple indeed. How so, you ask? If you’ve ever seen the hit show on Showtime called Dexter, then you may be familiar with the style of killing Haze and Fox would commit.

Everything about them was so typical as any other couple. They loved one another. Enjoyed having their daughter, Bibi, in their lives and they had the normal everyday ups and downs that most couples experience. But one thing neither of them could ever stand nor tolerate were bad people. When I say bad, I mean disgusting men who took advantage of women and people who were defenseless in a sense. They wanted the world to be a better place and they felt it was their duty to rid it of garbage. Haze was an artist and used her killings to fuel her creativity. Fox worked as an investment advisor and used his organizational skills to keep track of the kills they'd do and chronicle their every move so they could go undetected.

That is, until Haze, at the direction and guidance of Fox, advised her to find some friends and keep herself occupied since they gave up killing for sport since they became parents. After all, they wanted to set a great example for their young impressionable daughter and didn’t want her to ever find out what really lied beneath the surface of her parents.

So, Haze strikes up a friendship with another mom with her son about the same age as her daughter’s. The only problem was, out of all the people in the world for her to befriend, she would pick a police officer. Hmm? How does that work exactly? This is what Haze wanted to know. One rule Fox set for them is that no matter what, neither of them were to ever stray and make kills on his/her own. Haze was bored with being a mother and wanted more out of life. She missed the excitement she once shared with Fox. His life seemed to be moving on while hers was standing still. It got to the point that both began to wonder about the other and how they were each truly feeling about their current situation.

As time moved on, another murder happened in the community in which they lived, and the story takes off from there. Wow! I would have never guessed I would have loved a story like this but that’s why I love reading because you discover new things about yourself always. Mackay is an exceptional writer and she’s quite hilarious. Again, I’m not sure this story was meant to be funny, but those of us who have been in longstanding relationships will most definitely be able to relate to Haze and Fox.

This was a fun read and one I greatly enjoyed! I’m rating this with four stars!

I enjoyed how the author was able to convey the frustration and agony Haze and Fox felt in their marriage as each became more and more weighed down with their lies. I found myself becoming very annoyed with them also due to their decisions and actions.

I also appreciate the fact that the author was able to completely reverse my feelings towards Haze in a small amount of time. For most of the book, I despised her, her selfishness, and her lack of any emotions. But by the end of the book, that opinion changed!

I’d be delighted to see this turned into a trilogy or series. I’m interested in what other situations Haze and Fox might find themselves in and how their new-found teammate may help them!

Thank you NetGalley, Asia MacKay, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ahead of the proposed release date in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage
Author: Asia Mackay
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Ms. Mackay has written a unique book with an original twist. I like that the two lead characters, Hazel and Fox, are likable and funny murderers. The premise is they only kill bad guys out of a sense of moral outrage and they are good at what they do. Fox comes from a very wealthy and privileged background but his life is a shit show and his parents are terrible. Hazel’s former life was even worse. Hazel’s Mom and Dad both have deadly addictions combined with being abused in foster homes (not talked about in detail in the book). These two crazy kids meet and find just the right soul mate in each other until Hazel has a child and they have to stop killing bad people. This is a smart book and not gruesome. I laughed at Fox trying to talk about his years of abuse at an AA meeting but the people misinterpreted what he was saying and when he told them that having so much money was just as bad as…well, you can imagine how the AA folks felt about that. This is a book worthy of purchasing and I swear you will get sucked into a good story. @netgalley @asia.mackay #ASerialKillersGuideToMurder #love #marriage #strangeHobby #killers #murder #badMen @penguinrandomhouse @bantambooksuk

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #pbooklove #bookreviewer

Hazel and Fox are not your typical couple. They are married and in love, but they also share another love and that is they are both killers. They say they only kill the "bad guys" and never kill anyone that is innocent. I was getting Dexter vibes here. Once a baby arrives, they both realize they need to find another career. However, Hazel gets the itch. Well this is not going to end well for a couple who have always shared everything.

This book is definitely not one of my favorite books. I just could not get into this book like I thought I would be able to after reading the blurb. I really did not like Hazel. Fox was pretty cool (for a sociopath). However, I was expecting something a little different. Suffice it to say I did not despise it, but I also did not adore it. It seems I am in the minority because most people loved it. So give it a try. You may like it.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This fast-paced mystery/thriller was very intriguing to read! I loved the humor in A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, it was one of the things that I loved about the book. I will say that this definitely gives Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes, which I'm here for.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves humor, mystery/thriller, or a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy!

I was so excited to read this book and the premise was right up my alley but man did this drag at the beginning. It didn’t get exciting until part 3 of the 5 parts and then it was what I thought the book was going to be like from the summary. So while this wasn’t a fast read for me and I really didn’t enjoy the back and forth with the Povs between Hazel and Fox and flashbacks from each of them since for me it made the narrative hard to follow and choppy but once it finally got going man without all exposition it was great. I really enjoyed the end and the dynamic between Hazel and Fox was great once they finally started communicating with each other and I loved the friendship between Hazel and Jenny which Hazel was so reluctant to attempt but ended up being what she needed. All in all this was a fine read and by the end it all came together.

Thanks to Bantam Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

For fans of Mr and Mrs Smith.

This book was a fun ride. I loved the dual POV and the timelines; but a little more clarity between timelines would’ve been super helpful.

The morally grey, unrealable characters were solid, but I didn’t love their relationship with eachother? I’m not sure what it was.

I loved Haze’s relationship with her best friend. I enjoyed the overall story, but felt it needed a little more twist or action.

Still a fun read, that I would recommend to friends!

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for a chance to read and review this ARC.

Hazel and Fox are your typical married couple with a baby. Except they are also murderers. They used to travel the world, ridding it of bad men. And then Hazel got pregnant and Fox insisted they settle down and give up their favorite pastime. Haze hasn't been able to really work on her art after giving up murder either.
So Haze tries. She takes their baby girl, Bebe, to music class and makes a friend. Fox pours his energy into work and keeping his meddling, uber rich parents out of their lives. And also making sure Haze stays out of trouble.
But it all comes to a harrowing point when Haze kills a man on her run. Granted he did attack her but she promised Fox. It also doesn't help when Haze realizes her new friend is also a detective. And she may just have discovered Fox and Haze's secret past.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for this digital e-arc.*

I enjoyed the light humor and the premise was fun. The plot has definitely been done before but I think the author executed it well enough to make it their own.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed most of this one. It started with a decent pace and had some really great one-liners. I liked how it flipped to the past, showing how the characters started individually, came together, and evolved over time in their killing styles. However, it became a bit repetitive with the constant reminders that she’s doing it to rid the world of bad men — girlie pop, we get it!

I did appreciate how Haze seemed to grow as a person (and even made a friend), as much as a serial killer can, lol.

I’m not a huge fan of Fox. The repetition continued whenever he was mentioned, constantly bringing up his spreadsheets and methodical planning. His personality fits his killing style, but he comes across as a whiny piss baby.

The story dragged a bit in the middle, focusing on mundane day-to-day details that didn’t feel entirely relevant. It wasn’t until almost 80% through that Haze and Fox finally clashed, and around 85% before things really hit the fan.

I was very surprised by the ending — I did not expect that from Jenny. However, the “happily ever after” (HEA) vibe felt odd, considering the book’s subject matter.

Also, the missing AirPod… Do we not have Find My iPhone in this universe?

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay follows the story of Haze and Fox, a serial killer duo on hiatus due to an unexpected pregnancy and subsequent baby. The events of ASKGTM takes place a couple years after their hiatus begins & they are both deep in the trenches of parenthood and the day-to-day monotony of suburbia. The book starts off with Haze and Fox facing off in a storm with knives as if they were going to kill each other. The rest of the book is a dual POV narrative that jumps between their early relationship and then the months leading up to the face off. Along the way Haze manages to befriend a cop, Fox’s very rich family shows their complete lack of boundaries, and both MC’s show their fair share of questionable morals and decision-making skills.

I had a blast reading this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the plot. I LOVE a self-righteous FMC with a murderous streak, and Haze is deranged and unhinged in the best way. Fox managed to piss me off partway through the book, but he had redeemed himself by the end. I loved the depiction of female friendships and the impact they have on women. I would happily read a whole series about these characters and their shenanigans & I cannot recommend this book enough for people who like serial killer fiction.

Fox and Hazel have a twenty nine month old baby girl named Bibi. It's a family name. Anyway, They live in a gated community called Sunningdale. No need to worry about break ins or people that don't belong in the neighborhood. This neighborhood is safe or is it?

Fox and Haze as everyone calls her, met in an alleyway in Europe. Right after Haze has killed a man. They have sex right there against the alleyway wall with dead mans blood pooling at her feet. They both knew they were meant to be together.

They went around killing together for many years before and after they got married. Then Haze became pregnant and things had to change. He went to work for a company that his family owned and he only did it so they could be or appear to be normal family. She was going to be a stay at home mother and meet other moms just like her and become friends. She would paint just like she used to. The only thing was she didn't have the drive to paint anymore.
Long ago Haze at the age of eight started her awful journey in the foster care system. She lived in quite a few of them before aging out at the age of eighteen. She didn't do well in high school but she did get into an art school in Kingston. It is here that she meets her first best friend Matty. Matty quickly becomes her everything and him the same. They are in each others lives for quite sometime until Matty decides to take his own life.

It's at this time that Haze finds her hatred for evil, mean people. She learns how to fight and she takes classes on self defense.
The way Fox grew up was the exact opposite of Haze. His full name is Nathaniel Foxton Cabot III. He grew up in New York, Manhattan elite. He tried several different careers and none of them were working out for him. All he seemed to do was find trouble. His parents finally told him that they couldn't cover him anymore. They told him to move out of the United States. So off he went to Europe and he continued to kill undetected.

Do they ever start killing again or do they go done the road of good and not evil....
Happy reading

This book had the makings of being the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith but with vigilante serial killers, and while the premise sounds great, the execution could use some work.

This book is Dual POV (great!), told in 2 timelines (okayyyyy) and each POV jumps back and forth throughout each chapter and at that point it became more difficult to follow than it was fun to read.
Also the whole marriage is built around them romanticizing the life they had prior to Hazel getting pregnant and whole they seems to enjoy being parents, they also resent it and let it lead to a giant gaping hole filled with miscommunication and pining for the life they left behind which makes the characters (Hazel especially) unlikeable.

The end provided the reader closure and a HFN ending but do I believe for a second these 2 aren't going to just fall back into the same patterns. Not really. So I guess I loved the idea of this and ended up feeling let down by the whole thing.

This was an entertaining read from start to finish. I don't know how I could relate to the characters - a pair of serial killers who kill bad men, but I did. And then Fox, Hazel's husband, forces them to go into retirement because of having a baby, but Hazel absolutely hates the life they now lead - full on, boring suburbia. And chaos ensues, because Hazel is a bit of a selfish chaos agent. I loved the characterizations, but sometimes, they fell flat, especially for her husband Fox. And sometimes things seemed a little too good to be true. Still, I loved reading this and all the little plot twists that developed.

This book drew me in and it did not disappoint!

She likes to kill bad men. Then she finds her Mr. Right who also likes to take out all the Mr. Wrongs. A match made in heaven (or maybe hell) no? But then the honeymoon phase ends with a baby. All couples give up something when they have kids—for most it’s their pre-pregnancy bod and fake leather pants and crop tops—but for this couple it’s serial murder. I guess no couple really is exempt from the hardships of child rearing!

Told from a dual POV and alternating between then and now, this book has quick chapters and witty banter that makes it a binge-worthy read. I particularly enjoyed the art descriptions between chapters they gave some insight into how the world viewed Haze’s graphic (and increasingly more disturbing) artwork. All in all this book is a fun take on a unique couple’s entrance into parenthood and how they deal with their life changes. For some it’s whose turn is it change the diaper but for this couple it’s whose turn is it to choose the bad man to maim and murder—to each their own?

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book—enjoyed getting a chance to read and review ahead of publication date.

I’m taking another trip to Outlier Island with this one. The synopsis sounded like it would be my jam, but I struggled to connect.

Fox and Haze-what cool names! Especially for a serial killer duo ridding the world of scum. We’ve seen this basic premise before, but it still holds the promise of a fun ride. They’re living on a globe trotting high until pregnancy puts the brakes on life as they know it. Both are in agreement that their baby must become the top priority. For Fox it’s clear that means retiring their knife wielding ways. Haze reluctantly follows his lead, but struggles both to find an outlet for her rage and to create art. She’s drowning in boring suburbia. Both are hiding how much they are floundering without the outlet killing provides. Both are holding onto damaging secrets.

What will happen when someone slips up?

Will miscommunication cause their careful life to implode?

The characters have a lot of potential, but they aren’t quite developed enough. I felt like they came up short and made it difficult to connect with. There are articles and texts between the chapter that slow down the momentum and didn’t add enough to the overall plot to justify them being there. These breaks didn’t work for me. I’m a huge fan of dark humor, but it only works when it fits the scenario and the character that’s delivering those cutting one-liners. The humor here felt inconsistent for the character portrayals. I didn’t buy it.

More development and a tighter pace would’ve worked wonders here.

I liked this one, but I didn’t love it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing an Advance Readers Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Okay, so this book's main characters aren't psycho- or sociopath serial killers. They're more vigilantes who have tasked themselves with taking out bad men to make the world safer for women.

While A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage (which I received for free to review) is about a couple who kills together, it's also about what happens when the honeymoon is over. It's about what moms (and dads) have to sacrifice when a baby comes. And it's about the importance of communication in a relationship.

Essentially, Haze and Fox live a comfortable suburban life with their toddler daughter. But before they had a baby, they were a husband-and-wife killing team. However, they've given up that life in order to protect their daughter. However, Haze is getting restless, and Fox's parents have reappared in his life, and Haze's new friend, who is a police detective, is getting suspicious of Fox. What can Haze and Fox do to keep the spark alive and protect themselves?

This was a fun read, and I'm sure your book club would enjoy it, too, especially because of the broader messages it has about marriage.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is published by Bantam and is available to purchase on January 14, 2025. I received a free e-ARC from the publisher.

"Dexter" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" meets "Revolutionary Road".

4.5 stars rounded up.

At first glance, Hazel and Fox's love story sounds totally ordinary: they met, fell madly in love and got married. Except that they are two serial killers who started their life together maintaining their now shared hobby of offing bad men. But then Hazel got pregnant, and now that they have a baby, they have given up their bloody past-time for a quiet life in the British suburbs. And if that sounds too picture-perfect, it's because it is - in fact, it is driving Haze up her suburbian walls with resentment und unfulfilled bloodlust. With their marriage on the rocks, Haze's somewhat accidental (though let's face it, totally provoked) killing of a man could be the straw to break the camel's back - so she decides to hide it from her husband. But when the police start sniffing around, Haze realizes that her impulsive action could have endangered her entire family.

Books about serial killers seem to be all the rage these days. Some of them are well-done and tongue-in-cheek (think "This Girl's a Killer"), while others take themselves way too seriously (such as "My Darlings" and the soon-to-be-released "Serial Killer Support Group"). Thankfully, this book - somewhat more original in its concept of a serial killer couple, though that too has been done before, albeit a few years ago and unsatisfyingly, in "My Lovely Wife" - falls into the first category.

Full of dark humor and smart twists, and told from both Fox and Haze's POV which makes the reader relate to both, "A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage" was a joy to read. Though they are serial killers, you cannot help but root for them and their marriage (it helps that they are vigilante killers essentially making the world a better place, just like "Dexter"). The ending was not entirely unpredictable, but felt very fitting and satisfying for this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage" is slated to be released on January 14, 2025.