Hazel and Fox once had a hobby of taking out dangerous men together. However, when Hazel became pregnant, they decided to leave behind their violent past and settle into a quiet, respectable life in the suburbs. Yet, Hazel finds it hard to control her inner rage without an outlet, and she ends up secretly resuming her old habits … killing behind Fox’s back. Her actions soon lead to the police knocking on their door, forcing Hazel to find a way to protect her loved ones. The story is told from both Hazel and Fox's POV, covering both past and present. If you’re a fan of movies like “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” or “Keeping Up with the Joneses”, this book will be right up your alley!

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is about a couple who worked together killing bad men. Once Hazel and Fox discovered they were pregnant, they decided to halt their killing ways to provide a good home for their daughter. That pledge proves to be challenging for both of them and their marriage.

This book turned out to be not what I expected. It was a fast read and I enjoyed some of the wit and humor. However the plot was a miss for me. I think I would have enjoyed if it started about 3/4 through and then continued along in that vein.

Hazel's childhood was less than ideal, memorable for all the wrong reasons. She finds an escape through her art, but her inspiration comes from an unusual source. Her chance meeting with a handsome American whose protective instincts lean towards violence sets her life off on an entirely unexpected path.

Hazel and Fox are blissfully happy for a time, living a life of glamour, luxury, and acclaim. And then came Bibi.

To be sure, the birth of a child changes life for everyone. But change has always been an Achilles heel for Hazel. Not only the changes in her body, her routines, and her life, but Fox insists their killer ways will have to stop, as well, to keep their daughter safe.

Sinking deeper into despair, boredom, and resentment, Hazel hates her life in the London suburbs. Her art has suffered, and Fox insists she makes some mommy friends to help her cope. Unfortunately for Hazel, her choice of a new friend may be the thing that hurts her family the most.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is written with biting wit, dark humor, and sharp turns of phrase. The narrative is instantly engaging but quickly becomes repetitive, which I found frustrating. However, I'm glad I kept reading. Hazel's thought processes made me smirk and snicker more than once, and I thoroughly enjoyed her character.

Asia Mackay weaves romance, revenge, drama, and comedy into a story with surprising plot turns and an exceedingly satisfying conclusion. (3.5 stars!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the free ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Asia Mackay’s A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is a sharp, compulsive, and darkly hilarious exploration of suburban monotony colliding with the deadly allure of old habits. Hazel and Fox’s struggle to balance baby bottles with buried bodies delivers an addictive blend of tension and humor, offering a fresh take on domestic thrillers. Mackay masterfully crafts the characters' inner conflicts—Hazel's restlessness and Fox's calculated devotion—making their marriage feel terrifyingly relatable and wildly entertaining. With its razor-sharp wit and shocking twists, this novel is a clever, compelling ride that will leave you questioning the skeletons in anyone’s closet.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage delivers a darkly comedic take on suburban monotony, with former vigilante killers Hazel and Fox navigating parenthood and the struggle to suppress their lethal instincts. The sharp writing captures Hazel’s restless dissatisfaction and Fox’s meticulous adaptation to dad life, creating a messy, relatable dynamic amidst the chaos. While the plot occasionally drags and leans heavily on miscommunication, the blend of satire, suspense, and dysfunctional humor makes for a uniquely entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! Recently, my reading preferences were referred to as "murderous merriment," and I can't think of a better way to describe this book. It was a delightful mix of suspense and humor, full of plot twists and laughs. This was such a fun and fast-paced book that I absolutely flew through it. Truly an unputdownable page-turner. I need a sequel ASAP!! I just had so much fun with this book, and I can't recommend it enough!

Fox and Hazel meet under some murderous circumstances and discover a soulmate within one another. Their chemistry sizzles and life is nothing but an adventure. Unfortunately, that adventure comes at the cost of killing dastardly men.

When Hazel finds out she's pregnant Fox is over the moon with joy. Hazel has the baby and though she loves her daughter more than life itself and would do anything for her she struggles with her new role in life. She misses the excitement of their life before but she has promised to put all that killing behind her in an effort to keep their family safe.

What happens when Hazel breaks the no-killing rule behind Foxs' back? You'll have to read this to find out.

Female vigilantes have become all the rage lately in the thriller genre. I have read so many books of this type and, honestly, I think I'm just getting a bit bored with this particular storyline. I liked the start of this book and found myself entertained with the snarky humor and amusing anecdotes. Around a 1/3 of the way in my interest started to wane. While I liked Fox as a character I can't say I enjoyed Hazel much. What started as humorous became a poor me pity party. You have a faithful husband that loves you, a healthy child, money, a beautiful spacious home, and let's not forget the designer wardrobe - these are things other people don't have so it got really tedious listening to all her woe-as-me crap. I just couldn't muster any sympathy for her selfishness.

Also, beware, this entire book is based on the miscommunication trope. For two people that were soulmates and so madly in love I find it hard to believe that Hazel didn't come clean to Fox. The man attacked her and I'm sure Fox would have forgiven her (or gone after the dude himself) given the circumstances but then this book wouldn't exist.

I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay might not be for everyone, but it was absolutely for ME! I had a blast reading it. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions—I laughed, cried, gasped, and, at times, felt genuinely pissed off (in the best way).

At first glance, the cover might suggest something lighthearted, but don’t be fooled—this story tackles some heavy themes, including **trigger warnings for SA, DA, self-harm, depression**, and more. Please approach with care if these topics are sensitive for you.

The plot centers on two retired serial killers (targeting bad men, of course) who are navigating the chaos of parenthood and personal struggles. Haze is the most selfish yet somehow endearing character I’ve ever read, while her husband, Fox, is spiraling as he juggles keeping Haze happy and maintaining their cover. Their dynamic is messy, darkly humorous, and completely compelling.

This book delivers some mild twists, but what it lacks in shock value, it makes up for in emotional resonance. One twist added a fun, unexpected dynamic that elevated the rest of the story, while another brought a heartfelt sense of closure to a lingering subplot.

If you’re a fan of dark humor and love shows like *Dexter* or *You*, this will absolutely be your jam. It’s fast-paced, satisfying, and unapologetically bold. And yes—"I support women’s wrongs."

I can’t wait to shout about this book to everyone I know when it releases in 2025.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage" by Asia Mackay is a wild, exhilarating ride—think Dexter meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith with a splash of suburban drama and dark humor! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC.

Hazel and Fox seem like your picture-perfect suburban couple, but their past is anything but ordinary—they used to take down bad guys for fun. Their globe-trotting, justice-driven lifestyle screeches to a halt when Hazel gets pregnant. Suddenly, it’s all about baby Bibi, playdates, and PTA meetings. Fox dives headfirst into dad mode, while Hazel finds herself longing for the thrill of her old life.

Things take a dark turn when Hazel "accidentally" kills someone, and Fox starts hiding his own secrets. As their perfect facade begins to crumble, the story takes off with twists, tension, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments.

Hazel’s sharp wit and her hilarious struggles to blend into mom life had me in stitches. The thriller elements are gripping, and while the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, Fox’s chaotic American family brought plenty of dysfunctional hilarity to keep things moving. Hazel and Fox’s chemistry is electric, and I would’ve loved even more scenes of them together—it’s a dynamic that truly shines.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! It’s dark, funny, and surprisingly relatable. If you’ve ever kept a secret or wondered how far you’d go for family, this one’s for you.

Serial Killer fiction is absolutely having a moment, and this new release will delight readers who enjoy dark humor, morally grey characters, and shows such as Dexter or You.

Two vigilante serial killers fall in love, marry, and then exchange their glamorous jet setting European lifestyle for a house in the burbs. They also give up their ‘habit’ to ensure the safety and security of their daughter. And then… everything falls apart. Miscommunication and jaded dreams plague both Hazel and Fox as they attempt to adjust to parenthood and their new lifestyle. I especially enjoyed Hazel’s snarky humor and criticism of suburban motherhood, and found her attempts at integration into a mommy group and finding female friendship to be comedic and relatable! I spent most of the book just wishing her and Fox would have a good sit-down chat about their unhappiness, but also found this to be related for most married couples. Short chapters, fast-paced plot, and a fun premise made this a quick bingeable read for me!

“A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” follows 2 serial killers who are trying to quit for the sake of their daughter. This sounded like an interesting plot but it fell short in some ways.

Let me start with the things I did like though:
* dual POV
* 2 morally grey/unreliable narrators
* The writing style was really good!

As far as the actual plot, it definitely dragged in several places. It took a while for me to get into the story & then it just dragged on for a while until I got to the end when it got interesting again. But even the big twist wasn’t super shocking or jaw-dropping like I would expect from a thriller. It didn’t really feel like much of a thriller in general.

I still enjoyed the overall story & I think the writing style helped with that because it kept me wanting to read more even when I wasn’t too invested in the plot.

Release date: January 14, 2025

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This was a fun, twisty read to finish out the year. I would call this a "tongue in cheek" domestic dramedy with light violence (the killing is minimal and not gory or described in great detail).

Haze and Fox's marriage is in trouble, but it's not for the usual reasons. Since becoming parents, they've given up their unusual "hobby" of killing bad men and household tensions are rising. Both are trying to pursue other interests with mixed results. POV bounces back and forth between Hazel (mostly) and Fox as well as switching between present (mostly) and past.

Overall, clever plot and I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tried to like this. I really did. I thought it would be a cool serial killer heist plot that would grip me from the very start, but instead it was the complete opposite. Maybe I just wasn’t the right audience for this book, who knows. From my perspective, Haze and Fox are completely miserable people that hate each other, resent their child, and live the most mundane lives for the most part despite their previous “jobs.” It felt like this was more of a book about an unloving couple and struggles with parenthood than a murderous thriller mystery. Haze’s POV chapters were full of her complaining about her husband and the fact that her life came to a halt when her daughter was born, and Fox’s POV was just plain boring. I thought of DNFing this multiple times, but kept pushing through because the reviews are great so I thought it would end better, but nope it never did. The ending was very far-fetched and unrealistic. Unfortunately this book just fell flat for me and took me forever to want to finish hence why it took me a month to get through.

*The Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage* by Asia Mackay is a witty, darkly funny thriller that takes an unconventional look at both crime and relationships. The story follows Lex Tyler, a hitwoman trying to balance her deadly career with her role as a wife and mother. Mackay combines sharp humor with suspense, crafting a fast-paced, twisty plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Lex’s witty inner monologue adds depth to her character, and while the book has its moments of dark absurdity, it also explores themes of loyalty, love, and identity in a unique way. If you’re into a blend of crime, humor, and a touch of chaos, this is a book you won’t want to miss.

70/100 or 3.5 stars

I think this book gave me exactly what I was expecting, and I had a good time with this story!
Even though there are parts of this that were predictable, I still felt engaged with the story and invested in how the author was going to end it (no pun intended). The characters were complicated and interesting enough to keep me invested. It is for sure possible to make this into a series. I would probably give the second book a try, as there are so many fun ways the author could take a series with the world they have created! (I also think this story would be fine as a standalone book too.)

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a darkly humorous and thrilling novel that blends crime, suspense, and witty commentary on relationships. The story follows a female assassin who balances her dangerous profession with the challenges of married life and motherhood. Mackay’s writing is sharp, with a perfect mix of dark comedy and action, as the protagonist navigates her unusual lifestyle while trying to maintain her personal life. The book is fast-paced, engaging, and filled with clever twists, making it an enjoyable read for those who like their thrillers with a touch of humor and complexity.

When you bond over murder, what do you do when the white picket fence goes up? A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia MacKay is a commentary of how a some couples drift apart as their life evolves to be about the 9-5 job, marriage, and kids. It just so happens to also be about two former serial killers struggling with adjusting to life in the suburbs. Overall, a well-written read! I felt like I was able to understand where Haze and Fox were coming from even though I obviously haven’t gone down the serial killing path. ;)

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this fabulous book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this book. I think I may have scared my husband by telling him how much I enjoyed this book about two serial killers who fall in love and then try to go straight for the kids.

Reminiscent of shows like Dexter and You, this is one of those stories where the main character is absolutely a “bad guy,” but you love them anyhow. It always amazes me when an author manages to make a murderer into a sympathetic character. I found myself rooting for the killers to not get caught, for them to save their marriage, and for them to succeed for the sake of their adorable daughter.

My only negative comment is something that I hope was just an editing issue that will be fixed by the time it is officially released - the excessive and distracting use of all caps for a partial sentence at the beginning of each chapter and randomly in the middle of the chapter. One time they even changed from all caps to lowercase in the middle of a word. It really felt completely random, and I found myself asking WHY?! after the first few chapters.

Luckily, the story was so good that I couldn’t put it down, and eventually stopped noticing the weird choice of capitalization.

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who involves a good murdery thriller.

This book was a hilarious and quick read! I am appreciative of the opportunity to receive an advance reader copy from the author and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Per the title, it involves two (former) serial killers who are married, and their adventures while raising a young toddler in suburbia. To add to the premise and depth of the book, there is a cat and mouse chase threatening to undermine their current lives, all tied to their past. Overall, the book was a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 for me, and while it was great (especially the humor in the writing), the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book. I would certainly like to read more adventures by the author featuring the couple in the book, as the premise leaves many opportunities for future reads. For similar content and humor, the Findlay Donovan is Killing It series by Elle Cosimano is on par with similar humor, and for books featuring serial killers, those by Brynne Weaver in the Ruinous Love Trilogy (including Butcher & Blackbird, Leather & Lark) resonate, but do have a darker humor undertone/romance than the current read.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the publisher, Random House Publishing-Ballantine/Bantam, for the eGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Dark, scandalous, twisted, messy, wild, you name it- this one had a lot of the "guilty pleasure" style qualities with a great story to go along with. Hazel and Fox's alternating perspectives built the plot and kept the pages turning for me. I enjoyed reading this while traveling- it was a book that demanded your attention and helped reality fall away.

The ending was also very creative and fun, you will be guessing until the final page! Looking forward to reading more by Asia Mackay in the future.