Such a great, fast and fun read. This story grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go. Loved reading an ARC of this and appreciate getting the ability to do so! Loved the dueling views and perspectives for this book. It made it so much more fun to see the mess that has become of these two characters lives. I hope to hear more about Fox and Haze’s story from this author!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7107351344

https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/sdmarmolejo

Check out this review on Fable
https://fable.co/review/54a1a55a-0ec9-468a-a63f-05bf9df96fea/share

Hazel and Fox are married ex-serial killers. They are trying to live on the right side of the law now that they are parents to Bibi. Now living in a suburban neighborhood, they traded killing and body cleanup for hosting dinner parties and mom groups.
Hazel gets the itch again to kill and when she breaks the pact of no killing she has to do everything in her power to keep the police off their doorstep and not get caught.
I really liked the storyline and the character relationships in this book. I felt that certain parts were a little rushed for me. I would have liked to get more details on things. Overall it reminded me a little of Mr and Mrs Smith (a great movie IMO) but not completely like it.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to get an early copy of this book to review.

Ok, this book was so fun to read. Two vigilante serial killers who fall in love and kill bad men together, until they get pregnant and put that part of their life in the past. Or do they?

This gives Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes. I’m a sucker for a female rage/serial killer book, so I do wish there was more killing. I felt that some of the moodiness and miscommunication about the marriage in the middle of the book was a bit repetitive. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Can two serial killers ignore the itch to kill and settle into suburban life to give their daughter a normal childhood? This is the dilemma Haze and Fox struggle with. Each of them struggle to find something that gives them the same satisfaction that they felt while ridding the world of people who prey on the innocent. When their former life collides with the new life they’re trying to build, they find themselves and their relationship floundering rather than joining forces to protect their daughter. It’s hard to fathom that you’d be rooting for a couple of serial killers to find their happily ever after, but that’s exactly where you’ll find yourself. This book provides a unique storyline and offers a fun and enjoyable reading experience. I do have a cautionary note however - if you’re offended by foul language, you may want to give this book a pass.

This story follows Haze and Fox who are two retired serial killers. They have a daughter named Bibi and they are trying to get use to a normal life with marriage and parenthood. The book takes you on some sharp turns where each character is trying not to go back to their old ways but somehow things happen that proves challenging for each of them.

This book does provide a Mr and Mrs Smith vibe. The ending was surprising but I felt was a bit rushed with how everything came together. This book did keep my interest due to it being a different plot than I have read before. I found the characters to be fun. An overall good read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Haze and Fox are two retired serial killers turned suburbanites, navigating the monotonous world of parenthood and marriage. Haze, feeling restless in her role as a stay-at-home mom, starts yearning for her old life, much to Fox’s dismay. And then, things take a turn…

As promised, this book delivers a blend of 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' meets 'Butcher & Blackbird', with a dash of 'Santa Clarita Diet' dark humor. While the opening hooked me right away, the pacing lagged a bit in the middle, taking its time to truly find its footing. There was more “telling” than “showing,” which initially made it hard for me to fully engage with the story. But once all the pieces started falling into place, I couldn’t put it down. Every seemingly questionable moment from earlier chapters was revealed and and the whole final third of the book was mind blowing when all was revealed. So many bombshells!

Surprisingly, the book also offers relatable and honest reflections on motherhood and marriage (hence the title). Haze’s candid take on becoming a mother felt real and raw, something I imagine many parents would connect with deeply.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

This was so fun! Very short chapters, which I love. I actually really love Haze as a character. The premise of this is super fun, I’ve been reading a lot of serial killer romance books this year but this one was really unique!

** Spoilers Ahead **

I found the ending to be satisfying but I would have liked to see a bit of reconciliation and romance between Haze and Fox after, rather than just them saying that things were better. I think a couple of things could have been more nearly wrapped up at the end, but Jenny is the best and I’m very happy with the outcome of the main plot line!

This book focuses on a couple of vigilante serial killers, Haze and Fox. Asia Mackay makes it clear that they only kill really bad men, so she doesn’t lose her audience with a couple who delight in slaughtering innocent young girls.

Although this book was compared frequently to Mr. And Mrs. Smith, I didn’t get that vibe at all.

Haze was so whiny and unlikable. Due to her past (both her bad childhood and her marriage up to that point, both of which she ruminates over ad nauseam), Haze is bitter, mean, and entitled. Even if it’s understandable given her childhood, it is a tedious POV to read. And I feel no loyalty to that character.

Fox’s POV is slightly better, but more than half of the book focused on Haze. Fox was basically the fix-it guy who cleaned up after Haze and kept her happy.

I just couldn’t get into this book, and found it a slog to complete.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A fast paced, fun thriller that gave off total Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes. I was hooked from the first chapter and really appreciated the author’s approach to motherhood while also juggling marital issues.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publishing: January 14, 2025
Pages: 352

“A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” is a first time read by author, Asia Mackay and was just over the top wonderful. I loved the humor mixed with satire and the twists mingled up into the story. It was fund read with all its quirks and crazies, but I totally enjoyed it. The title captured my attention but who would have thought of two serial killers marrying and having a child…not this reader. Definitely a page turner that blends suspense with an uncharacterized sense of humor…this might be the read for you. Recommend the read.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is absolutely phenomenal! It’s a gripping blend of intensity, humor, and dark intrigue, following a married couple as they try to salvage their relationship and protect their child by putting an end to their serial killer ways. From the very first pages, I was hooked—I couldn’t put it down, yet at the same time, I didn’t want it to end. Who would have thought I’d find myself somewhat rooting for serial killers? LOL! This book expertly combines romance, thriller, mystery, and dark comedy into one unforgettable read. I highly recommend it to everyone!

A bit of Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes featuring two serial killers married to each other. Lots of twists that are delightful especially in the end. I really enjoyed this different take on a murder mystery. Thanks to #netgalley #aserialkillersguidetomarriage for the opportunity to read and review this book. 3.5 rounded to 4.

This was a fun read, but I had a bit of a hard time believing the ending.

The detective was just okay with having been kidnapped? She decided to work with a man she had been trying to get arrested?

I think some more tension, suspense, and story could have been squeezed out of that.

Oh my God this was soooooooo good! And quirky and fun and crazy and I loved it! It gives vibes from both movies Mr. And Mrs. Smith and Mr. Right and it was just perfect! It honestly reads like a stand alone, and it's perfect as that, but I wouldn't hate another book in the same world!! This is expected to come out on January 14 and I can't wait to pick up a physical copy! Make sure you do too, it's so worth it!! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!

This was unexpectedly witty and fun, and such an adventure to go on. When two serial killers are married and end up having a child, they they realize that their lifestyle isn't as easy to give up as they thought.

The couple that slays together, stays together. But what happens when the murders stop?
Hazel and Fox share an unconditional vocation. They kill bad men. They traipse across Europe partying, living the high life, and taking out the worst of the worst. But when Haze and Fox start a family, Fox decrees that they need to retire from their serial killing ways and start acting like a "normal", upper class London family.
Haze like many women really starts to grapple with losing herself in motherhood and questioning her identity and her marriage. She goes to Mommy and Me classes and dotes on her toddler but something is missing.
She and Fox are both keeping secrets and don't know who to trust.
This was an excellent read, much of it felt very timely and was delightfully snarky, feminist, and intriguing.
Highly recommend! Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this before publication.

The Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a wickedly sharp, darkly funny ride that had me equal parts amused and unnerved. Hazel and Fox are not your average married couple—beneath their suburban façade, they share a blood-soaked past, and Mackay brings their struggle to "go straight" to life with such wit and tension that I couldn’t look away. Hazel’s voice, in particular, is both relatable and chilling; her tug-of-war between being a parent and suppressing her lethal instincts made me laugh and gasp in equal measure.

This book felt like the perfect mix of domestic drama and pitch-black humor, with a splash of thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. If you’re into unconventional protagonists and stories that blend suspense with a twisted sense of humor, this one is for you. Hazel is unforgettable, and trust me—you’ll never look at your neighbors the same way again. ★★★★☆

I have to say this was a fun read! The dual POV worked well. Though don’t trust everything they tell you, a lot is left out but it makes the twist in the ending worth it!

This book was FUN! Two serial killers get married and settle into domestic bliss until their past finds them and hiking ensue. Four stars. Very entertaining.

I expected a darkly entertaining read from A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, and it absolutely delivered. This book is a wild, unpredictable ride from start to finish, and I genuinely had a hard time putting it down.

The author has done something remarkable with Hazel and Fox: they are ex-serial killers living in suburban domesticity, yet they remain oddly relatable. Despite their atrocious (and often downright insane) actions, I found myself rooting for them. Their relationship struggles while raising their first child felt completely authentic, even when Hazel’s itch to return to her old ways arose. The fallout that follows makes for a compulsive and darkly funny exploration of what it means to settle down when your past is anything but normal.

What really set this book apart for me was its sheer unpredictability. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it veered into completely unexpected territory. This continued from start to finish of this book! I will definitely recommend A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage to fellow thriller readers.