I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were interesting and believable and the pace was steady. I didn't find the plot boring or fast but also not at all slow and creeping. There was also a few good laughs and alot of eye raising.

0000 this oen was a total vibe. i loved our protags, i loved the fast paced opening, i loved the thrill ride that the entire book was. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I was excited to receive an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. I was intrigued by several point plots – serial killers, married to each other, who give it up once they start a family. This one was a slow start for me, and I didn’t care much for the character of Hazel at first. However, the longer I read, the more I enjoyed the book. I get that this novel is describing a non-traditional marriage, but many times I wanted to just shake Fox and Hazel and tell them to talk to each other! I don’t know that this book would make my “top 10” list, but I enjoyed Asia Mackay’s writing style enough that I will check out her other books.

I received an ARC of A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay from NetGalley and Bantam Books, and it delivered a thrilling, darkly humorous exploration of relationships. Told from dual perspectives and timelines, the novel examines the challenges of marriage, the struggle to balance motherhood with identity, and the fallout of miscommunication—all set against the gripping backdrop of two “dormant” serial killers and a whole onslaught of misfortunes. It’s sharp, insightful, and utterly unique. Highly recommend!

My review will be posted on my bookstagram on pub day at @turmingpageswithkate - until then, happy reading!

I wanted to love this book - between the description & the cover, I really did want to love it. Unfortunately, I only just liked it. The characters were interesting in their own ways, although I feel like it would have been nice to have more from Fox’s POV than Haze’s & maybe also throw in a few chapters from Jenny’s POV. For me, the first half of the book seemed to drag a bit which made it difficult to keep going but once I got passed the halfway point it was a lot better. All in all, I would say the beginning was a solid 2.5 stars and the end was almost 4 stars, so overall I’m going with 3.

Thanks you NetGalley & Random House for providing me with an ARC for my honest opinion.

Great read that started off slow but when it picked it, it was a wild ride! Haze and Fox are a match made in heaven but questions is the thrill gone after love, marriage and a baby. I enjoyed both characters and the plot twists. I felt like the ending could've been shorter, but nevertheless, enjoyed how it ended.

If you're looking for a quick read, this is not it. This is a good read and is easy to follow! Great job, Asia!

A glance at Rowan and Sloane 5-10 years down the road! When all you want to do is rid the world of bad men but toddler playdates and coffee meetups with other suburban Moms are your life. This was a fun look into the mundane life of every married couple and how quickly you go from that fun loving whirlwind love to middle-aged married couple and parents that are too tired for bedroom activities that don't include sleeping. But this couple has some other favorite past times that would put their family at risk. Instead of relying on each other, when their past rears it's ugly head Haze and Fox start keeping secrets from each other in order to clean up their own messes. I really enjoy the taking care of bad men stories that seem to be popping up pretty regularly and this gives us a unique take on that with the element of a long-term relationship thrown in the mix. The first half of the book is mostly Haze and Fox internally reflecting the state of their relationship and how to get that spark back without resorting to past activities and keep their daughter safe while making friends and fitting in with the rest of the suburbanites. Most of the action takes place in the last 40-30% of the book. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Title: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage
Author: Asia Mackay
Publisher: Bantam Books
Release Date: 14 January 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a great, quick, and easy read! I loved how the vibe of the story, the characters, and the plot all worked together to create a nice, smooth flow. It felt effortless to keep turning the pages, and I was hooked from the start.
There were definitely moments that had me super curious about where the story was headed. I kept coming up with theories about how it might end, and even though I was somewhat spot on (yay me! 😂), the actual ending still managed to surprise me in the best way. It was clever, unexpected, and tied everything together perfectly.
The characters were so well-written—they felt relatable, and their choices made sense within the story. The pacing was spot-on, too. It kept me engaged from start to finish without ever feeling rushed or dragged out.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read! I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for something fun, fast-paced, and full of surprises.

Thank you, @bantambooksuk @randomhouse @netgalley, for my digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

A funny and fast-paced domestic thriller giving vibes of Dexter, Butcher and Blackbird, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Haze and Fox are serial killers now trying to manage their domestic life of marriage, parenting, and making mom-friends. The story is told in dual POV. It includes snippets in between chapters of texts, news articles, emails, and quotes from a fictional book on married life followed by Haze's personal take.
This was a really fun read for me. Haze's sarcasm towards domestic life was so relatable.
This book is released 1/14/2025.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I have posted this review on my Goodreads and Storygraph accounts.

It took me a bit to get into this book, but I couldn't put it down once I did. Haze and Fox are likable characters, and you find yourself going back and forth rooting for them. The book also helps point out that the grass is not always greener on the other side. I wasn't sure what to expect based on the title, and it didn't disappoint.

I LOVED this book. It was the perfect blend of a domestic story and a thriller. Heavy and light at the same time. I will definitely be looking out for more novels by this author. Easy five stars!

I loved this! The ending totally took my by surprise. This book gave Mr & Mrs Smith/ Dexter vibes for me! I loved the quotes from a wife in between chapters. I wish there was more of a romance feel but the storyline was great, with great character development.

Haze and Fox are two vigilante serial killers- a married couple who target bad men for their marks. That is, until they become parents and Fox insists they give up their dark hobby out of safety for their daughter. But, how will their marriage survive them giving up the thing that brought them together in the first place?

I love the premise of this book - so fun, dark, bold and edgy. I found it extremely repetitive at some points - both Fox and Haze (the book has dial POV) drone on and on about how difficult it is to no longer be killers, how boring it is, how they’ve lost their spark, etc. etc. The characters also lack a lot of dimension- Haze is not very likable, her whole persona is too good for the suburban housewife mold and she’s snobbish and bitchy at times. Fox seems near perfect- he’ll do anything for Haze and yet he makes lots of stupid decisions in keeping secrets from her in an effort to “fix things”. But, this sort of character development is pretty typical of this genre and does serve to provide a few twists when it’s revealed what’s really going on.

The ending was overall satisfying even if unrealistic. There’s a satirical overtone to the prose that gives it a refreshing feel.

Overall, ok. Fun premise, execution slightly lacking.

Fun and twisty, great characters and I liked the dual narration/viewpoints. It really has good commentary on marriage and communication, which is helpful even if you aren't a serial killer, lol. I received this as an ARC from Random House Ballentine Bantam via Netgalley.

4.5⭐️ Umm all I can say is WOW. This book had moments where it was slow, totally normal mundane life. Then all of a sudden our main couple is considering murdering the other one?!

Hazel and Fox seem like an ordinary couple with a baby, but have the past of being a tag team duo serial killer couple. Hazel appears to be struggling alone in their new endeavor of a family life, until Fox starts having his own secrets and struggles.

This book ending had me guessing and I absolutely loved the ending! Not at all what I would have guessed, but it gave me the warm and fuzzies none the less.

The title alone was enough to make me want to read the book. And the book was well worth reading. Hazel (Haze) and Fox were a successful serial killer couple for a decade, killing bad men who targeted women. However, pregnancy put an end to that. Fox decided they needed to put their past behind them so that their daughter would have a proper and secure upbringing, something neither of them had growing up. The presence of their daughter, Bibi, was enough for a while, but resisting the urge was becoming harder, especially for Haze, as her success as an artist was intimately connected to her killing; without the kills and all the emotions entangled in the act of ending the lives of bad men, she could not create the artwork for which she had become known. Haze ends up killing another bad man by herself, a secret she keeps from Fox; and she has to hope that she has covered her tracks well enough, especially as the new mommy friend (Jenny) she has made is a true crime enthusiast with an interest in serial killers. Fox is hiding his own secrets. The relationship between Haze and Fox starts to deteriorate because of their secrets and because of mistaken assumptions about what the other person is or is not doing.

Can their marriage survive? Will they avoid killing each other? You will have to read the book to find out. Be prepared for a number of surprising twists, especially the ending.

I didn't find I hated this book, nor did I love it (except the end). It was slow reading....and I just couldn't keep Mr and Mrs Smith out of my head. So I'll say a solid 3.5*, and that for the end. Great turn around!
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this ARC.

Asia Mackay delivers a gripping and darkly witty exploration of love, secrets, and survival in A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. The novel is a sharp blend of thriller and domestic drama, packed with unexpected twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The protagonist's dual life—balancing marital duties with a more sinister calling—is brilliantly depicted. Mackay’s writing captures the tension of living on the edge, infusing the narrative with clever humor and moments of chilling intensity. The characters are well-crafted, and their relationships feel both authentic and layered, adding depth to the story.

While the pacing and unique premise shine, some plot points felt slightly rushed, leaving me wanting a bit more development in the resolution. Nevertheless, this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

If you’re a fan of unconventional thrillers with a dark comedic twist, this book is a must-read. Mackay's sharp wit and original storytelling make this novel stand out. Highly recommended for those who enjoy something a little outside the norm!

Holy moly, such a unique and interesting plot line for a novel. It gave some Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes, but instead of spies they're vigilante/murderers. Very neat trope!

I absolutely LOVED this book. It's funny, it's clever, it's well-plotted, it's tender. While the premise of married couple Haze and Fox, who are serial killers who get married and move to the suburbs after finding she's pregnant, is obviously extreme, the themes of communication and effort in a relationship are not. With snappy writing, endearing main characters, and well-crafted side characters, this novel was an absolute delight. I couldn't put it down. Asia Mackay is a new favorite.