Thank you so much for this ARC!

This book was so fun and a totally different take on serial killers that I really enjoyed, sometimes serial killers can get too gory. These were light hearted serial killers! The stories of their travel and the men they took down was so juicy, I enjoyed those recollections.

Haze is bored with her new life and Mackay writes her character in a way that really portrays it. At times Haze is totally unlikeable but that is the point, we are supposed to really feel her boredom. This is probably the first in a long time that I enjoyed the husbands point of view over the wife's. Fox was a good guy who wanted the best for his family. Jenny was an interesting character and her storyline was quite the surprise, what a coincidence!

The ending was so satisfying and delicious - is there a sequel coming to get more from the trio?! I hope.

I was graciously given an advanced copy of Serial Killers Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay on NetGalley from Bantam Books.
I was really hoping for a good whodunnit or romcom, but ended up with more of a literary fiction novel. I did enjoy the book and the author wrapped it up very nicely (the end was very satisfying) but there were some parts in the middle that lagged.
Hazel and Fox are ‘good’ serial killers who meet on the job and get married. When Hazel finds out she is pregnant, everything changes. Her and Fox form a pact that their killing days are over so they can keep their child safe. This book explores the feelings of a new mother navigating suburbia and trying to figure out who she is as a mom, when she chose to give up her passion for her daughter. As with any domestic book there are marital misunderstandings and fantastical plans to keep secrets, secret.

There was perhaps nothing so made for me as the title “A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage.” So I had to request it from NetGalley immediately.

I’m quite enjoying this era of serial killers being the protagonists. I mean, in the past few months alone I’ve read a serial killer rom com, a book about a recovering-assassins support group (with another serial killer support group in the queue), at least 75 books with female vigilante serial killers (with another 45 in the queue)… perfection.

Here we have a bored married couple…. mostly bored because he made them stop killing people when their daughter was born. So it’s all of the ‘spark is gone from the marriage’ and ‘is my spouse cheating?’ and ‘these secrets are piling up’ tropes… but with more murdering than normal.

It was fun and funny and a quick read. I enjoyed it.

Two serial killers meet, fall in love, and start a family. The book description intrigued me and from the start and Haze’s attitude was irresistible. Due to now being parents they are no longer allowing themselves the pleasure of killing bad people. Both spouses are hiding secrets and their marriage has turned mundane. Overall, the book was witty and dark. I also found the dual POV funny in that the husband and wife were at times totally thinking opposite things. The only critique is the end really went crazy. There was no foreshadowing that Fox knew about Haze until the very end.

This book was such a fun, fluffy, but also feminist read!
Sometimes you just want to read about bad men getting killed by a good bitch and this was that, only with a good dude too.

If you liked My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing you'll love A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage!

Thank you netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was very Mr. and Mrs. Smith coded. Overall I really enjoyed this I just really struggled getting into it in the beginning. The pace felt really off but by around the start of part to it started to pick up pace and I got more into it.

Dark humor and suspense at its best with A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. Hazel and Fox have retired from killing after the birth of their daughter and are trying to live normal suburban lives. Unfortunately that only works for so long and both start to fall back into familiar patterns and the threat of being caught continues to close in on them. I really enjoyed this one thought it was super creative and a great premise to start with. I flew through this one and an will definitely be looking for more from Asia Mackay in the future. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I could give this one infinite stars. A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a darkly humorous, edge-of-your-seat thriller that blends quirky domesticity with high-stakes suspense. The protagonist, Hazel, is a retired serial killer juggling the typical challenges of married life with the not-so-typical problem of being a murderer. Mackay does a fantastic job developing Hazel as a character—her wit, sharp intelligence, and frustrations with domestic life make her both relatable and endlessly fascinating. As she navigates the increasingly complicated dynamics of her secrets, the tension ramps up, keeping the reader hooked with every page. The balance of everyday struggles and the looming threat of her dangerous, secret life being discovered creates a palpable sense of urgency that propels the plot forward.

The pacing in A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is brilliantly addictive. Mackay has a knack for weaving moments of humor and domestic life with nail-biting suspense, making it impossible to put the book down. The tension builds not only from the threat of exposure but also from Hazel's internal battle—she’s not just fighting for her freedom but also for her marriage and sense of identity. I loved reading chapters in Fox's POV and better understanding his character and motivations. I thought I figured out the ending of this one, but Mackay threw twist after twist at me until the very end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Haze and Fox spent over a decade being the married couple that everyone was jealous of. Unfortunately, one adorable daughter and a significant lifestyle change later, their marriage was now on a verge of a total disaster. As it turned out, stop killing perveted rich white men is a very difficult lifestyle change to make and Haze and Fox found themselves no longer in-sync or happy like before. Can our dysfunctional married couples get out of the funk or will their marriage meet a deadly end?

The book is hilarious. Haze is one of the funniest characters i've read about in a while. I love how flawed Haze is and how unapologetic insane the narrative treats her. However, I wish the same was done towards Fox who was treated almost like a Saint compared to his wife.
The opening chapter of this story immediately hooks me in and gets me invested in the premise. However, the next chunk of the book was way too slow that the original momentum fizzled out already by the time we get there. By the time the book picks up again towards the end, it is almost too late.
And while I do enjoy the final twist, as a reader, I felt cheated since the twist truly came out of nowhere since there was no hint of it at all throughout the povs in the book. I'm all for a good twist but I would rather have no view point of the character at all rather than being blindsided because the narrative actively left out information.

This book is unique and highly entertaining. The opening reminded me of the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The alternating POVs between Hazel and Fox flowed seamlessly and kept the pace moving along well. I read this book in one day! It's the perfect mix of humor, mystery, twists, and dark romance. The author did a great job with the characters and delving into their personalities. I will be on the lookout for more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this novel, but I absolutely loved it! Fox and Hazel had spent years killing horrible men all over Europe. Rapists, pedophiles, abusive men. Then Hazel got pregnant, and he convinced her to keep the baby, and they settled down. Now, even though Haze loves her daughter, Bibi, she is very bitter and wants to start murdering people again.

The author did an excellent job bringing the characters to life, and especially Hazel's journey through the book in coming to terms with a friend's suicide. The grief and guilt. That it took her over ten years to grieve as she still felt it was her fault for not knowing her best friend was depressed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My opinions are my own and are freely given.

Please seek help if you are suffering with depression. Call the suicide prevention helpline. Talk to friends or family, or talk to a therapist. You are important.

Oh my god. This book was amazing i couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much. Sometimes when i read a book i start skimming when i get bored. But i never skimmed once. I loved this so much 10/10.

I liked it despite the awful and completely unbelievable ending.

I was definitely drawn in and interested in every chapter even though any book about motherhood is boring so maybe I appreciated that Haze also found it empty and meaningless. Haze cursed so much she became unbelievable as a crafty and smart serial killer. She came off as uneducated and stupid. If you want us to root for the serial killer, make them clever + don't give them a brash nonsensical potty. She just curses for no reason. Like all the time. And I'm only so annoyed at this b/c I otherwise liked her character and backstory.

SPOLIERS
Why I hated the ending: No one goes from being catfished to becoming besties with people.
And then covert operations together as a threesome sharing a nanny while they kill people [AS IF] - Jenny was supposed to be a pillar of good and have some sort of moral compass.
Having Jenny take out revenge or turn them in would've give her more substance. Instead, she just instantly joins team serial killer?

5 STARS for this book without the ending though
I did like - I just happen to be an excellent book complainer - kinda like Haze. lol

What a fun read!

I enjoyed the twist of a marriage guide being used as the foundation of Hazel and Fox’s current marital status. The additional marriage advice from Hazel had me chuckling. I wasn't sure where this author was going to take me and the unknown certainly had me a bit anxious as Hazel is struggling with this new way of living. I didn't know if I was headed into complete laugh out loud territory or a dark thriller. This was nothing I expected and a whole lot of I'm glad I read it.

United States Publication: January 14, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Thirteen years ago, Hazel and Fox met in a dark Paris alleyway under strange circumstances. She had just stabbed a man, and he happened to witness it. Instead of turning her into the authorities or being turned off by what he had just seen, Fox knew he had found his soulmate. Hazel was amazed that someone else existed who got her and understood the mission she was on. That mission? To take out as many evil men as she could before inevitably getting caught someday. For 10 wonderful years, Haze and Fox traveled the world, literally, and killed evil men. But one day, it all changed. Hazel became pregnant, and Fox made them quit their serial killer lifestyle. It's been 1,169 days since Haze and Fox scratched the itch, and they are trying to cope in very different ways. Haze is having a hard time embracing the mom life. She loves Bibi, their daughter, but the mom gig? Not so much. And who is she married to? The guy named Fox lying in the bed beside her is not the guy she's been married to for 12 years. She barely recognizes this guy. Just trying to be a typical suburban family is stressful enough for both Fox and Haze, but when his disapproving parents show up, and Hazel accidentally kills a man who attacks her in the park, the stress increases. Instead of talking to each other, they both try to fix the messes they have landed their family in, and it culminates in a showdown between serial killers. Can they survive this together?

This was okay. I liked some parts of it and thought they were clever. Other parts felt undeveloped or oddly placed within the story. The part of the storyline that included Fox's parents was "meh" and, for me, detracted from the overall story. The part of the storyline that provided a reason, I guess, for Hazel's mission to kill evil men didn't make a whole lot of sense. Those two backstories could have been cut from the book, and I don't think they would have been missed. The vigilante theme seems to be a popular one in crime books these days - namely, women (and some men) killing or disposing of men who are drains on humanity. I think it's a commentary through fiction about how absolutely furious women worldwide are. And make no mistake, we are furious.

I received this book as a preview from NetGalley to hear my honest review. Thank you!
I really enjoyed the idea of this book, as I am a huge "Dexter" fan!! The husband and wife both have the desire to kill, but only those who deserve it that hurt women and children mainly. They met while Haze (the wife) was in the middle of a kill. They had a whirlwind romance and married and began killing together. Fox (the husband) did the planning and covering up to make sure they didn't get caught. He had been pushed out of the US by his rich parents who knew a part of what he had done. His parents did not want a blemish on their family. So as long as Fox behaved, he had unlimited funds.
But as the romance and killing was at a high, Haze becomes pregnant and things change. Fox believes it is time to stop killing so their child would be safe and have parents that were not in prison! Haze was not as excited about stopping because the killing was what completed her and gave her inspiration for her painting. This is when their marriage started having problems and secrets. Haze makes a new mommy friend through Fox's encouragement, but as Haze and her new friend begin to connect, secrets come to a head and Fox's family begin to interfere.
Do they end up staying together? Does the killing continue??

I enjoyed this, but it seemed to move very slowly at first. Haze spent A LOT of time complaining about her husband and her lack of killing. It just seemed like a lot of complaining over and over. Also, I am not opposed to cursing in books when it is necessary or is part of the character, but I felt the F- word was very much overused. Not a huge problem, but definitely noticeable. All in all it was a good book with a surprise ending. If you like shows like Dexter, you will probably like it.

Married partners Hazel and Fox are both serial killers that enjoy killing bad men and other dangerous criminals. When Hazel gives birth to her daughter, Fox no longer murders people as a way to protect their young child. He implores Hazel to do the same and she does so grudgingly.

Narrated in dual perspectives, A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage also contains art reviews interspersed in its chapters. Each piece breaks son the rage that the female protagonist feels as a result of her killings.

Told with a feisty, tongue in cheek style, this satire was a a fun read, though I did find about 25% of it bit of a slog. I much preferred Hazel’s parts of the story to her husband’s. I rate it 3.75 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

When I say I loved this book, I mean I absolutely loved it. The main characters were so complex and layered that I found myself cheering them on, while simultaneously excusing their violent tendencies. The author did such a great job of making them feel real, flaws and all. What really stood out to me was how the story wasn’t just about their killing sprees; it delved into their personal struggles, especially within their marriage. That made it more than just a thriller—it made me genuinely invested in their lives. I found myself connecting with them in ways I didn’t initially expect to.

The pacing was also spot on, with short chapters that kept things moving quickly. I’m a huge fan of that writing style, as it never allows for a dull moment. Honestly, there’s nothing I would change about the book, except that I just wanted more. The story left me wondering what happens next (in the best way).

Overall I would highly recommend this book to someone wanting a fun fast paced thriller. And here’s hoping for a sequel!

What a wacky premise and a basis for marriage. A lot of fun to read and I loved the nanny just taking care of business. The ending seemed really quick though.

Thank you NetGalley for a fun read!

Man what a book, I loved it !! was beautifully written. I like how the author wrote about the good and ugly things about marriage. I liked the dual povs between fox and Haze. It gave us readers a glimpse into how each other felt about certain issues in their marriage. My favorite part over all was the suspense and the ending was phenomenal I definitely didn’t see it coming!!!



Thank you NetGalley and Bantam publishers for a e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!!