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.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book! Hazel and Fox, ex-serial killers turned suburban parents, were such unique and fascinating characters. They felt so real, and I found myself rooting for them despite their dark pasts. Fox, in particular, stole the show for me—I just adored him.

The story had me hooked from the beginning. The dual POV was such a great choice because it really let me connect with both characters and their secrets. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to their earlier days; they blended perfectly with the present and gave so much depth to their relationship.

What really stood out for me was the balance of tones. There were heavy, twisted moments, but also laugh-out-loud scenes and even a few heartwarming ones. The dark humor was sharp and made this such an entertaining read. The twist toward the end totally caught me off guard and wrapped things up in such a satisfying way.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the mix of their violent past and the whole baby-and-suburbia angle, but I ended up loving it. I was fully engaged and finished the book in just a couple of sittings. Hazel’s internal struggle with her darker impulses, especially when things start to spiral, added so much tension.

This was such a fun, fast-paced read that I’d recommend to anyone who loves thrillers with a dark, comedic edge. I’m already looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The beginning did remind me strongly of Mr. and Mrs. Smith which hooked me immediately. But is veered nicely because Fox and Hazel both know they are both serial killers (the good kind though, only going after the rotten apples and never for money) and were quite happily married for a good long while leading the glamourous style of the ultra rich and the occasional murder. And they are a good match with Fox being the planner and Hazel being the passion and action (which also makes her artwork highly prized!). That was nicely entertaining as the chapters do before and after the arrival of the adorable Bibi to reveal all the hijinks.

It is good to know that even well matched serial killers can have a bumpy time in their marriage and I do feel it was a good thing to stop the killings while they have a small child to take care of. I laughed a lot at what happened, when Fox and Hazel start keeping secrets while trying to figure at a substitution to the no killing but keeping a good lifestyle (since Fox used to get stock info out of some of the bad men they killed). Mistakes are made and misunderstandings and a hilarious story is born! A fun read that is lots of actions and new friends and a new plan to put their skills to use!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me a chance to read this hilariously fun book!

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.