This is an exceptionally well-written blend of dark comedy, romance, and smart thriller. Mackay's unique take on love and crime had me giggling, shifting in my seat, and fully invested in this messy, murder-filled marriage. If you’re looking for a thrilling and heartwarming story, this one is a must-read

Such a good book! The book had me guessing until the end. This book definitely fits into the thriller genre. Especially at the end, I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen and I was wrong every time. Definitely didn’t see the ending coming, but it was a great ending that felt fully finished. All the main characters were extremely likable and I loved the bond Haze and Jenny had!

ok mr. and mrs smith on crack. I loved this I gave it 5 stars and i wish i could give it more tbh. I love this secret killers story with a side of parenthood.

Fox and Hazel are serial killers, very active serial killers. In their minds they are doing the world a service because they only kill those who ‘deserve it’, the criminals, the thieves, the rapists, the spouse abusers, and they only kill men. They were working separately until they happened upon each other mid-kill in Europe and were totally smitten. They married and carried on with their activities until they became parents and decided it best to halt their activities to protect their baby daughter. But Hazel is getting antsy, and during a nighttime run she kills a mugger who comes after her in self defense. She tries to hide this kill from Fox while also realizing one of her new suburban mommy friends is a police detective on maternity leave. And that detective is fascinated by the trail of bodies Hazel and Fox have left behind and anxious to solve that case. So Hazel is boxed in and is desperately trying to figure out what to do.

Serial Killers Marriage Guide is not your average book. It does at times get a little bogged down but it always keeps you guessing, and that will always keep you reading.

Such a fun frolicking read! I loved the back and forth pov and the quotes at the beginning of sections. Haze and Fox are very likable and characters that seem fully developed. This was a quick read but one I’ll remember for the original plot.

Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher, #bantambooks for this ebook to read. All opinions are my own.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage has a Mr and Mrs Smith or Dexter vibe to it, with a lot more twists and turns! It was a fun and fast read. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
#ASerialKillersGuideToMarriage #NetGalley

As I began this book, I was impressed with this author’s writing style. It was easy to read without excess verbiage or descriptions of weather, landscape, room decor, etc. That stuff often drives me nuts. However, I became disappointed as I got further into the book. Haze’s emotional self-talk became so repetitive that I began to lose interest and started skimming. Thankfully, things picked up later on. And, I liked the ending, although I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that. Those of you who read it will know what I mean. :)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

I have mixed feelings about this one. The beginning was good, the concept was interesting, two serial killers, married and trying to adjust to a life without thrills and purpose binding them together. The ending was good, but a lot of the book, was slow, boring , missing the high tension/suspense I wanted from this kind of book. 3.5

This is a "fun" book about two serial killers with a 2-year-old daughter. Hazel and Fox initially meet at a bar where she kills a guy in the alley; they marry, kill together...until she gets pregnant. And that's where the book begins! Vacillating between "now" and "then," the novel reveals how they "compete" and how they deal with married life as competition sneaks in...and what will they do with baby, Bibi? It's a fascinating look at love and all of its crazy dimensions. It's both demented and often funny as the couple deal with jealousy, childrearing, and all of the repercussions of a relationship based on killing and loving!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

It was a nice read for those starting out in the serial killer genre. No crazy plot twist or anything mind blowing. If a friend said they just started out watching true crime, this would be a good starter book

Cute premise of a storyline! The overall book fell a little flat., but it was still a quick and enjoyable read.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay will inevitably be compared to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but I enjoyed the book much more than the movie - I found the characters likable, despite their former activites, and rooted for them throughout the book.

Haze, Fox and their infant daughter Bibi are living the stereotypical suburban life - or are they? They're former serial killers who give it up to live a "normal" life and now Fox is an investment banker and Haze an artist. All is going great, if a bit boring until it isn't - Haze is discontent with JUST being a wife and mother and when she gives in to the urge to take out someone who really does deserve it she has to do whatever she can to protect her family.

I laughed a lot, liked Fox a whole lot, and thought the plot moved along quickly. It resolved itself pretty neatly - maybe a little too neatly - but I overall enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

4 ☆
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This started with a bang and ended with a bang! This book was good. I liked that both characters are serial killers but ONLY go after bad people! I did feel like the more we got toward the end, the more it dragged a little. I feel like it could have been 50-100 pages shorter. Hint as to why I gave this 4 ☆'s and not 5.
The couple that kills together stays together. Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small detail—they're ex-serial killers. Then Hazel gets pregnant, and they give it all up for life in the suburbs. But recently, Hazel has started to feel that itch again. When she kills someone behind Fox's back and brings the police to their door, she must do anything she can to protect her family.
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•Dual POV
•Dual Timeline (Past and Present)
•Serial Killers
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Thank you, Netgellay, and Random House Publishing for the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I adored the premise of this books. The plot was engaging and interesting. There were also twists I didn’t see coming which I appreciated. I loved the ending. Unfortunately I could not seem to like the FMC. Honestly, the only character I really liked was the FMC’s friend Jenny.

THANKS TO THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW.

Two serial killers who got married and now work together. Sounds like a good pitch, right? I thought the same. 
Haze and Fox both have this itch to kill bad people. Fox comes from a perfect, extra-rich white family, He doesn't have any motive to kill people except he feels good after killing good people. On the other hand, Haze grew up in foster houses, here and there, and her life experiences made her take revenge on bad men. They met and got married quickly as they fit together. After having a kid, they can't practically continue their side hobby so a break makes sense. Except, it is not easy to break habits. 

The story has potential. I really enjoyed the start and introduction of the character but once the story started progressing, it felt like nothing was progressing. The story was too slow and I was just turning pages without getting something new or interesting. It was so dragged. I felt Haze got more story time and she didn't have anything to offer, except what she was wearing and mundane things about her life. On the other side, Fox felt more interesting than her and his point of view sounded more humane. Haze was such an annoying character, she was just there having a cardboard-like personality. The story could have been so much more. The ending was another positive thing, it was interesting but at that point, I stopped feeling anything for either of the characters. Fox had a lot to tell but all of his tracks were swiftly covered in the last few pages. I have no idea, why haze started cursing a lot in a few chapters or why every character was swearing in the same pattern. For some reason, it bothered me.

Being rich and white is a heck of an alibi, almost like you can get away with murder. A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay hooked me from the first page. The chemistry between Haze and Fox is so irresistible that, despite their murderous past, it’s impossible not to root for them. Their personalities are incredibly likable, and the way they navigate quitting their deadly habits cold turkey is both hilarious and, in a strange way, relatable. The novel captures their struggles with this drastic life change in a way that feels genuine, and the miscommunications between them—though typical of any relationship—are elevated by their unique circumstances, resulting in plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

What sets this book apart is its quirky tone and offbeat humour. Mackay perfectly balances suspenseful thrills and light-hearted fun, which is no small feat in a story about two former killers. It’s thrilling, yes, but also surprisingly charming. I found myself rooting for Haze to figure out how to balance her dark urges with the demands of suburban motherhood. Her character is endlessly fascinating—a fierce, unapologetic woman trying to navigate life in a completely new way. Her internal conflict and artistic outlet gave her a depth that made me glued to her journey.

Fox, meanwhile, is a refreshing twist on the “book boyfriend” trope. He’s caring, supportive, and has a softness that contrasts with their criminal past. He brings a genuine warmth to the story, and it’s easy to see why readers would fall for him. But for me, Haze truly steals the show. She’s eccentric, loud, and utterly confident—a "girl’s girl" through and through despite her limited social circle. Her unapologetic nature makes her an unforgettable character who’s as fierce as she is.

This is an exceptionally well-written blend of dark comedy, romance, and smart thriller. Mackay's unique take on love and crime had me giggling, shifting in my seat, and fully invested in this messy, murder-filled marriage. If you’re looking for a thrilling and heartwarming story, this one is a must-read!

Thanks to Asia Mackay, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the eARC of "A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage." The book will be available for purchase on January 14th, 2025.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Asia Mackay for this ARC. This isn’t my typical genre but oh I loved it!! It felt very Mr and Mrs. Smith if you know what I mean. Dual timelines can be tricky but this was done really well. I was hooked the whole time. I would 100% recommend this book!!

First I want to thank the publisher for allowing me to receive this ARC. Overall I enjoyed this book. However, with it being categorized as satirical I expected it to be funny. There were a few jokes here and there but I felt like the story needed more. This is the first book I have ever read by Asia Mackay but I will likely be reading more from her.

Random read about a married couple that are serial killers together but go “straight” to raise their kid. But both are pretty miserable until they find an outlet…

Fun concept, very contrived storyline. Unbelievable character dialogue and the conclusion was beyond ridiculous. “Let’s tie up every loose end with a convoluted solution - and make everyone happy!”

Great book! First time reading this Author and would definitely recommend. Kept me on my toes and very curious about the outcome. Overall great book.