I enjoyed this book about Hazel and Fox - and how their unconventional marriage is completely changed by a baby. The characters weren't always likeable, but the inner Haze's inner dialogue was pretty funny, and I liked Fox. I kind of wanted to shake them and say "just talk to each other" sometimes though!
The ending was really good - and something I didn't see coming. I'm hoping there will be more from this author.

3.5 stars probably. I liked the premise, and the story zipped along, despite being completely ludicrous. I didn't "buy" the rationale(s) offered for why these two people enjoy killing, but eh. A couple of quibbles with small details (but small details are so important in mysteries, aren't they?) - Haze is a dedicated feminist turned stay-at-home mum, but texts her husband to bring home a toilet plunger (and gloves) so he can unstop the downstairs toilet. I mean, c'mon - you're a wealthy stay at home mum - either call a damn plumber, or take your Range Rover out to get a plunger. She doesn't cook (feminism!) or do "housewifey" tasks. So she (again) leaves a note for hubs to change the batteries in the smoke alarm - and tells him she has some in her purse. Wot? Haze, with *batteries* in her purse? Not buying it, but it conveniently moves the plot along for Fox to look in her purse.

But. Quibbles. I still liked the book.

Sometimes marriage isn’t easy, but when it involves two serial killers it can be murder. Haze was an artist who was inspired by her rage against men that she felt deserved to die. Fox was from a wealthy family who was banished from America after his first victim. When they got together it was the perfect union. They traveled Europe, enjoying parties, mixing with high society and staying at the best hotels while Fox meticulously planned their murders. When Haze got pregnant, Fox demanded that the killings stop and they permanently settle down, after thirteen years of marriage Fox works an office job while Haze is home with their daughter Bibi. She is bored with their humdrum existence and can not find inspiration for her art. At a children’s music play group she befriends Jenny and her son Felix.. it is not until Haze kills a homeless man in the park one night that she discovers that Jenny is a police detective on leave. Jenny believes that there is a connection between this death and one’s committed across Europe. Haze has to find a way to distract her while also hiding the park murder from Fox.

Fox and Haze are both keeping secrets from each other and the resentment is growing. He is trying to make her happy but nothing seems to work. Haze is hiding her artwork from Fox, who will know that she has killed again if he sees it. When he arranges a weekend away to rekindle their marriage it leads to a confrontation that will also put Jenny’s life in danger. Together they come up with a unique solution to their problems and an ending that you will never see coming. If you enjoyed the movie Mr. And Mrs. Smith then you will love Fox and Haze. I could truly not put this book down until the last page was done. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing this book.

Thank you NetGalley! What a great read. Loved this book and the different content it contained. The storyline was amazing. The book drew me in immediately

The title pretty much says it all. Similar to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Haze and Fox meet and fall in love over their shared passion for murdering bad men. But then they have a baby, and try to stop that line of work. Their parenting is hilarious, but the secrets they keep are destroying their marriage. More of the book is told from Haze's perspective, but some of it is Fox's, which is strange, because you don't find out until the end what he's been thinking. The story becomes amusing when Haze befriends a fellow mother who turns out to be keeping her own secrets.

Loved this was a fun read outside of my norm. Author did a great job and kept the story moving to keep you involved. It was so good.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is a cleverly crafted thriller that's full of humor, making this an easy, and very satisfying read.

This is not a romcom thriller, but the way that it's written, it feels like it--the pieces of life after the happily ever after--with a murderous twist. I would recommend this book to everyone, but more specifically, it's for those who enjoy a dark romance, a humorous read, or a thriller. This book will make you laugh! If you're a parent, you will relate--majorly.

This book will be one of my top 2025 reads. Well done, Asia Mackay! I can't wait to see what you write next.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for this advanced readers copy.

Out now! Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the copy to read and review.

I missed reading this pre-pub but was able to get an audio copy from the library to do an immersion read on this one. Not the point of this review but the narrators were great! Each of them brought their respective characters to life perfectly and I couldn't get enough of the narration.

I loved the storyline of this one! It felt so unique in the world of thrillers these days. I felt it was easy to understand the characters, especially Haze and how bored she is of her life. I loved the multi-POV and multi-timeline aspects of this. It was well done and for me was super easy to follow the perspectives.

This leans HEAVY on the miscommunication trope which I usually hate. Especially when these are grown ass adults that are supposed to be open to each other with EVERYTHING, I mean they have literally K!LLED together! BUT for whatever reason it seemed to work in this, maybe I understood the reasoning each character had for their deceptions.

This did not unwind like I thought it would but I loved the ending! This gives serious vibes that it might become a series! (Prettyyy pleaseeee?)

[Side note: I FSTG if I heard "Bad Man" one more freaking time I was going to go all Hazel on this book.]

I was excited about reading this one, only to be disappointed. It was boring and had unlikeable characters. The miscommunication between the two main characters bothered me. Furthermore, a lot could have been avoided if they just spoke to one another. The book felt like it was trying to be more of a dark comedy than a thriller. I love both genres, but not in this book. It did not give me thriller vibes at all and the dark humor wasn’t even funny to me. This book was predictable and forgettable.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is about a Husband and a Wife that enjoy murdering people. Even before they were Married, both of them were murderers. Everything was great for them until they had a baby. When the baby was born, they gave up being murderers and focused on being a Mom and Dad. However, they both get the urge to still murder after they had their baby. Will they continue murdering people after the baby is born? Will they do whatever it takes to keep their family safe?

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book was published on January 14, 2025 and is available to read. Overall, I rate the boring book a 2.25 out of 5 stars.

3.5 stars. The blurb totally excited me and I was looking forward to picking this up, but it fell a little flat for me. I just couldn’t connect with with the characters.

The review sounded great and I'm sure it will be popular, but it wasn't for me. We will purchase it for the library. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Fun little thriller about a serial killer couple! Love that concept. The little romance aspect too was fun.

A Serial Killers Guide to Murder

I wanted to love this book so much. The description sounded like something that I would love. Unfortunately, this book was almost a chore to read. Hazel complains so much and the entire book is just poor communication. If they had trusted each other and worked as a team this book could have been a blazing five star. It did start to pick up more at the end and I would have liked to hear more POV from Fox. I enjoyed how Hazel incorporated the murders into her art, but this was very similar to another book I have read in that aspect. I did how like it tied up at the end but the journey to get there was a bumpy ride. i do really like the cover.

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! Who doesn't love reading about two serial killers who fell in love and are now trying to balance their need to kill with their household duties? Fun, funny, and such a wonderful premise. I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I plan to buy my own copy for my bookshelf!

This book was actually very good. I think the overall premise of a married assassin duo that “kill bad men that harm women” was very contrived. I also think that the story moved a little to slow for my liking. Overall, I was entertained at the story but it took way too long to get to the reveal of the story and then it was very quickly all revealed at the end. I really did love the ending but I wish there were more pages written about the ending and less in the middle. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Fox and Hazel met because they were both serial killers. They liked being heroes and killing bad men, together they were an iconic duo. Then Hazel got pregnant. They settled down in suburbia paradise for happily ever after with no more murder! Until everything goes to shit. Their marriage is crumbling, they’re lying to each other, and their spark is gone. How can they rekindle it without that same homicidal flame that brought them together? Can they?

This was such a fun read. One of its strengths was its fast-paced plot. It’s set in both present and past, told by Fox and Hazel, with messages Hazel sends to her dead best friend and descriptions of her art intertwining. The dark humor was witty without being suffocating, just a bit millennial-core at times.

I had a blast reading this book. Its dark humor and its murderous main characters were so much fun. This is a great take on what would happen if two serial killers just happen to get married? Haze and Fox have their own code and morals. They just enjoy killing together. Super fun book! I will definitely be interested in reading more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage
by Asia Mackay

🔪🔪🔪🔪

I just couldn’t put this book down! This book is about two serial killers (Hazel and Fox) who have a baby and give up their vigilante killings!! One seems to be struggling more than the other which leads to quite a few pickles in the book! This book has two points of view (Haze and Fox) and from the past and current times! It was really enjoyable! I will say I was not rooting for either of the main characters but I also couldn’t stop reading the book! It kind of reminds me of Dexter the tv show a bit! I also loved the lavish lifestyle and fashion references!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Add this fun novel to your TBR!!

If you were a fan of You on Netflix this book is right up your alley. Hazel and Fox were both serial killers who put all that aside for a suburban life with their daughter. Hazel is trying to adjust while Fox seems to take it in stride but both know what lie beneath the surface of their carefully crafted facade. I hadn’t read a book with both main characters being psychopaths but this book balanced out the tension and dark humor well and has a wonderful witty narrative and writing style. I really enjoyed this book and it was a nice fresh take on the dark romance genre.

I was used to reading one partner being the "naughty" one and trying to cover his/her tracks, but this is the first time I'm seeing being ethical serial killers leading into marriage. Haze and Fox was not Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Their aim was to get rid of waste of space men who were bane to women and children's existence. They wanted to channel their anger and psychopathy into those.

Also, they were parents to a little girl, who put them on a murder hiatus. Because you would not want their child walk into a clean up or action itself. Their means and connections were keeping them safe until the baby, so they could pretend like nothing happened and solve their addiction with 12 step programs. Until Haze got a mommy friend as part of her suburban life...

I enjoyed how realistic was the conversations Haze, Fox and Jenny had. It was not this flowery language that screams "yes, I'm a literary fiction". I'm sure that how even most loving partners talk to each other on certain days. It was definitely how friends talk to each other and their children. As much as I loved the story, I hope this will not turn into a series. Because we have enough of those and sometimes you need to end things at its peak.