I received a free copy from NetGalley. Two serial killers meet and marry and then try not to kill while living in the suburbs raising their child and things don't go as planned. A very different spill on the life of a new mom story with some kind of unexpected twists along the way. An original idea.

Have you ever read a book so cinematic that you could practically see it played out on the big screen?
This is one of those books!

This story was a wild ride—equal parts fun, emotional, and just the right amount of unhinged. It gave me all the feelings from both a male and female perspective. And let’s talk about Haze—she is every woman’s fantasy of unleashing her feminine rage in the most satisfying way possible. She took control, made men pay for their crimes against women, and still managed to be an amazing mom to her tiny human, whom she loved more than life itself. She had it all. She didn't apologize for who she was and she was taking down the patriarchy, one man at a time.

And then there’s Fox. Oh, Fox. The gold standard of men—supportive, accepting, and completely devoted to Haze. Was he perfect? Shrugs. Well, YEA....minus the serial killer tendencies. But hey, nobody’s perfect! Mackay mastered character development, making you root for these "good" serial killers like it was completely normal behavior.

This book gave me Dexter and Hannah vibes. Honestly, if I had a production company, I’d be throwing my wallet at this adaptation. Someone make it happen!

Bottom line? This book was an absolute blast. Read it, love it, and then come Rave about it with me.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the ARC.
3.5 stars!

It takes a LOT for me to want to finish an entire book without skipping anything - and I was hooked all the way to the explosive somewhat sarcastically hilarious ending. This is wild and absolutely not what I thought I was about to be reading? I think I thought it was going to be much darker really?

Both Hazel and Fox are characters that you 100% want to be friends with.. even if you might be a little bit scared of them. Vigilante justice for the win!!

I loved the premise of this book. That we meet two killers who settle down in the suburbs for they're growing family. The way you go along with Hazel and Fox's ride into leaving their "hobby" behind to start these new lives. I love dual point POVs and multiple timelines presented here. I felt like I was experiencing all these changes with them and the bits of humor sprinkled in helped keep my interest. It's that type of dark humor I can appreciate. Thanks NetGalley for providing this arc to me. It a minute to get to, but I read it one sitting. THANKS! :)

Thank you to Ballantine Books for an advance copy of A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage!

Hazel and Fox are a perfect couple raising a perfect baby. They’re just like every other couple, minus the fact that they fell in love over a shared interest in killing people. And, just like a lot of other couples - they’re not as perfect as they appear. Hazel is struggling with trading in the murderous life for mom life, while Fox has transitioned seamlessly, missing nothing about their old ways.

While out on a run, Hazel sees a predator and makes her move. Not letting Fox know about her slip up, her life becomes a series of lies to cover up her mistake and soon they are dancing around the truth with each other, and the police after they show up at their door.

I am loving this semi-satire sort of era of thrillers, where reality is definitely suspended and there’s some dry or dark humor sprinkled throughout. ASKGtM had these elements, but it was also deeper than that. There were some very serious moments and quote throughout. Asia tackles extremely tough (and sometimes taboo) thoughts on marriage and motherhood. Sometimes saying things that so many of us have thought but most would not utter out loud. (For the record, I have felt a lot of these things and I have always been very honest about it with my friends and in mom groups on Facebook, sometimes facing backlash or judgement, and that’s just on a small scale, so super kudos for Asia to putting those things in a book for the world to read, whether they are personal experiences or not!).

The plot moved quickly, I was never bored with what was happening. I enjoyed Hazel’s friend, and felt like we got to know a lot about her - character development of ‘co-stars’ can be lacking in thrillers sometimes so I really appreciate this. There were parts of the twists that I figured out and others that threw me for a full loop.

The only downside that I had, which did fade out as the book continued, and obviously ended up not being much of a bother since I gave 5 stars, was that while yes this is a partial feminist rage novel, it got a little too soapbox-y at times. You only have to say men are the devil so many times.

What happens when love and murder go hand in hand? A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is a gripping, darkly comedic thriller that keeps readers teetering between horror and hilarity. This novel takes a fresh approach to the psychological thriller genre, mixing elements of domestic suspense, crime fiction, and black comedy to create an unforgettable reading experience.
At its core, this book explores themes of trust, deception, and the hidden darkness lurking beneath seemingly perfect relationships. The story follows a woman who suspects that her charming husband might not be who he claims to be. As she digs deeper into his past, she is forced to question everything she thought she knew about love, marriage, and morality. Is she just being paranoid, or is she living with a killer? The tension builds as she navigates this psychological minefield, making for an addictive, fast-paced read.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its use of unreliable narration. Both the protagonist and her husband keep secrets, making it difficult to discern who is telling the truth. This keeps the reader second-guessing at every turn. The author masterfully plays with perspective, ensuring that even the most seemingly straightforward moments are loaded with ambiguity. If you enjoy books where the truth is constantly shifting, this one is a must-read.
The book moves at a breakneck speed, with short, punchy chapters that make it nearly impossible to put down. Twists and revelations are expertly timed, maintaining a balance between psychological depth and adrenaline-pumping suspense. The dialogue is sharp, the humor is dark, and the plot unfolds with cinematic precision, making it a binge-worthy read.
If you loved Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing, you’ll be hooked by A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage. Fans of You by Caroline Kepnes will also appreciate the blend of twisted romance and psychological manipulation.
A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is a thrilling, unsettling, and surprisingly funny read that will leave you questioning how well you really know the people closest to you. With its fast pace, unreliable characters, and shocking twists, this book is perfect for fans of dark psychological thrillers. Pick it up—you won’t regret it!

A decent, enjoyable book, but the whole time I was reading it I just kept thinking of the movie Mr. And Mrs. Smith.

Thank you to Random House for the digital copy to review.

This was a fun and entertaining read, albeit a bit predictable. Somehow I have read three of these tropes lately (serial killers trying to go straight) and so while they are fun, they are a bit repetitive as there is really only one way for them to go. This one had a slightly different ending than I expected, in a good way. The audio for this was great, the narrators did a good job with this one, and I recommend listening if you can.

You know how pizza is such a good food conceptually that it feels like someone has to go out of their way to make it bad? Well that’s how I felt about this book. Two serial killers navigating the balance between their love of killing and their love for their daughter is the makings of a great thriller. Yet somehow despite a fun premise and a good writing style this story fell painfully flat.

I found myself wanting to DNF multiple times. The first 75% of the book was genuinely hard to read. Then from 75%-85% it was the great fast paced thriller I expected. But then it went straight back to being boring and we got far too much of the “after”.

At the end of the day I would try another book by this author but I wouldn’t recommend this one.

The title and cover art drew me to Asia Mackay's 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage' and the last few chapters were well worth the wait! From both perspectives, Haze and Fox palpably portray a struggling marriage throughout the story. The side characters and plot lines are woven throughout the plot in a way that left me theorizing but didn't give anything away. I highly recommend this quick, fun spin on a domestic mystery-thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for access to this ARC.
#ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #NetGalley

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I thought it was going to be filled with drama and suspense, and it was just boring. Nothing really happens until the last 20% and by that point I was just skimming to get it over with.

2.5 rounded to 3

I took a chance on this, hoping it would be more like Mr & Mrs Smith--the glam spy life juggled with domestic drama, but it was more heavy on the domestric drama, only with a lot of put-upon whining instead of humor. Then suddenly over-the-top thrillerdom. I need more humor and less whine, but it was an intriguing idea.

I hate to say books are dull but this one started that way and I thought that was the point – show how mundane the serial killers’ lives were now that they had started a family – but it kept going and nothing really happened. And when something finally did, at about 90%, it was so outrageously unbelievable that it just didn’t work for me. I really was hoping for more about their lives as serial killers but it was more about playdates and family relationships, most of which could have been cleared up with a conversation or two.

This was a fun read. What i enjoyed in addition to the "omg, i just killed a guy when I gave that up" was the releationship between Hazel and Fox. No matter how perfect a couple is for each other (or thinks they are), marriage is hard and children do add another layer of complication.
I did like the twists with what Fox was doing and how Hazel befriend the "cop" - I was so focused on Hazel's side of the story and how she was trying to fix her mistake as well as through her new bestie cop friend off their trail, I did not see Fox's getaway weekend twist coming... loved that he was the "new guy"
I wouldn't mind this being a series! I want to know if Fox's brother is successful with the business and if they really can have someone cover their tracks!

I have read several books with a version of a serial killer who only kills ‘bad men.’ When I see that in a synopsis, I immediately want to pick up the book, so I was immediately drawn to this.

While I would classify this as a thriller, it’s also a good portion domestic drama. We spent a lot of time hearing about the main characters’ marital issues and difficulties adjusting to regular family life, which felt like it slowed down the action quite a bit. This might be a more unique take, but it would’ve been more exciting to read about their romance and vigilante justice days.

My other main issue was the characters themselves. I enjoy a good unlikeable character, but these two both felt kind of hypocritical and whiny.

3.5/5 ⭐️
A serial killer couple has given up their ways once they had a child. Hazel and Fox used to kill people together, but since they had their baby, they have stopped. However, Haze is struggling to do her art and cope in the two years since she last killed. This leads to her keeping secrets from her husband. However, she is concerned that he too might be keeping secrets and perhaps plotting to kill her.

I thought this one was overall pretty good. I think it started out really interesting, but it became repetitive, especially Fox's chapters. I kept thinking ok I get it! whenever I read his sections. And then at the end, he was extra disappointing. *Spoilers ahead* I know that he and Hazel work it out, but to me it felt like he was a disappointment! Like he did all this stuff to protect his wife but he was kind of gaslighting her?? And that he was Gerald??? He just treated her like she was incompetent and it was so annoying in his chapters when he was like what does she have to do all day when I have all this stuff to do.

If you are looking for a mystery, I would not pick this one up. There is some intrigue, but overall it is more of family humor book? Idk a genre except I would definitely not say mystery/thriller.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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“A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” by Asia Mackay follows the story of Haze and Fox’s marriage and…extra curriculars. When they become parents and are forced to give up what they love, watch as they fall apart at the seems.
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This one has a lot of potential. It just didn’t keep my attention and took me forever to get through. But I’m not sure. I didn’t hate it. It was unique. I just didn’t love that the characters were essentially unloveable.
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Big thanks to the Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC! This was released on January 14 so grab it now!
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@netgalley #aserialkillersguidetomarriage #randomhousepublishingballantine #arc

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a unique premise. I loved the idea of serial killers who fall in love when they both realize they both have the same mission in life- to kill bad men who do bad things. It was sort of an examination of marriage when things become more routine and comfortable after having a child and becoming more "suburban" parents. By the end of the book it almost felt like a romance, as our main characters end up in a situation that can either make or break their marriage. At times it did feel like there was some repetitive parts in the book, but there were plenty of twists and turns that made it a fairly quick read. It was fun, it was unique, and I had a fun time reading it. Overall, I give it 3.75/5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

This book gave me Mr. And Mrs. Smith vibes, just a murderous couple trying to live a normal suburban life. I would highly recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers.

Thank you Netgalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is everything I needed right now. A little dark with a lot of snarky dialogue, it’s a fun and entertaining read. Hazel and Fox are killers, but they only kill people who deserve it, which just worked for me. I’m not sure what that says about me, but…anyway, they’ve given it all up for their daughter, and it’s harder than they both thought it would be. Enter Jenny, who is not only Hazel’s new friends, but also a police officer looking to crack a big case to get her back into the swing of things following her maternity leave. The ending was perfect, and this is a must-read for all my thriller loving friends.