Haven’t Killed in Years by Amy K. Green is a dark, sharply written psychological thriller that follows Gwen Tanner, the daughter of a notorious serial killer hiding under a new identity. When dismembered body parts start appearing, she's dragged back into the horrors of her past and the disturbing world of true crime fandom. It’s darker than my usual reads, but I couldn’t put it down—an intense, gripping page-turner from start to finish.

DNF 51%

I was really excited about this one, but the story makes no sense.

I don’t feel any connection to any of the characters, especially with each other. It started off good, but then the flow got choppy.

I don’t understand Marin's attachment to Porter. I felt nothing between her and Dominic, nor between her and Elyse.
I was reading and reading and, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why anyone was obsessed with Abel. I get that he’s this terrible serial killer and that they get groupies, but it wasn’t properly written how that came to be.

Then we get to the halfway point and suddenly the culprit is made known but they had nothing to do with the story up until that point, so the revelation didn’t land the way it probably should have.
It was a fail.

What a story. A lot going on but easy to follow along.

Definitely not your typical mystery/thriller. Amy took her story and gave it a twist to make it a story line you may not of ever read.

Really liked this book and can’t wait to read more from Amy.

This was a great book that held my interest. The character development was really good and the twist got me!

Haven't Killed in Years is rather morbid with the gruesome killings and the novel moves slowly at the beginning but gradually gets more interesting as it all comes together with a satisfying conclusion.

This book was bad. I did not finish it. The beginning was so quick with no detail and just did not entertain me at all.

The first half of this book was so, so good. I loved the tone, the humor, and thought Gwen was a fantastic main character and narrator. The second half did not quite hold up as strongly for me-- it felt like it got really distant from Gwen and from her relationship with her father, which were the parts that had really drawn me in. However, I did still enjoy the book as a whole and do recommend it!

♡ thank you to Berkley Publishing and Amy K. Green for an ARC of this book! ♡

4/5 ⭐️

this was SUCH a good book! i was sucked into this book so fast and when i wasn't reading it, all i was doing was.. thinking about reading it. if you like thrillers, this is FOR YOU.

📖 plot & pace: gwen tanner has a dark past. her father (abel haggerty) is a notorious serial killer but gwen (formerly marin) has tried her best to live a normal life. that all changes when someone figures out her true identity and she's pushed to extreme measures to keep herself hidden and safe. this is a medium to fast paced book that really keeps you interested, though i do wish the stalker reveal had been a bit more in depth.

👥 characters: gwen's best friend in her adult life is porter. they seem to have such a good relationship. we're also introduced to gwen's (marin) past friends and family, such as natalie and elyse, and some new faces associated with the mystery. many of the characters in this book were very likable, others not so much, but everyone served a clear purpose & added depth/tension to the story.

🤩 tropes: secret identity, mystery stalker, family trauma, everyone's a suspect

this was my first book by this author, but i'm so glad i picked this up! i'll definitely keep my eye out for more books!! i recommend this to anyone searching for a high tension thriller 💕

When Marin was a child her serial killer father was arrested and she was sent away to have a new life. As an adult she tries not to get too attached to anyone and live a quiet life. One day a severed arm shows up on her door step. Then another severed arm is delivered. It seems her past has caught up to her and she needs to figure out who knows her true identity. This is a psychological thriller told through the various characters POV's. The author's writing style is fun and easy to follow and she also includes a good amount of humor.

Haven’t Killed In Years is a fun different premise for a thriller and I’m all about that.

Gwen is hiding in plain sight and trying to blend in to ‘normal’ life. She does a great job until she realizes someone knows who she really is.

Very twisty with the serial killer element this book kept me turning the pages. I did guess some stuff pretty early on but mostly it is filled with surprises and both likable and unlikable characters. Gwen stole my heart was somehow so relatable although I had nothing in common with her.

This one is a must read!

This is one of the best books I’ve read recently, such an interesting concept & I ended up falling in love with all of the characters. They were written so well! Gwen in particular showed a ton of growth from beginning to end which I really appreciated. I had a soft spot for Porter too. This was nerve wracking from end to beginning & I honestly had no idea where it was going most of the time. I was really surprised by all the twists & turns! It had a satisfying ending too

Loved this book the whole way through! It kept me intrigued and ready to know what was next. I appreciate the ARC and will definitely be looking in to more work by this author!

4.5 stars: I will say, I do feel like initially I was a bit bored with the book but I think that was the point. Gwen lived a very boring, routine life so she can go unnoticed. About halfway through, I was hooked! The plot took various twists and turns so I had no idea who the killer could have been. The ending was not at all what I was expecting but made so much sense. The author did an amazing job of putting the pieces together for the reader. I also loved seeing the connections Gwen made along the way. Let's hope she goes to therapy now LOL!

4.5⭐️ Thank you to Amy K. Green, Berkley publishing group and Netgalley for the e-arc of Haven’t Killed In Years. Multiple POV thriller that flips between past and present timeline! This book drew me in and kept my attention throughout! The main character is the daughter of a serial killer just trying to live under the radar until boxes start showing up at her doorstep. The past comes back to haunt her! This book publishes on 11/18/2025!

OMG i loooooved this!! i'm not even the biggest thriller girlie, but I ate this book up and immediately told my friends to read it too

Amy K. Green delivers a gripping thriller with *Haven't Killed in Years*, blending suspense, dark humor, and psychological depth into a truly unique read. Gwen Tanner, the daughter of a notorious serial killer, has spent years hiding her identity, until someone starts sending body parts to her doorstep. The novel masterfully explores themes of identity, obsession, and the fine line between reinvention and relapse.

Green’s writing is sharp and witty, with a protagonist who is both guarded and dangerously compelling. The pacing keeps you hooked, and the twists are perfectly timed. While there are moments where the narrative slows, the character development and immersive storytelling more than make up for it. If you love thrillers with bold main characters and a touch of satire, this one is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was interesting! Marin Haggerty is the daughter of serial killer Abel Haggerty. Abel is arrested and she gets a new life, as Gwen Tanner. Gwen is trying to live a low profile but she soon starts to get targeted by a new killer, who is leaving messages like “I know who you are.” The journey to find out who is doing this begins.

I was on my toes reading this one. Each chapter built on each other and kept me engaged. Written from multiple perspectives, as the reader, I was not only able to see to see the character development but how each character contributed to the storyline. One of my favorite things about this book was how Gwen’s character was written. Being the daughter to a serial killer came with a lot of baggage and throughout the story, the reader is able to see the battles of internal conflict Gwen has to deal with. Both the good and the bad, but is there really a difference in this case? I will say, this one was very unpredictable for me which is what kept me hooked but I know that might now be for everyone.

This was a decent read. It kept me interested without ever feeling bored, but I did feel that the ending was easy to see from a mile away. The characters are mediocre, and the plot was a bit better than that, but still as a thriller it’s one of those thrillers that feels like 138 other thrillers.

Entertaining enough, but derivative & there are plenty better thrillers to read to waste time on something so run of the mill. Others might like it more than I did, but I’ve just read too many thrillers!

Fun, for sure, and irreverent enough. There was a smidge more but this thing you think happened didn't really happen than I would have liked, but, overall...Mainly it's just strange that this person had virtually no background of personal interactions but became incredibly close with semi-randos after a period of days.

Okay, I was ready to give this book five stars by the time I hit the halfway point—and the rest only confirmed it!

The premise—a serial killer’s daughter being stalked by a possible copycat who's targeting the people who helped her start over—might not sound entirely new, but the execution? Absolutely gripping. What truly sets this novel apart is the deeply compelling characterization of Gwen Tanner, a woman trying to keep her dark past buried beneath a life of quiet anonymity.

But Gwen isn’t the only standout. Her unpredictable, bleach-blonde young friend Porter might be one of the most captivating characters I’ve encountered in a thriller lately. He’s eccentric, sharp, and somehow gets under your skin in the best possible way.

The author’s pacing and structure are masterful. Around the halfway point, we’re introduced to another pivotal character—one so intriguing she nearly steals the spotlight from Gwen (and honestly, I wouldn’t mind reading an entire spin-off about her!). Though her arrival slightly slows the pacing, the detour is well worth it, offering fascinating insights into Gwen’s backstory—especially her complex, chilling time at boarding school and the subtle differences that make her… not quite like everyone else.

And then—the ending twist. So cleverly done. It lands with impact but feels completely earned. The dry, almost unnerving humor running through the narrative balances the sinister, blood-chilling moments in a way that feels uniquely this author’s style.

Most importantly, the character development is stellar. No plot holes. Every thread ties together. And the final pages wrap up with a clever, satisfying punch. I know some people say I give out five stars too easily—but not this time. This book deserves every one of them. If you love psychological thrillers, serial killer suspense, or mysteries with big twists and layered characters, you’ll eat this up.

Quick Blurb Recap:
Gwen Tanner, early 30s, appears to lead a mundane life working HR and doing pottery on the side—befriending a chaotic 20-something named Porter who’s always trying to pull her into the party scene. But Porter doesn’t know Gwen’s real name: Marin Haggerty, daughter of infamous serial killer Abel Haggerty, who murdered eight people—including his neighbors—and now rots in prison. Marin’s mother has just been released on parole, and right after that, Gwen receives a horrifying package at her door: a mutilated arm and a note exposing her real identity.

And the packages keep coming. Each body part is connected to someone from Gwen’s hidden past. As she digs deeper, she finds herself back in contact with her father—and Dominic, the awkward armchair detective who visits him regularly and wants to write a book about the case. Dominic is also connected to Elyse, the sole survivor of Gwen’s father’s massacre.

So… who’s behind the gruesome packages? Dominic? Elyse? Someone Gwen never suspected? The clock is ticking, and she’ll have to face her past—and her guilt—head-on before more lives are lost.

Bottom line: This is one of the smartest, most original thrillers I’ve read in a while. Unsettling, sharply written, and full of dark surprises. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this unforgettable mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.