Oh, how I loved this book! Fran and Gareth are one of my favourite couples. He's a detective, and she's a serial killer. When their neighbour dies, truths come out. The whole book I was waiting to see if their love could survive what they go through.
These characters are quirky, flawed, real, and so likeable. I found myself rooting for them the whole time.
I cannot wait to see what H.J. Garbett writes next.

I am so glad I was given the opportunity to lead this book. Fran is such a character. Her humour is on point. There is an element of sadness in this story. It is honestly a great book. Covers several genres! I was quite gutted when it finished! I read it in one sitting!

This was quite a letdown! I was initially interested in this because of the blurb - a husband who is a detective and his wife is the killer? Count me in. Unfortunately this did not live up to its potential. The only saving grace, and barely one at that, are the bits of dark humor sprinkled throughout the story. And also the old cat, Mep. The husband completely lacks a backbone for 80% of the story and for lack of a better descriptor, is a huge wimp. Mild spoiler ahead: you're telling me that this detective, who gets extremely offended when someone "uses the lords name in vain", helps his wife get revenge by the end of the story? Please. I know this is fiction, but I'm not buying it. The wife, Fran, has to be the dumbest killer of all time. She made so many bad choices. And also, the men she's seeking revenge on are definitely bad people and deserve a dose of karma, but I expected them to have done MUCH worse things for her to be so hellbent on taking them out. Don't get me wrong, they're still terrible men but it was not what I expected. This was a mess and a half and I probably wouldn't recommend it. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed the concept of this book and the writing was good. However I found the time jumping a little confusing in places. But as a debut novel it is a very strong start.

I loved this one. I really enjoyed the characters and this definitely took some unexpected turns throughout the book. I pretty much flew through this in a day and really enjoyed it. I would love to get the audiobook for this and listen to how the characters would be portrayed and the subtle undertones of lightheartedness mixed with seriousness that I felt the story was portraying.

This debut thriller has a bold premise: what happens when you realize the person you married is a murderer?

The setup has promise but I found myself wishing for a prologue had offered insight into the protagonist’s backstory and motivations. Without that foundation, it was difficult to connect with her or understand the choices made.

The standout for me was the side characters. Mep the cat is a quiet scene-stealer (as cats tend to be), and Beryl the neighbor brings just the right dose of nosy comic relief—because let’s be honest, we’ve all had a Beryl on our block.

There’s a dry, dark humor threaded through the book that some readers will love, and while the plot doesn’t go as deep as I hoped, it offers a quick, quirky thriller with a sharp satirical edge.

My Wife, The Serial Killer by H. J. Garbett is a razor-sharp, pitch-black thriller that brilliantly blends domestic suspense with dark humor and a fresh, subversive twist on the crime genre. From the first page, the novel pulls you into a bizarrely compelling narrative that’s as unsettling as it is wildly entertaining.

The premise alone is irresistible—a man slowly comes to suspect that his seemingly perfect wife might be hiding a deadly secret. What follows is a deliciously twisted tale of paranoia, denial, and marital dysfunction that constantly keeps you guessing. Garbett has a gift for turning ordinary moments into quietly chilling scenes, infusing the story with tension while keeping the tone witty and original.

The characters are particularly well-drawn—flawed, fascinating, and full of surprises. The dynamic between husband and wife is especially intriguing, full of uncomfortable truths, sly manipulation, and moments of grim hilarity. It’s a story that explores love, trust, and the lies we tell ourselves, all wrapped in a page-turning thriller with a wicked edge.

My Wife, the Serial Killer by H. J. Garbett is an entertaining, offbeat thriller that blends dark humor with moral values. At the heart of the story is a marriage under pressure—mostly because one half of the couple has a kick for vengeance. But rather than descend into grim true-crime territory, Garbett leans into the absurdity, delivering a sharp, witty narrative filled with chaotic energy and a surprisingly tender core.
The dynamic between the morally grey couple drives the plot: their banter, their questionable loyalty, and their chemistry keeps you hooked. As if Dexter had the quirky dysfunction of Schitt’s Creek—morally gray and marital mayhem.
It’s not a heavy read, but that’s part of the charm. Garbett manages to keep things suspenseful without sacrificing the humor, making this a perfect pick for fans of thrillers who don’t mind laughing at the mess—and moral ambiguity—along the way.

My Wife the Serial Killer by H.J. Garbett is a darkly hilarious and twisted thriller that follows the story of a man who begins to suspect that his charming, beautiful wife might be a serial killer. As bodies start piling up around them, he’s forced to question not only her past but also how far he’s willing to go to protect her—or stop her.
I found this to be wildly entertaining, with razor-sharp wit and a protagonist who’s as unhinged as she is unforgettable. I was immediately drawn into the story thanks to its dark humor, fast pace, and a lead character who’s delightfully off-kilter in the best way.
The novel strikes a brilliant balance between comedy and suspense, making it feel fresh and addictive. The pacing is quite steady and engaging throughout—perfect for a binge-read. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re a fan of Bella Mackie’s writing style or enjoyed the twisted thrill of the Mindfck series by S.T. Abby, then you’re absolutely going to love this book. It shares that same blend of morally grey characters, clever narrative turns, and a story that keeps you grinning even as bodies pile up.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys thrillers with a darkly comic edge and a fierce, complex female lead.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC copy—I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early!

This book is PERFECT for Brynne Weaver and S. T. Abby lovers. Funny and witty, impossible to put it down.

I had SO much fun reading it, and the characters are so realistic and lovable. Fran is so funny and Garrett is the cutest. I love them. I have not much more to say that I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book seems so promising. A serial killer wife, detective husband, and marketed with Schitt’s Creek style humor, but it just really felt flat. A lot of the story timeline did not add up (they switched phones on accident one day but the husband was still getting work calls?) & it just seemed like it really really tried to be this edgy book… the “humor” I guess was there? But like a man writing a sarcastic woman just didn’t sound like anything real? The “twists” weren’t twists at all?
Overall, this just wasn’t for me.

r all morally grey MC lover out there you might want to read this book
Fran a social worker and a wife to Gareth a sergeant in CID, but did I mention she's a serial killer, from the very first page she gave me Dexter vibe and I'm here for it, Are her victims innocent or she's complete psychopath. and of course, who better to investigate the crime other than her husband. what will he do and how he'll react when he know the secrets his wife harbors if ever

What secrete Mr. O'Neill has and what made Fran kills him?
Do I understand Gareth actions? yes, Did O'Neill deserve to die? Also, yes
Is justice system crooked and politician corrupted? Absolutely

Its an amazing read their is never a dull moment always something happening love the crime romance comedy mix the author created its definitely a must read

CW: Animal injuries, illness and CPR

The title is very misleading...

Dual First Person POV
FRAN: Genuinely funny
GARETH: Bland.. but lovable

First half cosy / second half depressing

I was hoping for more... killing?

If you need an unhinged story to read, then this is it! This is my first time reading a book where you root for the murderer, in this case, our female MC. It's so funny that her husband is a detective and always suspects her of killing. This pairing is so witty and I could not put this book down.

Fran is just the right character for this book. She may be flawed, but you'll find yourself on her side, especially when her flaws are the main focus of the book. As for Gary, the husband and very intuitive detective, makes you love him as well. Mep is just perfect.

The book is not only about murder but also about family and relationships and all the struggles that come with it.

If you're a fan of "How To Kill Your Family", then yes, this is a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for giving me an eARC to review. All opinions are mine.

This was a decent enough serial killer story. The story is told in two voices, Fran and her policeman husband Gareth. I found him a bit wet and perhaps not good enough for Fran.

I really enjoyed My Wife, the Serial Killer. The idea behind the story was interesting and I loooved the FMC, she was clever (sometimes not clever enough) and she kept things exciting. The MMC though, got on my nerves at times. I just wanted to shake him! Some parts dragged a little, but it still kept me curious enough to see how it would end. A decent read with a really cool ending!

I wanted to love this book. It had so much going for it. A witty FMC, a cute relationship, a pretty good murder, but halfway through the book it just completely lost steam. Honestly, the motive was mentioned so many times that it got to the point where the motive felt weak. Honestly, the book needed another twist or another murder to keep the reader interested.

The MMC was a bore and I spent half of the book annoyed with his choices. He realizes MONTHS after he gets his wife arrested to realize maybe he should have thought about it first. His character arc happened way too fast. While I was glad that the arc happened, it should have started WAY sooner. Who waits until the LAST MINUTE to try and exonerate their spouse?

The epilogue was the most unsatisfying epilogue I think I’ve ever read, to the point that it was pretty much unnecessary. I feel like the reader could gather what happened from the last paragraph of the previous chapter. If you’re going to add an epilogue give us extra information or something more satisfying than what we got.

This is being marketed as a Dexter-meets-Schitt’s-Creek thriller, but there isn’t enough gore to be compared to Dexter, and there isn’t enough humor to be compared to Schitt’s Creek.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this book, overall.
The way it's written, funny yet serious, like a dark comedy. It was first of its kind that I've read because mostly the thrillers are dark and intense but this one was different. The only thing I didn't liked was the pace because at places it lagged and the chapters were very long for me.
Overall, a 4 star read for me.

The story is okay but I have found it a bit too slow or too descriptive about stuff that were not essential ( like everything related to their cat…)
I was surprised not to like it more and even forced myself to finish it.