⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Listen, with a title like My Wife, The Serial Killer, I had to dive in—and I was not disappointed.

The character development was really solid, and the premise? Deliciously twisted. I was hooked, suspicious of everyone, and thoroughly entertained.

That said, the ending felt a bit rushed. Like we were sprinting to the finish line after a slow, eerie walk through the dark. Still, the journey was worth it.

• The blurb for this book had me so excited. You know I love me an unhinged woman. However, I found myself very underwhelmed by the execution of it. Let’s put it this way, My Wife the Serial Killer didn’t even need to happen if Gareth had not been so adamant about investigating his neighbor’s death. He could’ve minded his own damn business & none of this had to go down. The End. Fin.

• The book started out strong. The plot was intriguing. The pacing was fast. I was into it! Then, it all went downhill for me. I found the pacing slowed, nothing interesting was happening, & it started to drag. I wasn’t looking forward to picking up the book anymore like I was at the beginning.

• If Gareth has no haters, then I am dead. Within the first few chapters, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like him. He seemed like an insecure, whiny, immature man child. I couldn’t care less about what happened to him. And what he did to Fran?! There was no coming back from that for me. I don’t know how she even forgave him. & even though I had a soft spot for Fran, even she got on my nerves! You know how hard it is to root for characters you really don’t care about? My favorite character was the 17 year old, dying cat, Mep. Not sure what that says about me.

• While this book did have humor, heart, & good writing, it just wasn’t for me. But I could see it working for a lot of people!

This book had me hooked from the first page! I was immediately supporting women’s wrongs during the first chapter, seeing what Fran had done. I know I still hadn’t gotten to her explanation of “why??” yet, but I felt like she probably had a good reason for it.

Fran is a social worker who seems to have some Dexter-like tendencies, and Gareth is her very smart, very straight-laced, people pleasing husband who is also the detective working on her latest murder. What could go wrong? Lets just say… everything!

This book was a fun time! It’s hilarious, has some interesting twists and reveals, and you just keep on rooting for both Gareth and Fran the whole way through.

The only reason this wasn’t a five star was because I had some questions regarding Fran that weren’t answered!

Definitely worth the read!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Fran is not a psychopath, she swears. She may have murdered two people (& kind of enjoyed it…) but she swears she has good reason for these murders. She could have been a bit more careful in making sure she won’t get caught, but she isn’t too worried. However when her police husband, Gareth, starts working on the case to solve the most current murder, things aren’t looking great for Fran.

I loved the humor & banter throughout this story 👏🏻 Told from both Fran & Gareth’s POV, this “Dexter meets Schitt’s Creek” novel is unlike anything I’ve read!

I really enjoyed this! I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, the title was enough to grab my attention and it definitely did not disappoint.

An very fun read with likeable characters and the ending was not what I was expecting at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed following Fran and Gareth on their adventure. While we did get some backstory on Fran and Angus, I couldn't help but want more. I had so many questions about that but over all a super fun and quick read.

I have recently fell in love with the female serial killer trope and this book definitely satisfied that itch! In My Wife, The Serial Killer, our main character is married to a detective. Talk about complicated! The story was unhinged, humorous, and kept me on my toes. I highly recommend for anyone looking for something not so stereotypical along the lines of thrillers. 5 stars for this fresh novel from newcomer H. J. Garbett!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

This was such a wild and fun ride, twisted in all the right ways! I went into it expecting dark humor, but what really surprised me was how sharp and addictive the writing felt. Fran’s voice is so unhinged, but somehow also relatable? I found myself laughing one moment and side-eyeing the page the next, unsure whether I should be concerned or cheering her on (okay, maybe both 😅).

I didn’t expect to tear through it as quickly as I did, but once it got going, I was all in. Definitely gives off Killing Eve vibes, with that extra layer of domestic chaos and emotional messiness that makes it feel fresh. It didn’t fully blow me away, but I had a genuinely great time reading it.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5☆ rounded up.

Fran is married to Gareth and has recently moved to a new house. When her new elderly neighbour turns out to be a horrible person from her past, Fran decides to kill him. There is only one major issue, Gareth is a Police Detective! Realising his neighbour is missing, Gareth pushes for an investigation!
But what happens when your wife's the murder suspect!

I did struggle a little at the start, with Fran referring to her first murder and being vague about her childhood. It all starts to come together in the second half of the book. However, rather than keep me in suspense, it had me checking if this was a follow-up book, and I'd missed something.
I found Gareth to be annoying, his desperation to be liked, his perfect character that refused to even say the most innocent of swear words, and yet come the end has completely changed in character.
Having said that, I still enjoyed the book.
I loved nosy Beryl and her dog Tony and Mep the Cat was brilliant!
It was an easy and quick read, with dark humour throughout. It's a book to pick up when you need something a little lighter.

My Wife, the Serial Killer by H.J. Garbett is exactly as chaotic as it sounds — a darkly hilarious domestic thriller packed with deadpan one-liners, a detective husband who’s a little too slow on the uptake, and a cat named Mep who basically steals the show.

The first half was a slow burn (and not in a tension-filled way — it took me a bit to get into the groove), but once it clicked? I flew through the pages. Fran’s voice is sharp, dry, and full of twisted charm. She insists she’s not a serial killer — just someone who happens to solve her problems… permanently.

Gareth, her husband and the detective investigating the very crime she committed, goes from “My wife would never!” to “I’m calling the cops” a little too fast for my liking — but hey, emotional whiplash is part of the fun.

Also: STAN MEP. If anything had happened to that creaky old furball, I would’ve thrown hands.

Bonus points for the epilogue — Beryl is a legend.
Minus a star for the clunky pacing and a few threads that left me hanging.

The review below is posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon once it is available on June 17th.

This novel started off a little slow and I originally was concerned that I was not going to be able to get into especially with the alternating points of view. However, it truly shocked me and ended up being an entertaining read. The ending was absolutely my favorite part once it all came together and turned out how I predicted it might. I do wish I could have felt like there was more closure for the characters but overall it was very good!

3.5/5⭐️

The book description sounded very intriguing but this one didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book may not be for everyone, but it was right up my alley. 😂 Not sure what that says about me and my sense of humor seeing as how the comedy was pretty dark and morbid. It was a fun read and just what I needed to get me out of a current reading slump.

Fran is married to Gareth. Gareth is a homicide detective with the police force who is investigating a murder. Fran is the murder to the case her husband is investigating. Gareth has no idea. This was giving The Mind F*ck series vibes but with lots of banter and laugh out loud moments. The ending was pretty predictable but honestly I didn’t even mind because I enjoyed the journey.

This book wasn't cod me. I just simply couldn't get into it. Thank you so much to netgalley and storm publishing for this arc!

3.5 stars rounded up. There’s just something so fun about an unhinged female lead, and Fran totally delivers. She’s dark, hilarious, and completely unpredictable—which made this debut a wild ride. The book balances mystery, murder, and dark humor perfectly, and I loved the dual POVs (plus the bonus one at the end!).

Fran kicks things off with a murder, and her detective husband Gareth starts to suspect something’s off with their neighbor’s disappearance… without realizing it hits much closer to home. The story is twisty, clever, and full of tension, but still manages to be laugh-out-loud funny at times.

It’s not super fast-paced, but it kept me hooked. If you liked The Mindfck Series* or How to Kill Your Family, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. Just be ready for death, murder, and a killer twist at the end!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars – Murderously Entertaining!

My Wife, The Serial Killer is a darkly funny thrill ride that mixes domestic drama with body bags. Garbett delivers chaos, charm, and some seriously twisted laughs. While the plot occasionally leans more wacky than wicked, it’s a sharp, fast-paced read that keeps you guessing—and side-eyeing your spouse. A bloody good time, just not quite a killer classic. Think "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" meets "Dexter," but with more marital passive-aggression and fewer ethical dilemmas.

Thanks Storm Publishing for the ARC!

Fran Donoghue just killed her neighbor, but if you ask her yourself, she’ll say he deserves it and no she’s not a psychopath nor a serial killer.

Detective Gareth Donoghue doesn’t think that his neighbor is just missing, he thinks he’s murdered.

He’s a police officer, his wife? A Serial killer.

My Wife, The Serial Killer by H. J. Garbett is such a fun and easy read, it’s told by dual POVs, one by Fran, the serial killer herself, and by her detective husband. Fran’s narration with her unhinged humor and thoughts honestly carried out the whole book, and this is one of those books that I fully support women’s wrongs.

The pacing at the start was meant to fully set the book’s settings and characters, so it was a bit slow, which is understandable, but when the investigation started, the pacing picked up and hooked me in. I didn’t like the ending that much because, come on, I’m nosy, I wanna know what happened. But all in all, it was a good read. If you’re in the mood for a book with dark humor, unhinged FMC, and family drama, this might be a good book for you.

There was a lot to like here. We meet Gareth who is a "by the books" police investigator who has just taken a role in a new department and is struggling to fit in. Maybe he's a little too bland, too boring, too much of a rule follower. We meet Fran, his wife, who works for social services, and as we quickly find out, kills people. But she's not a psychopath, just ask her. There is a small list of supporting characters, including an ancient cat.

The interaction between Gareth and Fran in the first half of the book is so spot on married couple, as are the texts, and Frans internal monologue.

But then, the execution just felt like it was missing something; The second half of the book lost that comedic interplay and monologue, and the pacing slowed waaay down.

This was a relatively quick read. I liked several of the characters and the interactions, i just would have like the same energy to have continued throughout the book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Dark, Twisted, and Totally Addictive!

My Wife, The Serial Killer is exactly the kind of book you lose an afternoon to. From the very first chapter, Fran had me hooked — unhinged, unapologetic, and disturbingly likeable. I didn’t know whether to root for her or run from her.

The pace is lightning-fast, the humour deliciously dark, and the twists just keep coming. H. J. Garbett has nailed that fine line between thriller and comedy — the kind that makes you laugh out loud while questioning your own morals.

Perfect for fans of morally grey characters and sharp writing. I loved the dynamic between Fran and Gareth — tense, clever, and at times, weirdly sweet in the most dysfunctional way.

If you like your thrillers bold, bloody, and full of bite, add this one to your TBR immediately. I’ll be thinking about that ending for a long time…

**★★★ – Not Quite What I Expected, But Still a Fun Ride**
I received an ARC of *My Wife, the Serial Killer* and went in expecting a dark comedy—but while it started with that tone, it gradually shifted into more of a police procedural with a surprisingly serious edge.

The plot foundation was solid, but the big reveals and turning points didn’t land as hard as I’d hoped. The buildup was there; the payoff just felt a little underwhelming.

That said, it was still an enjoyable read with a unique premise. If you're okay with a genre shift midstream, there's definitely entertainment to be had here!