Wicked Fun
by Dave Pasquantonio
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I’d never come across Dave Pasquantonio before, but after reading Wicked Fun, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of his work.

The premise immediately hooked me, an older woman with a lethal past trying to disappear into suburban obscurity, only to be roped back into the chaos thanks to a nosy podcaster. It’s a clever setup, It’s energetic, darkly entertaining, and full of punchy twists.

Jane, the main character, presents as perfectly ordinary on the surface (whatever that is) but scratch that surface, and you find someone quick witted, unapologetic, and intriguing.

Seen through the eyes of a former serial killer, the narrative somehow conjures genuine empathy for a woman who openly claims to hate people. And yet, there’s a strange magnetism to her, one that pulls in the characters around her and the reader too.

The writing is crisp and vivid, the action sharp and well-paced. That said, I did feel things sagged a little around the midpoint, but the strength of the characters and the originality of the plot kept me onboard. Jane in particular is a standout: layered, darkly funny, and surprisingly easy to cheer for.

The ending ties things up while leaving just enough loose thread to tease a sequel, and I’m absolutely here for it. If you’re after a smart, twisty thriller with a wicked sense of humour and a truly unforgettable protagonist, give this one a go.

Thank you #WickedFun #NetGalley.

Twenty years after Jane Hawkins's last real life murder, she only kills people in the pages of her mystery novels. A well liked member of her small community, she lives a quiet and predictable life. Then a true crime podcaster shows up at her book signing wanting to interview her about her husband's unsolved murder. No one has ever suspected her before, which puzzles me because she seems to be just figuring out how things work. It's an entertaining read with an ending hook that has me looking forward to a sequel.

I read "Wicked Fun" in one day. It was so hard to put down!

Jane Hawkins is a 60-year-old widow who writes Cozy Mysteries. Everyone loves Jane, including her young neighbor who is her personal Geek Squad, the proprietors of the best bakery in Port Fletcher, and everyone at the senior center where Jane volunteers. But Jane has a secret past that no one would believe, and she's beginning to feel the pull of those old habits.

I wasn't sure that I liked Jane at first. She *is* a serial killer, after all, and she has a bit of a temper. On the other hand, she's my age, and we have the same taste in dogs (mine also brays like a wounded moose and is currently snoring at my side), and her victims were not nice men. By the end of the book, I was rooting for her and impatient for the next installment.

I received an advance ebook copy of Wicked Fun by Dave Pasquantonio from netgalley.

I enjoyed the plot and the main character.

The reason for 3 stars is because, while I think it should be a quick read, I had a hard time keeping my attention on reading. I was easily pulled away from the book.

It’s probably wrong to love a serial killer as much as I loved Jane Hawkins. This former serial killer is forced out of retirement by a nosy true crime podcaster who is looking a little too closely at her past. Jane has more adventures in a week than most people have in their entire life…she is very busy. The writing is skilled and the plot is intriguing, but Jane is what really makes this a great read. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and hope there will be a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Wicked Fun follows Jane, the kindly elderly neighbor who is all about puppies, supporting her peers, writing cozy novels… and killing. Well she was all about killing, Jane retired as a serial killer, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t tempted. Pushing those temptations into action is a copycat (who doesn’t hold a candle on Jane) and a podcaster who absolutely should not be asking Jane questions. Typically you’d think getting into the mind of a serial killer would be disturbing and leave you hating this lady, but Jane is smart and charismatic, and you can’t help but nod with her line of thinking - which is definitely disturbing.

This book is the funnest of thrillers and leaves an opening to continue the story which I would absolutely support.

I LOVED it ! I know I probably shouldn't have loved this book so much but Dave, my man what a wicked sense of humor you have.
Jane is so clever, and funny. Hilarious even; especially when it came to her thoughts being spoken out loud and some of those inner thoughts too !
Her adversary, Esmir Roux was something else !!! Clever also, pushy to the point of being a stalker and determined to prove Jane as a murder. The murder of the 10 people at least.
Dexter, the dog she ends up adopting was a hoot. And he ended up being the best addition to her solitary life; she said so herself !!
The ending of the story was even better than the beginning; with dangerous, quirky Jane trying to live a normal, quiet life. Will she be able to? I doubt it and I hope I find the next book because it looks like its going to be "delicious" too !!

I loved the cover for this book too. So appropriate and clever ! Sure fit Jane, the main character too !

TL/DR: Have you read the synopsis? Great? Now, stahp, and get the book! This is a twisted, wickedly clever book that is even better than Dunks. I said what I said!

Now, if you are not from New England, specifically Massachusetts, that probably read as very strange. Spoiler, I lived there once upon a time. Dunks, is Dunkin Donuts and if you choose any other you will lose your “Massachusetts card”. Ok, not really, but we take it very seriously.

Oh, poor Jane…what has our FMC gotten herself involved in now. Better yet, what door to her past has been opened that makes her feel alive? You see, Jane lives on the Cape (Cape Cod) and has spent many years writing cozy mysteries and growing a following of readers who love her. Despite this, she mainly keeps to herself, especially since becoming widowed some 20 years earlier. Then one night an attempted car jacking goes wrong and she kills her assailant. Most people would find this traumatic, Jane feels alive.

The MMC is a sleazy podcaster who is trying to solve ten murders from twenty years ago that he believes are linked. Not only that, but now there are new murders, “copy cat murders”, similar but not exact.

Then there is the person sending her photos, slightly incriminating, signed “Oh, Jane…”. I mean this is a woman who volunteers at the senior center and no kill animal shelter.

I really enjoyed it. As the first book in a series, it is well written, introduces the reader to this world and characters but doesn’t feel overwhelming. Yes, a female serial killer coming out of retirement is a strange subject to base a series on, but I think there are a lot more surprises coming our way and I can’t wait for book two.

I would like to thank the author, Dave Pasquantino, the publisher, Sterling and Stone and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

Fantastic! I loved reading this from the perspective of a morally dubious protagonist and Jane did not let me down as a narrator. The author captures the tone well and the unsettling revelation of Jane’s thoughts and past is really cleverly done.

I just finished a great thriller. Wicked Fun by Dave Pasquantonio is available now. Pick it up! You won’t regret it.

Wicked Fun was wicked smaht!

This book was a delightful and refreshing surprise! It’s been a long time since I have loved a character as much as I adore Jane Hawkins. She’s a mother who is not a mother; an unretired serial killer; a cozy mystery author; and the “old” lady next door. She’s lived a hard and complicated life, what with the lust for killing and all.

The pacing of the book had me transfixed. I could not put it down. Chores be damned. I did not want this book to end but I also desperately needed to know what would happen next.

This was, by far, is on my short list of five star favorites of 2025.

And now I am anxiously waiting for the next book.

Oh, Jane…

So I wanted to read this primarily because the MC was an older retired serial killer -something I haven’t read before! I loved it! Great pacing & atmosphere! The MC was highly relatable somehow, lol, just very well written!

I was immediately drawn to the premise of Wicked Fun—an older woman (60 the new 40) with a ' killer' past attempting to lead a quiet, unremarkable life, only to be pulled back into chaos with the help of a podcaster. I'm pleased to say the novel delivers on that promise and more. Fast-paced, action-packed, and thoroughly engaging, this is a story that’s hard to put down.

Jane, the protagonist, may appear to lead a mundane, beige existence, but beneath the surface, she is sharp, fearless, and deeply compelling—even when viewed through the lens of her unsettling past. Told from the unique perspective of Jane, a former serial killer, the narrative manages to evoke genuine empathy for a character who claims to despise people, yet remains undeniably magnetic to those around her, including the reader.

The writing is crisp, the pacing relentless, and the plot consistently gripping. Jane is a remarkably well-crafted character—complex, likable, and layered in a way that makes her easy to root for.

The ending is both satisfying and open-ended, laying the groundwork for an exciting sequel. If you enjoy darkly humorous thrillers with strong character development and unrelenting momentum, Wicked Fun is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sterling & Stone, and Dave Pasquantonio for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

★★★★

Jane is a widow best known for writing cozy mysteries that take place around Cape Cod. When she isn’t writing, she volunteers her time at the local dog shelter or senior center. If she weren’t a local celebrity, you might easily overlook her—and who could blame you? The police have been overlooking her for years. Jane has a few skeletons in her closet, and though she left that life behind, one nagging true crime podcaster might force her out of “retirement”…

What a treat! I read Wicked Fun in a single sitting—I could not put it down! Though Jane’s life might seem a bit "beige", she is a straight shooter and unafraid to voice her thoughts. The plot was fun and action-packed—never a dull moment. Jane is an incredibly likable character, and despite claiming to despise people, they somehow feel drawn to her (including me). The story wrapped up quite nicely, yet ended on a bit of a cliffhanger that makes me excited for the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley, Sterling & Stone, and Dave Pasquantonio for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was fantastic. It had Dexter vibes as it was from the POV of a serial killer, yet you empathized with them and hoped they would win out in the end. There were twists and turns, some of which felt very predictable while reading through and then at the last second I realized I had been wrong!! I hope there's another book in this series as I would love to explore more of the MC's relationships with her daughter.

Such a fun book! Jane is a widow who writes cozy mysteries and just happens to be a retired serial killer. When a podcaster contacts her wanting to discuss some unsolved murders Jane is on high alert. What does he know about her past? I thoroughly enjoyed the story & the characters were very well developed

I was interested in the premise of a older woman with a killer past coming back to wreak havoc on her very mundane life, and really liked the execution.
The plot is really compelling, the writing is good and the main character is well fleshed out and easy to sympathise with.
The ending is satisfying and sets up nicely for a future story.
It was a fast and satisfying read.

are we, should we allowed to like a serial killer? well its the authors fault because he made me root for one. how dare he! but shes just so good. so smart, witty and doesnt give a dam. and if this is to be a series with her in it then im all for it. i think she is going to give us some great reads ahead and i cant wait to see where this goes. apart from, if Dave makes me like her more then how will i fit it with then not knowing whether she should be caught or not? well we will come to that. because for now she is giving us some fun times. Because this is Jane. everyone good neighbour oh except she used to be a serial killer. but dont worry she isnt anymore.
but then a pod caster starts asking questions. and there is someone (not as good as her obv) who is now copycatting her. oh what a chore for our Jane. because now she has to get involved. and how is she meant to not kill the pod caster? or anyone else for that matter as bad habits are being teased. and this new killer, well, he really needs to work on his finesse.
but whats comes next for Jane. indeed, indeed you will love finding out.
i adored this book and i cant wait for more. its got the gorgeous sarky and quick humour i love so much.
p.s i obviously do not condone killing. this IS JUST a talk of characters in a book. i just want to put that out there incase anyone could not see that clearly enough!

"Everyone had dirt, but Jane had truckloads."
Jane is not your average gray-haired widow. Jane, who volunteers at the senior center and the dog rescue, writes loveable cozy mysteries, and, like any good old lady, pays the teenager next door to fix her computer, is, scratch that, WAS a serial killer. But that life is in the past. Until the past comes knocking with a microphone in its hands.

I couldn't put this story down! Jane is smart and methodical and always a step ahead. The writing is sarcastic and darkly humorous. As this is the start of a series, it has a satisfying ending but leaves a few loose ends for future books. I look forward to more bloody adventures with Jane and Dexter.