I absolutely devoured this book in just over a day once I'd started reading it.

Is there a friend in your life you'd go to the ends of the earth to protect? Well, you'd probably relate to this one in a weird way.

This Girl's a Killer gives you a killer with a moral code, I couldn't help but think Cordelia Black was giving Dexter vibes and I ended up loving her character just as much. Should I have vibed with her as much as I did? Probably not, but you couldn't help but like her. Emma C. Wells writes the main character so well, her dark humour, flaws and strive to survive in any way possible just really hit the nail for me.

I often don't like to see strong FMC have any sense of love story as it often detracts, but this was done in a way that really felt like it added to the overall arc of the plot and in all honesty you can just tell when a woman is writing a love interest well to not detract from the overall main character in a book. Plot twists in this kept coming and with every turn I felt more and more nervous to the point I started pacing my living room through some chapters and almost tripped over the cat at least 20 times. The anxiety of seeing Cordelia run into what could have been her ultimate undoing, really had me needing to get straight to the next chapter, so much so that I had to stay up to finish it.

Emma C.Wells will without a doubt be added to my must read authors list for her future releases.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Emma C.Wells for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Kind of a slow start but once it got good it stayed good! I was so In deep with this one at one point I gasped and had to put my kindle down and breathe. I never would have thought I’d be out here rooting for a killer. Cordelia Black Is a boss b*tch and I support all bad b’s. Loved everything about her and the relationship she has with her bestie and her brain! I’d love to have a brain that processes so meticulously even If Its a killer’s brain. More from Emma please I’m gagging for It!

Thank you to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

This Girl’s a Killer is dark but compulsive reading. Cordelia Black is definitely not the kind of character you’d want to get on the wrong side of, but there’s hints of a softer side and a rather upsetting back story that make it hard not to like her.
A successful employee for a pharmaceutical company Cordelia is accustomed to the finer things in life. Deeply devoted to her best friend Diane and her daughter, Samantha, Cordelia appears to have her life sorted. What we quickly realise is that Cordelia is harbouring dark secrets.
In the darkest hours of the night Cordelia spends her time stalking men. These men are predators and criminals (though nobody’s caught them) who - to Cordelia’s mind - need to pay. Following her as she goes about her business is fascinating, if deeply disturbing.
While Cordelia has been able to keep her evening activities secret, there is talk in the media of missing men and a potential serial killer. When Diane gets a new boyfriend things start to get a bit closer to home and we wonder if Cordelia will really get away with murder.
While the subject matter will not be to everyone’s tastes it takes some skill to make a killer a likeable character. Though we’re never given all the details there were enough hints given about Cordelia’s past to make me feel quite sympathetic towards her. And as for the ending…it sent shivers down my spine!
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.

The premise of this book before reading made me thinking another novel I have completed recently - but the execution was very different.

The author had me on the edge of my seat - I was anxious for Cordelia, and was rooting for her not to be found out.

I thought the development of the relationship between Cordelia and Diane was well explored (even if the back story seemed unrealistic/unlikely), and I enjoyed the story overall.

I would have liked to see a bit more exploration of some of the side characters (e.g. McSmiley), but either way this was a fun read!


Not in lauded in Fable review: I did find it a bit strange that the characters all had colours as their surnames? Cordelia Black, Joanie Brown, Simon White… not a dealbreaker but it didn’t feel like the names had been thought through as much as the rest of the book.

At first I thought the book was slow but BOY, did it pick up?! Cordelia Black, gets bad vibes from her ride or die's new boyfriend. Was she being paranoid due to her over protective nature or is he hiding something? I couldn't wait to keep reading and following Cordelias, caotic, journey. "Cordelia loves exactly three things; her choosen family, her hairdresser and killing bad men."

Cordelia works for a pharmaceutical company and her career is on the line but she doesn't have time to worry about that while shes protecting all women and children by giving her own sentence to bad men. Her complex past doesn't make this easy..

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Pacey and tense, *This Girl’s a Killer* by Emma C is a gripping and tense thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Great characterisation means I was cheering for Cordelia and her mission to rid the world of terrible men. The plot unfolds beautifully in a very nail biting manner that ramps up the tension. I absolutely loved it.

I LOVED this! Absolutely could not stop reading. It really had my anxiety going, I was so invested! I thought the pacing was perfect and I loved the characters, especially Cordelia. I was just so on board with it, I’d love to see a sequel and continue Cordelia’s story - it gave me Sweetpea vibes (which I also loved).

I suppose I felt in amongst the murder, it was about reinventing yourself, love and friendship and I think the prominence of that throughout made it feel like so much more than just a woman who gets rid of bad men.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! Cordelia is a great character and I loved the girl power theme. It became slightly repetitive towards the end and I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but overall a great read!

The book begins with us meeting Cordelia who has a side hobby - killing bad men. She has no family but is best friends with Diane and her daughter Samantha aka Sugar. When Diane introduces her to her new boyfriend she takes an instant disliking to him, knowing something isn't quite right. The book is funny and the writing easy to read and fun. It takes a serious subject and makes it light-hearted. I enjoyed this book and will be recommending to others

Female Dexter?? I love this idea. And I loved the found family, the humour and the main character. I didn't love the pacing at times but it wasn't a deal breaker

*This Girl’s a Killer* by Emma C. Wells is a gripping thriller that introduces readers to a world of crime, deceit, and high stakes. With its fast-paced plot, strong characterizations, and suspenseful twists, the novel keeps readers on edge from beginning to end.

The protagonist, Kat, is a hitwoman living a double life, hiding her dark profession behind a seemingly normal exterior. Wells does a brilliant job of crafting a complex, morally ambiguous lead who is both deadly and vulnerable. As the story unfolds, Kat finds herself navigating a dangerous underworld where trust is scarce, and betrayal is imminent. The tension is heightened when Kat becomes both the hunter and the hunted, with secrets from her past threatening to catch up to her.

Overall, *This Girl’s a Killer* is an electrifying read for fans of gritty crime thrillers and morally complex protagonists. Emma C. Wells delivers a novel filled with suspense, action, and enough twists to keep readers hooked until the very last page.

3.5 of 5 stars (rounded to 4)
https://lynns-books.com/2024/09/09/review-this-girls-a-killer-by-emma-c-wells
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Liked Dexter? Check This Out

I enjoyed This GIrl’s a Killer, it’s an entertaining read with suspense and drama, the writing is really good and I certainly never experienced a dull moment. I wouldn’t particularly class this as horror, well, there is of course a female out and about taking justice into her own hands and meting out punishment as she thinks fit – but the story isn’t really focused on the gore or bloodlust and there’s definitely some dark humour.

The killer in question is Cordelia Black. Cordelia has reinvented herself over the years. She’s now a successful pharmaceutical rep with a good reputation. she has her own found family (her best friend Diane and Diane’s daughter Samantha, who also happens to be Cordelia’s goddaughter). By night she’s ridding the streets of monsters, men who prey on the innocent or unsuspecting. She is always in complete control and plans everything with great care – until she doesn’t that is.

As the story starts Cordelia’s life takes a messy turn. Diane has a new boyfriend and Cordelia has a bad feeling about him. He also clearly doesn’t like Cordelia and the two soon find themselves in a competition to out fox each other whilst putting up a friendly front to keep Diane in the dark. On top of this the increased number of missing men is leading the police to suspect they may have a serial killer at large. Then couple this with the fact that Cordelia’s recent blind date was a police officer and things start to become very complicated.

What I liked about this.

I liked the friendship between Cordelia and Diane, they have a long history and Cordelia is clearly motivated to keep her BFF and her daughter safe from harm, there’s a slow reveal of Cordelia’s history in which you can discover how she became Cordelia Black.

The writing is good, very easy to get along with and the author also manages fairly quickly to create a situation that is tension packed. Within short order, this cool, sophisticated and always in control woman is making terrible mistakes and finds herself with more than one dodgy companion sharing her home.

This is almost like (Cor)Delia as opposed to Dexter. Obviously, it’s not the same story but the premise is very similar (in that Cordelia feels she is ridding the streets of dangerous predators and only acts when she’s absolutely certain of the facts), also the focus on dark humour and the fact that Cordelia seems to spend a good deal of the book living on the edge making bad choices and finding herself in an absolute pickle. Clearly, there are some very dark themes here but the majority of Cordelia’s covert operations are carried out with the minimum of sensationalism and the real drama is all the headless chicken style scurrying about that she’s having to do as a result of her impulsive decisions.

I liked the characters but I wouldn’t say at this point that I love them. In some respects I feel like I’m being told that Cordelia and Diane are best friends, there was a lot of repetitive thinking where Cordelia beats herself up about how, if she’s caught, she’s going to ruin their lives, and I totally see where’s she coming from but at the same time she takes some ridiculous risks and frankly behaves far too casually for someone who has so much to lose. Cordelia supposedly plans, meticulously, but there’s little evidence of that here – which again feels a little like I’m being told rather than shown. Everything turns into chaos within fairly short order – that being said though, even whilst this chaos feels frantic at the same time I kind of liked the crazy feel and the escalating tension it provoked.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It’s not a serious thriller or an outright horror but it’s entertaining, easy to get along with and it definitely made me want to shake the MC on more than one occasion as she flipped from one almost catastrophe to the next.

I’m not sure if this is the start of a series but I would certainly be interested in reading more.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I enjoyed this book in terms of the premise and twists and turns. The plot had too many loose ends for me though and so i rated it 3 stars

This deliciously dark novel will keep you on edge throughout, and you’ll want to race to the end to see how it all turns out. This book is similar to others with the theme and descriptions etc, however it was well written, and I did particularly enjoy the ending.

Loved it! Couldn’t put it down - even though the second hand anxiety I felt for Cordelia was so real at points!! Think a sassy, fun, girl power version of Dexter… Cordelia doesn’t consider herself a monster, she is simply Karma - exceptionally stylish Karma, with a weakness for baked goods! She’s an interesting character, and her relationships with other characters are the same. There were a few bits I’d have liked a bit more closure on, but I also wonder if that exact thing leaves room for a follow up..? I would 100% read that! (Watch out for Mango - stole my heart!)

A serial Killer I was completely rooting for!

This is an absolute gem of a book and I loved everything about it from start to finish.

Cordelia Black has become one of my favourite protagonists, despite having a few flaws, the main one being she is a murderer.

I LOVE books about female rage and this is the best one I've read. It's surprisingly funny (considering the topic) and the characters are well developed and seem real. It is also incredibly tense and exciting.

This is not just a book about a serial killer, it is about female friendships, protecting those you love, the effects of past traumas bit still manages to be an absolute blast.
Highly recommend.

Thank you so much to netgalley and source books UK for the advanced copy and opportunity to read this amazing book

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks UK for the ARC

Looking for another "Good for her" novel? Well, look no further! I love these kinds of books and I really enjoyed this one. It takes talent to make you root for an unlikable serial killer, but boy did I find our main character amusing. She's strong and badass, but a killer all the less. It's a gripping and suspenseful story which I highly recommend.

A darkly comic thriller with vibes of Grady Hendrix and Riley Sager. Utter brilliance. A must read for this year.

Cordelia Black is doing what she thinks needs to be done.

I love the trope of a female killer, and I liked how Cordelia was very normal, there were parts of her character I even found relatable. Her devotion to her best friend and her daughter were what made this book great. I loved Sugar and felt she was a wonderful character who was sowell written.

In a less positive note, it felt a bit rushed at the end and before that slightly too chaotic, but all in all this is a good read, and definitely one for those who like their thrillers with a little fun.

No Spoilers but 'Smoke' is also the best description I think I have read.

I received this book as an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review which this is.

Ohhh this is a really fun and interesting read!
Cordelia is a complicated character, and also a serial killer. However, she is also a loyal friend, great godmother and while she is not above breaking the law, she has a strict moral code

I really enjoyed reading this and hope we get more!