I was really looking forward to this book I liked the premise of the book and it felt a bit flat. It felt like the story had already been written and felt very similar to CJ Skuse’s Sweetpea series. It was disappointing that I didn’t enjoy this as it is an idea book that I would devour. I really liked Hazel and I could the pain that she had undergone before she met Fox and why she had gone to the murder sprees that she embarked on. Fox is a complicated character as well, but I didn’t feel for his character as much as I did with Hazel. I liked the idea of how they were stopping their murder spree after the birth of their child, but Hazel was looking for more.

It’s hard to keep the spark alive in a marriage when domesticity and children mean you can longer indulge in your hobbies. When your hobby is being a serial killer it’s even trickier.

This book is great fun but with a darker side. Definitely worth a read.

Hazel and Fox are an ordinary couple and parents to a young child, except for the fact that they are serial killers. Only, since having their daughter, they have tried to rein in their kills, promising each other they will stop. However they both find that they are struggling with this. Soon they find they are both hiding secrets from each other.

I really liked the premise of this one and I found the cover intriguing, therefore really wanted to read it. I am glad that I did, as I found this an entertaining thriller, full of dark comedy and drama. The story is told in the voices of both the couple, in different timelines, and I found this worked well to build each character and the backstory. The character’s were very engaging, especially Hazel; I loved her inner monologue and sarcasm. I also really liked Jenny, Hazel’s friend. They were written so well that I actually found myself rooting for serial killers!

The story explores topics such as parent hood and how relationships can change and become dysfunctional. I also enjoyed the art focus within the novel and felt this was a nice extra touch. The only minor issue I had was that I found it quite repetitive at times. However, I am happy there was an open ending as I’m hoping this isn’t the last we will see of these characters.

This is a very fun, unique and well written thriller overall and one that I will be recommending. I will certainly be reading more by this author! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

If you’ve got the looks, the style and the money, you can honeymoon around Europe for a decade; killing bad men as a vacation vocation. But, if you add a baby into the equation then you need to settle down, give up risky hobbies, and work on developing a Family. When Fox met Haze, they bonded over the fact that she had just killed the bad guy he was about to kill. Quelle surprise as they say in France (the incident happens in Paris). Fox is a handsome, debonair, American, with a bottomless trust fund, so no constraints. Haze was brought up in care, but looks, style and a talent for art gives her the freedom to indulge her vigilante instinct. Now, ten years after that meeting, they have settled in Berkshire. He has a job dabbling a bit in finance, she has a job looking after baby Bibi. They have sworn not to get back into the killing game for the sake of the baby. Both miss the old days and tensions begin to mount between them, tensions they cannot reveal to the other partner in case they become contentions and lead to the end of the marriage. Things begin to crack!
The above is the description of a Romcom – except for the murder bits – and the style of writing is that of this genre. It is not the style of a murder-mystery-thriller, although the plot is clearly all of the latter. Much of the story concerns the usual domestic issues and confusions, especially from Hazel’s point of view (note she is now known to everyone by her full given name). Nathaniel’s issues and confusions (note he is now known by his given name and not his middle name) are also domestic, but he is out in the big world so has additional sources of concern. The book is written in shortish chapters alternating between Haze and Fox (although more are about her). The writing is quite humorous, rather tongue in cheek, although it gets a bit flat in the middle (facts without fun). The final resolution is too pat, too unlikely, but inevitable given the characters moral standards. There are a few events which I don’t believe to be feasible (and I don’t mean the murders), but they don’t get in the way of enjoying the story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I thought they said don’t work with the person you are married too?! This book made me both laugh and go “ohhhh” blooming loved it! Well Done!

This was a very different book to what I expected. Yes it is about two serial killers that are married and work together to help womankind by killing bad men. However it really describes so well the aspect of marriage and the changes that the length of the time married alters the couples behavour patterns but also how having children affect a couple as well. There were many funny parts and I found that I just kept reading as I really did not want it to finish. The last few chapters where the story was about to climax were so well written and the ending was totally unexpected. A greta book that i highly recommend .

Absolutely loved this book! The premise was so unique and interesting and I found myself really rooting for Haze and Fox (despite their murdering tendencies). Murder aside the characters were so well written and their day to day struggles very relatable.
I was constantly on the edge of my seat about whether they would get caught or if one would turn on the other.
I really enjoyed how this book was brought to a pinnacle near the end but even with the final sentence in the book I still feel like I’m waiting for the other hat to drop, exactly how it must feel to be Haze and Fox living with their secrets.
Highly recommend this book to others!

I really enjoyed this book! Kept me intrigued all the way through. It was a blend of dark humour and suspense, a real page turner!

The story follows Hazel and Fox, a seemingly ordinary married couple with a baby, who are actually ex-serial killers trying to live a normal suburban life. However, old habits die hard, and when Hazel’s itch to kill resurfaces, their carefully constructed facade begins to crumble.….

A couple that kills together stays together...

Haze and Fox are happily married with a young daughter. Except, they're not that happy. They had to give up their dream jobs as serial killers to protect their family.

They are used to a life flying around Europe, knocking off bad men, going to high-end parties, and loving life.

When Haze got pregnant, they gave it all up for the family life... that is until Haze falls off the wagon!

This is a very unique setup with unconventional characters. It was a real page turner, full of anxiety-enducing twists. I never thought I'd root for a serial killer. This book got me rooting for two!

A well written, dark comedy with an edge of dark romance! The characters are multidimensional and unique, I had a great time diving into their motives and thoughts, while watching the mess they made get worse and worse.

The ending was a bit lacklustre for me. Seemed rushed, and though it may sound funny considering the plot of this book, the ending was a bit unrealistic, in my opinion.

Overall, it was great fun. A unique intense read. I don't know if I'd take their advice on marriage too seriously, but they really know how to kill!

Fox and Haze were a prolific serial killer couple, taking out bad guys and living a luxurious lifestyle, until finding out Haze was pregnant. They decided that, for the sake of their child, they would give it up and settle down into family life. But when Haze gets the urge to start killing again, how is she going to break it to Fox?

A bit like Mr & Mrs Smith meets Sweetpea, this book started out really well, had a bit of a slump I'm the middle then finished well.

Fox and Hazel are an ordinary married couple, apart from the fact that they are serial killers. Before they had their baby they seemed to have it all. A beautiful flat in London, successful careers and invites to every party. 

Since having their child they have moved to the suburbs, lost all of their party invites and made a pact not to kill anyone. However, they both keep having the urge and one of them is going to crack. 

I thought this was such an interesting concept for a book, especially with all the additional characters like Jenny the policewomen. It was really fast paced but also had a lot of character development so I actually cared about them. This made the last 50 or so pages even more gripping as I was invested in the ending. 

I don't want to give too much away as it's definitely one that you need to read the twists and turns yourself to be as invested and find it enjoyable. Definitely one to pick up when it comes out in January.

I found this an enjoyable, and often rather humourous read.
I would say it's more of a funny/relationship book with a bit of murder thrown in rather than an actual thriller.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

What a great read!
Fox & Haze are bonded by their love of killing. They have been travelling around Europe, murdering bad men (only bad men, never the good ones).
However, when their first child is born, Fox decides that they should stop, for the sake of their daughter.
This causes resentment, and their marriage is not as good as it once was.
I won't gice away the plot so that others can enjoy it, but let's just say that things escalate, and each half of the couple find themselves distrusting the other.
This was a real fun read, and is just up my street.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, sadly this book was not for me.
I'm afraid the title and cover design were the best things about A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. Otherwise, the plot was mostly an utterly banal description of a couple with a new baby trying to come to terms with the way this arrival has changed their carefree single lives. Ok, so they are (good - allegedly) serial killers for a hobby, but apart from that, so humdrum.
This lack might have been saved by good writing, but I was disappointed here too. The prose was lacking in the tiniest smidgen of style or flair, as flat and characterless as an instruction manual. As a result, the characters were flat and interchangeable, and completely lacking in veracity. And the end was both terribly predictable, and terribly bland.
This would probably make a good film, where the action and pretty actors cover a lot plot holes, but a book like this needs some vestige of wit, or a decent turn of phrase,
Normally I hate to give such a bad review, but this was such a torture to read that I wouldn't like anone else to waste either their time or their money on it.

This one was a whole lotta fun! Highly recommended for fans of Bella Mackie and anyone who likes their crime with a slice of humour, a unique voice and a strong sense of tone. The cover is also one of my favourites this year, so well done to the designer.

Serial Killers Guide To Marriage - Asia Mackay
⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I had found my Mr Right to help me take out all those Mr Wrongs.”

A Serial Killers Guide To Marriage follows married couple and new parents Hazel and Fox. They’re an ordinary family, except they used to be serial killers. When Hazel feels the urge to kill again and the police get involved, she has to go to extreme lengths to protect her family. This could save their marriage - unless it kills them first.

A Serial Killers Guide To Marriage is told from both Hazel and Fox’s point of view over a dual timeline, across 5 different parts. First of all I want to say how much I love the lime green cover - this immediately attracted my attention and was a fun graphic to match the title. This book was full of dark humour, vigilante-style killings and a strong female main character full of feminine rage and power.

If I am completely honest, it took me a while to get into the book, to the point where I didn’t care much for the recurrent musings about the state of Hazel and Fox’s marriage. However this did pick up towards the ending when their old habits come back into play, and the twist at the ending both shocked and thrilled me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Asia Mackay and Headline for sending this advanced copy of A Serial Killers Guide To Marriage in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is brilliant. I loved it from beginning to end and every sentence in between. Honestly, it is clever, witty and well…brilliant. I hope there is a book two whether it is this series or not I will be reading it.

"Till death us do part."

Fox and Haze a married couple with a baby and ex-serial killers. They had it all lavish holidays five-star restaurants unlimited funds an enviable London lifestyle. When Hazel became pregnant they gave up their side job of ridding the world of bad men making a promise to each other that they wouldn't kill again for the sake of their daughter.

But that itch to kill just never goes away and Hazel finds herself breaking the pact she made to her husband her Fox.

Bring on our new power couple Fox and Haze our newest serial killers in the world of fun thrillers. It did dip in parts but it quickly picked back up with lots of twists and humour a proper page-turner.

It touches on the trials and tribulations of motherhood and I could see myself in Hazel. It's a hard slog and sometimes you lose things like your sense of self, and friends then things you used to do are put on hold for your children.

With vibes of Love and Joe and Mr and Mrs Smith, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good twisty fun thriller.

DNF at 35%

I tried to enjoy this, but I just wasn't reaching for her as it was too slow..some people are going to love this book, it just wasn't for me.

This is the story of Fox and Haze (Hazel) a serial killer pair who only stopped killing when they had a child. Unfortunately Haze is getting itchy to kill again, the bloodlust is high. I found the book was a complete mishmash, part thriller and part comedy. The killing part was often gruesome although seemingly justified but the whole book was peppered with humour and even some laugh out loud moments.

We follow both Fox and Haze through their day to day lives and bringing up their baby Bibi. The story is told generally one chapter each for Fox and Haze and we get to see their day to day lives of retired serial killers.

Although it got a little far fetched for me towards the end, it really was a good and amusing read