A fun read!

I really enjoyed the writing and plot especially the start of the book, it got me gripped. The ending was a slight let down as it just a bit too unrealistic but still enjoyed the book overall and would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my advance ecopy in exchange for a review. This was a fun and exciting read. We follow Haze and Fox as they give up hunting of bad men in order to concentrate on their daughter Bibi and settle in to boring married life. Although that doesnt exactly go to plan as bad men seem to follow Haze everywhere. When she becomes friends with a mum and realises she is actually a detective she tries even harder to behave. I liked the writing and flow of this book and was a very easy read. I will be recommending to other

I enjoyed the way this book started, and it was lovely to read Hazel's back story with Matt, however, the more I read, I felt like the book dragged on quite a bit. I couldn't get myself to like any of the characters. Jenny's background showed some promise, of an interesting story, but unfortunately, that also did not pan out how I thought it would and everything wrapped up way too neatly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The writing was exceptionally clear and engaging, and I was particularly impressed by the author's skillful portrayal of the dark and complex world of serial killers as they struggle to suppress their homicidal urges.

A solid 4 star, fun and entertaining read.
A dark comedy with plot twists and quirky characters makes this a must read for those who love rom coms, thrillers and dabble in darker genres.

This was quirky and funny, dealt with some tougher subjects, and was an absolute delight to read! This was also really quite different from anything else i've read before, but i was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed everything that was happening.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks that kept occurring. I feel like it provided a really interesting insight into both Hazel and Fox's dynamic and relationship in the past. It really helped make their current relationship that much more believable, and i think it added a lot of much needed structure to the overall story.
I also really enjoyed that this was dual POV. However, It was a little repetitive at times, and sometimes felt jarring to switch between the two characters. I am glad though that the story was told this way instead of just focusing on one of the characters and the narrative that they had to tell.

I do feel like out of the two Hazel was the most well thought out. Her reasoning and morals really aliened with her character, and just seemed so much more believable than Fox's.

I thought the ending was a lot of fun, especially if you disregard what would likely happen in real life. Very enjoyable and refreshing!!

I quite liked this - it was quirky and fun as well as being well written. Will keep my eyes open for more by this author.

A fun and different read for me! I definitely enjoyed myself, even though the beginning felt quite slow. After Haze's first "mishap", things definitely picked up!

Haze and Fox's dynamic was extremely interesting to read about, and I appreciated the flashbacks to the past, and how they showed how the characters developed over time.

I definitely saw the Jenny reveal from a mile away, so would've appreciated a more shocking plotwist, but I liked that Fox's intentions were never 100% clear and you only found out most of his secrets as Haze did.

The ending was definitely a let down, unfortunately. Felt too unrealistic, even for a book about a serial killer marriage, and I found myself hoping for a final plotwist to happen.

The writing was engaging, and the two POVs felt distinctive, although Haze's felt a bit repetitive at times.

Overall it was a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this! It was an amazing premise and really unique. I really liked both the characters backgrounds but I much preferred Hazel’s and her reasoning for killing bad men.

I really liked the writing style, it was surprisingly funny and witty and I highlighted lots of funny quotes. It moved at a pretty good pace, although the middle of the book was a bit slower than the start and end.

I liked Hazel and the policewoman (I’ve forgotten her name 😬) friendship it was really nice to see it decelop over the book. She was really the only side character but I thought this worked well given their lifestyle and secrets.

Absolutely loved the ending! Sure this book is one where you definitely have to suspend belief and how real life would be but it was very fun and interesting and I’d definitely recommend.

**A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage** by Asia Mackay is a darkly humorous and thrilling novel that cleverly blends domestic life with a sharp, murderous twist. Mackay crafts a unique narrative centered around a protagonist juggling the everyday challenges of marriage with a secret life as a killer, creating a story filled with tension, wit, and unexpected twists. The novel explores the complexities of relationships, trust, and the fine line between love and danger, all while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. With its blend of humor, suspense, and dark intrigue, **A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage** is a refreshingly original and entertaining read, perfect for fans of unconventional thrillers with a dash of wit.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is a thrilling concoction of humour, suspense, and unorthodox romance that will leave you both laughing and gasping.

Meet Hazel and Fox: the quintessential suburban couple living the dream life, complete with a baby and a house in the ‘burbs. But hold onto your tea because this isn't your average domestic bliss—our leading duo has a colourful past as ex-serial killers!

Mackay expertly weaves a narrative that juxtaposes the mundanity of parenting with the adrenaline of their former lives, creating a rich tapestry of dark comedy. As Hazel battles her craving for old habits, the stakes soar higher when a sudden murder threatens to unravel her perfectly curated suburban façade.

Mackay's gift for witty dialogue and relatable characters makes every page a delightful ride—one minute, you're chuckling at a quirky dinner party, and the next, you’re off on a suspenseful chase that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This brilliantly original tale dances between love and chaos, proving that sometimes, a little murder is just what a marriage needs. It is a must-read for those intrigued by the complexity of relationships and the unexpected twists life can take—especially when “I do” includes a few “I did.” Grab your copy and prepare for a wild ride!

Two people meet up in Paris and find they have a lot in common, killing.She is called Haze and has been brought up through the social care system in the UK, he is Fox , real name Nathaniel who has been brought up in America with rich parents and a trust fund to keep him . He is more methodical and careful in his approach to the killings, where she is more haphazard. After they get together they work out that by living the high life , travelling all over Europe ,and targeting victims who deserve it (men who have abused women)they will not be discovered.
They have a baby Bibi and vow to give up killing Haze is a successful artist but after the suicide of her gay best friend ,Matty loses inspiration.Trying to act normally she makes friends with another mum Jenny ,who turns out to be a Detective who whilst on maternity leave has been looking into various murders , including those of the Backpack Butcher ,which is the name given to the supposed killer of their victims, is she getting close to the truth and can Haze put her off the scent by distracting her?Much more to this story but don,t want to ruin it for the reader by giving spoilers away.

Haze and Fox were living their idea of a perfect life. They had a fancy flat in Kensington, an endless supply of money , and regularly travelled across Europe for extravagant holidays. Where they also committed murders, of course.

This all came to an end three years when they had Bibi, because their daughter is their priority. But Hazel especially is getting the itch. The stay at home mum life has been getting to her, and her artistic talent, once fuelled by her kills, just isn’t there anymore.

When one of them breaks their promise to kill no more, the couple’s peaceful life in suburbia is at risk.

I didn’t expect to find myself rotting for a couple of serial killers, but Asia Mackay made it so easy. Haze and Fox are such captivating characters, and all I wanted was for them to be able to live happily ever after, even if that meant committing murders. I enjoyed the dual POVs and the insights into their past, this really built upon their motivations and made me even more invested in their characters. I especially looked forward to Hazel’s chapters.

Things started to feel a bit flat at the halfway mark, but I’m glad I powered through as the final few chapters were brilliant!

I really loved this book. Loved going through everyday life with fox and haze. Learning the secret they keep from everyone who knows them. It’s a great paced book and keeps me wanting to read until I finished.

Fox and Haze are living the dream rich, beautiful and in love. They party, travel and ....kill together.
But then Haze falls pregnant which naturally puts a stop to the parties and the travel and worst of all the murder.
Will their marriage survive suburban boredom? Can f=Fox avoid the cliche work affair? Can Haze find other ways to satisfy her blood lust?
These two might just be my favourite serial killers - which is a sentence that I probably use more than I care to admit.
I really hope there are plans for a sequel!

I really enjoyed this romp through the minds and marriage of two in-love serial killers. The middle section had me wanting to scream at Haze and Fox to "just bloody communicate" which was really frustrating but totally the point! Overall a fun plot with eeal messages around violence against women at the hands of men and how big of an issue that is. Long live the vigilante trio!

Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing, they're ex-serial killers. They both made a truce that once they had the baby that the killing would stop. But can they? Thought this was a great read with a twist I never saw coming at the end!

Serial killers are so fashionable we can now find them everywhere - even in domestic thrillers!
It took a bit of time for this to get going, the female character spends a LOT of time complaining and it gets a bit repetitive, but once we move into the present rather than focussing on the couple's past, it becomes a bit more fun.
The exploits of the pair as they try to navigate their marriage whilst covering up various secrets and crimes is great, easy to read and quite pacy. And I enjoyed the ending a lot.
Some good insights into marriage and parenthood, with a fun sideline of murder and vigilantism!

As we all know, if there’s a book that gains commercial success, suddenly a stream of authors try to capture the same spark and write their own take on it, hoping for the same success. I found this to be the case with Sweetpea, which I read in 2017. In the seven years since, I’ve read a few books heavily inspired by C.J.Skuse’s work, but nothing really hitting the mark the way she did. Asia Mackay is the next author stepping up to try.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage follows ex-serial killers come married couple, Hazel and Fox, who have given up their murderous past to settle into married life complete with baby Bibi. But Hazel is struggling to keep that killer instinct buried, and ends up committing murder behind Fox’s back. But without his help, has she managed to cover her tracks, or will she lose her life as well as her family?

Out of all of the Sweetpea ‘inspired’ novels, this has been the one I’ve enjoyed the most, however, it still doesn’t quite live up to it.
I thought it started really well and it did grab me initially, however, it stalled a little in the middle and then started to drag. The ending did pick back up, but it needed more in the middle to keep interest.

I enjoyed the dual narrative as it gave insight in to both Hazel and Fox, and their individual opinions on their marriage and the situations they find themselves in. I thought the flashbacks were used well to give the readers a better insight into their relationship and history of killing, which did round out the characters more.
However, for me, there was just too much Hazel and not enough Fox. I think because of this, she started to become a little bit annoying, so I started to switch off. I also wasn’t keen on the description of her artwork, but I think that’s just a personal thing and they were few and far between anyway.

There’s a lot of attention given to motherhood and babies in the book, which won’t be to everyone’s tastes as it started to steal focus. There was also the overuse of the phrase” bad man/men”. I understand that they only kill ‘bad’ men, but there was something juvenile and almost downplaying, calling them bad, as if they’ve just been a little bit naughty. Could a stronger adjective not have been used?

Overall, it was a fun novel with a lot of potential, but just didn’t quite live up to what it could have been.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage adds something a little different to the genre - what it you’ve found the perfect man and after years of killing together, he makes you go cold turkey for the benefit of your daughter?
It’s an enjoyable, easy read. Dual narratives provide a 360 view on the marriage, but I found one narrative much more entertaining than the other. The chapters are short and sweet which I enjoyed. There’s quite a bit of the plot which requires the reader to suspend belief, but if you can let that wash over you, it’s definitely worth a read for those who are fans of serial killer fiction.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for tgd chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.