I really enjoyed this story. A very humourous take on marriage and how lies can be the undoing of a relationship with a fantastic twist at the end. Loved it and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a lighthearted crime read.

This was a fairly easy read - I like the trope of women who kill bad men so a couple that kill bad men was always going to be up my street. It did begin to drag a bit around 60% in but the ending was fun and quite fast paced. A fun read. Thanks for the ARC.

When you meet the one, who understands you, gets you and you kill together. Only those who deserve it though.
Then you get pregnant and life changes. A new life in the suburbs, doting mother and yummy mummy life. What's not to like? Except your bored. How do you find the spark again?
Both facing different challenges to fit in. Can your marriage survive? Challenges you don't expect even befriending a police officer on maternity leave.
Enjoy I did

A good solid read with some comedic elements and dark themes. Haze and Fox are married serial killers. Their targets are "bad men" sex traffickers, paedophiles and rapists. Together they have travelled throughout Europe killing their subjects. All this comes to an end when they marry and have baby Bibi. Fox wants to protect his family and settle into nice suburban Berkshire. Encouraged by her husband to make friends Haze is forced to attend mother and toddler music sessions. It is here she meets the needy Jenny whose son Felix gets on with Bibi. Things take a turn when Haze finds out that her new best friend's job could put her family into jeopardy. In her quest to solve her problems she creates more. Meanwhile Fox is behind her cleaning up her mess.
The plot shifts between the couple and we are given an insight into Hazel's childhood of abusive foster homes, until she manages to get to Art college, here she excels and makes a friend albeit a depressive one called Matty. Fox on the other hand comes from a privileged background in America. HIs early taste for murder is covered up by his family's wealth, but when he makes no show of stopping they send him to Europe.
There are several subplots involving Fox’s parents and brother who is attempting to takeover the family pharmaceutical business. His parents set spies on him to ensure he votes for them. There is also Bill, Jenny’s abusive ex-partner who hates women and refuses to pay for his child.
MacKay is a strong writer, who manages to create atmosphere and tension as well as pace. I read this in two sittings. As it progresses we are firmly on the side of Fox and Haze. Some people deserve to be punished. For me it reminded me of Mr and Mrs Smith; It would make an excellent screen play. I really enjoyed this.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay is an intriguing amalgamation of dark humor, suspense, and an exploration of marital dynamics that offers a refreshing take on the thriller genre. The story follows the life of a protagonist juggling the dual roles of a loving spouse and a cunning serial killer, providing readers with an intense yet witty narrative. Mackay crafts her characters with depth and complexity, making the morally ambiguous lead both believable and compelling. With sharp writing and a clever plot, this novel keeps readers on edge with its unpredictable twists while humorously underscoring the intricacies of married life. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with a dash of satirical humor.

The story has been literally discussed to death elsewhere so I won’t provide any more spoilers

I found this book to be fascinating, funny and thought provoking as it gave a totally different slant on the problems of marriage and keeping a relationship fresh and interesting as the years go by

A totally original story and an excellent read

I really like the way this book is written. I was hooked right from the start. I did think that the ending was a little far-fetched though so only giving it four stars.

4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Lovedddd this! Read it within 24 hours and honestly couldn’t put it down.
It made me think of Mr & Mrs Smith throughout.

Such a unique and engaging read.

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.