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.

Thank you NetGalley and Asia Mackay for the ARC of this book! I'd give 4.5 stars.

This book tells the story of Haze and Fox, married serial killers that have retired after having their daughter.

What I liked about this book was that, while the couple being serial killers was a big part of the story, it wasn't the only part. The described the monotony of everyday marriage (and the boredom that can come with it) very well. It also gave us good background of the two main characters, and how their lives have brought them to the current time. I felt this added a lot more colour to the story.

I'd only deduct half a start for the ending: while it was a good ending, I think it needed just that little bit more of a lead-up to properly click (can't say more without giving away the ending!)

All-in-all, a very enjoyable read! #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #NetGalley

A serial killer's Guide to Marriage
Asia McKay

This was good and managed to be both very superficial, light-hearted fun and also quite gripping in parts.
I found it easier to suspend disbelief over the frothy bits than I did the contrived coi cadences of the more serious part.
I'd have liked more fun and a bit less gore

I enjoyed the start of this book and got into it quite quickly. I enjoyed the characters (particularly Jenny) but I did find that I started to get bored around 35%. I pushed on and I did start enjoying it again around 80% of the way through. The ending was good and the twists brought the story together. I just found nothing much was really happening in the middle of the story.

I found a lot of the mum discussion very relatable!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for a copy of this arc.

This book is fantastic, the minute I read the synopsis for this one, I had a feeling I was going to love it - and I did. The Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage is going to be THE book you want to read for 2025, I’m not even kidding.

Haze and Fox are two of the most fantastic characters I have ever read - they are two serial killers who meet and get married and carry on killing … until they have Bibi. They decide to pack away their serial killing tools forever, which turns out to be a lot trickier than either anticipated and the result is wild.

I loved this. Never again will I be able to read about a marriage falling apart because of oh, dirty dishes or mucky clothes, no no no it must be serial killer related. Asia Mackay has ruined me for all books about marriages and I now have rather wild ideas of a new hobby for Graham and I! …I’m just kidding, aren’t I? 😉

This was so good. SO GOOD. I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book because I’m just brimming with the joy of it - which is weird because you know we do see a lot of issues Haze and Fox face and we do see their marriage start to struggle but the book was so unashamed about what it was that I loved it.

I will be pre-ordering a keeper copy for my shelf as this was outstanding. Bravo Asia, bravo!

DNF. I put this book down almost immediately when the writer chose to impart a graphic, tragic assault on the main character in an attempt to give her a back story. I do that with pretty much any thriller I pick up that goes down this route these days. However. I also put this book down because I've read it before. Not this specific book, but one very much like it. If you've read 'How To Kill Your Family' or Samantha Downing's 'My Lovely Husband', you will have read this book before. You'll have read the sarcastic, 'I'm not like other girls / mothers / wives' lead female who likes killing people and has a deep superiority complex that is never once earned within the action of the book. There's nothing particularly new or revolutionary about it, it's been done. If this genre is your jam, go for it, you will probably have a great time. But it's just not for me.

In A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, Asia Mackay delivers a darkly humorous and gripping tale that explores the unconventional lives of Hazel and Fox, a seemingly ordinary couple who share a not-so-ordinary past: they are ex-serial killers.

Once enjoying a glamorous London lifestyle filled with five-star travels and the thrill of disposing of bad men, their world turns upside down when Hazel becomes pregnant. They trade their high-stakes lifestyle for the suburban life, complete with dinner parties and nursery duties. However, the lure of their former lives begins to resurface for Hazel, igniting a dangerous itch she can't ignore.

When Hazel kills someone behind Fox's back, their carefully constructed life begins to unravel, and the police are soon at their doorstep. In a desperate bid to protect her family, Hazel must navigate the complexities of her past and present, leading to a tension-filled narrative that poses the question: can this act of violence save their marriage, or will it lead to their ultimate downfall?

Mackay's use of a dual timeline adds an engaging layer to the story, drawing readers in from the very first prologue. The characters may be few, but they are well-crafted and memorable, with Hazel and Fox at the centre of a tale that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. I found myself particularly fond of Jenny, whose presence added a unique dynamic to the narrative.

Overall, A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is a compelling blend of dark comedy and suspense, making it a captivating read that keeps you hooked until the very last page.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel, I was taken with the synopsis but wasn't really expecting to find it as lighthearted as I did. Normally the books I read about murder are detective series or psychological thrillers so it was very enlightening to read about Haze and Fox's history.
A couple who met in Europe as Haze made her first killing and quickly became the couple who loved most after taking a life. Marriage and family life takes centre stage but Haze is bored of surburban life and yearns for the excitement. Can they recreate those heady days or are they set for separation.
A fabulous fairly fast paced read.

This is proper funny and engaging. I really liked the main characters, Fox and Haze, and our supporting female Jenny. (She was actually my favourite. Althoiugh she might have to share that crown with the nanny....)
I do like a book which introduces us to vigilanties / serial killers who kill very bad men. I have had a bit of a run on them lately and it is cheering me up at a time when I am very worried about a very bad man potentially getting reelected to the most powerful job in thew world. (Now there is an idea for a book...)
With sensitive moments and some good dark humour, this is a gripping tale that you won'rt have to take too seriously. I wasn't sure how it would finish - but the ending was perfect and pushed the book up from a 4.5 to a 5 star review from me. I am so pleased I got to read and review it.

Haze and Fox are a the perfect couple with it all, money, good jobs, nice house, lavish lifestyle and are totally in love with each other. Oh and one more thing, they are both serial killers who love nothing more then killing bad guys. However, when they have baby Bibi they give it all up for a perfect family life in the country. Can they live happily ever after without killing or will they kill their marriage and family? Really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and written from both the perspective of both characters. Found them both relatable and could get behind them. Fantastic twist at the end. Would recommend this book.
Thanks to Asia Mackay, Wildfire and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was intrigued by the title of this book and wasn’t sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it. It was well written, nicely paced and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed the story immensely. I would love there to be a sequel to this book. Five stars from me.

A brilliant story which was such a journey. This was fun as well as being serious! Thoroughly enjoyed every moment and then the twist at the end....

This book felt as though it could deliver so much more than it did. It seemed as though it wasn't quite sure where it wanted to sit, a bored mother whinge/killing eve/mr & mrs smith/how to kill your family mash up but this leaves it feeling in my mind as though it doesn't achieve any of these as successfully as the story line promises. That said as an easy going holiday read it will entertain many people.