How to Slay is fun, fierce and absolutely fabulous! It's the first book I've read from Bonner and definitely isn't going to be my last.

It's not every day you find out your boss is a serial killer is it?

The characters are brilliant, well developed and at times their narratives were very hard to believe, could I rely on them to be truthful?

The plots flows at a moderate pace, it's dark, twisty and became my new obsession for several hours.

A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read, enriched with female empowerment.

Freya is the stereotypical evil female boss - she’s cold, rigid, and unfeeling. But Millie thinks her boss may be more than that. She thinks Freya might be a serial killer!

As the body count grows higher, and as Millie believes she’s uncovered more evidence, she’s left wondering what to do. Does she turn her boss in knowing she’d never get that promotion? Does she ignore it? Or does she fear for her life?

This was a very engaging read and I didn’t want to put it down so I could see what happened next! The book is out now so I certainly recommend checking it out!

I so tried to get into this story but it just didn't hold my attention. I'm sure it's a wondeful novel but just not for me.

📚 PUBLICATION MONTH BOOK REVIEW 📚

How To Slay At Work By Sarah Bonner
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

What a fun and enjoyable read this was! How To Slay At Work had lots of unexpected twists that amped up the plotline of the story in the second half of the book and I absolutely loved the cat-and-mouse storyline that was featured throughout.

The book was divided into several sections, with each section telling the story from one character's perspective. The multiple POVs weren't alternated from chapter to chapter, but characters were given longer sections of the book that contained multiple chapters. I loved this writing style, as it helped me to settle in to reach POV and feel like I really got to know each of the characters with greater depth.

I did, however, think the middle portion of the book dragged and got a little slow, but once the twistier cat-and-mouse storyline started -- there was no stopping the twists and turns that kept coming my way. In my opinion, these twists saved the storyline and really kept me captivated as secrets were revealed and the big picture finally became known. What happened certainly was not predictable (at least not to me!) and it was a fantastic adventure until everything came together at the end!

Overall, I'd say this is a popcorn thriller with a kinda cozy mystery vibe to it. If The Devil Wears Prada, Killing Eve, First Lie Wins, and How To Kill Men and Get Away With It - all got together and had a baby, it would be How To Slay At Work. This book is perfect for anyone who likes fun revenge thrillers, multiple POVs, and strong female main characters. I definitely recommend it! A huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for gifting me an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

#HowToSlayAtWork #SarahBonner #BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbookclub #boldwoodbookVIP #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs

I would describe this as a darkly funny and twisted thriller. It will hook you from the beginning! While reading, I thought this would never happen in real life, but what if? I was hooked until the last page.
The writing is sharp and very engaging, which I like in a fast paced read.
The characters were well developed and I enjoyed Millie and Freya.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sam has gone missing and Millie is now working closely with their boss Freya but when she receives a mysterious message asking her to connect the dots she needs to dig deeper.
Soon she realises her boss isn't just a bitch, she's a murderer.

This novel intrigued me with the mystery of Sam, worrying for Millie and wondering where and how the next murder will take place.

This narrative didn't just have a double cross but a triple cross to keep the reader on their toes; this had me guessing who to trust.
This story is told through three points of view giving us every angle, which is fast-paced and a great escapism.

How To Slay At Work by Sarah Bonner millie works for make up company Serendipity and until recently she worked under Sam and their boss Freya. When she shows up at work however and Sam isn’t there she has no time to process it because Freya says they’re going on a business trip to France. It seems as if Millie has gotten a promotion she quickly runs home packs a bag gets her passport and leaves a note for her roommate Alyssa. Everything seems normal until they check into their hotel in Millie sees Freya behind the hotel dressed in black. Millie thinks she’s up to no good but doesn’t know what. She is on the phone with Alyssa who she grew up in an orphanage with and is closer to her then anyone else in the world, this is why when she sees Freya returning to the hotel she gives Alyssa a blow by blow account but really is finding it hard to find the words. This is just the beginning of the strange events because Millie starts receiving anonymous disappearing notes on WhatsApp that lead her to believe Freya is a serial killer. It is only when freya confirms it that things get out of control. There was a lot in this book which made it hard to give a good summary and there’s lots of twists and turns and not just at the end of the book but a trail throughout the novel. I do want to say I was so disappointed with Lucas because I really believed what he wanted Millie to believe I was totally astounded with that whole twist. I wish there was a chat group so I could discuss this book because I have many thoughts and questions but it was so good and although it was long I thought it was well put together well written and would love to read another mystery with Milly Alyssa and Sam is the amateur sleuths. I know that’s not going to happen just putting it out there. #NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #SarahBonner, #HowToSlayAtWork,

Millie Brooks works as a Bid Analyst for cosmetic company Serendipity’s Sales Director Freya Ellwood-Winter but right at the start of her story she finds herself also taking on the role of Bid Manager when the job’s previous incumbent, Sam, leaves suddenly. Freya has to be just the most demanding and demeaning boss ever and very soon Millie finds herself on a business trip in Paris with Freya, but is astonished when she sees the woman scaling the back wall of the hotel like a spiderman. She later hears that a man has committed suicide in a locked room in the hotel whilst Freya has been missing, and when she gets a mysterious anonymous message hinting that Freya is now responsible for two deaths, Millie’s mind starts working overtime. Back home in London, another message tells her there are at least five victims. Sharing this with her flatmate Lissa, the obvious answer is that Sam is pushing her to investigate but Sam has disappeared leaving behind a web of lies. Together with help from Lissa and her friend Kieran from HR, can she prove her ice queen boss is a serial killer? Just as I’m wondering what will happen, the second of five parts is narrated by Freya. The reader starts to learn about her motivation and, indeed, justification for the killings. As the story unfolds told by both Millie and Freya, the pair begin a complicated game of cat and mouse, each suspecting what the other knows about the situation but both wondering how much danger they face. So, what will happen when they realise they’re not so dissimilar?
This is a very well told story that draws in the reader beautifully. My initial sympathy was for Millie but I soon began to empathise with Freya and have a certain amount of respect for the woman. There’s a brilliant line from her - "Maybe if we all went and snuffed out some lousy little man we’d all feel so much better. We could treat it like therapy." which I adored! What begins as one kind of tale soon morphs into something bigger and infinitely more interesting, and I can honestly say I was truly gripped through the many twists and turns right up to an ending you won’t see coming! It’s dark, it’s humorous and I loved it!

It started off well, with a good premise and I found the first half quite fun - however the latter part of the book just didn't hit the mark for me. And by the end it just all got a bit silly and felt rushed.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc ebook.

How To Slay At Work
Sarah Bonner

“Camilla. You should never start a game you aren’t prepared to play to the end.”

My early thoughts when reading this was it’s like if The Devil Wears Prada, character Miranda Priestly was also a serial killer.

‘My boss might be a killer and I’m powerless to do anything about it.’

The start was setting us up, worst boss, shady coincidental undertones but then the background story comes out and the plot detonates and kicks up a gear. I appreciated the underhanded maneuverers and the chess pieces falling as you need them too. As it unfolds you definitely know the shoe will drop for one of them, but you’re not sure which one.

‘Kai should count his blessings as this death will be quick and quiet and not cause any more ripples. The others can be splashier. More Avant Garde.’

When your boss is at a conference in a city where there’s a suspicious death, it’s unlucky. If it happens twice, it’s odd. Then again, is this a coincidence or a pattern? Could she be a stone cold killer? Everyone knows Freya is a psycho to work for, overly demanding, rude and obnoxious, cryptic instructions and nothing is ever good enough. But being her assistant, gives Millie privileged access to her diary, travel history and expenses. And a way to figure out exactly what Freya is up to.

‘Would you risk it? Ten years for manslaughter in a UK prison, out in five years for good behaviour, is one thing. Fifty years in a Thai hellhole where no one knows your name is quite different.’

I really enjoyed Bonner’s older book, Her Perfect Twin. And I did enjoy the twists in this one.

‘Fate intervened this time. But she is still a killer.’

How To Slay At Work is out today, September 26th!

‘I do not like to play nice with the men I will kill.’

Thank you to @theboldbookclub!

(Review posted 26th September 2024)

3.75 stars: She's a boss bitch and an icon. But, is she a serial killer?

Sarah Bonner’s How to Slay at Work is a wickedly entertaining tale of ambition, manipulation, and murder colliding in a corporate world dominated by the ultimate boss from hell. This fast-paced thriller offers a witty yet cutting take on the assistant-boss dynamic while weaving a murder mystery that invites readers to pick up the breadcrumbs.

It is a clever, unexpected thriller that fuses corporate satire with a murder mystery in an unpredictable, wildly entertaining package. Bonner’s sharp wit and fast pacing keep the story engrossing, and her ability to blend dark humour with genuine surprise makes this a quick but memorable read.

This book is ideal for those who enjoy stories that delve into the darker side of ambition and power while still delivering comedic moments. Fans of outrageous, witty thrillers will be hooked from page one - whether drawn to the comedy, the murder mystery, or the unnervingly familiar world of workplace politics.

A minor critique: Freya’s exaggerated persona leans heavily into the familiar “boss-from-hell” trope, which, while entertaining and fitting the book’s comedic tone, occasionally undermines the tension, making it harder to fear for the other characters. Similarly, Millie’s passivity can be frustrating at times, but her transformation from overwhelmed assistant to active investigator in the second half adds depth and delivers a satisfying sense of empowerment.

Ultimately, How to Slay at Work is a deliciously devious tale in which ambition, manipulation, and murder collide in the most entertaining way.

Recommended for fans of:
- Fans of Katy Brent (How to Kill Men and Get Away With It) and Bella Mackie (How to Kill Your Family).
- TV shows such as Killing Eve.
- A cheeky, funny narrative that breaks the fourth wall.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this book tour and Boldwood Books for allowing me access to the book via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers #HowToSlayAtWork #BlogTour #SarahBonner

Favorite Quotes:

This will be dressed as an opportunity and I’ll take it, make some sycophantic noises about how I relish the challenge and then bitch about it to Lissa later. Welcome to office life in the twenty-first century.

Lissa has this whole fantasy about meeting an attractive stranger and having a night of unbridled passion leading to an illicit affair. Unfortunately, this results in a monthly incident where she will end up doing the walk of shame, or knocking on my door to ask for help in the removal of said attractive stranger, who never ends up looking quite as alluring in the cold light of day.

Lawrence Delaney was voted ‘Most Likely To Succeed’ by his high school. But no one ever said what it was they thought he might succeed at.

‘Now here’s what I believe. Your husband is a dinosaur and eventually his kind will go extinct.’ I assumed she’s a creationist who thought God created the fossils to test his followers’ conviction.

I am completely over it. If I say it often enough, perhaps it will be true.


My Review:

This deftly penned tale was a fun, lively, and deliciously amusing ride with multiple jaw-dropping plot twists and clever unexpected shifts and reversals. Sarah Bonner has mad word skills and must have a direct bulk supply of pixie dust for her ink pen.

This nimbly written and well-nuanced missive shifted from warped vengeance to fierce revenge, on to cruel bloodlust, and back again. No one was as they initially appeared and each had their own, tightly held, secret agendas.

I fell upon this one like a binge dieter at a buffet and loved every nibble. Sarah Bonner has a new acolyte.

Millie believes her boss is a serial killer. The story started off very entertaining and I was immediately pulled in to the story. I loved the premise.

About mid way the story took an implausible turn. I found the second half of the book to be less interesting. It felt like it dragged at times even though there were several twists. Also, I’m not sure what I missed but I definitely wouldn't describe this book as funny or fun as the blurb suggested and many other reviewers indicated. It does tackle some heavy topics.

I feel like this book had great potential but for me it fell a bit flat in places. However, if you are a fan of cosy mysteries I think one is worth checking out.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book review 📚
How To Slay at Work by Sarah Bonner
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Millie is the FMC of this story and she experiences such a turn of events when she’s randomly thrown into a promotion after someone quitting. But this promotion is anything but good! Her boos, Freya, is an absolute nightmare. Think ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, that is exactly what poor Millie is experiencing.

But that’s not the main plot to this story. No no, when her boss starts some …. extracurricular (?) activities, Millie starts to question what Freya is up to. You get to experience through multiple POVs which just makes it so much more interesting.

I absolutely loved this book, it wasn’t a full in thriller but there are certain moments of “what the heck” happening throughout. Its defiantly a cosy read during the autumn months.

DNF @ 30%

Just not as interesting as I hoped it would be. I think I’m not the audience because I couldn’t connect to the main character and found her irritating in a way that just made me feel like I was too old for this book. Very interesting premise though, I felt it had a lot of potential

Millie works for a high profile make-up company and when a colleague leaves suddenly she finds herself promoted to PA to her boss Freya. Unfortunately her boss is also a conplete cow and her promotion means more work rather than more money!

If things couldn't get any worse, whilst on a business trip abroad, she discovers that her boss is also a serial killer and she has inadvertently become an accessory to murder!

This is a humorous thriller which reminds me a little of Killing Eve. Fun to read with lots of twists in the plot to keep you guessing!

Thank You to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of How to Slay at Work, in exchange for an honest review.

"In 'How to Slay at Work' by Sarah Bonner, the MMC Millie stumbles upon a disturbing coincidence involving her demanding/nightmarish boss and a string of male murders in the cities she has worked in. The story takes unexpected turns, and will keep you engaged with its twists and dark humor. The author skillfully put together surprises throughout the narrative, leading to a wild ending that will leave you astonished.

The book is filled with unlikable and untrustworthy characters, but it's not a story that condemns all men. Instead, it presents a thrilling and wildly entertaining read that will keep you hooked until the final page."

If you like dry humor and suspense, you will love this book.

This book has Devil Wears Prada vibes with a twist of murder.

Freya is the mean boss to Millie who works at Serendipity Cosmetics. One day Millie's colleague Sam mysteriously quits leaving Millie promoted into her role. This new job means Millie now travels abroad for multiple business trips with Freya. On one of these trips Millie becomes suspicious of what Freya is doing at night after seeing her dressed all in black down a back alley of the hotel. Millie is especially suspicious when she hears the next day that a body has been found. From here Millie starts investigating to find out the truth.

During another of these trips there is a turn of events which leads to both women confiding in the other and looking to help each other with their problems.

Can they both find a way to settle old scores or will only one of them succeed?

This is a fun, fast read that keeps you guessing throughout. I raced through this reading it in a day and would recommend to fans of dark thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance copy.

How to Slay at Work by Sarah Bonner is one of the most delicious anti-hero mysteries I have read and so much fun! We have all had that b!tch boss, but what if your boss was potentially a serial k!ller?

Millie has one such boss, Freya, and she has no option but to stay in this job if she wants to get ahead. However, there is a slight problem. Whenever there is an unaliving, Freya seems to be not too far away...

I was howling with this book. A great mystery with whorls of intrigue and a whole lot of corporate snippiness and snark. Absolutely loved it and oh so glad I got out of that life!

Absolutely 5 stars of fun!

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Sarah Bonner for this awesome ARC! My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This book was nice to read, i love thrillers. But unfortunately for me it was pretty predictable. There were barely any plot twists when there could have been a few. The only thing i didn't saw coming was that it was her and not the guys and that she killed more. But even that last one was a hinge. Besides it being predictable i still enjoyed reading it. The story was still very nice. Love how we got multiple POV's, always like that. I liked the characters, mostly Millie and Lissa. Kieran had his moments in the beginning. And Freya is just an awful person with issues.