I don’t think I need to convince you that this cover is awesome as is the premise of this book. Two married serial killers retiring from their chosen vocation and assuming a ‘regular’ life. What could possibly go wrong?

Hazel and Fox live a normal life with their young daughter Bibi and as far as anyone knows, they’re just a regular, middle class couple living in a Berkshire suburb. But Hazel finds it all terribly dull and she misses the excitement that life as a vigilante killer brought. Fox loves planning everything to the last detail and therefore adores fatherhood. He’s happy to have left his killing days behind but when police show up at the door, it becomes apparent that Hazel has some explaining to do.

Both Hazel and Fox come from toxic backgrounds. Hazel’s childhood was full of abandonment and loneliness while Fox’s family are horrendously controlling and overbearing. I really appreciated this depiction of different types of childhood abuse, as too often, that’s reduced to absent or physically violent parents. Exerting control and manipulation over kids is perhaps a much more common form of parental abuse and it has similar effects on the victims as they grow up.

Hazel is obsessed with Bibi and it was so lovely to see her enjoying motherhood. There were times where it seemed that Bibi was a barrier to Hazel doing what she loves but she never explicitly says that, so perhaps actually, being Bibi’s mum is what her heart desires. She’d just like to kill the odd bad man too!

Fox is totally obsessed with his wife and it hurts him that he can tell she isn’t satisfied with the life that they’ve built. I knew that killer instinct was still alive in him though and I also knew that he’d stand by Hazel no matter what she got herself into. There was a point in the narrative where I wasn’t sure what Fox was up to and I was trying to figure it out alongside Hazel. When it was finally revealed, I was a bit confused as I’m quite sure there were no hints that pointed towards it. Usually when an answer is unveiled in a thriller or domestic drama, there’s the sigh and you wonder why you didn’t see it. I’m not sure I could have ever seen what was actually going on in Fox’s life off the page!

To be honest, I was with Hazel when she wonders why this quiet, safe life doesn’t satisfy her. It actually made me like her more because at least, she is very self-aware. She knows she has a great life and her wanting more comes from a place of privilege and potentially addiction. Is Hazel addicted to ridding the world of bad men?

I’ve sometimes wondered about what happens after the last pages of the greatest love stories ever written. Is happily ever after really a thing for these couples? Obviously modern statistics suggest not but who knows for fictional characters? Anything is possible, I guess. I really enjoy thinking about the hypotheticals of fictional relationships and considering what outcome is the most likely. Hazel’s suggestion that perhaps dying before the passion fades is the key to a successful marriage is hilariously bleak!

A Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage is a delivered in a highly engaging, snarky tone. You’ll almost certainly fully believe in Hazel and Fox as a power couple unlike any other. They are definitely made for each other and work fantastically well together. I would say that it’s definitely quite a character-driven book. There is a plot but I didn’t feel it was the focus really. I was getting to know them as people and the plot was simply there, chuntering along in the background, which is quite unusual for a thriller. Relatable serial killers are such fun perspectives to read from, so if you have any more recommendations that fit this brief, please let me know!

This was a really good book. Dark humour, murder, family life. What’s not to love. Haze tries to juggle a past as a serial killer with family life and marriage. A nice mix of real life experiences, and some rather far-fetched experiences too. All together, a pretty good book!

Really really enjoyed this story. Thank you for letting me review this and sorry for the late review. I really enjoyed the characters and the development of the story.

Haze and Fox are serial killers who decide to go straight when they become parents. All is going well until there is a turn of events about half way through the book which changes everything. Of course the story is ridiculous but it’s a great story with plenty of twists and humour. A thoroughly enjoyable novel with a perfect ending.

A darkly funny book, full of great and quirky characters. I loved the Dexter style feel this had and was instantly hooked, However none of this felt like it has been 'done before' A serial killer's guide to marriage is so unique and enjoyable, I would love to read more in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I was instantly hooked by this book and read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. This book had a bit of everything and I really enjoyed the plot. I found it to very dark and also funny at times. Great characters and I especially liked Haze and reading how her friendship with Jenny evolved. A highly entertaining read that I definitely recommend.

What a fabulous read! A lighthearted book telling the story of serial killer couple Haze and Fox. Very tongue in cheek at times. I really enjoyed the change in Haze as she discovers the value of female friendship. This book will translate perfectly as a tv series.

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The way I would describe this book is Dexter meets Mr and Mrs Smith including a lot of dark humour in a suburban setting. I absolutely loved reading every second of this book and finished it in a day.

This is a great story with a great premise, about marriage, the lies people can keep to try to protect those they love and the challenges of having to change your life when you have a child, obviously not all marriages contain illegal activity, but for Haze and Fox they think they're so unique and no one else understands them, but in reality a lot of their fears and issues are very common.

I wasn't sure if I'd love or hate this book but I gave it a go and am so glad I did. The characters and quirky storyline hooked me in and it was darkly humorous. I had to keep reading and finding the conclusion to the story - that also didn't disappoint. This would make a great series I think.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is a deliciously dark take on suburban marriage, and let me tell you - it's not your typical "honey, I'm home" story. The hook? A pair of reformed serial killers trying to hack it in the suburbs with a baby.

Anyone who's transitioned from a thrilling life to suburban monotony will get a kick out of Hazel and Fox. Remember when date night meant fine dining and dancing? Well, their date nights used to involve disposing of bodies, but the sentiment's the same. Now they're dealing with dirty diapers and who knows what else like the rest of us mortals.

The writing is sharp and snappy, with short chapters alternating between both perspectives and some flashbacks to their glory days. It's like flipping through a photo album of your wild years, except their memories involve more cleanup work than your average wild night out.

I found myself completely invested in Hazel's character - and yes, I'm slightly concerned about how much I related to her frustration with "playing happy housewife." When she starts feeling that murderous itch again (we've all had those moments at PTA meetings, right?), you can feel her struggling between her old life and new responsibilities. The way the author captures that mid-life crisis feeling - albeit an extremely murderous one - is spot on.

What really hits home is the portrait of a marriage where both partners are keeping secrets. Strip away the serial killer element, and you've got a pretty accurate picture of how couples drift apart when they stop communicating. The fact that their particular secrets involve homicide just raises the stakes a bit.

While marketed as dark comedy, it's more of a brutal examination of marriage and parenthood that occasionally makes you chuckle nervously. It perfectly captures that transition from exciting couple life to suburban tedium - though most of us just have to deal with missing our pre-baby social life rather than our murder sprees.

The finale had me on the edge of my chair, but it's the smaller moments that really stick with you - the familiar marriage struggles, just with higher body counts. It's like someone took your standard domestic drama and added a dash of Dexter for spice.

Really enjoyed it!
It was fun to embrace the female rage from Hazel and how that then worked into the plot and the murderous intent!
Honestly I loved how it all came together in the end and the threats tied together!

A very clever stylish thriller that was enormous fun to read. A well written exciting story, with plenty of twists and turns and characters that I really wanted to get to know more. Looking forward to more from this author, this is definitely one I recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to read this
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Wildfire for the e-ARC of this book.

I saw a review describing this book as 'Desperate Housewives meet Dexter' and that's exactly what it is.
Haze and Fox met over a shared love of killing bad men. But when they marry and settle down, it's an adjustment neither of them ever expected. Swapping out travel for play dates and murder for suburbia.

Well written and well paced, I loved the humour sprinkled throughout. Flawed yet likeable characters; the author manages to craft a story where you find yourself rooting for the killers. A highly enjoyable and recommendable read.

📚Book review 📚
I was lucky enough to get a proof of @asia.mackay newest book A Serial Kiler’s Guide to Marriage published by @wildfirebooks over on @netgalley. Let me start by saying that this isn’t a title to be taken seriously. It’s fiction and I’ve seen a few reviews where people have said ‘it’s not believable’ etc - it’s not meant to be! I flew through this and it made me chuckle; I mean, what does happen when two serial killers marry each other?! I need to read Asia’s other books now!

“Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they’re ex-serial killers.
They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to kill. Not many power couples know how to get away with murder.
Then Hazel fell pregnant and they gave it all up for life in the suburbs; dinner parties instead of body disposal.
But recently Hazel has started to feel that itch again. When she kills someone behind Fox’s back and brings the police to their door, she must do anything she can to protect her family.
This could save their marriage - unless it kills them first.” Book 5 of the year.

‘A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage’ by Asia McKay is a funny, feminist, fabulous dark comedy with building tension and a thrilling conclusion, perfect for fans of Katy Brent and Sarah Bonner! Told in dual POV by spouses Haze and Fox, this book explores how to keep marriage alive after having a child… and turning your back on a dangerously addictive murderous lifestyle.

Will they be able to resist their desire for righteous killing sprees (don’t worry, they only murder “baddies”) or will one of them fall back into their old ways? Will Haze’s new “mum friend” Jenny help her adjust to normality, or stir the pot further? Will their wedlock survive? The novel explores these questions in a humorous way - beginning each section with a quote from a marriage self-help book and snarky commentary from Haze.

Without giving away too much of the plot, I’ll say that this was a bumpy but enjoyable ride! Twists, turns and laughs kept me going and despite the deadly subject matter, this felt like a lighthearted read to end 2024 with. Overall, this gets 3.5 stars from me!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Headline via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

With so many skeletons in the closet, what’s one more? When former vigilante killer Hazel breaks her husband’s no-kill rule, she’s willing to do anything it takes to keep Fox from finding out — but her accidental friendship with a policewoman definitely makes things more complicated. A dark comedy page-turner with dual husband and wife POVs which I thought worked really well; I enjoyed Hazel’s caustic narration balanced with Fox’s more rational tone. Again, a far-fetched, lacklustre ending was the only thing keeping my rating from being higher.

This book is way more fun to read than a book about serial kilers deserves to be. This doesn't feel particularly like a new idea but really really well done and super enjoyable to read.

I devoured this fun serial killer romp which felt like MR AND MRS SMITH struggling with the the mental load of parenting and dealing with their own family issues. It was so readable and propulsive and I so desperately wanted Fox and Haze to not only stay together but get away with their murderous but righteous antics. Would highly recommend!

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay and narrated by Georgia Tennant and Kyle Soller was a very clever written book which covered so many topics. It was funny and exciting, very fast-paced and taking unexpected twists and turns throughout, it was a roller coaster ride!

This audiobook. had me laughing out loud several times whilst listening to it, It was an excellent dark comedy and I loved it!

The Narrators Georgia Tennant and Kyle Soller were excellent and they were fun to listen to.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Headline | Wildfire for my Arc.

This was good fun: a nice mix of a dark theme with a lighter tone, plus some good twists along the way.