H.J. Garbett’s *My Wife the Serial Killer* is a sharp, darkly entertaining thriller that hooks you with its clever concept: a marriage where one partner is a detective and the other… a serial killer. I really liked how the story alternates between the wife’s (the killer’s) perspective and the husband’s (the detective’s) view. This dual narrative keeps the tension high and gives a fascinating insight into both the hunter and the hunted — all within the same household.

The story flows smoothly, with short, punchy chapters that make it easy to keep reading “just one more.” Garbett balances suspense with dark humor, making even the bleakest moments engaging rather than heavy. The character dynamics — especially the twisted loyalty and growing suspicion — are handled well and make for an addictive read.

Overall, it’s a gripping, fast-paced novel that plays brilliantly with the idea of secrets in a marriage. Highly recommended if you enjoy thrillers with a sly, ironic edge.

The premise of this book was super interesting; I wanted to pick this up based on title and summary alone! The first few chapters are instantly engaging and pulls you in, but the pacing does falter in the middle section. The writing itself is great, and I'm looking forward to reading more from H.J. Garbett.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

3 stars

For me, this was okay. I can totally understand why other readers have made comparisons with similar books and characters. I loved that we were immediately thrown into the book and the initial fast pace kept me invested and interested.

However, as the book progressed it became and felt very slow. The jokes and humour weren’t hitting the same and I also didn’t really enjoy the multiple povs. Which surprised me, because in books with a similar genre, I do.

I also think this had the potential and promised to be quite dark but i feel like it just didn’t reach that point. The writing as well just wasn’t working for me at points, the husband’s pov especially, I just found to be at times, quite boring.

Personally, I thought Fran was okay. I liked her volatile nature, her quick thinking and impulsiveness. But I don’t think I actually liked her as an overall character. Again possibly because I’ve read a variety of books that are within this comedy ‘thrillers’ or ‘mysteries’ category with quite strong fmcs. So for me, Fran, just didn’t feel like she was as well curated or polished in some ways. I didn’t mind her, but I also wouldn’t necessarily say she left any impression on me, unlike, the female main character in Katy Brent’s books for example.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I finished this book quickly, which speaks to how intrigued I was at the start, but then towards the end, I was reading swiftly to get it to end. The premise—a female serial killer—immediately brought the Mindfck* series to mind. The book kicked off with a bang. The concept was compelling, and the setup pulled me in, but unfortunately, the momentum didn’t last. After about the 25% mark, the pacing began to falter, and I found myself increasingly disengaged. The twists and turns I expected from this genre never really materialized, and I was left hoping the story would just wrap up. The ending, while meant to be impactful, was predictable well before the final chapters.

I also struggled to connect with the main character, Fran. While her volatility might have been intentional, it made her difficult to empathize with, and the reveal about her motivations came too late in the story to land emotionally. I ended up feeling the most for Mep, the cat, probably because I'm a dog/cat lover. The humor, which I assume was meant to add levity, was hit or miss for me.

Overall, the blurb promised something dark and gripping, but the execution didn't quite live up to it. Despite a strong start and an interesting concept, the story lost its edge too quickly, and I didn’t find myself invested in any of the characters by the end.

This wasn't bad although I struggled to connect with Fran and Gareth. Fran murders the neighbour but it takes nearly half the book before we have some idea why. Gareth is a police detective and when the neighbour goes missing he's sure foul play is involved and slowly starts to suspect Fran may be involved although he doesn't know why. At first, Gareth is a bit of a 'people pleaser' so he doesn't really stand up for himself even though he's being bullied by the other staff. He's very good at seeing connections others miss which puts him on the track of the motive for the case. All of a sudden, he grows a backbone after Fran's arrest which, although helpful, was a little off-putting that he has such a change in personality! The mystery behind it all was very good with a good twist and takes some unravelling. A good read but not the best characters for me.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and H.J. Garbett for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

〃ﾟ4,75 ﾟ⁠〃
'𝙄𝙛 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙝𝙚'𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧,'

Fran Donoghue has just killed her neighbor—and she’s not sorry about it. Meanwhile, Detective Gareth Donoghue has a bad feeling about the neighbor's disappearance, but soon his troubles will grow far worse. This dark, sharp, and hilarious novel mixes murder, marriage, and unexpected twists. 🖤

Tropes:
The wife did it 🔪
Morally gray protagonist ⚖️
Domestic noir 🏠
Cat-and-mouse marriage 🐱🐭
Dark humor 😈
Unreliable narrator 🌀
Emotionally repressed husband 🤐
Trauma & infertility 💔👶🏻
Loyal silent friend 🤝
Revenge arc 🔥
Prison time ⛓️

Content Warnings (CW):
Murder 🔪
Infertility 💔
Gaslighting 🧠
Workplace harassment 🧑‍💼💢
Mental health struggles 🧠⚠️
Domestic conflict 🏠💥
Revenge & violence ⚔️
Imprisonment ⛓️

This is definitely one of the most addictive thrillers I’ve ever read 🔪. I just couldn’t stop reading—if it weren’t for needing sleep 😴, I would've finished it in one sitting! It was such an enjoyable read, and I’m sure that anyone who loved The Mindfck Series* will enjoy this one too. As someone who loved that series, I could see a softer version of it here—Fran reminded me so much of Lana 🖤.

I liked Fran from the beginning. I even found myself sympathizing with her and thinking she was right... even before the full truth was revealed 🤫. I loved how much she cared for her husband—her love, her loyalty, and her protectiveness over him were so touching 💕. The part about her not being able to have children broke my heart 💔. Her fear of losing Gareth because of that felt so raw and real.

As for Gareth, I really felt bad for him 🥺. He was struggling at work—being ignored by Steve and Darren 🙄, basically harassed by Cic and Isla 😒, and constantly buried in work by Vivian. I don’t think he stayed quiet because he was weak; I believe he genuinely thought he could earn respect through kindness 🤍. I stopped being mad at him after what he did at the end. That moment of regret, and what he was willing to do for Fran, showed how deeply he truly loved her 💘.

Their relationship felt so real—their conversations, their moments together, even the tension between them 🥹. It was believable and emotional.

And then there’s Angus—quiet, mysterious, and loyal. I loved him from the beginning 🖤. What he did for Fran near the end made me admire him even more.

Now let me talk about Mit... the grumpy, angry, old cat 🐾. I cried so much when the vet told Gareth to take him home because he wouldn’t make it through the night 😭. That moment hit hard, especially since my aunt’s cat “Mino,” who I loved deeply, passed away the same day 🕊️. It felt personal.

Oh, and I almost forgot to say how much I hated Cic, Isla, Steve, Vivian, and Darren 😤. I honestly wanted Fran to burn them all 🔥.
Beryl and her dog were unforgettable too—what a pair 🐕!

As for the ending—I liked it, but I wanted more! I imagined Fran and Gareth together with four kids (two boys and two girls), two dogs 🐶, and Mit🐱. That would’ve been perfect!

𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
This book made me laugh 😂, cry 😢, feel angry 😡, and fall in love with fictional people and pets 🥰. If you love dark humor, messed up characters, and twisty relationships—you need to read this!

"My Wife, the Serial Killer" is a wickedly entertaining debut that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until its jaw-dropping final twist. With sharp wit, a fast pace, and an unforgettable female lead, this book is perfect for fans of "How to Kill Your Family" and "Finlay Donovan".

Told through a double POV, the story follows Detective Gareth Donoghue, whose instincts about his missing neighbor spark a chain of events that spiral far beyond anything he imagined. But the real star is his wife : flawed, fearless, and dangerously unhinged. Her character is the chaotic heart of this story, and watching her unravel (or perhaps, reveal her true self) is disturbingly fun.

The novel is equal parts dark comedy and tense thriller, striking a unique tone that’s both lighthearted and chilling. It’s easy to read, genuinely funny, and completely unputdownable. I tore through it in one sitting.

While a bit more emotional layering could have pushed it to a full five stars, "My Wife, the Serial Killer" is a standout debut that perfectly blends murder, marriage, and mayhem. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Fran, an intelligent social worker, is happily married to straight-laced Gareth, a police detective. That could become a problem as unhinged Fran has just killed their new elderly neighbour Gordon O'Neill, and Gareth happens to investigate it. As we get into the story we realise this is already her second murder and she has plans for a third. It soon becomes clear why and that those murders aren't random. Fran grew up in a children's home so hasn't had the best start in life, and she still looks after Angus who is like a brother to her.

We get both Fran's and Gareth's first person POVs, which is very illuminating. They are trying to start a family together and Gareth has some trouble at work, so apart from Fran's murderous tendencies and Gareth coming across some fraudulent activities and being hindered by colleagues, this could be a standard marriage in a new home with a grumpy cat. But it isn't, and Gareth will have to come to terms with the fact he doesn't know his wife as much as he thought and that he will have to make a decision.

This is a straightforward story with no real twists or turns. I guess nosy neighbour Beryl and her mutt Tony provide some comic relief, plus Fran and Gareth have some good-natured banter going on but I wouldn't call it "hilarious" as the blurb does. In fact, it is quite an earnest exploration of childhood traumas and fraudsters with power, the rage about them and the unusual decisions some of us make to help those we love.

Some romantic heroes don't wear capes. Gareth gives new meaning to the "I would kill for you" declaration, and I was so here for it. It makes you question your own morals when you desperately want a happy ending for a killer! I really loved the main characters and how they try to keep the romance alive with tiny rituals and excellent cooking, plus having each others' backs. Minus the murdering this is #couplesgoals!

This is a well-written debut novel about love and marriage with a dark undertone that also holds a light up to the police force in general, but it isn't the book I expected from the blurb. It suffers from uneven pacing and I felt like I was always one step in front of the police and Gareth, wanting to shout "how do you not see the connection?" The ending also solves everything a bit too abruptly and neatly. Still, if you've always wanted to know how people become psychopaths while still maintaining a marriage, this book makes a good stab at explaining it. Stab, geddit?

4.5 Stars!

My Wife, The Serial Killer had me hooked from the first chapter when Fran calmly lists the ways to dispose of the body of the neighbor she just murdered. I knew I was in for something special, and boy was it! This book delivers exactly what the title promises: a smart, twisted domestic thriller with a dark sense of humor and a morally murky marriage at its center.

The dual POVs between Fran ("not" a psychopath, chaotic, and calculated) and Gareth (clueless yet endearing and also calculating detective husband) make for a compelling and, at times, hilarious juxtaposition. I loved watching Gareth slowly piece things together while Fran pretended everything was normal. The pacing was strong throughout, but it did slow a tiny bit in the middle. Still, the writing was both sharp and witty, and circled back to the bigger question: how far would you go for the person you love?

The epilogue gave way for a sequel, and I'm dying to know what happens next!

Thanks to #NetGalley, H.J. Garbett and Storm Publishing for the eARC!

Wow! This was really well written. I loved the beginning, especially when Fran listed her possible alibis. All the ideas and information were laid out so well in this book. The author clearly knew what he was doing.
I’m impressed.

It was intriguing at first, trying to figure out why Fran killed them and what really happened. I was really curious about what drove her to do it. I couldn’t guess the reason right away.

I just wish there was more to the ending. I’m still wondering what happens after what Gareth did in the epilogue. Will there be a Book 2? I really hope so!

Either way, this was a great read, a solid standalone. Definitely a 5-star read for me.

Thank you author H.J. Garbett, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This started off great. I liked the pov of Fran as she murdered her neighbor & the pov of Gareth as he decides to investigate. The humor at first was also good. However, as the story progressed it became a little slower and some things brought up slowed the pace. The ending wasn’t what I was hoping for. Gareth was introduced as an upstanding man with high morals, so I can’t reconcile him doing a complete change to his personality. That lost me. Just a middle of the road story for me.

Okay, wow. This book took me on a wild, darkly hilarious, and completely unpredictable ride—and I loved every twisted second of it.

My Wife, The Serial Killer is exactly what the title promises, but somehow it’s also so much more. It’s dark and disturbing in all the right ways, but also weirdly tender, with moments that had me both laughing and raising my eyebrows like, Did that really just happen? The voice in this book is sharp, witty, and so clever—it made the entire experience feel fresh and completely original.

The relationship dynamic was such a fascinating part of the story. It wasn’t just about the shock factor or suspense (though it definitely had that)—it was about power, loyalty, manipulation, and the blurred lines between love and survival. I was genuinely hooked, constantly trying to figure out who I should be rooting for… and that shifting tension made it impossible to put down.

What I appreciated most was that the book didn’t try too hard to be something it’s not—it leaned into the absurdity and the darkness just enough, without losing its emotional core. Garbett managed to keep the story engaging without relying on clichés or predictable twists, and that alone made it stand out in the thriller space for me.

If you enjoy offbeat psychological thrillers with a strong dose of dark humor and morally grey characters, My Wife, The Serial Killer is one to add to your list. It’s smart, bold, and totally unforgettable.

3.25 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC. Finished this in two sitting and in less than 8 hours. I was intrigued from the very beginning. A female serial killer reminds me so much of the Mindfuck series. But the ending was predictable after a certain point in the story.

The blurb sounded so promising but the execution and delivery was underwhelming.

However, i don't mind spending half of my day reading this because of the dark humor and the pacing.

Fran kills her neighbor and an investigation by the police starts right away. As the evidence gathers it soon becomes clear to her police officer husband Gareth that his wife is guilty. What will he do with this information and how will everything turn out? I absolutely loved this book. The female main character was definitely my favorite. She was hilarious, had a dark sense of humor, and was very unhinged. I liked the personality that Fran had and I liked the witty banter between her and Gareth. I love how I was hooked right away on the first page and kept wanting to read more and more throughout to see what happened next. I highly recommend this book to people looking for a witty and dark humor filled psychological thriller.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed “My wife the serial killer”. On NetGalley (thank y’all for the book) It's billed as a mystery, but it feels more like a dark comedy with a side of romance and found family. The couple in this book give black cat X golden retriever vibes which was really entertaining especially in the beginning during Gareth clueless moments.
Don't go in expecting a huge plot twist Yk the killer and the reasons why pretty early on . The reveal is more of a drawn-out “how is this going to end" moment that makes you question certain characters. The characters are supposedly redeemable, but I couldn't get on board with the male lead later on. The FMC is a total badass, though and I loved her.

I personally disliked the ending, but I understand why the book couldn’t end the way I wanted. Ending Thoughts: a total mixed bag of emotions. If you like morally grey characters and stories that make you think as well as the mindfuck series, give it a shot.

I requested this book because, as a true crime junkie who spends every drive listening to true crime podcasts, I thought it would be so fun to read about a not-so-true crime tale. This book did not disappoint.

It was my first time coming across the author and so loved how suspense, thrills, emotion and humor were so well balanced with this. It was a thrillcom, if you will!! Thriller meets comedy.

Fran is something else! I loved hearing her inner thoughts and she is not your typical serial killer. She’s a police wife, cat mom, social worker, regular member of society.

She hides in plain site and makes some mistakes here and there that you just know will come back to bite her in the butt later. I loved it!

I also liked reading chapters from Gareth’s POV. I had zero clue how this was all going to play out with him and it was fun to make my own opinions and thoughts and see if I got it right.

Definitely recommend!

I’ve never met a FMC quite like Fran. She is beyond unhinged. This book is a mixture of my favorite mystery, humor, with a splash of murder. She has a kind of dark sense of humor that only work for certain people and it definitely works for her. Her husband is a detective which makes her being a killer even more hilarious at least to me. I love their dynamic, and I will definitely pick up a physical copy when the book is released.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was one of my favourite books of 2025 so far. I love the female serial killer comedy genre, and this was a particularly well-written example. Fran and Gareth were both engaging and likeable characters, and I loved the dynamic of serial killer and detective. I ended up utterly invested in their relationship, although I did end up morally questioning myself... Perhaps I shouldn't have been *quite* so keen for Fran to quite literally get away with murder... This book was so cleverly written: it was funny, emotional, and completely drew you into the story. There was so much nuance and depth to the characters. I also loved Mep! I can't wait to read more by this author.

I immediately thought when I saw this book come by: this is something for me! I love those darker stories that come with a hefty dose of sarcastic humor.

The title is particularly well chosen and the cover is just fantastic. They were clearly meant to put a smile on the reader's face, and they certainly did that for me.

The book also started straight away with full-on action and the necessary humor. Wonderful.

The author definitely knows how to tell a story. Everything was described in such a way that I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book.

The story itself is also well constructed, and Fran plays her role as vigilante flawlessly. Of course, she does have the disadvantage that her husband is a detective and is the first on the scene—and initially in charge of the investigation…

Both characters are conflicted. Fran, because she knows her actions aren't justifiable, but on the other hand, she wants justice. Her husband, because he has to choose between doing his duty or supporting his wife. And both of them have to make a choice.

How it ends? I'm not going to say. I'll let you discover that for yourselves when you read the book.

It's a very good book with a few interesting twists. The only downside for me was that the humor faded into the background a bit. 4.5 stars.

Thank you.

The idea is interesting, but I had trouble with the execution.
The writing is pretty good, and so is the pacing, but the characters were weirdly executed.
For some reason, all of the women characters are awful persons with no redeeming qualities.
And the husband was especially difficult to understand, and his arc didn't really made sense to me. The guy completely changes his personality in the span of 50 pages.
It could have been better.