Gareth is a cop. Fran is a serial killer. Oh—and she’s also his wife.

That premise alone was enough to hook me, and the book delivered on the promise of dark humor, sharp dialogue, and a twisted take on love and loyalty. There’s a satisfying mix of violence, snarky banter, and moments where characters go to extreme lengths to protect the people they care about.

That said, I closed the book feeling like something was missing. I would’ve loved more depth around Fran and Angus’s time in the children’s home—those glimpses into their past were intriguing but underdeveloped. The same goes for Edith. Exploring her backstory more fully could’ve added emotional weight and helped readers better understand her motivations. As it stands, some of those potentially powerful moments felt a bit glossed over.

The ending also felt rushed to me. After such a strong buildup, I was hoping for a more layered or satisfying conclusion.

Still, this was a thoroughly entertaining read. Some sections were so gripping I couldn’t put it down, and I appreciated the bold, unconventional approach. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely memorable.

This really took me a hot minute to get into. I don’t know what it was, but I wasn’t fully invested until about halfway through. Which is crazy, because the premise is so intriguing.

It might have been the characters. First of all, they have horrible names. Absolutely terrible names. Very hard for me to connect with characters that have those names. And they just felt overall a little flat? Not quite sure why.

Overall, the book wasn’t bad. It wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t bad either. I feel like the story could have used an extra little something but I couldn’t tell you what exactly that would be.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I was captivated from start to finish. Garbett weaves shocking moments with dark humor, creating an enjoyable reading experience. Fran is a chillingly pragmatic killer who operates within morally gray areas. Her husband, Gareth, a by-the-book detective, creates friction as his investigation leads him closer to his own wife. The dynamic between their clashing worlds is pure gold.

For readers who enjoy dark humor and unconventional thrillers, My Wife, The Serial Killer is an absolute must read. It's a wild ride that will have you laughing even as you gasp.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: June 17, 2025

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I absolutely loved the prologue — it hooked me right in and set up such an intriguing premise. I went in expecting a twisty, fast-paced ride. And while it had its moments, somewhere along the way it started to feel a little… repetitive. The plot kind of wobbled, like it couldn’t decide which direction to fully commit to. I found myself flipping pages more out of habit than suspense. By the time I reached the final stretch, I wasn’t as invested anymore — which is such a bummer because it had the potential to be something truly gripping. Maybe it’s just me being a picky reader again, but hey, not every book's meant to rock your world, right?

I cannot give real feedback on this book and thus did not post on my social channels. I found the writing very choppy and did not finish this novel. I apologize but I went to page 70 and abandonded this book.

This book is dark comedy at its finest! Honestly, I think the title should be how to fall in love with a serial killer (and her detective husband). Not only did I adore the characters of Fran and Gareth, I fell in love with Garbett's dry wit, humor, and pacing. I've never laughed so many times (when reading about murder) and I'm glad I wasn't drinking water while reading...because my iPad would be ruined.

Gareth, Fran & MEP (their cat)!!!!

Gareth is an investigator on a case where his wife killed someone…. And honestly i loved it😂 this was so wild and unhinged & so great hahahaah!

I loved that the narrator of the book aka pov is Fran because i was yelling at her the entire time!!!! GIRLYYYYY YOU HAD ME STRESSED.

Thanks NetGalley <333

Gareth is a cop. Fran is a serial killer. Fun fact: she's also his wife.

The premise lured me in right away. Overall, there was some violence, some witty banter, and characters that gp all out tp show they love one another.

However, I finished this feeling like something was missing. I think more back stories about the children's home and what Fran and Angus went through. I think maybe pulling out some stories about Edith would have made this pack more of a punch and help readers sympathize more with what she was doing. I also thought the end wrapped up too quickly and just felt rushed.

Overall, it was entertaining and several parts of the book we so riveting I could not put it down.

This is a dark thriller/ comedy! Very interesting and twisted. Not sure it was for me but I read it anyway.

3.5⭐️
My Wife, The Serial Killer follows detective Gareth and is murdering wife Fran who live in a quiet street with their elderly cat Mep. When their normal quiet life is turned upside down by the brutal murder of their elderly neighbour!

This is my first book by H.J. Garbett and I’m sure it won’t be my last, I like the writing style and found it a very quick and fast flowing read. I would have liked a few more twists and turns for this type of genre but would still recommend giving it a read if you’re looking for an easy fast paced read!

This was a book I was looking forward to reading and it didn’t disappoint!

My Wife The Serial Killer is written in a dual POV - one being Fran, a social worker and the other being her husband Gareth, a police detective.

The book starts with Fran murdering her elderly neighbour and covering up the crime but when her husband Gareth gets a call to do a welfare check on the neighbour, he soon suspects that something bad has happened. Without realising his wife is the culprit, he starts investigating a potential murder and soon he has to make a choice between justice and his wife.

This book is dark and funny and you are totally on Frans side - the neighbour deserved to die! Both main characters are really likeable for different reasons and I totally fell in love with their elderly cat Mep.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns as the murder investigation played out and seeing what decisions Fran and Gareth would make even if it comes at a cost.

I recommend this book as an easy read with a lot of humour! I’d definitely look out for more books from this author in the future.

thanks to netgallery for the opportunity to read the arc and give my honest review.
for me this was an okay read,this book is definitely different from any murder/serial and murder mystery books I have read.
I honestly had a hard time connecting with it from the beginning but that pushed me to continue reading more and see what is really pushing Fran with murder.
I enjoyed Fran as a character,I love her confidence in making sure she was really careful with everything, also how she knows that what she has done is wrong but acknowledge that she not gonna stop until she is done with making everyone pay for what happened to her sister. I love Gareth too,I love the way his interactions with Fran as a couple,with how they are doing their best with separating their work like from their domestic one.
I did expect Gareth to do the right thing once he finally figured out everything with the murder of Mr Gordon and Fran's past also I knew he would try his best to get her out of prison and I'm really glad him and Angus worked together to get her out.
With all that is going on this book,I seriously love how Fran handled or understand what she did to avenge herself and her little to the people who were trusted to do right by them,only to end up failing them.

I enjoyed this in the beginning, but found the ending to fall a bit flat for my liking. The beginning & the blurb really draws you in, but the last ~25% I found myself a little disinterested. I did enjoy some of the witty & dry humor that was thrown into the book!

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for sharing an e-book ARC to read! (:

So. Stinking. Good.

The perfect blend of murder and humor, just how I like it. But for real, Fran and Gareth were such likable characters that this was one of the easiest reads I’ve had in a while. They truly made me dislike the people they disliked, and feel emotionally connected to their cat.

I wish they had done a better job explaining what happened to Edith in the children’s home. I also think the ending was rushed, and I wish Fran had gotten away scott free. Otherwise I really really enjoyed this!

A detective is unknowingly married to a serial killer...I knew this was going to be good on the premise alone.This story was unhinged with plenty of dark humor and the banter was top notch. There were times I laughed out loud and times I actually found it a little heartwarming. The FMC is a badass and I was rooting for her the whole time.
Posted on Goodreads as well.

This book started out strong with the first few chapters and then I found myself getting lost in the character shuffling. After finding my footing again, I enjoyed the quirky vibes of the MC Fran and enjoyed not liking Gareth.

The prologue HOOKED me in.
The story follows Fran and Gareth who are new to the neighborhood due to gareth taking on a new promotion at the police station as a detective. Dual dialogue between Fran and gareth take place, and Fran has decided to un alive their old cantankerous neighbor. However, gareth ends up investigating the missing neighbor without telling his wife. There is a mystery aspect as to why she decided to un alive him, and only her brother knows.

I really struggled with this book, and what is so difficult in writing this review, is I really wanted to rate this much higher than I actually did.

This book really could have been something fun and special, and I think many may get that vibe from this book; but for me, it was missing something. It wasn't a as funny as I was hoping it would be, nor was it that thrilling either.

The couple of things this book does have going for it:

✔EXCELLENT NARRATION. I ended up reading this as well as listening to the audio.
✔Witty, with a dark humor at times.
✔Has an interesting take on marriage and complicated relationships.
❌There seemed to be so much and so little with this book, I cannot explain it -?-
❌The beginning was smoothly done and the ending felt hurried and rushed.

*This book really could be for you if you like comedy thrillers (although it runs on the darker side of comedy to be sure), and I do think some people will really enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.

Absolutely! Here’s a clean, thoughtful 4.0-star review for My Wife, the Serial Killer, tailored for NetGalley or Goodreads:

⸻

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darkly entertaining and surprisingly layered.
My Wife, the Serial Killer pulls you in with its shocking premise but keeps you reading thanks to sharp pacing and compelling character dynamics. I appreciated the character development—especially how the author slowly peeled back layers of both the narrator and his enigmatic wife. It’s equal parts crime thriller and psychological drama, and while some moments leaned into the outrageous (in a fun way!), the story stayed grounded enough to stay believable. Entertaining, clever, and a quick read with just the right amount of twists.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—this was a ride!

My Wife, The Serial Killer is a wickedly clever, darkly hilarious thriller that flips the script on domestic suspense. With razor sharp wit and a plot full of delicious twists, this book grabs you from page one and refuses to let go.

The story follows Fran, a woman who’s just killed her neighbor and honestly, you won’t be mad about it. Her husband Gareth, a detective, begins to suspect something’s off, but he has no idea just how deep the rabbit hole goes. The tension crackles with every chapter, made even more fun by the biting humor and a cast of characters who are equal parts lovable and unhinged.

What sets this book apart is its tone: dark and twisted, but never too heavy. It’s murder with a smirk, love with a knife behind the back. Think Killing Eve meets How to Kill Your Family, with an ending that will knock the wind out of you in the best way.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, unpredictable, and wickedly entertaining read, My Wife, The Serial Killer should be at the top of your list. Just don’t trust anyone while reading it… not even the narrator.