Thank you Netgalley and the publishers, for an opportunity to read this.

I enjoyed this one! For My Wife, The Serial Killer has an intriguing title and a premise to match, though I’ll admit, the story felt a little loose in parts and started on the slower side. But once it picked up, especially in the second half, I was fully in. Twisty, darkly entertaining, and worth a one-time read.

If you enjoy your thrillers with a twist of dark humor and a dash of domestic chaos, My Wife, The Serial Killer by H.J. Garbett is a must-read. This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud mystery follows Fran and Gareth, a married couple with a rather unusual problem: Fran has just killed her second man, and Gareth—an ever-dedicated police officer—is hot on the trail of a disappearance he suspects is more than it seems.

Garbett expertly blends suspense with sharp, irreverent wit. Fran is a delightfully twisted protagonist whose internal monologue will keep readers chuckling even as the stakes climb. Meanwhile, Gareth’s oblivious-yet-determined investigation adds a delicious layer of irony and tension.

The story moves quickly, making it easy to devour in a single sitting, and just when you think you know how it will all unravel, Garbett throws in a clever and unexpected ending that flips everything on its head.

Fans of the Finlay Donovan or Stephanie Plum series will feel right at home with this darkly comic caper. My Wife, The Serial Killer is wickedly fun, refreshingly original, and proves that love and murder aren’t always mutually exclusive.

3.5 stars
This was a darkly fun and surprisingly entertaining read. I loved the setup: Gareth, the golden retriever of a detective husband, and Fran, his unhinged (but oddly likable) wife who might just be a serial killer. The dual POV really worked, and Fran’s internal commentary was one of my favorite parts.

The story hooked me early, but the pacing slowed a bit in the middle and the ending felt abrupt. I was hoping for more clarity and closure after such a strong build-up.

Still, it was a quick, witty read and a solid debut. Think Finlay Donovan if she were actually a psychopath. I’d definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

Gareth is a detective and Fran is his wife. They recently moved into their new home with their cat mep.

Everyone thinks Fran is this nice, sweet innocent woman but little do they know…..

she’s a serial killer, and the messed up part about it is Gareth is investigating one of his wife’s murders.

All in all I did enjoy reading this book it’s funny and suspenseful in the best way, I was literally sitting at the edge of my bed reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc copy

Was checking out titles on NetGalley and My Wife, The Serial Killer caught my attention. I was lucky enough to be sent a copy from the publisher. I loved the switching POV from our serial killer wife to her detective husband. While I usually read stories where the killer is unknown I love how the author still included surprises / twists in the story. For example, the motive unraveling had me at the edge of my seat. Perfect for those who don’t want gore but a good thrill. Adding personal life moments (vague to avoid spoilers) and the wife’s journey with planning her future added a special touch. If you’re looking for a simple page turner this is the book for you. 5 STARS FROM ME!

3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley & Storm publishing for access to this eARC!

This was fun and silly with a great premise, I just found it lacking a little. And call me crazy but I didn’t feel that the reason for the murdering was completely valid and so as the story went on and the plot unraveled, I came to dislike Fran.

Garret on the other hand went psycho and i appreciated it BUT I felt like he went from 0 to 100 and was almost a complete different character (like character development but to the EXTREME, and it would’ve been understandable if he hadn’t jumped to where he ended up as well but props to him).

If you like mysteries that are slightly unserious and dual pov from detective and criminal I’d definitely say give it a chance, cause I could 100% see you loving it!

absolutely adored “My Wife, the Serial Killer.” The author said it’s Schitt’s Creek-meets-Dexter, and I couldn’t agree more! It’s about a woman who is a killer and is married to a detective. It was written very well and had a lot of dark humor which I enjoyed. There were several times I laughed out loud while reading it.

The characters were fully developed and unique and I really especially enjoyed the female main character., Fran. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves a fast paced thriller mixed with dark comedy.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

A great story, told from multiple points of view which adds to the dynamics of the plot, seeing the same event from different people.

The story follows Fran and Gareth, a married couple. Gareth has just been promoted to Detective in the police. Fran has just committed her second murder, Gareth doesn't need to know about that, does he...

Would recommend to lots of different readers.

Fran: serial killer. Gareth: detective. Together: happily married. Until their neighbor ends up very much murdered… by Fran. And guess who's leading the investigation? Yep, Detective Husband. So yeah, home life? Awkward.

Just your typical dark romantic thriller with a dash of homicide and a sprinkle of marital tension. An unhinged read without going into the gruesome details. It never leans too far into gore, just enough to let your imagination do the dirty work.

I really enjoyed the storyline. Chaotic mess with a mix of dark dry humor and sharp wit. It had some secret elements pestering throughout making you want to know the ‘what’ and ‘why’. It was well paced and things moved until they didn’t. That said, I do wish the execution was just a bit tighter. Some threads felt underdeveloped and the ending, while intriguing, left me wanting something more, a stronger gut punch or a more satisfying conclusion.

Gareth started out odd and oblivious. A bit too passive, almost like background noise. But then? Boom. Full personality pivot. Suddenly he’s putting puzzle pieces together like Sherlock Holmes on a caffeine-high. His transformation from detached to dead-serious was wild to watch. Maybe that’s the breaking point, when the person you love is accused of murder and the weight of your own guilt starts to surface. Suddenly, you dig deep, grow a spine, and go full feral: 'If I’m going down, I’m taking everyone with me.'”

And Fran. Do I like her? Do I fear her? Do I understand her? Was justice served? The answer is… I still don’t know. She’s complex, unpredictable, and morally murky. You won’t agree with her choices but once you see beneath the layers, you see the pain, the justification, the twisted rationale. You may find yourself rooting for her even while your moral compass is throwing the most judgmental side-eye you've ever felt like, “Seriously? This is who we are now?”

This is a story about secrets, consequences, love wrapped in lies and the blurred lines between justice and revenge that leaves you wondering how far you'd go for the person you love. It’s wild and it’s messy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I think this is a snappy little novel that’s a good beach read. It’s entertaining, mainly a no substance all vibes, it a funny book that’s great if you are not looking for anything serious.

2.75/5

Looking at the cover and the title I somehow expected a comedy, but this was no way that!!! This book dealt with a seriously, somewhat deranged, revenge plot. I loved Gareth, Fran and Mep.

Overall a surprising but fab read.
#MyWifeTheSerialKiller #NetGalley

Absolutely loved the book. The pacing was great and the wit made me laugh, and almost cried at the emotional bits.
I adored Fran's quick wit and Gareth's no-nonsense straightforwardness. Fran & Gareth feel like someone to be friends with, someone who'll have your backs no matter what. And it was refreshing to see Gareth come to terms with everything rather than just outwardly supporting everything Fran did.
Their love for each other is what made the story stick.
Would love to read more from the author.

A darkly comedic thriller that balances humour with suspense as we follow a man's desperate attempt to cover up his wife's murderous hobby.

H.J. Garbett's My Wife, the Serial Killer throws you into the mind of a suburban wife with a dark secret right from its intriguing prologue. We meet Gareth, a newly promoted homicide detective, who's been married for 5 years to Fran. Their seemingly perfect life is about to teeter on the brink as she confesses (to us, the reader) that she's "done it once before and got away with it."

The story truly kicks off when she kills their next-door neighbour. The internal conflict is palpable as she grapples with the idea of making Gareth choose between his "dutiful police heart" and her. A cryptic threat, "Tell the world what you did 20 years ago or I'm going to kill you," hints at a deeper, long-held secret. The universe, our narrator believes, moved Gordon O’Neill next door to them, almost as if she was destined to extract "justice, revenge."

Garbett masterfully and humorously crafts a narrative that is both chilling and compelling, offering a unique perspective from the killer's point of view. If you're looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing and questioning until the very end, My Wife, the Serial Killer is a must-read.

Sometimes, the premise alone sells the book. A cop married to a serial killer? You have to know how that’s going to play out. I requested this ARC on NetGalley after seeing several buzzed-about posts on Threads—and I’m so glad I did. What followed was a delightful mix of dry wit, domestic mayhem, and deadly secrets.

The Premise
Gareth Donoghue is a police detective. He’s also married to Fran, a sharp-tongued, cool-tempered woman with a very active… extracurricular hobby. Fran is a serial killer—something Gareth remains oblivious to for a good portion of the novel.

Oh, and they live with Mep, a dramatic cat on his supposed deathbed who might just be the best supporting character of the year.

Gareth is loveably clueless, a people-pleasing cop who texts in acronyms and is investigating the very disappearance his wife caused. Fran, meanwhile, is wickedly funny, perfectly deadpan, and brilliantly twisted. Their dynamic is what carries the story—equal parts hilarious, disturbing, and weirdly wholesome in a completely dysfunctional way.

What I Loved
This book absolutely nails the tone. It’s a balancing act between domestic dramedy and suburban horror, and H.J. Garbett pulls it off with style. The writing is witty and engaging, filled with sharp dialogue and enough one-liners to keep you chuckling through the body count.



Favorite quotes:
“A bad plan is better than no plan at all.”

“You can't exactly ask Siri where's the best place to hide a dead body.”

Beyond the laughs and absurdity, the book manages to weave in emotional resonance too. The subplot involving Fran and Gareth’s fertility struggles adds a surprisingly tender layer to the otherwise twisted plot. It’s a reminder that life, even when messy (and murderous), still beats with hope and vulnerability.

Tropes & Themes
☠️ Morally gray characters

💔 Secret pasts

🐈 Cat companion (Mep is a legend)

👫 Ride or die dynamic

🕵️‍♂️ Cop married to a killer

🏡 Suburban gothic

😈 Dark comedy

💉 Fertility, marriage, and emotional realism

😱 Shocking twist at the end

Final Thoughts
If you enjoy twisted tales of domestic life with a high body count and even higher sarcasm, this book is for you. My Wife the Serial Killer is clever, chaotic, emotionally layered, and just the right amount of unhinged.

A perfect palate cleanser when you’re craving something a little murder-y but still heartfelt.

Read if you liked: Verity by Colleen Hoover, You by Caroline Kepnes, How to Kill Your Family, or The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter.

In the prologue to this debut novel, Fran Donoghue has just killed her grumpy, elderly neighbour in his own kitchen. Now she must get rid of his body and cover up the crime, all before her detective husband gets home from work.

With Gareth assigned to look at the elderly man’s disappearance, it becomes harder and harder for Fran to maintain her innocence. Told form both Fran’s and Gareth’s point of view, this is a fun romp of a humorous and smart cosy mystery. Fran is both hilarious and scary as the slightly unhinged killer who sees nothing wrong with killing those who deserve it and Gareth is so adorably clueless. Later in the book, a more serious note is introduced as we come to understand why Fran kills but returns to it’s former lightness with an unexpected twist at the end.

First I would like to thank the Author and NetGalley for the opportunity to experience this book. I truly appreciate it.

At first, I thought this book was kinda boring. A wife commits a heinous crime. The husband is a pushover detective who is trying to solve that heinous crime. But honestly, the book became so much better the second half. I really enjoyed both characters, even the cat. There were times I chuckled at some of the jokes. Then when things were really hitting the fan, I felt sad for both characters. But in the end, I’m glad I pushed through because I truly enjoyed my time reading this book.

My Wife, the Serial Killer was a dark humor kind of read that I found quite entertaining. It reminded me of late seasons of Dexter. The story follows FMC Fran who, as the title states, is a serial killer, no secret to us the readers there, and her husband, MMC Gareth, who is a police detective which makes matters complicated. (And we have to add in the cat Mep who is their sassy fur baby.)
The story starts with the murder of Fran and Gareths neighbor who we find later in the book kind of deserved what he got. The relationship between the couple has many secrets that will eventually come to light. We also see the real life struggles of the couple who are trying to conceive and how that plays a part in their marriage. Overall you do see true love in this odd couple, a serial killer and her detective husband. Admittedly I didn’t care for Gareth in the beginning because his gaze to other females did not sit well with me, but his character grows on you and you see by the end his love for Fran outweighs all.
Aside from the main characters there are quite a few side characters that are fun to read, the neighbor Beryl and her dog Tony is your typical nosy neighbor, Cis and Vivian the strong female personalities that work with Gareth, and Angus the brother who isn’t really a brother but is a brother.
Does she get caught? Do they stay together? You’ll have to read the book to get those answers.
Also thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Fran is your normal suburbanite - good job, loving husband, serial killer tendancies .....

I loved the dark humour in this book and the revenge story to justify the murders but something about it didn't make me excited to pick it up.
The characters were well rounded and Fran & Gareth had great depth.

3.5 stars as something in this book just didn't click for me.

I really enjoyed the humor and banter of this book. Fran has a hilarious personality and I can look past the fact that she might be a serial killer. The other women in the book all seemed to have the same personality without much distinction or unique qualities.

I thought that the book flowed very well and really enjoyed reading it. I did think that the ending was rushed and lacked the proper execution of the character development. Overall a fun light read that I would recommend.

Fran is a great character and I love the idea that having compulsively murdered your neighbour you then have to watch your husband investigate your drime and second guess him at every stage to preserve your freedom! her story is fast, witty and quite stressful. Gareths story was told at a bit more of a plodding pace, which I guess fits to an extent with his character and the attention to detail he needs in his job.
I thought this was a cleverly plotted and written story!