This book totally caught me off guard—in the best way. My Wife, the Serial Killer is a smart, darkly funny take on marriage, murder, and moral gray areas. It kicks off with Fran killing her neighbor, and from there, things spiral in the most entertaining way, especially since her husband, Gareth, is a detective… and completely clueless.

The story flips between Fran’s sarcastic, often hilarious inner thoughts and Gareth’s more grounded, methodical POV. It’s not a traditional thriller with constant action or a long trail of bodies. Instead, it leans into character tension and emotional stakes. Fran is one of those characters you know you shouldn’t root for, but somehow you do.

It’s fast-paced, easy to read, and has a strong voice throughout. I flew through it in a day. That said, a few parts dragged a little, and some of the supporting characters felt a bit thin. But overall, this was such a fun and twisted ride.

If you like your crime fiction with a sense of humor, emotional weight, and morally questionable leads, this one’s worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC.

I am struggling with how to rate this one. It took me awhile to get into the book and the characters made it difficult for me to really connect. It was not a bad book, but was not my favorite.

My Wife, The Serial Killer is a dark and intriguing read that cleverly blends suspense with dark humor. The story offers a fresh take on the domestic thriller genre, with a protagonist whose unsettling secrets keep you guessing throughout. Garbett’s writing keeps the tone sharp and engaging, and the plot twists are genuinely surprising without feeling forced. I did find some parts a bit quick or surface level, which is why I couldn’t give it a full five stars, but overall, it’s a gripping and inventive story. Perfect for anyone who enjoys psychological suspense with a twisted edge.

This novel centers around Francesca, also known as Fran, a dedicated social worker in child protection, and her husband, Gareth, a detective. Recently settled into their new home, this happily married couple has been trying to start a family for a few years.
The story takes a turn when their neighbor, Mr. O'Neill, mysteriously disappears. While Gareth's boss dismisses it as a cut and dried case pointing out that elderly individuals often go missing .Gareth senses that something isn't quite right. As the investigation unfolds, unexpected revelations emerge. Is Gareth truly aware of what his wife , is there more to the story? Or what is she hiding?
To discover the full tale, be sure to read the book.
This novel is a captivating mix of dark humor, sarcasm, murder mystery, thriller, love, marriage, and family dynamics.
The witty exchanges between the protagonists are delightful. Fran's internal monologues are extraordinary. The sibling bond is portrayed beautifully. The twist at the end is completely unexpected.
Overall, it's a well-crafted book that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Sehr sehr unterhaltsam! In dem grossen Teich der "killing - how funny" ein wirklich lustiger Inhalt. Oh wie süss-naiv die Hauptfigur ihre Taten schönredet und dabei aufpassen muss, nicht vor ihrem Polizei-Gatten aufzufliegen. Sehr lustig!

3.5 stars

I thought this book had a cool concept, and I found the main characters interesting - but something about the story didn’t click for me. The pacing of the story was very weird, and there didn’t seem to be an actual story arc, just a series of events.

I’m also not really sure what genre this book was supposed to be. It is being marketed as being hilarious but I didn’t not find it very funny or comedic.

Besides the main characters, who had some depth, all the other characters were very flat and stereotypical.

An excellent read in the vein of the Emma Donohue series and Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone in my family has killed someone.


A police detective with a serial killer wife.....what could go wrong? This debut takes readers along for a wild ride as the characters keep the story racing from one house to the next, from one grave to the next. Some of the most entertaining reading I've had lately.

This is a darkly funny, fast-moving read that pulled me in from the start. Fran is completely unhinged in the best way—she’s sharp, unpredictable, and has a talent for getting herself (and everyone around her) into chaos. You never quite know what she’s going to do next—and honestly, I don’t think she does either. Gareth, her strait-laced detective husband, is her total opposite. Raised Catholic, allergic to lying, and always trying to do the right thing, he’s constantly trying to clean up the mess without losing his mind. Their dynamic is hilarious, tense, and super compelling to follow.

This book does a great job blending heavier themes like marriage, infertility, and grief with dry humor and a twisty murder mystery. It never gets overly graphic or gory, but still brings the suspense when it counts.

If you like crime fiction that’s sharp, witty, and a little offbeat, this is definitely one to check out.

3.75***
My Wife, the Serial Killer is a twisted and surprisingly funny novel that grabs you at the beginning and doesn't let go. It was described as Dexter meets Schitt's Creek and I completely agree, sometimes it can be a little far fetched, but it worked! It centers around married couple Fran and her police detective husband, Gareth. Gareth, never being a rule breaker, begins to suspect that foul play was at hand when his neighbor goes missing, and he slowly begins to speculate that Fran is responsible. This is a great blend of psychological suspense and offbeat humor, told through both Gareth and Fran points of view. And through it all, they are barely keeping it together.

I enjoyed the banter as well as the constant changes between the FMC and MMC. HJ did a good job of showing how things wore down on each of them, conveyed the "concern" about being caught or catching the person as well as how to...resolve.

I had many times of actually laughing out loud and a couple gasping moments as well.

Overall a fun and decently quick read!

My Wife, The Serial Killer has an interesting title and the plot does not let us down. Fran and Gareth are a normal couple living in a quiet neighborhood. There is just one twist. Or maybe two. Fran is a murderer. And Gareth is a police detective.

When Fran murders her neighbour O'Neill in cold blood, she is overjoyed thinking that it is the end of her problems. But little does she know that her husband's detective spidey senses will start working overtime.

What begins is a cat-and-mouse game with Fran trying to outwit Gareth and Gareth trying to get a hold on the situation. The writing is fun - it never descends into self-pity and righteousness. Indeed, Fran is an unhinged character. You can never guess what she is going to do next. Neither can Gareth (or sometimes, even Fran herself). Lying is like second nature to her. Gareth, on the other hand, is a straightforward honest cop brought up in a Catholic household. He abstains from lying even to save his own skin. With two such contrasting characters, the book takes an interesting turn.

This novel is the debut work of author H.J. Garett and he has done a commendable job. The middle part of the story drags along a bit, but I am willing to overlook this bit as it is otherwise unbelievably good. I will look forward to reading more of his books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

4 stars.

A dark, comedic take on a psychological thriller.

Having read the “Sweat Pea” series by C.J.Skuse, I was hoping that My Wife the Serial Killer would be similar, however this book just didn’t hit the spot. I expected there to be more to the story as to why Fran committed murder and was disappointed by the ending. Also, she’s not a serial killer when she’s only murdered two people.

Thank you for NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for access to this eARC

This was a gamble of a selection as not my usual genre. However, it did not disappoint! Unputdownable and laugh out loud at times. A sequel would be a great idea as would love to have a follow up of what happened next for Fran and Gareth. Well written and paced and sad when it ended.

Let me start off with saying I don't think the brand of humor that is in this book is for me. Humor aside, it was an okay book. I did like the dual point of views. I assumed that there would be more tension and more of a cat-and-mouse between the wife and the husband. But there isn't which left me feeling that Fran is a much more developed character than Gareth.

This is a quick read however the pacing does feel off at times.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the arc

This book was addicting. It read similar to a Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman with the humor in the otherwise dark scenes. I appreciated the authors ability to be descriptive without being gory in regards to the murder portions. I enjoyed the themes presented in this novel from love, marriage and infertility to murder mystery and serial killer tendencies. I found this novel to be witty with some laugh out loud moments. I would recommend My Wife, The Serial Killer to anyone that loves a good murder mystery in conjunction to wit and real life issues. This one has it all.

Please note: There are a lot of explicit words used, so if that bothers you, this might not be a good fit.

Ok this book was like eh in the beginning even though Fran was funny. But by the middle to end I couldn’t put it down! I loved the e way the whole story came together and how that other used the other officers and investigators and to piece together the whole what where why and when. Angus’ character gave a delightful addition to the already f-ed up Fran. Gareth is the husband we all want right? Be a serial killer and have a husband who will do anything to keep the marriage together! A must read!

The title caught me but the story kept me hooked. This book is the perfect combination of dark, twisted, and funny. Fran killed her neighbor and unfortunately her husband is a detective so not a great mix. There were so many points when I actually laughed out loud. Fran has her issues but she’s so damn lovable. Gareth was at times a little annoying but he grows on you and by the end it’s hard not to love him.

There were some surprises and it definitely kept you on your toes. I love dark humor so this book was right up my alley and Fran is my kind of FMC. There were some points when the pace slowed down significantly but overall it was great book.

I absolutely loved the epilogue it was such a fun POV and a great way to tie up loose ends. Truthfully in all honesty I’m mostly here for Mep!

This was such a fun and surprisingly feel-good read for a book about… murder. My Wife, the Serial Killer isn’t exactly a mystery (we know who did it… hey Fran!), but it’s more about the chaos that unfolds after. The dual POVs worked perfectly, and both Fran and Gareth were hilarious and extremely likable. If you enjoy your mysteries with sharp humor and a little mess, this one’s for you.

🔪ARC Review: My Wife, the Serial Killer by H.J. Garbett
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

What do you do when your wife turns out to be a cold-blooded killer—and you're the detective trying to solve the murder? Welcome to the gloriously twisted domestic chaos of My Wife, the Serial Killer.

This thriller manages to sprinkle a little comedy on cozy mystery vibes. Fran, our unapologetically bold killer, offs the grumpy old codger next door. Meanwhile, her clueless husband, Gareth, is busy playing detective, completely oblivious that he might be sleeping next to a cold-blooded killer!

While I went in expecting something edgier, I still found this to be a quirky and entertaining ride. The pacing lagged in a few places. It was wordier than needed, but the ending hit with a twist that caught me off guard. A fresh voice worth keeping an eye on.

If you like your mysteries served with a dash of humor and a hefty helping of marital mayhem, give this one a go.

Thanks to the author and Storm Publishing for providing this gifted eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My Wife, The Serial Killer is the book to read. The premise alone had me hooked- your husband’s a detective, and you’ve committed a series of murders… so the big question is: will he stand by you?

From the very first page, this book was brilliant. The dark humor hit just right, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. H.J. Garbett’s writing style is sharp, witty, and incredibly easy to read- it just works.

And Fran? I absolutely loved her. She’s completely unhinged, unpredictable, and somehow still relatable. I was rooting for her from the beginning, even when I probably shouldn’t have been. She’s the kind of character who stays with you long after the last page.