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.

My Wife, The Serial Killer by H. J. Garbett was a great read.
I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

My Wife, The Serial Killer is a well written, witty, and engaging story in all of the best and also unexpected ways. I was hooked right from the beginning and at times I couldn’t put it down.

Towards the end of the book I felt like it dropped off a little and I was a little disappointed. I was desperate for a different ending, for more clarity on what actually happened at the end, and to get a bit of closure on some of the characters. The ending felt abrupt in comparison to the rest of the story and I would’ve loved to have just had a little more there.

The author covered off some really difficult themes but did them well generally and provoked empathy towards the main characters.

So, this book was an unexpected fun read. I could have done without a lot of the backstory, but Fran as a character made me laugh out loud. with some of her unhinged thoughts. She looks at the world the way I do, and I don't know what that makes me.

A character's pov I could have done without was Fran's husband, Gareth. While I understand why it was necessary, there were times I found him a little grating as a character.

I also found there were bouts of repetition in the book, but I'm sensitive to things like that, whereas another reader may not be.

Laugh out loud funny and if you like your murder mysteries with a little unhinged twist I'd definitely recco mend as a quick and enjoyable read.

Disclaimer: I received this book as a free ARC, but all thoughts are my own.

This was such an unexpected story. I don’t really know what I expected, but I enjoyed it! I loved the very real love between the characters, though I definitely struggled with some of the backstory. Without giving anything away, I found this to be an interesting read that kept me immersed in the story throughout.

My Wife, The Serial Killer is such a fun read with the suspense-fulness still in full effect. The humor was intensely on point.

Picture this: Gareth, a goody two shows detective, his wife Fran, a social worker, and Mep, their 17 year old perpetually-on-the-brink-of-death cat who despises them both. Sounds like the perfect nuclear family, doesn't it? Except, Fran likes killing people, specifically, skewering him in the eyeball with her favorite kitchen knife, yikes?)

This morally ambiguous, delightfully chaotic premise had me absolutely buzzing! I was ready to crown Fran my new bookish bestie, queen of the unhinged, and the writing in the first half? Sharp, witty, and perfectly snarky. Also, you'd think a brilliant detective might notice whether his wife is a killer, but our Gareth was too busy being obliviously in love. Honestly, bless his heart, even if it was a bit beige. Fran, bless her homicidal serial killer heart, was the undisputed star of this show, effortlessly carrying the narrative on her delightfully sinister shoulders. And Mep, the 17-year-old feline curmudgeon, was a close second, offering much-needed comic relief with his perpetual disdain.

The initial ride was a rollercoaster of dark humor and I was wholeheartedly rooting for Fran despite her... umm, lethal hobbies. But then, much like Gareth's investigative skills, the book took a bit of a nosedive (lol). The second half dragged its feet, and Gareth, who had the emotional range of a teaspoon (iykyk) in the second half , suddenly started pulling moves so dumb they defied belief.

Despite its fumbling second act, I'd still recommend it since it had all the delicious ingredients for a genuine bestseller, proving that even a slightly unfulfilling ending can't completely spoil a delightfully deranged premise.

#booksta #bookstagram #bookishlife #bookishreview #bookreview #reviews #bookworm #bookishlove #MyWifeTheSerialKiller

I was glued to this book right from the first page! Very funny, very unusual and very entertaining - the quick wit had me chuckling on nearly every page of the first half. Fran, the protagonist comes across as the friend we all need in our corner, inspite of her unusual proclivities!
A thoroughly entertaining, skillfully written read.

This was a quick read for me! It starts out with little backstory and it’s your job to keep reading to find out! I enjoyed the duel pov between husband and wife. I also enjoyed the random internal comments she has! This story started a little slow but picked up the farther you got in the book! I wish there was more to the backstory but enjoyed the golden retriever husband that would do anything for the women he loves!

Gareth is a devoted husband, dedicated police officer, and he follows a straight and narrow path.
Fran is a loving wife, caring social worker, and…..well….. maybe a bit of a psychopath?

Will their marriage be able to survive Fran brutally murdering their new nextdoor neighbor, ahem, I mean the mysterious and totally unexpected disappearance of their new nextdoor neighbor? When duty, the past, corruption, and devotion collide, who will survive and can love really withstand it all?

I really enjoyed this book. I’d love to get more of Fran. My Wife, The Serial Killer is dark and funny and fun. Honestly, it reminded me a bit of Finlay Donovan but if she was a psychopath and not just a circumstance of mistaken identity. Highly suggest for someone who wants a fun twist on crime fiction.

I enjoyed the banter and dark humour in this story. It felt cosy but not in a way. The main thing that was an issue for me was that it felt very predictable and the twists that were meant to shock me just didn’t, but I feel it definitely help distract me briefly from the slump I’m in! I just wish the twists had been a bit more elaborate! It was quick and easy to understand, overall was good for the purpose I needed it for!

3.5 ⭐️ This book was such a fun surprise! The main character, Fran, is funny, witty, a little bit of a psychopath - but oddly enjoyable nonetheless. The story alternates between two points of view: Fran (the wife and serial killer) and Gareth (her husband, who just so happens to be a police detective). That setup alone is already hilarious, but the book delivers even more with its mix of tension, mystery, and some solid character development.

There were moments when the pacing dipped a little and I found myself needing to push through, but overall, it kept me entertained. Clever, sharp, and unexpectedly layered - I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into dark comedy with a splash of crime and chaos.

Fran, a social worker by trade, has some deep secrets that she is trying to keep from her police detective husband, Gareth. She is quietly trying to avenge the death of her sister, Emily, but things go terribly wrong and she is caught. Gareth, a loving and dedicated husband will move and shake things up so the investigation takes a few twists and turns. Written in a fun, easy to read and witty way, I enjoyed the clever writing style. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.