How to Kill Your Rival
The brand new enemies to lovers contract killer dark romantic comedy for fans of Lights Out and Butcher and Blackbird for 2026
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Pub Date 11 Oct 2026 | Archive Date 7 Oct 2026
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Description
Those who slay together… Stay together.
As the heir apparent to the Death Council – a secret organisation of elite contract killers – Eliza Hamilton is fighting to prove herself in a room full of men who'd rather take advice from a corpse than a woman.
Then someone starts sabotaging her kills.
Her targets keep turning up dead before she can get to them, damaging her reputation and making her look incompetent.
Her prime suspect is her new stepbrother, James Rutherford: an infuriatingly gorgeous professional pain in her arse, and her biggest rival. Also one of the few people alive skilled enough to pull it off.
But when a far deadlier threat emerges, Eliza and James are forced to do the unthinkable: work together.
As the body count rises, so does the tension between them. Between the arguments, the sabotage and a shared enthusiasm for creative homicide, an inconvenient attraction begins to spark. One built on competition, mutual respect, and entirely too much eye contact over dead bodies.
But solving the mystery means getting closer than either of them would like, and the line between rivalry and obsession is becoming harder to ignore. After all, there's a fine line between wanting to kill someone...
...and wanting to kiss them.
Praise for How to Kidnap a Fake Date:
'I couldn't put How to Kidnap a Fake Date down. It's raunchy, hilarious, and seriously hot. Effie Campbell blew me away with this one!' Lauren Biel, bestselling author of the Slaycation series
'Packed with dark humour, quirky chaos and scorching chemistry, this dark rom-com is impossible to resist.' Bestselling dark romance author Harleigh Beck
'A thrilling romance of figuring out who you are and hiking — I mean, accidentally finding — love along the way.' D.L. Darby, author of Dolls & Daggers
'If it’s a deliciously dark rom-com you’re after, then Effie Campbell will have you hooked.' B.J. Alpha, bestselling dark romance author
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781807437725 |
| PRICE | £1.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 272 |
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Featured Reviews
Jadelle T, Reviewer
COFFIN FOR LIFE!
Everything about this was just disgustingly great 🤣!
James the greenest red flag you’ll ever come across and Eliza the absolute bad B that she is! James the literal epitome of ‘if he wanted to he would’.
I loved the rival banter between James and Eliza, add in the fact that they’re step siblings and I was ready to drop and give it everything.
I love the British humour. Sarcasm, lowest form of wit? I don’t care it will always be hilarious to me.
I feel like part of the plot could have been beefed out in regard to the loose ends being tied up. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during Evan’s confrontation with Jacob and although Patrick got what he deserved I feel like he needed to be absolutely tore a new one in front of everyone. (This is just personal preference and no slight on the book in any way.)
Any book by Effie is an immediate read for me. The darkness coupled with the humour just gives me belly fuzzies!
Payton H, Reviewer
This book…. Let me tell you this book. I was unprepared to be giggling so much even with all the murder. I loved seeing into Jame’s brain. His obsession with and commitment to Eliza is solid. He knew they were inevitable and was willing to wait until Eliza got on page with that. The competition between the two of them was everything. That will never go away. It made for fun and creative moments throughout the story. Eliza was so set in her ways but James was one of the few that could get under her skin and break down those walls. I really enjoyed seeing her be able to relax more in his presence as the book went.
I also really love this family. I absolutely plan on going back and reading book 1 and I 10000 percent plan on checking out the next one. The animals were also top tier in this story.
CLAUDIA H, Reviewer
Ahhh!
Soo Goood!
This is the second in this series and having loved the first book (with Maggie and Roman), I was excited for this one and I ripped through it! So easy to read, such fun banter, engaging situations, and addictive sizzling attraction! Love that!
Eliza Hamilton is absolutely lethal and a formidable woman. In the business of contract k!ll!ng, she has few equals, but James (her step brother) might just be one.
The chemistry between these two is addictive and easy to connect with, and I LOVED how he championed and supported her. He has been waiting for her for a while, and for her to choose him.
The rivalry between them definitely keeps the pages flipping and while some of their actions are just, ewwwww, I really enjoyed myself! The playfulness of this HEA was really entertaining, but the situation with the Death Council is still tense and I cannot WAIT to see how things resolve.
I recommend reading in order for the best experience with the characters and storyline.
I thank Boldwood Books and the author for my ARC, and happily leave my thoughts.
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