Along with this mini review, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion of Rose City Reader and First Line Friday hosted by Carrie of Reading is My Super Power, as well as Friday 56 hosted by Anne of My Head is Full of Books, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.
Maybe we should have tried marriage counseling. [opening of The Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage]
★
I had so many questions I wasn't going to ask him. I wasn't going to show my hand.
And then it hit me.
We weren't on the same team. We were on opposing sides, circling each other, waiting to see who was going to crack first. [56% of The Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage]
The Serial Killers Guide to Marriage by Asia MacKay
Bantam, 2025
Mystery/Suspense; 334 pgs
Source: Publisher via NetGalley for an honest review
I wasn't smashing the patriarchy; I was killing it. Literally.
Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they're murderers. Well, they used to be. They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to rid from the world. Then Hazel got pregnant.
Now, they’re just another mom-and-dad-and-baby. They gave up vigilante justice for life in the suburbs: arranged play dates instead of body disposals, diapers over daggers, mommy conversations instead of the sweet seduction right before a kill. Hazel finds her new life terribly dull. And the more she forces herself to play her monotonous, predictable role, the more she begins to feel that murderous itch again.
Meanwhile, Fox has really taken to being a father. Always the planner, he loves being five steps ahead of everyone and knowing exactly what’s coming around the bend. Plus, if anyone can understand Hazel needing one more kill, it’s Fox. But then Hazel kills someone without telling Fox. And when police show up at their door, Hazel realizes it will take everything she has to keep her family together. [from the publisher]
My thoughts: The Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage was an entertaining read, not to be taken too seriously. It was a touch dark and macabre, at times funny, and surprisingly somewhat relatable. Not the murdering part. That wasn't relatable. If you strip away the serial killer part, the issues our protagonists struggle with are not unusual in terms of adjusting to life and marriage with a baby. It is a life changing experience, and it completely upends the life they had been living. It's an adjustment Haze (as Fox calls her) is having a hard time making. She loves her daughter very much, but she also feels like she has lost a part of herself. At one point in the novel, Fox thinks Haze may be depressed, and, honestly, I wondered if she might have mild case of postpartum depression.
I did not find Haze or Fox to be particularly likeable characters (I'm not sure I was supposed to--and that's okay), but I did find their story compelling. At times it felt like watching a train wreck. Mostly I just wanted to shake them and force them to sit down and talk to each other truthfully. Haze really hadn't meant to kill that man. Well, maybe she had thought about it a little. She should have come out and told Fox about it right away. Fox's parents showing up on their doorstep was a complete surprise, and Fox keeping their ultimatum a secret from his wife didn't help. All their secrets kept adding up, snowballing from there.
My favorite character in the novel besides little Bibi who is the daughter of Haze and Fox, was Jenny, a mother who befriends Haze over the course of the novel. Jenny is not in the best of places mentally or financially when they first meet, but I think she ended up being really good for Haze. Matty was another favorite, and I appreciated the way the author incorporated his character throughout the novel. In a way, I felt like his character grounded Haze.
It took a few chapters before The Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage took off for me, but when it finally did, I had a hard time putting it down. The tension increased, the stakes kept getting higher, and it was just a matter of time before Fox and Haze would have to confront one another. As others have said, the novel does have a Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibe (if you are familiar with the movie or television series). I came away from the novel wondering if it counted as a mystery/thriller or was it a dark and twisted rom com, but have decided it does not really matter. It was a fun read. Thank you to everyone who voted for this one in my February TBR List poll! (Be sure to stop by tomorrow to vote in March's poll!)
Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?
Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.
Which books are you looking forward to reading this spring? (March-May)?
I am excited about many of the upcoming book club picks this spring for the clubs I am in. Those are about the only ones I can predict with near certainty I will read. I hope to fit in other books I am looking forward to as well, but today I thought I would focus on some of the spring book club selections. Unfortunately, the May list isn't available yet, so this list just covers March and April.
- Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji (March - Mystery Book Club)
- Ida, In Love or in Trouble by Veronica Chambers (March - Historical Fiction Book Club)
- Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott (March - Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club - I thought I'd try the group out since I want to read the book.)
- The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos by Melissa De La Cruz (April - Diverse Romance Book Club)
- Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa (April - Cellar Door Book Club)
- All the Good People Here by Ashley Flowers (April - Mystery Book Club)
I also plan to read Steel's Edge (The Edge #4) by Ilona Andrews for the COYER Ilona Andrews' Edge and Inn Keeper read-a-long in April (I am currently reading Fate's Edge which is March's book).
What are you looking forward to reading this spring?
Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.
How much time does blogging take out of your life weekly? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
It feels like a lot sometimes, especially when you add in visiting other blogs. I follow quite a few blogs, and I also do my best to visit all the blogs of those who comment on my posts or those participating in the memes I participate in. I do not always succeed, but I make an effort. I have never really paid much attention to the actual amount of time I spend blogging per week. Some days I am able to get onto the computer to work on my blog and other days not at all. There are days I can fit in five minutes while other days an hour or two. I do a lot of the prep work on the weekends if I am able. Ideally, I would be way ahead in prepping, but I just don't have that kind of time to dedicate to doing so. Some days or weeks, I am lucky if a post goes up at all. Blogging is a hobby for me, something I do for fun, and so isn't always a priority as a result.
How much time do you spend blogging? Do you dedicate time each day or get to it when you can?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!
© 2025, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
It's nice when side characters add something real. I'm not sure if it's a mystery or a rom-com either, but it does sound like a fun, twisted read.
ReplyDeleteLux - It was a fun read, if dark. :-) Thank you for visiting!
DeleteThose are good points! Blogging is a hobby of mine, one I refuse to let go after all this time. I find myself ahead with some posts only because at one point I wrote ahead when I went on a trip somewhere and then I kept at it so that way if I ever fell sick or something else happened, I'd still have some stuff that would go up in my absence. Like this week! Of course my sickness took me out suddenly but it was after the week had started so luckily everything was already scheduled. Lol. I still put in a few good hours every week to blogging, whether it's visiting the few active blogs I've left, writing posts, and writing reviews.
ReplyDeleteHere's my BBH
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Jessica - There are times when I am able to prep way ahead, but then life happens and I end up behind again. Right now I'm in one of those slightly ahead but not really times. LOL We do the best we can. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteSo excited to have you joining us in the Read-along. I love hearing your thoughts. I'm glad you liked A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. I find it brave to leave the choice to a poll on your blog. I'm too moody to do that. I suppose I could put 3 books where I want to read all of them but still when I sat down to read I might be out of sorts.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Anne - I spend far too much time debating which books should go in a poll--and they all have to be books I really want to read at that moment so I don't mind which wins. Sometimes I end up reading all three options back to back and other times, the mood passes. It hasn't happened often, but there was a time or two a book one that I suddenly wasn't as interested in when it came time to read it. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI try to spend a little time each day checking comments and visiting other people's blogs...though there are days I don't have time for either. But I don't spend tons of time at it. Writing reviews takes some time, too, but I don't review every book I read, so that makes it easier to keep up with. :D
ReplyDeleteLark - I could spend hours reciprocating blog visits. I think if I didn't take part in some of the memes, it would cut down on the the amount of time, but I enjoy visiting with many of the other participants too much. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteGlad to know you can't relate to the murderer part of the book. Ha! I laughed out loud when I read that comment.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Haha! Just in case anyone had doubts. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI think my comment on my blogging time would reflect very much what Lark says above. I do try to get around and read and comment on blogs daily or every two days. I get so behind otherwise. My own posts take a bit of time, but not too much. Mostly just trying to figure out what I will share. And I will say that I am 'kind' to myself about taking blog breaks. Wendy, you have been writing some great book reviews lately. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteKay - It's easy to get behind. I feel behind this week. I will probably have to cut down on posts and commenting next month because I have too much going on offline. And I'm okay with that. :-) Thank you for your kind words about my recent reviews. The credit goes to the books. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI really don't know how much time I spend on blogging. When I first started blogging, as part of a class for librarians during the summer, I was told to spend as much time visiting other bloggers as you do blogging. I think that is good advice.
ReplyDeleteDeb - I agree. That is good advice! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteOh I love the sound of this book! Definitely a bit odd but in an entertaining way. I've had to come to realization that I can't do everything everyday so I'm better about just doing what I can now. It's taken the stress of blogging a bit thankfully.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I wish that advice was as easy to apply to other things in my life. LOL But it is very true. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThis book sounds really intriguing. I added it to my wish list.
ReplyDeleteYvonne - I hope you like it if you read it!
DeleteSerial Killer's Guide sounds like a hoot.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the Edge readalong, too. Fun listening!
Sophia - It was! I hope you enjoy Fate's Edge! I am so glad to see Jack and George play a big part. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI looked back to see when I read Tell the Wolves I'm Home and it was almost 11 years ago. I loved that novel and might give it a re-read sometime in the future. (I always say that, but rarely follow through!) As far as blogging time, I typically check my favorite blogs once every day or two, trying to comment if I have something more to say besides "Me, too!" I've gotten away from my own blog other than posting reviews of what I've read, along with a monthly summary. I'd like to get back to sharing reviews from my book journals (from pre-blogging days), as well as catching up on my travel posts. My blogiversary was last month and I've been blogging for 19 years! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteLes - I am glad to hear you loved Tell the Wolves I'm Home. It does sound good! Congratulations on 19 years of blogging! This will be my 19th year come this summer. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThat book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI spend a few hours in the morning visiting blogs and writing blog posts. Most days I have about 30 posts scheduled and ready to go so I can spend some time visiting other blogs.
Mary - That's awesome that you are so far ahead with your blogging! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI used to have a system, now I can forget to comment for days . I also used to blog every day, but now I blog a few times a week :)
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd - It's easy to do, especially when we have other things going on and taking priority in our lives. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI love blogging - I am retired, and reviewing and blogging has turned into a fun, full-time job!! :)
ReplyDeleteAny time we can do something we love is wonderful. :)
I do make sure I answer every comment and visit other blogs too.
Elizabeth - It definitely could be a full-time job! And I agree, it's time worth spent if it is time spent doing something we love. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteThe Mr & Mrs Smith comparison for A Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage really intrigues me. From what you've said in regards to it being dark but not to be taken too seriously it kind of gives me How To Kill Men & Get Away With It vibes, which I found an oddly compelling read so I think this one could work for me too.
ReplyDeleteI majorly want to pick up Thistlefoot sometime too so I don't blame you for joining a book club when you spotted it as an option. I hope you have fun. It looks like you have a lovely mixture of clubs and book choices. I hope you have a wonderful March.
As to the blogging time thing I really need to get the balance better. I've spent so much time blogging the last few months that I've barely read 🙈 so I'm trying to get the balance right in March, hopefully without falling totally behind 🤞 as you said its a fun hobby. Sometimes catch up takes longer than you expect though
Charlotte - I haven't read How To Kill Men & Get Away With It, but I do want to! I hope to start Thistlefoot soon.
DeleteBlogging can be so time consuming if I let it be. It really can be a struggle to find a good balance between reading and blogging.
Thank you for stopping by!
I am enjoying the sarcastic/funny murder mysteries that are popular right now.
ReplyDeleteFor March, I am doing Reading Ireland so have a couple cozy mysteries, crime thrillers and drama, my theme for April will be historical fiction as I have a lot on my TBR and haven't read much histfic lately. Otherwise, not sure. Blogging and Blog Hopping takes a lot of time, but I usually do it while watching TV. It sounds like you have some good choices coming up, Wendy.
ReplyDeleteA Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage sounds so good! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Hope you have a wonderful week! :D
ReplyDelete