A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia MackayMy rating: ✨✨
I did that thing again where the title and cover of a book drew my attention on NetGalley, and I didn't do any plot reading until I'd already sent the request through. Happily, A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage sounded like a book I'd be glad to read. Somewhat unhappily it turned out not to be.
Hazel and Fox are married and they're both ex-serial killers. Fox is from a wealthy American family, and the pair enjoyed a lavish London lifestyle until their daughter came along. Swapping the swish for the suburbs, they both struggle with the reality of leaving certain aspects of their old life behind.
I'm uncertain as to whether Asia Mackay wanted to portray Fox and Hazel in the ways she did, meaning I'm uncertain as to whether we're all meant to really like Fox and really dislike Haze (even her name being shortened to that inexplicably irritated me), because in my eyes he could do no wrong, whereas I found Hazel to be petulant, whiny and self-serving.
Fox's chapters interested me more, especially with the inclusion of his parents and his brother. His world felt much more grounded and relatable, drama aside, and the frustrations he felt in various circumstances were all completely valid to me. On the flip side I found Hazel to be far too airy, she just so happens to be a killer who befriends a cop, and her actions are so rash and badly thought out that I found her to be a really annoying character. The messages to the dead friend were quite jarring as well; I feel they really didn't add anything to the overall storyline and could’ve easily been left out.
It took me quite a while to finish the book because it was hard to want to read said book when 50% of the main character cohort was Hazel.
As things came to a head in the final chapters I felt like the ending was being rushed along, and certain things were conveniently explained away that could've done with more attention and page space. I didn't hate the book, and found a bunch of the plot to be interesting, it just never really hit its full potential. Being completely frank I'd be in no rush to recommend a split-perspective that I found half-unenjoyable due to such an unlikeable character taking up half of the story.
Brilliant premise badly delivered.
A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is available for pre-order now, and will be released on January 14th 2025. I’d like to extend many great thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire at Headline Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.
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