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This Girl's a Killer
Ask Cordelia Black why she did it. The answer will always be: He had it coming.
Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.
By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men—monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.
But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.
Soon enough Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family, and her freedom, depend on it.
Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.
By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men—monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.
But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.
Soon enough Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family, and her freedom, depend on it.
Audiobook
First published September 10, 2024
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About the author
Emma C. Wells
4 books426 followersEmma C. Wells is the USA Today bestselling author of This Girl's A Killer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,831 reviews
October 31, 2024
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 3.75 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ℝ𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕌𝕡 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
This was so much fun! If you enjoy 'likable' serial killers such as Dexter Morgan, Joe Goldberg and the FMC from the Mindfuck series - I think it's a safe bet that you'll like this one.
Cordelia, our FMC is a successful pharmaceutical rep with a designer wardrobe and a sharp witted and sassy personality who happens to be on her own Me Too mission. Often letting her dark passenger out to play...
She is fiercely loyal to her best friend Diane, a single mother who has terrible taste in men. When she meets Diane’s latest, her spidey-sense tells her he is bad news but she tries to be fair…until she can’t. After all, she’s a serial killer.
Honestly, this couldn't have hit my inbox at a better time. Recently and totally by chance, I started doing a re-watch of Dexter - it's been a while and I've forgotten so much that it's like watching it for the first time again. He's such a freaking loveable 'villain' and I think Cordelia is almost just as fantastic as Dexter.
This one will have you 'good for you girling', fist pumping and rooting for the serial killer. Highly entertaining and super addictive from the first page! Definitely recommend if you're looking for something quick and fun with a fantastically unhinged vigilante FMC on a mission to make bad men pay. 👀🔪🎃
The pacing was great, the writing was solid. The title and the cover are perfect! Love, love, love!
╰⪼ 🩸Found Family
╰⪼ 🔪Female Rage
╰⪼ 😎Sassy Serial Killer
╰⪼ 🩸Morally Grey FMC
╰⪼ 🔪Dark Humor
Also, if you enjoy audiobooks - this one is expertly done! The narrator, Stefanie Kay really brought Cordelia and the story to life! Chef's kiss! Mwah! 👩🍳💋
This was a tad bit repetitive in some areas, but nothing that hindered my reading enjoyment.
✨ Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audio copy - all thoughts are my own. ✨
This was so much fun! If you enjoy 'likable' serial killers such as Dexter Morgan, Joe Goldberg and the FMC from the Mindfuck series - I think it's a safe bet that you'll like this one.
Cordelia, our FMC is a successful pharmaceutical rep with a designer wardrobe and a sharp witted and sassy personality who happens to be on her own Me Too mission. Often letting her dark passenger out to play...
She is fiercely loyal to her best friend Diane, a single mother who has terrible taste in men. When she meets Diane’s latest, her spidey-sense tells her he is bad news but she tries to be fair…until she can’t. After all, she’s a serial killer.
Honestly, this couldn't have hit my inbox at a better time. Recently and totally by chance, I started doing a re-watch of Dexter - it's been a while and I've forgotten so much that it's like watching it for the first time again. He's such a freaking loveable 'villain' and I think Cordelia is almost just as fantastic as Dexter.
This one will have you 'good for you girling', fist pumping and rooting for the serial killer. Highly entertaining and super addictive from the first page! Definitely recommend if you're looking for something quick and fun with a fantastically unhinged vigilante FMC on a mission to make bad men pay. 👀🔪🎃
The pacing was great, the writing was solid. The title and the cover are perfect! Love, love, love!
╰⪼ 🩸Found Family
╰⪼ 🔪Female Rage
╰⪼ 😎Sassy Serial Killer
╰⪼ 🩸Morally Grey FMC
╰⪼ 🔪Dark Humor
Also, if you enjoy audiobooks - this one is expertly done! The narrator, Stefanie Kay really brought Cordelia and the story to life! Chef's kiss! Mwah! 👩🍳💋
This was a tad bit repetitive in some areas, but nothing that hindered my reading enjoyment.
✨ Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audio copy - all thoughts are my own. ✨
November 29, 2024
Vigilante or serial killer? Either way, I’d invite Cordelia Black to brunch.
Cordelia is no ordinary killer. Her hit list only includes rapists, child abusers, women beaters, the occasional murderer. Your average jerk has nothing to fear. Think Dexter, but with manicured nails, a sharper tongue, and a much more glamorous wardrobe. Because a cute woman in a killer black dress couldn't ✨possibly✨ be hauling a body into her car!
Cordelia’s story isn’t just about finding peace. It’s about protecting innocents, including the ones she loves in a world that has failed women/transgender/non-binary people and children repeatedly. She’s the vigilante that happens when the system is so broken that she has no choice but to become her own source of justice.
Can we blame her? We’ve been told to stay patient, stay polite, stay palatable. But here we are, still fighting the same battles whether it's equal rights and freedom from discrimination, access to healthcare, education, safety, or the right to control our own bodies, all while the world shrugs and tells us to try smiling more.
If you enjoy sharp, thought-provoking thrillers with a snarky narrator and addictive, snackable chapters, this book is a must-read. Just be prepared to feel a lot of emotions because it's a wild ride and so much goes wrong, so fast. It spiked my anxiety, shook my already shaky faith in humanity, and had me cheering at the end.
All in all, a bloody, completely unhinged, entertaining, satisfying trip. Shoutout to Mango, my precious, cheese-loving poodle.
This needs to be made into a movie or TV show immediately.
My thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content warnings and author's note: While Cordelia's violence happens on page, the actions of the men she kills does not. Their crimes are mentioned but not discussed in detail, and are absolutely not glorified in any way.
🔹🔹🔹
She doesn’t ghost bad men, she vanishes them 🔪🩸
Cordelia is no ordinary killer. Her hit list only includes rapists, child abusers, women beaters, the occasional murderer. Your average jerk has nothing to fear. Think Dexter, but with manicured nails, a sharper tongue, and a much more glamorous wardrobe. Because a cute woman in a killer black dress couldn't ✨possibly✨ be hauling a body into her car!
Cordelia’s story isn’t just about finding peace. It’s about protecting innocents, including the ones she loves in a world that has failed women/transgender/non-binary people and children repeatedly. She’s the vigilante that happens when the system is so broken that she has no choice but to become her own source of justice.
Can we blame her? We’ve been told to stay patient, stay polite, stay palatable. But here we are, still fighting the same battles whether it's equal rights and freedom from discrimination, access to healthcare, education, safety, or the right to control our own bodies, all while the world shrugs and tells us to try smiling more.
If you enjoy sharp, thought-provoking thrillers with a snarky narrator and addictive, snackable chapters, this book is a must-read. Just be prepared to feel a lot of emotions because it's a wild ride and so much goes wrong, so fast. It spiked my anxiety, shook my already shaky faith in humanity, and had me cheering at the end.
All in all, a bloody, completely unhinged, entertaining, satisfying trip. Shoutout to Mango, my precious, cheese-loving poodle.
This needs to be made into a movie or TV show immediately.
My thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content warnings and author's note: While Cordelia's violence happens on page, the actions of the men she kills does not. Their crimes are mentioned but not discussed in detail, and are absolutely not glorified in any way.
🔹🔹🔹
She doesn’t ghost bad men, she vanishes them 🔪🩸
October 1, 2024
⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ 4★ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
I was hooked from the start! The humour and the drama were honestly done so well. I can go behind serial killers who have good intentions of killing bad people. This girl ruined her own ritual and started getting so paranoid and anxious about everything and when I’ll tell you my anxiety went through the roof reading that. The way people kept showing up at her house out of nowhere made me so anxious.
: ̗̀➛ Cordelia
She’s such a badass for all the trauma she went through in childhood. She is fiercely loyal to her best friend Diane and her goddaughter. The relationship she has with her goddaughter is honestly so adorable!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
⋆.˚🦋༘⋆ preread
I really should stop starting new books when i’m currently reading two already anywho I’m excited to read this!!
The title is literally making me sing the girl’s a liar.
I was hooked from the start! The humour and the drama were honestly done so well. I can go behind serial killers who have good intentions of killing bad people. This girl ruined her own ritual and started getting so paranoid and anxious about everything and when I’ll tell you my anxiety went through the roof reading that. The way people kept showing up at her house out of nowhere made me so anxious.
: ̗̀➛ Cordelia
She’s such a badass for all the trauma she went through in childhood. She is fiercely loyal to her best friend Diane and her goddaughter. The relationship she has with her goddaughter is honestly so adorable!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
⋆.˚🦋༘⋆ preread
I really should stop starting new books when i’m currently reading two already anywho I’m excited to read this!!
The title is literally making me sing the girl’s a liar.
October 28, 2024
This masterpiece deserves 5 stars and more! I can't believe it's a debut book and I'm totally obsessed with it!
Meet Cordelia Black who is not your average leading lady, oh definitively not! By day, she's owning it in her career as a pharma rep, but when night falls, she transforms into this badass avenger, taking down the bad guys with style and finesse. I It's like she's got a double life, and it's absolutely fascinating!
I absolutely adore Cordelia and want to be her bff! She's such a complex, multi-dimensional character. She's got flaws, she's got depth, and she's so real you feel like you could reach out and touch her. But it's not just Cordelia who shines in this story. The whole cast of characters is just so well-drawn, so relatable. And the plot twists? They kept me guessing until the very end. I love it when a book can still surprise me!
So, if you're into strong, complex characters, gripping plots, and a good dose of suspense, "This Girl's a Killer" is definitely worth your time. Emma C. Wells is a rising star in the literary world, and this book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that she's here to stay. Highly, highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Meet Cordelia Black who is not your average leading lady, oh definitively not! By day, she's owning it in her career as a pharma rep, but when night falls, she transforms into this badass avenger, taking down the bad guys with style and finesse. I It's like she's got a double life, and it's absolutely fascinating!
I absolutely adore Cordelia and want to be her bff! She's such a complex, multi-dimensional character. She's got flaws, she's got depth, and she's so real you feel like you could reach out and touch her. But it's not just Cordelia who shines in this story. The whole cast of characters is just so well-drawn, so relatable. And the plot twists? They kept me guessing until the very end. I love it when a book can still surprise me!
So, if you're into strong, complex characters, gripping plots, and a good dose of suspense, "This Girl's a Killer" is definitely worth your time. Emma C. Wells is a rising star in the literary world, and this book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that she's here to stay. Highly, highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 28, 2024
A deliciously unhinged, somewhat satirical take on a serial killer plot, This Girl’s a Killer evoked a slightly milder Dexter down to its core. The best two pieces of this one, however? Those were easily the giggle-worthy dark humor and Cordelia herself. Between her perfectly crafted evil yet root-for-able persona and the fun, character-driven plot, all of her monstrous, gut-wrenching deeds had me flying through the pages in just under twenty-four hours.
Speaking of Cordelia, she wasn’t the only winning character in this delightful crazy train ride. From the best friend who was the perfect foil in all of her goodness to an individual you’ll just love to hate, there was a bit of everything to satisfy you down to your bones. The take-no-prisoners protagonist, however, was still my favorite by far. A killer with a moral code, I loved watching her setting bad men to rights—thankfully in a mostly non-graphic way.
Just so we’re clear, though, as much as I loved these personas and the events that unfurled, I wouldn’t exactly call either of them true-to-life. Oh no. You’re definitely going to need to suspend all disbelief before diving into this one with glee. After all, I have to believe that in reality Cordelia would’ve been caught long ago. That’s not to say that it wasn’t entertaining in the extreme. With chaos running amok and drama taking center stage, I thoroughly enjoyed speeding through this epic rollercoaster ride of suspense.
All said and done, from the smile-inducing friendship between Cordelia and Diane to the fast-paced, almost frantic unraveling, I seriously had palpitations as I raced to learn what was going to happen. Now I just need to know if there’s going to be a book two. Please say that it’s so, my dear Ms. Wells? I mean, who could pass up a dark, twisted premise with an almost cozy-esque vibe? Okay. Now it’s time for you to order this one ASAP. Surely you knew that was coming. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.
By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men―monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.
But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.
Soon enough Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family, and her freedom, depend on it.
Thank you to Emma C. Wells, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 29, 2024
Trigger warning: forced captivity, knife violence, serial murder, controlling relationship, gaslighting, mention of: pedophilia, rape
Speaking of Cordelia, she wasn’t the only winning character in this delightful crazy train ride. From the best friend who was the perfect foil in all of her goodness to an individual you’ll just love to hate, there was a bit of everything to satisfy you down to your bones. The take-no-prisoners protagonist, however, was still my favorite by far. A killer with a moral code, I loved watching her setting bad men to rights—thankfully in a mostly non-graphic way.
Just so we’re clear, though, as much as I loved these personas and the events that unfurled, I wouldn’t exactly call either of them true-to-life. Oh no. You’re definitely going to need to suspend all disbelief before diving into this one with glee. After all, I have to believe that in reality Cordelia would’ve been caught long ago. That’s not to say that it wasn’t entertaining in the extreme. With chaos running amok and drama taking center stage, I thoroughly enjoyed speeding through this epic rollercoaster ride of suspense.
All said and done, from the smile-inducing friendship between Cordelia and Diane to the fast-paced, almost frantic unraveling, I seriously had palpitations as I raced to learn what was going to happen. Now I just need to know if there’s going to be a book two. Please say that it’s so, my dear Ms. Wells? I mean, who could pass up a dark, twisted premise with an almost cozy-esque vibe? Okay. Now it’s time for you to order this one ASAP. Surely you knew that was coming. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: Her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men.
By day she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men―monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer, she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control.
But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for.
Soon enough Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family, and her freedom, depend on it.
Thank you to Emma C. Wells, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 29, 2024
Trigger warning: forced captivity, knife violence, serial murder, controlling relationship, gaslighting, mention of: pedophilia, rape
October 18, 2024
A very entertaining and addictive read.
The characters are very unique and well fleshed out and I definitely rooted for the killer.
The narration of the audiobook was great and added to the well paced rhythm.
It has a lot of suspense and tension, a lot of twists and turns, great humour and interesting feminist motivations.
The characters are very unique and well fleshed out and I definitely rooted for the killer.
The narration of the audiobook was great and added to the well paced rhythm.
It has a lot of suspense and tension, a lot of twists and turns, great humour and interesting feminist motivations.
February 18, 2025
A female dexter and a diva? 🔪🙋🏼♀️ Say less, this was such a fun read — if you support women's wrongs, this one is for you!
The premise of this book instantly captivated me from the outset. It's packed full of drama and humour.
Cordila black is the female Luigi — she utilises violence to rectify social wrongs. She's known as a pharmaceutical rep but her true calling is a vigilante. She's fiercely protective of her best friend Diane, who has the bad fortune of getting mixed up with horrible men. Their friendship completed each other well. She sets out not only to protect those close to her, but vulnerable members of the community in a bid to protect equal rights for all. Unfortunately, she had a bit of bad luck and becomes highly anxious. Cordila is an unsung hero and I absolutely loved her character 🤭
There are many twist and turns to the story, it's actioned packed, fast paced and anxiety inducing. Once one thing starts to go wrong, it has a flow on effect and goes from bad to worse. I was living for the drama of it all.
If you're in the mood for something unhinged, this is the perfect choice and a fantastic debut novel.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review! Available Now.
The premise of this book instantly captivated me from the outset. It's packed full of drama and humour.
Cordila black is the female Luigi — she utilises violence to rectify social wrongs. She's known as a pharmaceutical rep but her true calling is a vigilante. She's fiercely protective of her best friend Diane, who has the bad fortune of getting mixed up with horrible men. Their friendship completed each other well. She sets out not only to protect those close to her, but vulnerable members of the community in a bid to protect equal rights for all. Unfortunately, she had a bit of bad luck and becomes highly anxious. Cordila is an unsung hero and I absolutely loved her character 🤭
There are many twist and turns to the story, it's actioned packed, fast paced and anxiety inducing. Once one thing starts to go wrong, it has a flow on effect and goes from bad to worse. I was living for the drama of it all.
If you're in the mood for something unhinged, this is the perfect choice and a fantastic debut novel.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review! Available Now.
July 5, 2024
“This girls a killer” was SUCH A FANTASTIC read!! 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all around absolutely loved it! An absolute must read…
The plot follows the life of Cordelia (or many lives), by day she is an entrepreneur, business woman in the pharmaceutical industry as well as her strong connection with her best friend and god daughter. On the side she likes to dabble in her own kind of fun foreplay - desposing of evil bad men.
This book is giving butcher and blackbird vibes, minus the butcher. We don’t need a lovey romance here; we have all the feel goods between her and her bestie/mini bestie. Although at one point I did suspect a certain LI connection between her bestie and McSmiley, perhaps a book 2?
I love her god daughter, she is hilarious and sassy and definitely takes too much after her godmother. I also love the best friend dynamic which shows women that friendships can be enough to fulfil and sustain you without the qualms of messy romantic entanglements.
Everything is going swimmingly for Cordelia, she has her lifestyle organized to the last second and the system works well for her. That is until a wrench is thrown in the mix and things start going from bad to worse. On top of that her bestie seems to be dating a questionably slimy man who may cause even more trouble for her.
I loved the humour, the drama, the action. I can always get behind a serial killer with a big heart and good intentions. This book gave me so much anxiety!! 🤣🤣 To say when things start to go bad, everything that can possibly go wrong.. goes wrong!!! Between all the chaos, drama, running around and endless lines of people turning up to her home at the LEAST convenient of times, my frail heart could barely handle the tension 🤣🤣🤣
This book was fast paced, highly entertaining and had all the feel good 5⭐️ vibes you could ask for.
This is my first book by the author and I can’t wait to read more.
**edit** I spoke with the author and a book 2 **may possibly** be in the works, fingers crossed!**
Thank you to Emma C Wells, Poisened Pen Press and NetGalley for the EARC.
Publish date, September 10th
The plot follows the life of Cordelia (or many lives), by day she is an entrepreneur, business woman in the pharmaceutical industry as well as her strong connection with her best friend and god daughter. On the side she likes to dabble in her own kind of fun foreplay - desposing of evil bad men.
This book is giving butcher and blackbird vibes, minus the butcher. We don’t need a lovey romance here; we have all the feel goods between her and her bestie/mini bestie. Although at one point I did suspect a certain LI connection between her bestie and McSmiley, perhaps a book 2?
I love her god daughter, she is hilarious and sassy and definitely takes too much after her godmother. I also love the best friend dynamic which shows women that friendships can be enough to fulfil and sustain you without the qualms of messy romantic entanglements.
Everything is going swimmingly for Cordelia, she has her lifestyle organized to the last second and the system works well for her. That is until a wrench is thrown in the mix and things start going from bad to worse. On top of that her bestie seems to be dating a questionably slimy man who may cause even more trouble for her.
I loved the humour, the drama, the action. I can always get behind a serial killer with a big heart and good intentions. This book gave me so much anxiety!! 🤣🤣 To say when things start to go bad, everything that can possibly go wrong.. goes wrong!!! Between all the chaos, drama, running around and endless lines of people turning up to her home at the LEAST convenient of times, my frail heart could barely handle the tension 🤣🤣🤣
This book was fast paced, highly entertaining and had all the feel good 5⭐️ vibes you could ask for.
This is my first book by the author and I can’t wait to read more.
**edit** I spoke with the author and a book 2 **may possibly** be in the works, fingers crossed!**
Thank you to Emma C Wells, Poisened Pen Press and NetGalley for the EARC.
Publish date, September 10th
July 14, 2024
I generally love a vigilante lady but very much did not love Cordelia. She spends half of the book talking about how meticulous and controlled she is and the other half of the book trying to clean up her impulsive, chaotic mistakes. There were some funny lines here and there, and some vaguely slapstick moments, so I got the feeling this was supposed to have some Findlay Donovan-style wacky hijinks vibes, but it just felt disjointed and disorganized and like it didn’t quite know what it was trying to be.
I read this for a buddy read, and we had pretty wide-ranging reactions to it, so I wouldn’t discourage people from trying it, even though it didn’t work for me.
* thanks to Poisoned Pen for the review copy. This Girl’s a Killer publishes October 29.
I read this for a buddy read, and we had pretty wide-ranging reactions to it, so I wouldn’t discourage people from trying it, even though it didn’t work for me.
* thanks to Poisoned Pen for the review copy. This Girl’s a Killer publishes October 29.
August 28, 2024
*Some spoilers below*
Rounded up from 1.5 stars
Listen, I am predisposed to root for a woman taking revenge on bad men. I wanted this to feel like either/both *They Never Learn* by Layne Fargo and the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano. Unfortunately it felt like neither. (In fact, I was so surprised to see Layne Fargo blurb this…yeesh.) It did leave me absolutely infuriated like I did after watching *Promising Young Woman* so I guess kudos for that? Instead of what I was hoping for, it felt like the girlbossification of revenge killing. Like *Dexter* (because she’s got a code) meets *Psych*’s Gus (because she’s a pharmaceutical rep) but make it girl power.
Cordelia, the main character, is meant to be 33 years old, but reads as SO juvenile to me. This whole book really read more to me as YA because of the essence of the MC. She annoyed THE SHIT out of me, I found her insufferable, self-aggrandizing, and sloppy.
But that would be surmountable, if it weren’t for how insulting I found the writing. It was so repetitive that I started searching for certain words in my kindle: bestie/best friend 50 times, referring to her best friend and her BF’s daughter as her family 41 times, smoke (appears in the eyes of “monsters as an indicator she’s good to kill them) 42 times, plan 98 times, McSmiley (how she references the cop she starts dating to get info) 62 times, monster 119 times. And I’m generally the kind of reader who would rather see “said” five million times than synonyms that are not fitting used in its place, but this repetition is not that. LOTS of telling rather than showing, like if you keep telling me that she’s meticulous maybe I’ll just believe you, even though the actual beats of the story negate that. If it had been done more artfully I might believe that Cordelia keeps repeating it because she’s convinced herself that she’s got things well in hand, but it wasn’t. If I had to hear one more time about how she had a code so she couldn’t kill her best friend’s boyfriend, I was going to scream. You haven't trusted me enough as a reader or yourself as a writer to do this differently.
Then there were story beats that drove me up a wall.
- She’s so meticulous, but she makes paintings with the exsanguinated blood of her victims and then DISPLAYS IT IN HER HOME?! Girl, you work in the medical field, you know that’s a disaster waiting to happen. Hubris!
- She buys KITTY LITTER INSTEAD OF ICE to preserve the dead body of one of her victims. And then is shocked when the odor of rotting flesh is not appropriately curbed. What is wrong with you?!
- The first person she ever accidentally killed was for her friend, the last person she killed was for her friend, she’s gone through all of these motions to keep her friend and her friend’s kid safe, and then when her friend finds the decapitated head in her crisper drawer, she suddenly lets her friend participate in disposing of the body. You did all of this to protect her but now you are going to let her get involved? What happens to your goddaughter when you and her mom both go to jail?! Especially when the reason why she wants to help you is because you LIED ABOUT THE IMPETUS FOR KILLING HIM and then retconned it because you happened to find incriminating evidence on his phone.
Some of these beats absolutely could’ve been camp and I would’ve enjoyed them more. But they didn’t hit the right tone for that to be the case, unfortch.
There were some other smaller things that rankled but felt inconsequential compared to the rest. For example, there is an attempt to build backstory for Cordelia—not in a way that was believable or compelling for me personally—and she constantly refers to her “junkie” mom and it felt like such a lame caricature of a person, not to mention that I don’t love non-addicts using terms like junkie. There’s also a moment where Cordelia goes to try to bribe the staff at a clinic and describes the staff in incredibly derogatory ways that are completely unnecessary and felt very mean girl.
I’m not one to see all best friendships as indicative of a deeper non-platonic affection because I actually think platonic love is one of the most beautiful and underrated things, but there could have been some very interesting exploration here of Cordelia’s feelings for her friend and the inclination to kill anyone who gets close to her. But nope, that didn’t happen! No self-awareness or examination of motives.
Anyway, I took several weeks away after finishing this and read more than a dozen books in between, and I ended up being more angry while reviewing my notes than I was the first time so it’s really going to be a nah from me.
Rounded up from 1.5 stars
Listen, I am predisposed to root for a woman taking revenge on bad men. I wanted this to feel like either/both *They Never Learn* by Layne Fargo and the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano. Unfortunately it felt like neither. (In fact, I was so surprised to see Layne Fargo blurb this…yeesh.) It did leave me absolutely infuriated like I did after watching *Promising Young Woman* so I guess kudos for that? Instead of what I was hoping for, it felt like the girlbossification of revenge killing. Like *Dexter* (because she’s got a code) meets *Psych*’s Gus (because she’s a pharmaceutical rep) but make it girl power.
Cordelia, the main character, is meant to be 33 years old, but reads as SO juvenile to me. This whole book really read more to me as YA because of the essence of the MC. She annoyed THE SHIT out of me, I found her insufferable, self-aggrandizing, and sloppy.
But that would be surmountable, if it weren’t for how insulting I found the writing. It was so repetitive that I started searching for certain words in my kindle: bestie/best friend 50 times, referring to her best friend and her BF’s daughter as her family 41 times, smoke (appears in the eyes of “monsters as an indicator she’s good to kill them) 42 times, plan 98 times, McSmiley (how she references the cop she starts dating to get info) 62 times, monster 119 times. And I’m generally the kind of reader who would rather see “said” five million times than synonyms that are not fitting used in its place, but this repetition is not that. LOTS of telling rather than showing, like if you keep telling me that she’s meticulous maybe I’ll just believe you, even though the actual beats of the story negate that. If it had been done more artfully I might believe that Cordelia keeps repeating it because she’s convinced herself that she’s got things well in hand, but it wasn’t. If I had to hear one more time about how she had a code so she couldn’t kill her best friend’s boyfriend, I was going to scream. You haven't trusted me enough as a reader or yourself as a writer to do this differently.
Then there were story beats that drove me up a wall.
- She’s so meticulous, but she makes paintings with the exsanguinated blood of her victims and then DISPLAYS IT IN HER HOME?! Girl, you work in the medical field, you know that’s a disaster waiting to happen. Hubris!
- She buys KITTY LITTER INSTEAD OF ICE to preserve the dead body of one of her victims. And then is shocked when the odor of rotting flesh is not appropriately curbed. What is wrong with you?!
- The first person she ever accidentally killed was for her friend, the last person she killed was for her friend, she’s gone through all of these motions to keep her friend and her friend’s kid safe, and then when her friend finds the decapitated head in her crisper drawer, she suddenly lets her friend participate in disposing of the body. You did all of this to protect her but now you are going to let her get involved? What happens to your goddaughter when you and her mom both go to jail?! Especially when the reason why she wants to help you is because you LIED ABOUT THE IMPETUS FOR KILLING HIM and then retconned it because you happened to find incriminating evidence on his phone.
Some of these beats absolutely could’ve been camp and I would’ve enjoyed them more. But they didn’t hit the right tone for that to be the case, unfortch.
There were some other smaller things that rankled but felt inconsequential compared to the rest. For example, there is an attempt to build backstory for Cordelia—not in a way that was believable or compelling for me personally—and she constantly refers to her “junkie” mom and it felt like such a lame caricature of a person, not to mention that I don’t love non-addicts using terms like junkie. There’s also a moment where Cordelia goes to try to bribe the staff at a clinic and describes the staff in incredibly derogatory ways that are completely unnecessary and felt very mean girl.
I’m not one to see all best friendships as indicative of a deeper non-platonic affection because I actually think platonic love is one of the most beautiful and underrated things, but there could have been some very interesting exploration here of Cordelia’s feelings for her friend and the inclination to kill anyone who gets close to her. But nope, that didn’t happen! No self-awareness or examination of motives.
Anyway, I took several weeks away after finishing this and read more than a dozen books in between, and I ended up being more angry while reviewing my notes than I was the first time so it’s really going to be a nah from me.
November 17, 2024
audio: 5 stars! Stephanie Kay wow!
plot: 3.75 stars
This was such a fun time! It wasn't at all what I expected and that's not a bad thing! I thought this would be more gritty or gruesome, but it was leaning more into the comedic side and it was so very entertaining! That is the most important thing to me while reading; that I am having fun 👏
This follows Cordelia Black who kills bad men in her free time. One day, she makes a snap decision and things just spiral and get completely out of control. Girlie was spiraling😅 This is genuinely how I felt listening to this:
I loved the characters and their relationship. Cordelia was funny and likable imo. The ending was okay but I wanted more.. kinda wanted it to be more over the top😅 However, I feel like this has sequel potential? This would also make a really fun movie!
_________________________________________
pre-review
Me 🤝 Any book with a murderous female.
plot: 3.75 stars
This was such a fun time! It wasn't at all what I expected and that's not a bad thing! I thought this would be more gritty or gruesome, but it was leaning more into the comedic side and it was so very entertaining! That is the most important thing to me while reading; that I am having fun 👏
This follows Cordelia Black who kills bad men in her free time. One day, she makes a snap decision and things just spiral and get completely out of control. Girlie was spiraling😅 This is genuinely how I felt listening to this:
I loved the characters and their relationship. Cordelia was funny and likable imo. The ending was okay but I wanted more.. kinda wanted it to be more over the top😅 However, I feel like this has sequel potential? This would also make a really fun movie!
_________________________________________
pre-review
Me 🤝 Any book with a murderous female.
October 19, 2025
I'm way behind in review writing so this is all you get for now (probably forever).
3.5⭐
Genre ~ serial killer thriller
Setting ~ Louisiana
Publication date ~ October 29, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 435 (40 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 51 minutes
Narrator ~ Stefanie Kay
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut, Lady Dexter, vigilante
Cordelia is awfully full of herself and thinks she's the cats meow. A bit too obsessed with her friendship with bff, Diana, and niece, "Sugar". She does make some dumb decisions here and there, but overall how can you hate someone that kills only bad people.
Pretty good for a debut.
Narration notes:
She did great!
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
3.5⭐
Genre ~ serial killer thriller
Setting ~ Louisiana
Publication date ~ October 29, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 435 (40 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 51 minutes
Narrator ~ Stefanie Kay
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut, Lady Dexter, vigilante
Cordelia is awfully full of herself and thinks she's the cats meow. A bit too obsessed with her friendship with bff, Diana, and niece, "Sugar". She does make some dumb decisions here and there, but overall how can you hate someone that kills only bad people.
Pretty good for a debut.
Narration notes:
She did great!
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
July 4, 2024
I made it to 32% before I DNF'd it. The main character just kept repeating the same things over and over and over, and I just got so annoyed. I also didn't think she was very likable, and annoyance was the only emotion I felt towards her the entire time. I also got very bored very quickly. This book had so much potential, especially considering I like best friend and goddaughter, but I just couldn't force myself to continue on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC copy of this book.
September 6, 2024
A female Dexter is always going to have me picking up a book. I know this has become a more common theme in books lately but I just love a strong woman who rids the world of bad men. How can you not want to read about that.
Emma C Wells debut novel is just fabulous!! It is so much to read and had me laughing so many times. Yes it is a dark story but told so well. Cordelia was a badass! a successful pharmaceutical sales rep with amazing taste is clothes and shoes. She loves her bestie and her goddaughter and will do anything to protect them…anything. And that is when things start to go wrong, and keep going wrong.
This book will keep you turning those pages well into the night, who needs sleep when there are bad men to be disposed of!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy t read. Publishes on October 29th, you don’t want to miss this one.
Emma C Wells debut novel is just fabulous!! It is so much to read and had me laughing so many times. Yes it is a dark story but told so well. Cordelia was a badass! a successful pharmaceutical sales rep with amazing taste is clothes and shoes. She loves her bestie and her goddaughter and will do anything to protect them…anything. And that is when things start to go wrong, and keep going wrong.
This book will keep you turning those pages well into the night, who needs sleep when there are bad men to be disposed of!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy t read. Publishes on October 29th, you don’t want to miss this one.
September 20, 2024
The moment I read the book's description, I was eager to dive in. Perhaps it's because I'm an avid Dexter fan? Likely, but the premise of a serial killer who targets only the wicked is too compelling to pass up.
Cordelia Black excels as a pharmaceutical rep by day, yet her nights are spent hunting down villains. She defies the typical image of a serial killer; she's a sociable saleswoman with an enviable wardrobe and the cherished role of godmother. However, her true pursuit at night involves seeking out corrupt men to serve her own brand of justice. Complications arise when her best friend begins a relationship with a man Cordelia distrusts, and her professional life starts to crumble, challenging her to safeguard her friend as her own world starts to fall apart.
I found the book enjoyable, though it lacked the level of suspense I anticipated. The narrative focused more on the protagonist's efforts to avoid capture rather than her exploits in eliminating the wicked. Nevertheless, the conclusion was utterly unexpected.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Cordelia Black excels as a pharmaceutical rep by day, yet her nights are spent hunting down villains. She defies the typical image of a serial killer; she's a sociable saleswoman with an enviable wardrobe and the cherished role of godmother. However, her true pursuit at night involves seeking out corrupt men to serve her own brand of justice. Complications arise when her best friend begins a relationship with a man Cordelia distrusts, and her professional life starts to crumble, challenging her to safeguard her friend as her own world starts to fall apart.
I found the book enjoyable, though it lacked the level of suspense I anticipated. The narrative focused more on the protagonist's efforts to avoid capture rather than her exploits in eliminating the wicked. Nevertheless, the conclusion was utterly unexpected.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 6, 2024
This was an interesting thriller, I'm always here for feminine rage stories especially when the fmc has a sense of morality and only goes after men who have done wrong. The fmc is a pharmacy rep by day and kills men at night and no one has been able to figure her out though there have been talks around town about a serial killer. What's interesting about this book is that the fmc has a lot of emotions and cares about her found family and best friend so much that that's the reason she started doing all this. The FMC's best friend starts dating a guy who she not only hates but finds out some secrets about him that in turn is used to blackmail her. An aspect I liked about this book is that it wasn't a really dark book despite the themes. There's humor and jokes that have comedy vibes at times, there's also a lot of drama between the MC, her best friends, and the guys they date. I did get confused with the past stuff and this was slow in some parts but overall I thought it was an interesting thriller. Thank you to the publisher for this arc.
January 18, 2025
This was a crazy thrill ride from start to finish. If Dexter was a woman it would definitely be Cordelia Black. This female serial killer will have you cheering her on and laughing all at the same time. This thriller is addictive, suspenseful, and very entertaining. To say this thriller is intense is an understatement. This was fun, fast-paced, and empowering. Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my copy.
December 7, 2024
Let's talk about Miss *✧･ﾟCordelia Black･ﾟ*✧. She's got a sad, rough, vague, backstory. yes vague. She struggled as a child but once she got into college was ~Reborn~. She has a best friend (only 1 friend) Diane, and a goddaughter, Samantha aka Sugar. She's a pharmaceutical sales person by day and by night she has a secret hobby. That is to say, that Cordelia Black engages in mysterious extracurricular activities. She has interests that others just wouldn't understand. Cordelia Black is not a woman to be messed with because she is very meticulous and also let's not forget about HER SUPER SECRET RECREATIONAL PURSUIT.
If my review seems repetitive and a bit unhinged, that is because that is what the book is like. And like a fool, I made it through probably 60% of this book genuinely thinking that the point was that the main character, Cordelia Black (she refers to her full name often), was a complete maniac, and that the charm of the story being told is that we as the readers know she is unhinged and watch her life unravel with glee.
She tells herself over and over that she is good at what she does. Cordelia Black makes plans, dammit, and she sticks with them because that is what is safe. CORDELIA BLACK doesn't make mistakes. This she says while making mistake after mistake, emotional outbursts, bribing and forgery, driving 80 mph down residential streets (literally stated in book), and generally being a menace to society. It's surprising she doesn't kill anyone with her reckless driving because she literally describes herself flying over curbs in her SUV and we are supposed to accept that (?)
I rarely post spoilers online but my main gripe is
Rant not over, the best part (sarcasm) is that the only guy in the entire book who is not a child abuser/ woman beater/ "bad guy" is a cop. like really. the cop.
.__.
umm review over lol
If my review seems repetitive and a bit unhinged, that is because that is what the book is like. And like a fool, I made it through probably 60% of this book genuinely thinking that the point was that the main character, Cordelia Black (she refers to her full name often), was a complete maniac, and that the charm of the story being told is that we as the readers know she is unhinged and watch her life unravel with glee.
She tells herself over and over that she is good at what she does. Cordelia Black makes plans, dammit, and she sticks with them because that is what is safe. CORDELIA BLACK doesn't make mistakes. This she says while making mistake after mistake, emotional outbursts, bribing and forgery, driving 80 mph down residential streets (literally stated in book), and generally being a menace to society. It's surprising she doesn't kill anyone with her reckless driving because she literally describes herself flying over curbs in her SUV and we are supposed to accept that (?)
I rarely post spoilers online but my main gripe is
Rant not over, the best part (sarcasm) is that the only guy in the entire book who is not a child abuser/ woman beater/ "bad guy" is a cop. like really. the cop.
.__.
umm review over lol
January 5, 2025
3.75 Stars
Cordelia Black embodies the essence of Sloane from Butcher & Blackbird, serving as a compelling female equivalent to Dexter. As a vigilante, she targets men who escape the justice system, delivering a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I’ve always been captivated by stories that blend humor with an engaging plot. If you enjoy Butcher & Blackbird but seek a version with less romance and fewer graphic elements, this novel is for you!
***Thank you to NetGalley, Emma C. Wells, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Cordelia Black embodies the essence of Sloane from Butcher & Blackbird, serving as a compelling female equivalent to Dexter. As a vigilante, she targets men who escape the justice system, delivering a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I’ve always been captivated by stories that blend humor with an engaging plot. If you enjoy Butcher & Blackbird but seek a version with less romance and fewer graphic elements, this novel is for you!
***Thank you to NetGalley, Emma C. Wells, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
November 10, 2024
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
This was a really captivating read!! I’ll never turn down a book about serial killers who kill bad people, because doesn’t everyone dream of a world where that can happen??
This Girl’s a Killer was a really strong debut! I loved Cordelia’s character - she was strong, determined, and unapologetic. I did find myself getting irritated when she’d make mistakes or start getting sloppy, but no one is perfect! I thought she was powerful and I really appreciated her relationship with her best friend and god-daughter, they were such an adorable trio, and I would’ve loved more Sugar content.
The overarching story was really easy to become invested in - I kept turning the pages, determined to know what would happen next, and I really appreciated the ending. I did think there were a couple of loose ends that could’ve been tied up, but overall I was happy with the plot of the novel - it was lots of fun.
I do have to say that I wasn’t surprised by majority of the plot twists - they were a bit basic and easy to guess, but nonetheless I enjoyed. Overall, a captivating read!
3.5 stars
This was a really captivating read!! I’ll never turn down a book about serial killers who kill bad people, because doesn’t everyone dream of a world where that can happen??
This Girl’s a Killer was a really strong debut! I loved Cordelia’s character - she was strong, determined, and unapologetic. I did find myself getting irritated when she’d make mistakes or start getting sloppy, but no one is perfect! I thought she was powerful and I really appreciated her relationship with her best friend and god-daughter, they were such an adorable trio, and I would’ve loved more Sugar content.
The overarching story was really easy to become invested in - I kept turning the pages, determined to know what would happen next, and I really appreciated the ending. I did think there were a couple of loose ends that could’ve been tied up, but overall I was happy with the plot of the novel - it was lots of fun.
I do have to say that I wasn’t surprised by majority of the plot twists - they were a bit basic and easy to guess, but nonetheless I enjoyed. Overall, a captivating read!
April 29, 2024
This story follows Cordelia Black and the people she loves, her best friend, Diane and her daughter, Sammy. They are her world. They love Cordelia too. The only thing is, Cordelia is a killer. Cordelia eliminates bad men. She feels she is ridding the world of the scum of the earth.
I’ll be honest here and admit this was pretty slow. Lots of the story played out as a drama. We get tons of conversation between the characters. I did not find this to be a thriller really. Which was unfortunate.
Cordelia focuses on Diane’s new love interest, Simon. She automatically picks up bad vibes. Is he next on her list?
I was really wanting more from this story. I wished it would have had more suspense in it. What I did like was that Cordelia would make paintings with her victim’s blood. That was pretty cool. The cover is pretty awesome too.
Overall the book just fell flat. I’d like to thank Poisened Pen Press, NetGalley and Emma C.Wells. All opinions are my own.
Release date September 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I’ll be honest here and admit this was pretty slow. Lots of the story played out as a drama. We get tons of conversation between the characters. I did not find this to be a thriller really. Which was unfortunate.
Cordelia focuses on Diane’s new love interest, Simon. She automatically picks up bad vibes. Is he next on her list?
I was really wanting more from this story. I wished it would have had more suspense in it. What I did like was that Cordelia would make paintings with her victim’s blood. That was pretty cool. The cover is pretty awesome too.
Overall the book just fell flat. I’d like to thank Poisened Pen Press, NetGalley and Emma C.Wells. All opinions are my own.
Release date September 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
December 21, 2024
Wow! What a fun read! A witty, satirical story, This Girl's a Killer kept me entertained literally from page one. What's not to like? A stubborn, 'girls-girl' female serial killer taking male predators off the street? Yes, please. I loved how you get to see her mentally process everything in this book and how her personality completely contrasted her best friend's.
I also thought that the actual murders that took place and the aftermath of cleanup/disposal were well done. The plot was a bit predictable, but despite that, I honestly thought it was well-executed. The ending leaves it open for a second book which I am excited about if it were to come into fruition.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job! She completely embodied the FMC. I would recommend it 100% if you're into audios. This book would be great for you if you're looking for a serial killer-inspired thriller with relatable characters and a murderer you can actually get behind. Nothing like a vigilante murder spree!🔪
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I also thought that the actual murders that took place and the aftermath of cleanup/disposal were well done. The plot was a bit predictable, but despite that, I honestly thought it was well-executed. The ending leaves it open for a second book which I am excited about if it were to come into fruition.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job! She completely embodied the FMC. I would recommend it 100% if you're into audios. This book would be great for you if you're looking for a serial killer-inspired thriller with relatable characters and a murderer you can actually get behind. Nothing like a vigilante murder spree!🔪
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
November 7, 2024
This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C Wells
Mystery thriller.
Cordelia Black is a killer. But only to those that deserve to be killed. Bad men. Men that could be arrested if or when caught. Cordelia takes justice into her own hands when she finds the opportunity. She has a special setup with plastic for wrapping, drainage for those fluids and a contact that will take care of the body when she calls. She also has the method to immobilize them initially. Cordelia is a pharmaceutical representative and there is one drug in particular she uses that fits her needs perfectly. Unfortunately for her though, the drug has been recalled and she has to wrap up her records to make sure the police don’t come calling.
Meanwhile her best friend starts dating and Cordelia feels something’s off with him.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook which was narrated by Stephanie Kaye. The performance is fantastic and will definitely hold your attention. The last couple of chapters had me riveted to see what was going to happen next.
I listened to the audiobook at 1.5 which is my preferred speed.
It’s a thriller, with a bit of comedy. Or maybe a comedy of errors would be a better description from Cordelia’s POV. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would once I realized the title was dead on. Maybe because they are “bad” men but I didn’t hate this killer.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.
Mystery thriller.
Cordelia Black is a killer. But only to those that deserve to be killed. Bad men. Men that could be arrested if or when caught. Cordelia takes justice into her own hands when she finds the opportunity. She has a special setup with plastic for wrapping, drainage for those fluids and a contact that will take care of the body when she calls. She also has the method to immobilize them initially. Cordelia is a pharmaceutical representative and there is one drug in particular she uses that fits her needs perfectly. Unfortunately for her though, the drug has been recalled and she has to wrap up her records to make sure the police don’t come calling.
Meanwhile her best friend starts dating and Cordelia feels something’s off with him.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook which was narrated by Stephanie Kaye. The performance is fantastic and will definitely hold your attention. The last couple of chapters had me riveted to see what was going to happen next.
I listened to the audiobook at 1.5 which is my preferred speed.
It’s a thriller, with a bit of comedy. Or maybe a comedy of errors would be a better description from Cordelia’s POV. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would once I realized the title was dead on. Maybe because they are “bad” men but I didn’t hate this killer.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.
November 10, 2024
This thriller was a fun ride. I liked the main character quite a bit and I thought the narrator did a great job bringing her to life. This was a great mix of thriller and humor and definitely for fans of things like Dexter. Cordelia Black has her life completely together. She has a best friend and god daughter who she loves, a job she’s great at, and a calling for a greater purpose that helps keep other women safe. Cordelia hunts monsters. Her childhood left her with an over familiarity with monsters and at some point she realized she could claim her power back by killing them. She has her rules and routines and everything is going well. But when a series of unfortunate events throws her carefully structured life into disarray Cordelia has to learn some things about who she truly is. I really liked this story and would definitely read more from this author.
May 20, 2024
This girl got one thing right, she’s for sure a killer and a good one at that! 💁🏼♀️
Cordelia may seem like your everyday girls girl and don’t get me wrong she most certainly is! She has her ride or die best friend who may also be dating a questionable man, her goddaughter who means the absolute world to her and would do anything to protect, a steady job, and a wardrobe anyone would kill to have (see what I did there 🙃)
But what if your friendly pharmaceutical sales rep is also a serial killer? And what if that sales rep starts dating a man who turns out to be a cop and what if her perfect life begins to fall apart? 🫠
Sounds fun right?! It really was! I could not put it down and Emma did a fantastic job of blurring the line between villain and hero! This book left me guessing and truly surprised by the end! With a publication date in September make sure to grab this for your fall reads! It’s the perfect dark humor, campy, fun, thriller read for those cold dark nights! But beware, it will keep you up until you turn that last page. You cannot look away, it’s that good! 🫣
Emma, congratulations on your debut and please tell me this is going to be a series because I need more! You have gained a fan and I can’t wait to see what else you write! 🥰
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own. ❤️
Cordelia may seem like your everyday girls girl and don’t get me wrong she most certainly is! She has her ride or die best friend who may also be dating a questionable man, her goddaughter who means the absolute world to her and would do anything to protect, a steady job, and a wardrobe anyone would kill to have (see what I did there 🙃)
But what if your friendly pharmaceutical sales rep is also a serial killer? And what if that sales rep starts dating a man who turns out to be a cop and what if her perfect life begins to fall apart? 🫠
Sounds fun right?! It really was! I could not put it down and Emma did a fantastic job of blurring the line between villain and hero! This book left me guessing and truly surprised by the end! With a publication date in September make sure to grab this for your fall reads! It’s the perfect dark humor, campy, fun, thriller read for those cold dark nights! But beware, it will keep you up until you turn that last page. You cannot look away, it’s that good! 🫣
Emma, congratulations on your debut and please tell me this is going to be a series because I need more! You have gained a fan and I can’t wait to see what else you write! 🥰
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own. ❤️
October 21, 2024
Nope.
There are way better books about feminine rage and killing the bad guys that don't get childish, insulting, and somehow also manage to be extremely boring. I will always at least try a book in this subgenre, but Cordelia just wasn't it, and this felt very, very debut-y.
While I generally don't like writing negative reviews, I feel obligated to write this one because I received an ARC from NetGalley.
There are way better books about feminine rage and killing the bad guys that don't get childish, insulting, and somehow also manage to be extremely boring. I will always at least try a book in this subgenre, but Cordelia just wasn't it, and this felt very, very debut-y.
While I generally don't like writing negative reviews, I feel obligated to write this one because I received an ARC from NetGalley.
October 17, 2024
Ah, Cordelia...the woman of my rage-filled dreams, the woman we all aspire to be...
Oops, I forgot to thank the author and the publisher for this arc! I loved listening to this book from beginning to end. Cordelia, as you can guess, is a total bad b*tch and although I don't want to give anything at all away, I very much enjoyed following her line of work throughout the book.
This is such an entertaining written ode to "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" in all of the most gruesome and fantastic ways...
5 stars!
Oops, I forgot to thank the author and the publisher for this arc! I loved listening to this book from beginning to end. Cordelia, as you can guess, is a total bad b*tch and although I don't want to give anything at all away, I very much enjoyed following her line of work throughout the book.
This is such an entertaining written ode to "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" in all of the most gruesome and fantastic ways...
5 stars!
January 25, 2025
4.5 rounded up. This was so good! I got a little torn away from the story with how conveniently some things happened but it wasn’t so bad to make me not like the book. I loved how Cordelia was the perfect image to get away with everything she did and the love between her and Sugar and Diane was super sweet. I wish we had some kind of explanation for the “smoke” that was referenced a lot. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
November 17, 2024
Emma C. Wells’ debut novel, "This Girl’s A Killer", introduces readers to Cordelia Black—a polished pharmaceutical rep by day and a killer of bad men by night. Cordelia’s life is all about control, from her designer wardrobe to her meticulous nocturnal missions. But when the media starts speculating about a serial killer in South Louisiana, Cordelia’s carefully managed double life begins to unravel, especially as her best friend Diane starts dating someone Cordelia doesn’t trust.
This book is a fast-paced, wildly entertaining thriller that’s equal parts suspenseful and darkly funny. Think of it as Dexter with a satirical twist or I Love Lucy gone murderously rogue—Cordelia’s misadventures are as tense as they are unexpectedly hilarious. Wells masterfully balances Cordelia’s growing anxiety with moments of sharp, dark humor that made me laugh even as the stakes grew higher.
As the story spirals, everything that can go wrong does, and Wells’ knack for twists keeps you hooked until the end. The writing captures Cordelia’s unraveling with precision, making her a compelling character to root for, even when her moral compass points in questionable directions.
While the book is undeniably gripping, it does suffer slightly from repetitive descriptions, which can occasionally pull you out of the action. That said, the energy and creativity of the plot more than compensate, making this a standout addition to the growing subgenre of morally complex female killers.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy. If you enjoy thrillers with a dash of dark humor and a protagonist who’s as chaotic as she is captivating, This Girl’s A Killer is well worth the read.
This book is a fast-paced, wildly entertaining thriller that’s equal parts suspenseful and darkly funny. Think of it as Dexter with a satirical twist or I Love Lucy gone murderously rogue—Cordelia’s misadventures are as tense as they are unexpectedly hilarious. Wells masterfully balances Cordelia’s growing anxiety with moments of sharp, dark humor that made me laugh even as the stakes grew higher.
As the story spirals, everything that can go wrong does, and Wells’ knack for twists keeps you hooked until the end. The writing captures Cordelia’s unraveling with precision, making her a compelling character to root for, even when her moral compass points in questionable directions.
While the book is undeniably gripping, it does suffer slightly from repetitive descriptions, which can occasionally pull you out of the action. That said, the energy and creativity of the plot more than compensate, making this a standout addition to the growing subgenre of morally complex female killers.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy. If you enjoy thrillers with a dash of dark humor and a protagonist who’s as chaotic as she is captivating, This Girl’s A Killer is well worth the read.
December 22, 2024
"Meet Cordelia Black. Cordelia loves exactly three things: her chosen family composed of her best friend Diane and her goddaughter; her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip); and killing bad men." --"This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Wells
As a thriller fanatic, I found myself irresistibly drawn to "This Girl's a Killer" during the spine-chilling month of October. The captivating cover and intriguing blurb promised a thrilling journey, and I'm delighted to report the book delivered! Cordelia Black is an unforgettable character who steals the spotlight!
I paired the ebook with the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Stefanie Kay, and what a perfect match! Her voice brought Cordelia's dark humor to life, perfectly capturing the essence of this captivating character. Cordelia is the ultimate best friend—a fierce protector who ensures no vile man dares cross your path. Sure, she takes it to the extreme, but honestly, who needs the Justice System when you have someone like her on your side? I was itching to dive back in whenever I had to put this book down.
It was cruising towards a glorious five-star rating, but the ending left me unfulfilled. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel because I've become utterly attached to Cordelia!
Thanks to the author and Dreamscape Media/Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC via NetGalley. As always, all opinions are entirely my own!
#ThisGirlsaKiller #EmmaCWells #NetGalley #StefanieKay #Audiobook #DreamscapeMedia #PoisonedPenPress #GiftedARC
As a thriller fanatic, I found myself irresistibly drawn to "This Girl's a Killer" during the spine-chilling month of October. The captivating cover and intriguing blurb promised a thrilling journey, and I'm delighted to report the book delivered! Cordelia Black is an unforgettable character who steals the spotlight!
I paired the ebook with the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Stefanie Kay, and what a perfect match! Her voice brought Cordelia's dark humor to life, perfectly capturing the essence of this captivating character. Cordelia is the ultimate best friend—a fierce protector who ensures no vile man dares cross your path. Sure, she takes it to the extreme, but honestly, who needs the Justice System when you have someone like her on your side? I was itching to dive back in whenever I had to put this book down.
It was cruising towards a glorious five-star rating, but the ending left me unfulfilled. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel because I've become utterly attached to Cordelia!
Thanks to the author and Dreamscape Media/Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC via NetGalley. As always, all opinions are entirely my own!
#ThisGirlsaKiller #EmmaCWells #NetGalley #StefanieKay #Audiobook #DreamscapeMedia #PoisonedPenPress #GiftedARC
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