Hitwoman

by Elsie Marks

An action-packed, hilarious enemies-to-lovers thriller for fans of Butcher & Blackbird, The Fall Guy and Hitman.She always gets her man … but has Maisie Baxter met her match?*****

Maisie Baxter has a particular set of skills honed over a very successful career.

She’s determined not to let her job at a boutique, ethical assassin agency get in the way of her social life, but it's tough when your hours are extremely unpredictable and you can't share any details of your day.

So she can't tell her friends about the guy that keeps showing up on her missions. Will. He's cute – really cute – and he's desperate to speak to her.

Maisie is sure Will works for the competition but it soon becomes clear that a much greater danger stalks them both. And they're going to have to put aside their professional rivalry and their budding sexual tension if they have any hope of uncovering a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top.



Enemies to Lovers

Rivals to Lovers

Forced proximity

Morally (very) grey characters

Found family

Caretaking

***

'Hitwoman is funny, sexy, and strangely relatable. I cheered for the protagonist even as she committed multiple murders and loved the rom-com style romance.' Tasha Coryell

‘Who’d have thought murder could be such fun? … A wonderful not so cosy crime masterpiece.’ Graham Bartlett

‘Hitwoman is the most fun I’ve had reading a thriller this year! Elsie Marks has created a fun, funny, and fast-paced romp that’s pitch-perfect.’ Kellye Garrett

***

Readers are OBSESSED with Hitwoman …'Incredibly addictive… It's fast-paced, exhilarating and I was totally there for every last word'

'Totally bonkers, and that is a such a good thing'

'The perfect balance of romance, espionage and murder'

'Fresh and cinematic… perfect for anyone who loves a fast-paced spy story with a charming lead'

Genres: Romance, Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Enemies To Lovers

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2025

Reviews

[Iqra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rival Assassins that have to work together — it sounded so good in theory but it kind of fell flat for me.

It felt a little rushed and disjointed. Maybe it was because I was in a slump the entire time I read this but this didn’t capture my attention the way I wanted it to.

The romance was very bland and felt forced. The plot was more interesting and the only reason I stayed till the end.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the ARC! ♥︎

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

Thank you HQ stories and NetGalley for this early audiobook copy for review!

4⭐️ | Out Nov 6th

I really enjoyed this fast-paced story about two rival assassins that coincidentally meet on a job and try to resist falling for each other.

However they are soon forced to work together to uncover a conspiracy that threatens them both.

It was fully giving Mr and Mrs Smith vibes!

This book is absolutely bonkers but you know what, the narration style really worked for me and I was whizzing through this.

Definitely a good one for a quick and light-hearted read and not to be taken too seriously! 😜

Tropes:
🔫 Enemies to lovers
🔫 Forced proximity
🔫 Morally grey characters

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m all for equality, and if a gal decides to unalive (bad) people for money, who am I to judge?

Maisie, a bit accidentally, joins an agency in London and finds herself working as a hitwoman. On one of her missions she meets a hot guy… who later turns out to be her competition.

The plot was very predictable, and I didn’t love the author’s writing style. Maisie didn’t exactly convince me in her new line of work - but hey, fake it till you make it, right? 😂
I also wish there’d been more spark between the two love interests/rivals, because the romantic tension felt a little.. tepid?

Overall, it’s a fast-moving story and I flew through it. If you do pick it up, I’d say the audiobook is the way to go.

⭐ 3/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Francesca Tarpey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Main babes slept with a guy one time and become obsessed with him, bit of a character flaw for a spy. Anyway this was a yawn.

[Stephanieeee.R · Rating 5 out of 5]

BIG SLAY

[Susan J. Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super-pacy story from Elsie Marks, about Maisie, a young woman who’s found herself in the role of an ethical contract ki…, uh, person. Maisie only unalives the really bad people, though, thanks to the very thorough research she and her boss conduct before they decide whether to take on a case.
When Maisie bumps into a member of the competition on a job, things get complicated. Not least because he’s pretty hot.
As their worlds grow ever closer, Maisie begins to wonder how accurate her version of the truth is, how much she can trust those around her, and how honest she’s really being with herself.
This was a thoroughly entertaining audio, nicely narrated by Amy Cameron.
Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK audio for the chance to listen to an ARC.
Hitwoman publishes on 6 November.

[Alanna Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and lighthearted with a good narration style; I enjoyed it! Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review

[becs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This action packed, fast paced, rival assassins to lovers is the perfect palate cleanser. It was full of twists and turns that had me eager for more. The romance was not too heavy, with the mission taking full focus of this book to spur the story long with a happy ending.

I personally have not read anything like this but its blossomed something for me, I loved the thrill & suspense aspect. Id love to read more in this world, maybe even novellas of different jobs the couple (Maisie & Will) takes on in the future as a pair! that would be so exciting.

This is a 3 star for me as for a book stating rom-com, I would of liked more of a humour laced throughout but for the author’s debut, I think this was a good start and will attract a lot of lot of interest.

♥ info ♥
single POV (FMC)
1st person

♥ tropes ♥
Enemies to lovers
Professional Rivalry
Secret Identity

♥ other ♥
Characters - 5/10
Atmosphere - 5/10
Writing Style - 5/10
Plot - 5/10
Intrigue - 6/10
Logic/Relationships - 4/10
Enjoyment - 5/10
Spice - 0.5/5

Thank you to HQDigital, Elsie & NetGalley for sending me an ebook ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

‎[ This book review reflects my own views and is based on my personal reading experience. All opinions provided are my honest evaluation of the book ‎]

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fun book. It foes have a more sitcom feel to it than an action book. However there us more than enough action to go round.

Maisie is an "ethical" hitwoman. This means she only takes jobs on people she knows deserve it. However, it is getting harder to balance life outside work with her friends, (especially her best friend Beth), who have no idea what she actually does for a living. On paper she works for a legendary celebrity/philanthropist. A chance encounter will force Maisie to question everything and everyone she knows.

A good book with great characters and good character development/manipulation. This book is if one of the cast of Friends was secretly a hitperson. An enjoyable book and I would like to see what happens next.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! I got this book as an Amazon First Reads - and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was page turning, quirky, with a smattering of romance added. Gave me Mr & Mrs Smith vibes!

[Jessica Davern · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm, it was like a really shit totally spies with an awful love story included. The long chapters made the book feel way longer than it was as well. Also the main mission whatever you wanna call it felt so rushed

[Meaghan Lehrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I friggin loved it. Perfect long weekend palate cleanser after a stressful few days at work. Enjoyed every last bit, didn’t want it to end!! Make it a series? 😘

[LX · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to HQ stories / Harper Collins for sending me an ARC!!

3 stars!

I really loved the premise of this and tbh I really did enjoy the story but I just wanted more better and a bit more chemistry between Maisie & Will.

The first time they met I was ready. I was ready for things to just FEEEEL electric, it was cute and funny to imagine Cotton EYE Joe blaring, but I just wanted that lil bit of something✨️🤌

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t quite knew what to expect with this book, but I found myself hooked. It’s very focused on the hitwoman angle, with some corporate / political scandals and full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes the whole time. The romance angle was nice, adding a little bit of fun but came second to the mystery. Even when I became suspicious alongside Maisie I couldn’t figure out exactly what was happening until the big reveal. This really hit the mark (pun intended).

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*

[Julie Friar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maisie Baxter has been trained to be a Hitwoman and she is very good at her job, but she only kills those she deems to deserve it. She lives a double life until the day she meets Will. She discovers he works for a rival company and their lives become very complicated.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a fast paced novel basically about murder. They want a normal life together but will their jobs get in the way? Enjoy.

[A Low Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read. More mystery than romance, with most of the driving emphasis being on the dawning realization that a change is needed in the life of ethical hitwoman Maisie. Pretty transparent mystery, no spice, but solid writing and character development. Could have been a shade or two darker, especially around the characterization of Will. Makes me think fondly of the Miss Melville mysteries.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook for this one and I’ve raced through it. I raced through this and I really enjoyed the whole thing. The characters were great, the storyline was interesting and I looked forward to listening each time I picked it up. I really liked Maisie and I loved the narrator who brought her to life too. A great book - I hope it does well when it’s published!

[Sarah Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I was so engrossed in this book I totally zoned out around me 😂😂
I loved it. Maisie is an ethical Hitwoman and only carries out hits on people that deserve it. She’s surprised when she keeps seeing the same guy carrying out the same hits. 💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️
The betrayal, the ethical reasons, the same guy appearing. I totally loved this book 🥰

[Chante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice fast book

I loved the pace of this book. Easy to keep up with, barely any waffling, but you still feel like you know enough about the character's life to enjoy the book. It was a fun time!

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant. It was so funny and exciting! I felt like I was really there with Maisie through it all! I love the way it explored just how toxic 'the establishment' are and how normal people are harmed consistently due to the actions of billionaires. Disguised as a thriller/romance, it went so much deeper. I eagerly await the next book!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! This was such a fun and fast paced read! I loved our main characters, their personalities and the tension between them! What a book

[TheGood ByeGirl]

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was good, I like the characters. I do hope there will be a second book.

[Laura Shair · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5
this was my 'blind date with a book' book so I wasn't sure what I was getting.
I probably never would have picked it on my own but it was a nice read.

[Emma Wheatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun, great plot but unfortunately the characters and relationships are lacking something.

[Nyah Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Quinty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author and type of book for me, but I found it quite enjoyable and entertaining. Hopefully it is the first of a series.

[Megan McCormack · Rating 2 out of 5]

All a bit silly really

[Nicole · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

[Marta Pascual Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Way of Kings, I knew I needed something fun, fast, and requiring significantly less brain power. I picked Hitwoman because it was shorter, I was having one of those weeks where work was consuming most of my available personality, and I thought a smaller book would make it slightly less frustrating that I did not have as much time to read as I wanted. Naturally, this completely backfired, because instead of being less frustrated, I became more frustrated because I was having such a good time that I did not want to put the book down. Apparently the solution to “I do not have enough time to read” was not choosing a book I would become mildly obsessed with.

This one came recommended by a friend whose book opinions I trust deeply, so obviously I had to read it. I have learned that when certain people tell me to read something, asking questions is mostly a waste of everyone’s time.

We follow Macy, a young woman with a slightly unconventional profession: she is a hitwoman. But for good reasons. I know, stay with me. She only kills the absolute worst of the worst, which gives the whole murder-for-hire situation a surprisingly strong moral framework. Unfortunately, another hitman has started targeting the same people she is going after, which is inconvenient both professionally and personally. There is also the minor matter of trying to have friends, date, and maintain some sort of life outside work, which, apart from the assassination part, is basically every millennial woman in her late twenties or thirties. Work-life balance really is difficult in every industry.

I had a ridiculous amount of fun reading this. It is fast, extremely easy to get through, and requires very little mental effort, which was exactly what I needed after Sanderson had made my brain process approximately seventeen religions, political systems, magical laws, and existential crises. That simplicity does come with one downside, though: I saw some of the plot twists coming from very far away. It was not necessarily a deal breaker, because I do not think this book is trying to reinvent the thriller genre, but I would have liked to be surprised a little more. At certain points I was less “OH MY GOD” and more “yes, there you are, I have been expecting you for about seventy pages.”

The story is told in first person, which works particularly well because Macy is genuinely fun to spend time with. Her inner monologues are probably one of my favourite things about the book. She has the ability to have completely inappropriate thoughts at exactly the worst possible moment, which makes even the more intense scenes funny. I also loved the way she approaches her job, and before anyone starts with “but she kills people,” yes, I am aware. My moral compass remains intact. Mostly. But Macy genuinely cares about what she does, believes in the reasons behind it, and has constructed a very specific moral code around her work. Is that slightly alarming? Probably. Is it also more professional enthusiasm than many people bring to their perfectly legal corporate jobs? Absolutely.

The character dynamics were another thing I really enjoyed. You would expect a novel about a hitwoman to be driven primarily by action, but this one is surprisingly character-led. Relationships, friendships, attraction, and trust matter just as much as the actual killing, which gives the story much more personality than I expected. That does not mean there is no action, because there is plenty of it, and the action scenes are genuinely well written. They move quickly, they are easy to follow, and they never feel like they are interrupting the more character-driven parts of the story.

Macy herself is incredibly engaging, but I did have some problems with the way certain characters are portrayed. The morality can feel a little too clean for a story built around people who murder professionally. The good characters are VERY good, the bad characters are VERY bad, and there is not always much grey in between, which is slightly ironic considering the protagonist is literally a contract killer. I would have liked a little more ambiguity there.

I also felt that some of the relationships developed too quickly. I know this is a shorter book and there is only so much time available, but there were a few connections that seemed to jump from “we know each other” to “this is now deeply significant” before I had fully bought into them. I wanted a little more depth and a little more time for those relationships to breathe.

Still, none of that stopped me from having an absolute blast. Hitwoman was exactly the kind of book I needed: fast, funny, entertaining, slightly ridiculous, and incredibly easy to devour. I could see its flaws while reading it and still did not particularly care because I was having too much fun. And now, naturally, I am very much looking forward to Partners in Crime, because apparently my relaxing little palate cleanser has become another series I need to continue. Exactly what my TBR needed.