Kiss Marry Kill

by Laura Marshall

Three best friends. One life-changing choice.

Kiss
Angela runs a dating agency and is an expert at connecting over-fifties looking for the one.

Marry
Sara has lost her husband and is forcing herself to speed-date in the hope of finding love again.

Kill
Helen lives with her controlling partner, Brian - but she's been keeping his abusive behaviour a secret from her friends.

Until she can't hide it any longer.

Not long after telling her friends the truth, Brian has a shocking accident - and all three women are implicated. Sure, they all wanted to see him dead. But they couldn't be capable of murder. Could they?

Every romance ends one of three ways. It's kiss, marry - or kill...

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

About the author

Laura Marshall is the bestselling author of four psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, Friend Request, was a Kindle No.1 and Sunday Times bestseller, with over half a million copies sold in the UK. Laura's books have sold in twenty-four territories around the globe.

She grew up in Wiltshire, studied English at the University of Sussex and currently lives in Kent with her family.

For more information visit Laura's website www.lauramarshall.co.uk or find her at www.facebook.com/lauramarshallauthor or on Twitter @laurajm8.

Reviews

[Heather Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab domestic thriller! Absolutely loved the dating side of this along side a group of friends and their own problems. One of my best this year, absolutely fantastic!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow! Well, this was an absolute surprise of a 5 star read!
I went into this having read some of this authors previous works, expecting a by the numbers thriller but this one really impressed me.
Right away, I really liked the fact that the protagonists in this book are in their 50's. It seemed really refreshing to me as most books that feature that age group and above are usually cosy mysteries. And as thrillers do tend to have younger characters, I was very happy that this was a bit different.
I was totally HOOKED by the plot, which did start off slightly slowly, but boy did it pick up quickly.
The female friendships in this book are top notch and I did like all of the women involved.
I also was cheering them on throughout and this is definitely packed full of good for her energy.
I devoured this book in one day, as it is an absolute page turner that I just couldn't put down!
This is a fantastic domestic thriller in my opinion and as someone who reads a lot of them, this definitely stands head and shoulders above most of them in the genre.
I highly recommend you check this one out!

Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review

[Karen Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5.0

A great light hearted short read, it’s an interesting book mixing in humour, dealing with life in your mid fifties and the dating scene. It’s a good read if you want a little pick me up. It does what it says on the tin, it’s a rollercoaster of a book where we see the lives of three ladies all going about their life. We have Angela who runs a dating agency and is an expert at connecting over fifties looking for their soulmate. We have Sara who lost her husband to cancer and is looking to find love again, and we have Helen who lives with her controlling partner Brian and she’s been keeping her abusive behaviours a secret from her friends. Soon after Brian has a shocking incident which rocks them all to their core, where all three woman can be implicated - but could they be capable of murder? I loved the classic British-ness of the book, you can literally smell it out the pages. It’s very relatable, especially the discussions surrounding the dating scene as someone nearing their thirties! It’s a great read if you’re interested!

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst there a strong domestic violence undertone to this book, it is a book about female friendships, relationships in the modern era, and overcoming grief.
I was going to out the adjective of funny, but the plot had much more of a dark turn, than that of humour.
I do like a book about middle-aged women, and this one delivered. it was a nice change that is was not about menopause. The story explores friendships, relationships, family dynamics and life after grief.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got a library card yesterday and safe to say I’m buzzing. Sadly not the strongest book to start - but hopefully there are better to come.

[Chloe Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Laura Marshall’s books so I was optimistic about this one. For the first half I was impressed. Getting to know Helen, Angela, and Sara, three women in their fifties with a long-standing friendship, was easily the strongest part of the book. Their personalities felt distinct, believable, and layered, and I loved seeing the dynamics of their relationship unfold.

I did find Angela a little overbearing at times, but I think that came from a place of genuine love for her friends. She’s the kind of friend who wants to fix everything for everyone, even when it’s not her place. Sara frustrated me occasionally, though I suspect that’s intentional because there are probably many readers who will recognise themselves in her situation and her choices.

Helen’s relationship with Brian was particularly tough to read. Readers should be aware that there’s a heavy focus on domestic abuse throughout the story, mostly emotional, but with some physical elements too. The author’s portrayal of Brian was particular good, I absolutely loathed him!!

Unfortunately, the second half is where the book lost a star for me. The plot takes a turn that felt incredibly far-fetched. I don’t mind sensational thrillers at all, but this veered into silly rather than gripping. The ending in particular wrapped up far too neatly and it’s hard to believe events like that would resolve so smoothly in real life. It left me with a slightly unsatisfying feeling, as though the realism carefully built in the first half was abandoned for the sake of drama that wasn’t even that believable.

Overall, I felt that I couldn’t overlook how implausible the book actually became, which is why it’s ended up being a three star review! A decent enough read but definitely not one of my favourites from the author.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, wasn't this a book of two halves... The second being better than the first which, I have to admit, did drag a wee bit as it was setting everything up...
We follow three women.
Angela - who runs a successful dating agency for the over 50s and is happily married.
Sara - a relatively recent widow who is turning to her friend's agency to try and move on in her love life. She does think she has found the one, but is he too good to be true...
Helen - in a controlling marriage, the likes of which you wouldn't believe but who, to her friends, is very happy thank you. Until it all comes out...
As I already said, there is quite a bit of setting up to be done before the "accident". Which does mean that it does drag a wee bit before the action kicks off. But that setting up is important, is integral. As you will find out later so it really is worth paying attention. I say drag, I guess that's not quite right, I think maybe better described as a slow burn. But, once we get to post "accident", well, that's when the fun really starts. Spoilers prevent me from saying much more but boy does the author take the reader on a wild suspenseful ride. And there is also so much more than just the "accident". As Sara finds out with her blossoming relationship. Honestly though, I did keep screaming at her along the way and willing the scales to fall from her eyes so she could "see".
With twists and turns, secrets and lies aplenty. Some of which were kinds obvious to me, others came as a bit of a shock. But, at the end of the day, when all was finally revealed, I left the book feeling exhausted but completely satisfied.
This is actually the sixth book I have read by this author and have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. So, if you do enjoy this one, I would definitely recommend playing catch up.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts with three middle-aged besties - Angela, Sara and Helen… Angela runs a dating agency - ‘Kiss Marry Avoid’ for over 50s to find love. Sara is a widow after losing her husband to cancer and Helen is married to her manipulating husband, Brian…

Sara ends up attending one of Angela’s dating nights after a few failed dates and she is thrilled to meet an attractive guy, Nigel, and he is everything she is looking for! 🥰 They hit it off straight away until she finds out the truth… is Nigel the person he claims to be?! 🤔

Helen decided that she wants to leave Brian for good but he ends up having an accident… then both Sara and Angela got involved. How far would they go to protect the truth from getting out?! 🫢

I love the fact that Angela’s husband, Greg is learning British Sign Language - this made me happy as I’m profoundly deaf myself and I use British sign language to communicate. 🤩

The book was slow paced at the start and it gets better when I reached almost half way through the book! 📖👀 There are three various storylines with Angela, Sara and Helen and the ending was incredibly fulfilling! 😍

This is my 100th book that I’ve finished this year! 🥳🙌🏼 And I’m looking forward to invest in more of Laura’s books in the future! 📚

A massive thank you to Net Gallery and Hodder & Stoughton for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. ♥️

✨ Pub date - 20th November 2025 ✨

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read a book by Laura back in 2021 and I’ve been a fan ever since. I hadn’t picked one up in a while, so I was absolutely delighted to sink my teeth into this.

The story centres on three middle-aged best friends: Angela, who runs a dating agency for over-50s; Sara, a widow dipping her toe back into the world of romance; and Helen, who lives with her controlling husband, Brian.

When a shocking accident occurs – combined with some unsettling revelations Sara uncovers about her new beau, Nigel – the three friends suddenly find themselves colluding to save their own skin and deliver a bit of justice. One thing’s for sure: I wouldn’t want to mess with these ladies.

I really enjoyed the pacing of the first half. It isn’t full steam ahead, but it lays the groundwork for the second half, and each character feels nicely developed. I sensed that Nigel was too good to be true, and without giving anything away, let’s just say I’m glad he got his just desserts in the end. His behaviour reminded me a lot of Nick from Don’t Let Me In by Lisa Jewell – lies, deceit, gaslighting, the whole package.

I found myself itching to pick this book up again and sped through it in three sittings. Well done, Laura, on writing a gripping domestic thriller. I can’t wait to dive into the other books of yours I’ve got left to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Nat Eveleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Sara is a widow, and is ready to face the dating scene again, so joins, Angela, her best friends dating agency for a speed dating evening. Angela has been running her successful dating agency for a while, and is happily married. Their other best friend, Helen, is married to Brian, and they seem like a really well put together couple. But, unbeknown to her fiends, Helen's relationship is very controlled.

This was a brilliant read. I really loved it. It was a real page turner, with loads of twists and turns, and the way it was written made it so easy to read. The characters were perfectly written, and I especially liked Sara, who had a good sense of humour and was quite witty. The story ultimately is about friendship, and showing up when it really matters. The author also sensitively dealt with the subject of a controlling relationship. I am a new widow, so could really relate to Sara. And I really found Angela bold and brave. Highly recommended.

[Jacki van de Schoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Kiss Marry Kill. It was full of suspense, drama, humour, friendship, secrets and betrayal. I was drawn in immediately, and I read it in one sitting.

I loved Sara, Helen and Angela. They were all charismatic, smart, determined, loyal, and relatable.
I also liked that they were mature women. I get a bit sick of main characters always being flighty twenty somethings.

I'm a big fan of Laura Marshall, and I have been since her debut novel, Friend Request, which is still one of my favourite thrillers. I've loved every book she's released since. I've never been disappointed with any of her novels, and Kiss Marry Kill is no exception.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Especially for fans of Adele Parks, Sandie Jones, Lucy Clarke, and J.P. Delaney.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Laura Marshall for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

This book was an absolute page turner for me and I whizzed through the entire thing at a rate of knots.

In Kiss Marry Kill we meet best friends Angela, Sara and Helen.

Angela is married and runs a dating agency for over 50s.

Sara is ready to throw herself back into the dating scene after being widowed years before.

Helen lives with her controlling partner but has kept this from her friends for many years but can she keep it to herself much longer?


This is a story about friendship and I loved following the characters as they navigate life together.

I will be recommending this book to others.

[KathVBtn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Marshall has done it again - a gripping psychological domestic thriller with some black comedy thrown in for good measure.
Dating agency owner Angie owns 'Kiss Marry Avoid', an agency for over 50s to find love.
Her good friend Zara, recently widowed, goes to one of Angie's nights and after several disasters, is delighted to meet Nigel. He's handsome, funny, a great listener -and the two of them hit it off straight away.
Meanwhile, Helen the third friend in the group, who has always been written off as a bit flaky friendship-wise. What her friends don't know is that her husband Brian has always been controlling and overrides her every wish.
There are several storylines that run through the book and the ending is extremely satisfying!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! We meet Angela, Sara and Helen who are all good friends. Angela runs a dating agency, Sara is a widow and Helen is married to her controlling husband, Brian. The storyline follows their lives and problems that come with them until one day when Helen asks her friends for help following her husband's accident. I really liked the three ladies, but found Helen's storyline the most gripping out of them all. They were all really relatable and realistic characters and for each of them you could put yourself in their shoes and understand what they were going through.

It was a great read and I was hooked from the beginning. It did start a little slower initially, but picked up very quickly and I found myself flying through the book. It has a lot of dark humour in it but also some upsetting parts, especially in Helen's storyline. It's a really enjoyable read with some great characters. I'd definitely recommend it.

[Gillian Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fierce, twist-loaded domestic noir that puts women front and centre — and refuses to apologise for it.

This story is craazy in all the right ways: toxic relationships, buried secrets, and that slow, simmering tension that only domestic suspense can deliver. But what makes it stand out is the sharp feminist edge running through every chapter. The women in this book are smart, layered, underestimated — and watching them take their power back is unbelievably satisfying.

I honestly love this author. They know exactly how to blend gripping drama with a bold, empowering kick, and the twists? Absolutely wild.

A dark, clever, feminist domestic-noir masterpiece. Five stars, easily. 🔥📚💅🏻

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some romances can have an unexpected outcome - because love is rarely as easy to slot into categories as dating games such as kiss/marry/kill!

This book follows the adventures (and misadventures) of three friends who are engaged in various stages of the relationship matrix, from looking for love in all the potentially right and wrong places, to speed dating, to exit strategies. But when someone ends up dead, the game is up...

This is an entertaining and fast paced story that keeps the reader's attention fully engaged. It easily gets 3.5 stars, just missing 4. Recommended!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Megan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of an odd read to me, it started off very strong and I was immersed in it, then in the middle I thought it lost its way and frankly bordered on being ridiculous. Thankfully, it then picked up again for the end section and I thought it had a fitting ending. This was a difficult read due to the subject matter the plot is about and I felt very uncomfortable at times. There are moments of light-heartedness too and I particularly enjoyed the friendship between the three main women. There were moments of brilliance in this but also moments of weirdness that ruined the sense of reality.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.

[Catharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Domestic Drama. Dire Developments. Dating Over 50.

This is such an easy, engaging read about three female friends navigating relationships—and each other.

What really drew me in were the characters: they’re well-rounded, believable, and often relatable. Insecure but bolshie Angela, in particular, is brilliantly written and stayed with me long after I finished. The conclusion felt both realistic and refreshingly different, which I really appreciated.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of “Kiss Marry Kill” by Laura Marshall.

[McBreakneck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Marshall’s books are always worth a read.

Kiss Marry K*ll features three best friends, Angela runs a dating agency, Sara is widowed and getting into dating again while Helen lives with controlling husband Brian.

I rather missed the humour from Laura Marshall’s last book A Good Place To Hide A Body, but trying to escape coercive control isn’t a natural vehicle for laughs.

It’s original, it ebbs and flows nicely and there some unexpected twists and turns. Not a must read, but I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to @hodder&stoughton for a copy in return for a honest review.

I loved that this book is set around a friend group of 3 middle aged women, who are so very different from one another. This domestic thriller took me by surprise. It was fresh and gripping, a slow burn. I couldnt put this down, definately in the top of thrillers! It also adds a lot of humour and the dating scene and can be lighthearted at times and bittersweet. Lots of twists and secrets that i could see coming but still an excellent read.

[Amy apple · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an engaging, easy read that I ended up enjoying more than I expected. The characters felt real — the kind of people you can immediately picture because you’ve met versions of them before — which gave the story a grounded, relatable edge.

It’s marketed as a domestic thriller, and that fits, though it initially reads more like a cozy mystery with sharper undertones. The tension builds in a steady, accessible way rather than through huge, shocking twists. One character’s storyline was fairly predictable, while the other took turns I didn’t entirely see coming, which kept things interesting and stopped it from feeling too formulaic.

It’s not groundbreaking, and it doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it’s engaging throughout and wraps up with a satisfying ending. Overall, a solid 3-star read — enjoyable in the moment, even if it’s not one that will stick with me long-term.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. Some parts were good, others a bit too much.
The story with Helen and Brian was horrible (in a good way, but avoid this if domestic violence is triggering), and also Nigel and his motivations, those worked well here.
What didn’t was the revenge stories at the end, just convoluted and things that went nowhere or dragged out too long. I didn’t really believe any of the characters either. They were almost like caricatures. A weird mix of nicey nice cheese to go with what was quite a bleak storyline on its own.
Fine for light reading.

[Vicky Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Every romance ends one of three ways; kiss, marry or kill"

Angela runs a dating agency for over 50s. Sara is looking for new love after being widowed. Helen lives with her controlling husband Brian and has been hiding it for mny years from here friends.

When Brian is seriously injured the women come under suspicion but they woulnt try to kill him ..... would they?

I enjoyed this read even if i did guess a few of the twists early on still enjoyable read.

[Avril Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was torn whether to give this book a 3 star rating or a 4 star rating... but I eventually settled on 3 stars. Sure, the story was predictable, the book had a lot of editing issues, and the story had no humor in it (Some reviewers and the book cover said the story was funny!?). But I loved Angela and Greg's dynamic, the strong friendship between the three best friends, and Brian getting his just deserts in the end. Overall, 'Kiss, Marry, Kill' was a somewhat pleasing read.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read everything Laura Marshall has written. This is one of the best. When I read late into the night until I fall asleep, and wake up before dawn to finish a book, you know it is a good one.
Easy read, the writing flows well, twists and turns to make your head spin. Oh yes, and revenge is sweet!
Loved this book, and can't wait for Laura Marshall's next!

[Cameron Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compulsive page-turner, I read this in one evening, thinking “I’ll just read one more chapter…” Marshall is brilliant at creating likeable, believable characters (and those you’ll love to hate) and then putting them in life-or-death situations. She interweaves the tension with humour perfectly. Highly recommended.

[Elaine M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it had a good pace & it actually made me laugh.
It centres around 3 friends, a dating agency and an abusive husband.
There's an 'accident' and also some romance fraud, which the friends work hard to deal with.
Definitely a recommended read for those who like a good, relatable thriller.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good thriller! Kiss Marry Kill focuses on three older friends, all experiencing very different romantic relationships. I absolutely loved every page, and was gripped from the start. Would recommend!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Lucy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I really enjoyed a good place to hide a body this did not disappoint.
I enjoyed the friendship of the girls. The blokes were rotters and they got what they deserved. Such an entertaining book.
I definitely recommend.

[Shaz Mcdill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read with the perfect ending I would definitely recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers