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A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage #2
Self-Help for Serial Killers
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
25 days and 16:51:54
25 copies available
U.S. only
In this rollicking sequel to A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, two (mostly) reformed serial killers discover something more deadly than living in suburbia.
This couple’s midlife crisis is murder . . . literally.
Hazel and Fox have it two children, a beautiful home, and a late-night habit of eliminating people who deserve it. Yet work-life balance is hard when you want to kill bad men but raise good kids.
With a school mum tyrant on Haze's case, and Fox struggling with performance anxiety after a botched kill, things are spiraling. Therapy isn't helping, and bullet journaling has taken on a whole new meaning. . . .
But when they accidentally draw a dangerous group to their doorstep, the couple must pull it together—and fast. Because surviving in suburbia is no longer just a challenge. Now it's a real fight for their family's lives.
And it turns out, self-help starts with staying alive.
This couple’s midlife crisis is murder . . . literally.
Hazel and Fox have it two children, a beautiful home, and a late-night habit of eliminating people who deserve it. Yet work-life balance is hard when you want to kill bad men but raise good kids.
With a school mum tyrant on Haze's case, and Fox struggling with performance anxiety after a botched kill, things are spiraling. Therapy isn't helping, and bullet journaling has taken on a whole new meaning. . . .
But when they accidentally draw a dangerous group to their doorstep, the couple must pull it together—and fast. Because surviving in suburbia is no longer just a challenge. Now it's a real fight for their family's lives.
And it turns out, self-help starts with staying alive.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 16, 2026
About the author
Asia Mackay
5 books270 followersAsia studied Anthropology at Durham University, after which she started a career in television. She presented and produced lifestyle programmes in Shanghai before moving back to London, where she worked for Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as Project Manager on their round the world motorbike documentaries.
She started writing Killing It on maternity leave and undertook a Faber Academy course to help her finish it. Asia lives in London with her husband, four young children and two dogs. Killing It is her first novel and was the Runner Up in Richard and Judy's Search for a Bestseller competition 2017.
She started writing Killing It on maternity leave and undertook a Faber Academy course to help her finish it. Asia lives in London with her husband, four young children and two dogs. Killing It is her first novel and was the Runner Up in Richard and Judy's Search for a Bestseller competition 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 26, 2026
Self Help for Serial Killers was just as quirky, chaotic, and darkly funny as the first book, which is exactly what I was hoping for. A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage set the bar pretty high for me, and while I still really enjoyed this sequel, I didn’t love it *quite* as much.
Hazel and Fox are still wildly entertaining as suburban parents trying to balance raising children with, you know… occasionally murdering terrible people. The humor is sharp, the banter is fun, and the whole “serial killers trying to survive normal family life” concept still works ridiculously well. I especially enjoyed all the little domestic chaos moments — school parent drama, therapy sessions, performance anxiety after a failed kill… it’s all so absurd in the best way. My biggest issue was that the story started to feel a little too big for me. I know realism obviously isn’t the point here, but the international hunt/action side of the plot felt a bit out of my depth compared to the first book. I personally preferred the smaller-scale suburban chaos and simpler cat-and-mouse feel from book one. This one occasionally lost me during the larger conspiracy-style moments, and there were parts that dragged a little because of it. That said, it was still a fun, bingeable read with lovable morally questionable characters, dark humor, and enough chaos to keep me entertained. If you enjoyed the first book, I think this sequel is definitely still worth picking up — just go in expecting the story to get a little wilder and more over-the-top this time around.
Hazel and Fox are still wildly entertaining as suburban parents trying to balance raising children with, you know… occasionally murdering terrible people. The humor is sharp, the banter is fun, and the whole “serial killers trying to survive normal family life” concept still works ridiculously well. I especially enjoyed all the little domestic chaos moments — school parent drama, therapy sessions, performance anxiety after a failed kill… it’s all so absurd in the best way. My biggest issue was that the story started to feel a little too big for me. I know realism obviously isn’t the point here, but the international hunt/action side of the plot felt a bit out of my depth compared to the first book. I personally preferred the smaller-scale suburban chaos and simpler cat-and-mouse feel from book one. This one occasionally lost me during the larger conspiracy-style moments, and there were parts that dragged a little because of it. That said, it was still a fun, bingeable read with lovable morally questionable characters, dark humor, and enough chaos to keep me entertained. If you enjoyed the first book, I think this sequel is definitely still worth picking up — just go in expecting the story to get a little wilder and more over-the-top this time around.
April 4, 2026
**Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC.**
When I first started reading this book I thought it had potential to be 5 stars! It was gripping from the start. Kind of a Santa Clarita Diet couple meets Dexter vibe. As the book continued I was a little put off by the fact that we are in 2026 and still hating on men so much. I absolutely am for having fun and making jabs at men for fun, but ultimately most men aren’t bad people. There’s mention of an all men’s club and how “poor men need their safe spaces.” There are clubs for all women too. It’s more of a social norm than meant to be a “safe space” for anyone. Also the fact that MC’s only kill “straight white men,” seemed unnecessary. Again it’s 2026, why not take this out and leave it at “they only kill bad people.” It shouldn’t matter race, gender, or sex, a bad person is a bad person. Besides this, the ending wasn't that shocking or twisty. I was hoping for more excitement or shock with the people involved, but it was just like “yeah okay that makes sense.”
Overall this is a book I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading. It definitely held my attention, but am I going to flat out recommend it to anyone… not likely.
When I first started reading this book I thought it had potential to be 5 stars! It was gripping from the start. Kind of a Santa Clarita Diet couple meets Dexter vibe. As the book continued I was a little put off by the fact that we are in 2026 and still hating on men so much. I absolutely am for having fun and making jabs at men for fun, but ultimately most men aren’t bad people. There’s mention of an all men’s club and how “poor men need their safe spaces.” There are clubs for all women too. It’s more of a social norm than meant to be a “safe space” for anyone. Also the fact that MC’s only kill “straight white men,” seemed unnecessary. Again it’s 2026, why not take this out and leave it at “they only kill bad people.” It shouldn’t matter race, gender, or sex, a bad person is a bad person. Besides this, the ending wasn't that shocking or twisty. I was hoping for more excitement or shock with the people involved, but it was just like “yeah okay that makes sense.”
Overall this is a book I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading. It definitely held my attention, but am I going to flat out recommend it to anyone… not likely.
Read
May 25, 2026Haze and Fox and living a typical upper middle class life in a quiet British village. They have Bibi, a sweet and precocious 4 year old and a newborn Reggie who doesn’t sleep through the night so neither do Fox and Haze. From the outside they look like the perfect family but they have a small sideline that sets them apart…they are both serial killers. They target only bad men (rapists, wife abusers) but they both “enjoy” the kill. In this dark comedy/slice of family life story, they are recovering from a big, botched job the year before, sleep deprivation and running from a professional killer who is targeting them. The concept of these books is clever and entertaining. Thanks to #netgalley for the arc of this book.
May 15, 2026
Received an ARC via NetGalley.
I found the first one fun and the second equally so. The characters, especially Hazel, are surprisingly likable for.. ya know, serial killers.
I can see that this was sort of trying to stretch out things from the last one and maybe turn it into an ongoing series. But I didn’t mind that it was kind of a stretch. The characters were fun and it’s not every day you find a cozy mystery where the main characters are serial killers (with morals?).
I found the first one fun and the second equally so. The characters, especially Hazel, are surprisingly likable for.. ya know, serial killers.
I can see that this was sort of trying to stretch out things from the last one and maybe turn it into an ongoing series. But I didn’t mind that it was kind of a stretch. The characters were fun and it’s not every day you find a cozy mystery where the main characters are serial killers (with morals?).
May 11, 2026
Asia Mackay’s Self-Help for Serial Killers made me realize that apparently my ideal reading experience now involves sipping iced coffee while reading about suburban parenting, emotional burnout, marital tension, suspicious neighbors, school pickup drama, and the occasional well-deserved murder. Ballantine | Bantam, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC because this book was dark, hilarious, wildly chaotic, and honestly one of the most entertaining stress spirals I’ve read in a while.
Hazel and Fox are back, and somehow their lives are even messier this time around. Which honestly feels impressive considering these two are already trying to balance marriage, children, secrets, trauma, and vigilante serial killing like it’s just another item on the weekly family calendar. Soccer practice? Check. Therapy appointment? Check. Dispose of dangerous men threatening the family? Also check.
And weirdly? It works.
This series continues to lean fully into the absurdity of trying to maintain a picture-perfect suburban life while internally unraveling at all times. Hazel and Fox live in that strange space between exhausted parents and morally questionable antiheroes, and Asia Mackay somehow makes both sides feel believable. One minute you’re laughing at school mom politics and awkward neighborhood interactions, and the next minute someone is panicking over whether an international criminal organization is surveilling their family barbecue. The tonal whiplash should not work this well, and yet here I am fully invested in these disaster humans.
Hazel especially fascinated me in this one. Beneath all the sarcasm, impulsiveness, and dark humor is a woman who feels trapped by the expectations surrounding motherhood and domestic life. She loves her family deeply, but she also misses the version of herself that felt dangerous, capable, and alive. There’s this constant tension between wanting normalcy and absolutely suffocating under it, and honestly? That emotional conflict felt far more real than I expected from a book with this premise.
Meanwhile Fox is basically held together by anxiety, guilt, emotional repression, and the world’s weakest thread of self-control. Watching him try to manage trauma while desperately attempting to keep the family functioning gave the story a surprising amount of emotional depth underneath all the murder and chaos. Their marriage continues to be one of my favorite parts of the series because it somehow feels both deeply toxic and weirdly aspirational at the exact same time. They’re lying to each other constantly, emotionally spiraling in opposite directions, and still somehow functioning as a united front when things truly matter.
Which honestly feels more realistic than half the fictional marriages I read these days.
And Jenny? Absolute icon behavior. Every time she showed up, the energy shifted immediately. I love how this series builds these strange little found-family dynamics between deeply flawed people who probably should not trust each other but somehow do anyway.
“The problem with pretending to be normal is realizing normal people are terrifying too.”
That line honestly captures the entire vibe of this series. Because underneath the dark comedy and thriller elements is this sharp little commentary about suburban performance, marriage expectations, parenting exhaustion, and how completely unhinged “normal” people already are without adding murder into the equation.
The pacing is incredibly bingeable with those fast chapters that make you accidentally read half the book in one sitting while telling yourself “one more chapter” like a complete liar. Even when the middle slowed slightly for me, I was still fully locked into the character dynamics and paranoia. Every new interaction felt suspicious. Every school mom felt dangerous. Every therapy session felt like it might collapse into complete catastrophe at any second.
And honestly? The humor in this series deserves more attention because it’s genuinely funny without undercutting the suspense. The satire around parenting culture, self-help language, suburban perfectionism, and marriage advice absolutely landed for me. Bullet journaling jokes should not be this funny in a serial killer thriller, and yet here we are.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is perfect for readers who love dark humor, morally gray characters, dysfunctional marriage dynamics, domestic thrillers, witty satire, fast-paced suspense, and books that somehow make you laugh while whispering “every single person in this story needs intensive therapy immediately.”
Also, I’m just saying… after reading this series, every overly cheerful suburban neighborhood now feels at least 15% more suspicious to me. HOA meetings already carry the energy of a psychological thriller, and this book absolutely confirmed it. 😂
#SelfHelpforSerialKillers #AsiaMackay #DarkComedy #ThrillerBooks #MysteryThriller #DomesticThriller #Bookstagram #BookReview #DarkHumor #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #BantamBooks #SuspenseBooks
Hazel and Fox are back, and somehow their lives are even messier this time around. Which honestly feels impressive considering these two are already trying to balance marriage, children, secrets, trauma, and vigilante serial killing like it’s just another item on the weekly family calendar. Soccer practice? Check. Therapy appointment? Check. Dispose of dangerous men threatening the family? Also check.
And weirdly? It works.
This series continues to lean fully into the absurdity of trying to maintain a picture-perfect suburban life while internally unraveling at all times. Hazel and Fox live in that strange space between exhausted parents and morally questionable antiheroes, and Asia Mackay somehow makes both sides feel believable. One minute you’re laughing at school mom politics and awkward neighborhood interactions, and the next minute someone is panicking over whether an international criminal organization is surveilling their family barbecue. The tonal whiplash should not work this well, and yet here I am fully invested in these disaster humans.
Hazel especially fascinated me in this one. Beneath all the sarcasm, impulsiveness, and dark humor is a woman who feels trapped by the expectations surrounding motherhood and domestic life. She loves her family deeply, but she also misses the version of herself that felt dangerous, capable, and alive. There’s this constant tension between wanting normalcy and absolutely suffocating under it, and honestly? That emotional conflict felt far more real than I expected from a book with this premise.
Meanwhile Fox is basically held together by anxiety, guilt, emotional repression, and the world’s weakest thread of self-control. Watching him try to manage trauma while desperately attempting to keep the family functioning gave the story a surprising amount of emotional depth underneath all the murder and chaos. Their marriage continues to be one of my favorite parts of the series because it somehow feels both deeply toxic and weirdly aspirational at the exact same time. They’re lying to each other constantly, emotionally spiraling in opposite directions, and still somehow functioning as a united front when things truly matter.
Which honestly feels more realistic than half the fictional marriages I read these days.
And Jenny? Absolute icon behavior. Every time she showed up, the energy shifted immediately. I love how this series builds these strange little found-family dynamics between deeply flawed people who probably should not trust each other but somehow do anyway.
“The problem with pretending to be normal is realizing normal people are terrifying too.”
That line honestly captures the entire vibe of this series. Because underneath the dark comedy and thriller elements is this sharp little commentary about suburban performance, marriage expectations, parenting exhaustion, and how completely unhinged “normal” people already are without adding murder into the equation.
The pacing is incredibly bingeable with those fast chapters that make you accidentally read half the book in one sitting while telling yourself “one more chapter” like a complete liar. Even when the middle slowed slightly for me, I was still fully locked into the character dynamics and paranoia. Every new interaction felt suspicious. Every school mom felt dangerous. Every therapy session felt like it might collapse into complete catastrophe at any second.
And honestly? The humor in this series deserves more attention because it’s genuinely funny without undercutting the suspense. The satire around parenting culture, self-help language, suburban perfectionism, and marriage advice absolutely landed for me. Bullet journaling jokes should not be this funny in a serial killer thriller, and yet here we are.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is perfect for readers who love dark humor, morally gray characters, dysfunctional marriage dynamics, domestic thrillers, witty satire, fast-paced suspense, and books that somehow make you laugh while whispering “every single person in this story needs intensive therapy immediately.”
Also, I’m just saying… after reading this series, every overly cheerful suburban neighborhood now feels at least 15% more suspicious to me. HOA meetings already carry the energy of a psychological thriller, and this book absolutely confirmed it. 😂
#SelfHelpforSerialKillers #AsiaMackay #DarkComedy #ThrillerBooks #MysteryThriller #DomesticThriller #Bookstagram #BookReview #DarkHumor #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #BantamBooks #SuspenseBooks
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Self-Help for Serial Killers” by Asia Mackay is a wildly entertaining mix of dark comedy, thriller, and domestic drama that somehow makes marriage, parenting, and murder feel like part of the same chaotic balancing act. This is a sequel, so make sure to check out “A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” before reading this one.
The story follows Hazel and Fox, a seemingly perfect suburban couple raising their young daughter in an upscale London neighborhood. The only problem? They used to be serial killers who traveled across Europe murdering “bad men” together. They gave up their deadly lifestyle when Hazel got pregnant, but three years into suburban life, Hazel is bored, restless, and deeply unhappy playing the role of stay-at-home mom. When she accidentally kills someone and tries to hide it from Fox, their carefully controlled life starts to spiral, especially since Fox is hiding secrets of his own.
What makes this book stand out is its brilliant premise and tone. It’s dark, twisted, and intense, but also genuinely funny. The story leans heavily into the absurdity of trying to maintain a normal marriage while secretly craving murder, and the humor comes from how relatable many of the relationship struggles are, minus the killing, of course. The book cleverly explores themes like marriage, parenthood, identity, and the sacrifices people make for family, all wrapped in a chaotic web of lies and secrets.
Hazel and Fox are fascinating characters. Hazel is impulsive, sharp-witted, and struggling with the loss of her former life, while Fox is more controlled, trying to protect their family while dealing with pressure from his wealthy and manipulative family. Their relationship is messy but compelling, built on love, shared darkness, and constant deception. Watching them hide secrets from each other and deal with the consequences creates much of the tension and humor in the story.
The dual perspectives from Hazel and Fox work well, giving insight into both sides of their marriage and showing how differently they cope with their new “normal.” The story also includes clever touches like snippets of marriage advice, which add to the satire of trying to maintain a healthy relationship under very unhealthy circumstances.
The pacing is fast and addictive, packed with twists, secrets, and escalating chaos that make it hard to put down. While the middle section slows slightly, the steady stream of reveals and schemes keeps the tension high. The book balances suspense with emotional depth, showing how parenthood and domestic life challenge even the most unconventional couples.
Overall, “Self-Help for Serial Killers” is a smart, witty, and darkly funny thriller about love, secrets, and the complications of settling down when your shared hobby used to be murder. It’s a unique, twisty read that combines domestic drama with psychological suspense; it’s perfect if you enjoy morally messy characters, dark humor, and relationship chaos with a deadly edge.
“Self-Help for Serial Killers” by Asia Mackay is a wildly entertaining mix of dark comedy, thriller, and domestic drama that somehow makes marriage, parenting, and murder feel like part of the same chaotic balancing act. This is a sequel, so make sure to check out “A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage” before reading this one.
The story follows Hazel and Fox, a seemingly perfect suburban couple raising their young daughter in an upscale London neighborhood. The only problem? They used to be serial killers who traveled across Europe murdering “bad men” together. They gave up their deadly lifestyle when Hazel got pregnant, but three years into suburban life, Hazel is bored, restless, and deeply unhappy playing the role of stay-at-home mom. When she accidentally kills someone and tries to hide it from Fox, their carefully controlled life starts to spiral, especially since Fox is hiding secrets of his own.
What makes this book stand out is its brilliant premise and tone. It’s dark, twisted, and intense, but also genuinely funny. The story leans heavily into the absurdity of trying to maintain a normal marriage while secretly craving murder, and the humor comes from how relatable many of the relationship struggles are, minus the killing, of course. The book cleverly explores themes like marriage, parenthood, identity, and the sacrifices people make for family, all wrapped in a chaotic web of lies and secrets.
Hazel and Fox are fascinating characters. Hazel is impulsive, sharp-witted, and struggling with the loss of her former life, while Fox is more controlled, trying to protect their family while dealing with pressure from his wealthy and manipulative family. Their relationship is messy but compelling, built on love, shared darkness, and constant deception. Watching them hide secrets from each other and deal with the consequences creates much of the tension and humor in the story.
The dual perspectives from Hazel and Fox work well, giving insight into both sides of their marriage and showing how differently they cope with their new “normal.” The story also includes clever touches like snippets of marriage advice, which add to the satire of trying to maintain a healthy relationship under very unhealthy circumstances.
The pacing is fast and addictive, packed with twists, secrets, and escalating chaos that make it hard to put down. While the middle section slows slightly, the steady stream of reveals and schemes keeps the tension high. The book balances suspense with emotional depth, showing how parenthood and domestic life challenge even the most unconventional couples.
Overall, “Self-Help for Serial Killers” is a smart, witty, and darkly funny thriller about love, secrets, and the complications of settling down when your shared hobby used to be murder. It’s a unique, twisty read that combines domestic drama with psychological suspense; it’s perfect if you enjoy morally messy characters, dark humor, and relationship chaos with a deadly edge.
June 4, 2026
THIS IS AN ADVANCED READING COPY BY NETGALLEY:
As a married couple, Fox and Haze couldn’t be more passionate, complementary, like minded or in love as these two are. They’ve got one daughter named BIBI who just began preschool and a brand new baby Reggie, 4 months old whom Mom is still nursing, Haze is an artist who does very well at a local gallery and Fox has opened his own firm in which he manages money and stocks for others and does very well for himself. These two are extremely business and they also have another very committed past time that they’ve been excessively involved in long before marriage and kids. In fact, their lifestyle was one of jesting around the world, attending the most VIP parties and world traveling together having an absolute blast. They also had a deep connection that they shared together all those years and have still continued to do this yet it’s proven to be beyond hard with the kids in their lives. They believe they’re very much like the people next door in their social status with the one exception that they also like to kill together. There are rules, They only kill men who harm females and children and predators who have it coming. They’ve justified this choice and lifestyle as one where they rid the world of dangerous and cruel evil men. One at a time,
Last year, in Italy on a chase to take down an enormous organization that was far too large and far to expansive for them, they made their very first mistake and nearly almost Fox in the process. Because Fox was ultimately saved by his wife Haze and her police detective best friend Jenny for whom they helped her rid her of an abusive and homicidal ex husband to keep her and her son Felix safe she has since jumped into he and Hazes secret lifestyle by providing them with the names of men who are freed by the justice system even though they are guilty as sin. She also keeps a look out for any clues or mistakes they make and covers their tracks, Thus far it’s worked out very well except the organization that they offended in Italy are still coming for them for they’ve been spending their last year with their heads over their shoulders and are now even getting written warnings and when their daughter is taken from her bed when Jenny is watching over her so Haze and Fox can gobtake on the boss of Italian organization called the “Chameleon”, the biggest most shocking surprise is revealed and Haze, Fox and Jenny are all awe struck by the unfolding events yet thrilled that they are no longer suspicious of one another as that’s what the enemy was creating between them.
This is BOOK 2 of 1 and I am HOPING THAT BOOK 3 will be coming SOON! I love the characters the fast paced mystery and thrilling plot that makes me turn pages as fast as possible to get to the answers I’m craving to know!! So well done.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY FOR THE ADVANCED COPY READING, to ASIA MCKAY AND BANTAM RANDOM HOUSE!!!!
#AsiaMcKay #BantamRandomHouse #Netgalley #ARC
As a married couple, Fox and Haze couldn’t be more passionate, complementary, like minded or in love as these two are. They’ve got one daughter named BIBI who just began preschool and a brand new baby Reggie, 4 months old whom Mom is still nursing, Haze is an artist who does very well at a local gallery and Fox has opened his own firm in which he manages money and stocks for others and does very well for himself. These two are extremely business and they also have another very committed past time that they’ve been excessively involved in long before marriage and kids. In fact, their lifestyle was one of jesting around the world, attending the most VIP parties and world traveling together having an absolute blast. They also had a deep connection that they shared together all those years and have still continued to do this yet it’s proven to be beyond hard with the kids in their lives. They believe they’re very much like the people next door in their social status with the one exception that they also like to kill together. There are rules, They only kill men who harm females and children and predators who have it coming. They’ve justified this choice and lifestyle as one where they rid the world of dangerous and cruel evil men. One at a time,
Last year, in Italy on a chase to take down an enormous organization that was far too large and far to expansive for them, they made their very first mistake and nearly almost Fox in the process. Because Fox was ultimately saved by his wife Haze and her police detective best friend Jenny for whom they helped her rid her of an abusive and homicidal ex husband to keep her and her son Felix safe she has since jumped into he and Hazes secret lifestyle by providing them with the names of men who are freed by the justice system even though they are guilty as sin. She also keeps a look out for any clues or mistakes they make and covers their tracks, Thus far it’s worked out very well except the organization that they offended in Italy are still coming for them for they’ve been spending their last year with their heads over their shoulders and are now even getting written warnings and when their daughter is taken from her bed when Jenny is watching over her so Haze and Fox can gobtake on the boss of Italian organization called the “Chameleon”, the biggest most shocking surprise is revealed and Haze, Fox and Jenny are all awe struck by the unfolding events yet thrilled that they are no longer suspicious of one another as that’s what the enemy was creating between them.
This is BOOK 2 of 1 and I am HOPING THAT BOOK 3 will be coming SOON! I love the characters the fast paced mystery and thrilling plot that makes me turn pages as fast as possible to get to the answers I’m craving to know!! So well done.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY FOR THE ADVANCED COPY READING, to ASIA MCKAY AND BANTAM RANDOM HOUSE!!!!
#AsiaMcKay #BantamRandomHouse #Netgalley #ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.2/5
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
Self-Help for Serial Killers is a fun darkly humorous book that I flew through because I just genuinely enjoyed it!
I haven't read the first book in the series, but it really didn't matter because I was totally enthralled with this story. Everything was explained well enough that I never felt like I was missing anything.
Self-Help for Serial Killers follows Haze and Fox, a married couple who just so happen to murder bad guys out of a sense of righteousness (and for fun!). When they find they've accidentally caught the attention of a dangerous group who views them as a threat, raising their kids and going through their midlife crises become the least of their worries.
Haze is a really tough, feisty, fun character that I'm totally envious of. I mean, I don't envy the whole situation she's in and I wouldn't murder bad guys for fun, but she's so confident and has such a unique outlook on life because she doesn't take any negativity from anyone! She's pretty mean to Fox because she thinks his midlife crisis is ridiculous, and I saw some reviews that didn't like that about her, but I think the book itself is all in good fun and don't think the author actually condones being hateful towards men lol.
I don't know how he is in the first book, but in this sequel, Fox is such a sweetie. He's a delicate little flower who just wants the best for his family and thinks he's not doing them justice. For a murderer, he's quite a softie. I love his character arc and his struggle to realize that getting old isn't the end of the world (right? I'm turning 30 and trying to figure that out myself).
Jenny is a convenient side character to have in their lives. She really is the reason what they do becomes even semi-believable and her connection with Haze is sweet. I think there's only one chapter from her perspective, which I found to be a little strange. Maybe 2. I wish there were a few more so you can start getting a little more invested in her life. I know you're supposed to be questioning her, but I think Mackay could have added a little more of her perspective, at least late in the book.
I love the English backdrop of the book, from the setting to the diction to the differences it builds between Haze and Fox's dispositions. Even though I didn't know these characters from the first book, I was really invested right from the beginning because they're such likable characters.
This book is the perfect balance of action and dark humor and the ending was really satisfying emotionally! I really enjoyed this one and will be going back to read the first one!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
Self-Help for Serial Killers is a fun darkly humorous book that I flew through because I just genuinely enjoyed it!
I haven't read the first book in the series, but it really didn't matter because I was totally enthralled with this story. Everything was explained well enough that I never felt like I was missing anything.
Self-Help for Serial Killers follows Haze and Fox, a married couple who just so happen to murder bad guys out of a sense of righteousness (and for fun!). When they find they've accidentally caught the attention of a dangerous group who views them as a threat, raising their kids and going through their midlife crises become the least of their worries.
Haze is a really tough, feisty, fun character that I'm totally envious of. I mean, I don't envy the whole situation she's in and I wouldn't murder bad guys for fun, but she's so confident and has such a unique outlook on life because she doesn't take any negativity from anyone! She's pretty mean to Fox because she thinks his midlife crisis is ridiculous, and I saw some reviews that didn't like that about her, but I think the book itself is all in good fun and don't think the author actually condones being hateful towards men lol.
I don't know how he is in the first book, but in this sequel, Fox is such a sweetie. He's a delicate little flower who just wants the best for his family and thinks he's not doing them justice. For a murderer, he's quite a softie. I love his character arc and his struggle to realize that getting old isn't the end of the world (right? I'm turning 30 and trying to figure that out myself).
Jenny is a convenient side character to have in their lives. She really is the reason what they do becomes even semi-believable and her connection with Haze is sweet. I think there's only one chapter from her perspective, which I found to be a little strange. Maybe 2. I wish there were a few more so you can start getting a little more invested in her life. I know you're supposed to be questioning her, but I think Mackay could have added a little more of her perspective, at least late in the book.
I love the English backdrop of the book, from the setting to the diction to the differences it builds between Haze and Fox's dispositions. Even though I didn't know these characters from the first book, I was really invested right from the beginning because they're such likable characters.
This book is the perfect balance of action and dark humor and the ending was really satisfying emotionally! I really enjoyed this one and will be going back to read the first one!
April 7, 2026
I requested this ARC not knowing it was a sequel, so I read A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage and was... underwhelmed. The first book dragged. It all felt like a setup to launch into this world on a larger scale. The first book walked so that Self-Help for Serial Killers could run. I enjoyed this much more than the last. Pacing was better. The world felt much more established and secure.
Fox and Haze are your stereotypical white, privileged couple trying to balance the perfect suburban life with their covert killing side hustle. It's fine. This second book ties up loose ends from the first and introduces an international crime organization creatively named "The Corporation", who is hot on Haze and Fox's tail after they unknowingly took out one of their prominent members.
I don't think I see a lot of the humor in this book that others got. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, but overall, the tone feels much more sentimental and wholesome? There are so many moving pieces about character identity and relationships and secrets and PTSD it's hard to cipher out what is genuine and what is snark. I wish Mackay would pick a lane because at times it feels more like she's writing a Netflix show and not a popcorn thriller.
It's also a very PG thriller, all things considered. Everything always ties up in neat little bows. I was never genuinely worried about any of the characters or their decisions, however frustrating they can be at times, because everything always works out for them and there are no consequences for their actions. Part Four is where things really start to heat up, and I found myself invested in the twists and turns, but at the end of the day, this book isn't reinventing the genre. (Take your pick at which genre, it's definitely not a mystery and barely a thriller).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Fox and Haze are your stereotypical white, privileged couple trying to balance the perfect suburban life with their covert killing side hustle. It's fine. This second book ties up loose ends from the first and introduces an international crime organization creatively named "The Corporation", who is hot on Haze and Fox's tail after they unknowingly took out one of their prominent members.
I don't think I see a lot of the humor in this book that others got. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, but overall, the tone feels much more sentimental and wholesome? There are so many moving pieces about character identity and relationships and secrets and PTSD it's hard to cipher out what is genuine and what is snark. I wish Mackay would pick a lane because at times it feels more like she's writing a Netflix show and not a popcorn thriller.
It's also a very PG thriller, all things considered. Everything always ties up in neat little bows. I was never genuinely worried about any of the characters or their decisions, however frustrating they can be at times, because everything always works out for them and there are no consequences for their actions. Part Four is where things really start to heat up, and I found myself invested in the twists and turns, but at the end of the day, this book isn't reinventing the genre. (Take your pick at which genre, it's definitely not a mystery and barely a thriller).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Self-Help for Serial Killers by Asia Mackay is a really unique mix of dark humor, mystery, and domestic life. It follows a married couple trying to balance parenting, careers, and a very unconventional past—and present.
This reads much more like a story about marriage and identity than a traditional thriller. There are elements of mystery and action, along with an underlying sense that something bigger is happening, but the focus stays on the relationship and the pressure of trying to maintain a “normal” life.
What stood out most to me was the dynamic between the characters. There’s a clear shift happening—one partner struggling, the other stepping up—and it creates that quiet tension that feels more emotional than suspenseful. It’s less about what they’re doing and more about how it’s affecting them.
The tone leans heavily into dark humor, and that’s where the book really shines. It has moments that are genuinely funny, while still touching on heavier themes like identity, stress, and the reality of trying to hold everything together.
That said, the pacing felt a little uneven at times. There are stretches where things slow down, and I found myself wanting a bit more momentum or higher stakes. The concept itself is strong and different, but it doesn’t always feel fully pushed to its potential.
Overall, this is a character-driven story with thriller elements woven in. It’s an engaging, easy read with a distinct voice—just not one that fully leans into the suspense side.
This reads much more like a story about marriage and identity than a traditional thriller. There are elements of mystery and action, along with an underlying sense that something bigger is happening, but the focus stays on the relationship and the pressure of trying to maintain a “normal” life.
What stood out most to me was the dynamic between the characters. There’s a clear shift happening—one partner struggling, the other stepping up—and it creates that quiet tension that feels more emotional than suspenseful. It’s less about what they’re doing and more about how it’s affecting them.
The tone leans heavily into dark humor, and that’s where the book really shines. It has moments that are genuinely funny, while still touching on heavier themes like identity, stress, and the reality of trying to hold everything together.
That said, the pacing felt a little uneven at times. There are stretches where things slow down, and I found myself wanting a bit more momentum or higher stakes. The concept itself is strong and different, but it doesn’t always feel fully pushed to its potential.
Overall, this is a character-driven story with thriller elements woven in. It’s an engaging, easy read with a distinct voice—just not one that fully leans into the suspense side.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Self-Help for Serial Killers is a sharp, darkly funny follow-up that mostly delivers on the chaotic charm of the first book, even if it sometimes feels like it exists to tee up whatever comes next.
Asia Mackay sticks with what worked. The mix of suburban parenting and casual murder is still ridiculous in the best way. Hazel and Fox remain entertaining disasters, juggling school runs, therapy, and body disposal with varying levels of competence. The humor is still the standout. It leans into that contrast between normal family life and very not normal behavior, and it works more often than it should.
Where this one lost me a bit is in the structure. The middle drifts. There are plenty of fun scenes and sharp moments, but not all of them feel like they are going anywhere urgent. It starts to feel episodic, like we are watching setup happen in real time. You can practically see the author moving pieces into place for the next book.
To be fair, things do tighten up toward the end. The stakes finally show up, the tension clicks into place, and the story remembers it has a plot to deliver. There are also a few quieter moments that give the characters a bit more depth, which helps balance out all the chaos.
In the end, it is a solid second book. Entertaining, funny, and just self-aware enough to get away with a lot. It may not fully stand on its own, but if you liked the first one, you are probably already invested enough that it will not matter much.
Asia Mackay sticks with what worked. The mix of suburban parenting and casual murder is still ridiculous in the best way. Hazel and Fox remain entertaining disasters, juggling school runs, therapy, and body disposal with varying levels of competence. The humor is still the standout. It leans into that contrast between normal family life and very not normal behavior, and it works more often than it should.
Where this one lost me a bit is in the structure. The middle drifts. There are plenty of fun scenes and sharp moments, but not all of them feel like they are going anywhere urgent. It starts to feel episodic, like we are watching setup happen in real time. You can practically see the author moving pieces into place for the next book.
To be fair, things do tighten up toward the end. The stakes finally show up, the tension clicks into place, and the story remembers it has a plot to deliver. There are also a few quieter moments that give the characters a bit more depth, which helps balance out all the chaos.
In the end, it is a solid second book. Entertaining, funny, and just self-aware enough to get away with a lot. It may not fully stand on its own, but if you liked the first one, you are probably already invested enough that it will not matter much.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advanced copy from Netgalley
Fox and Hazel are a crime fighting duo, but whilst their motives are somewhat honourable, their methods aren't exactly legal... and it's hard to teach your kids right from wrong when the world is a mess and you kill people on the side.
This sequel to A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage creates a great juxtaposition of the mundane side of raising children and living family life, with the high octane chase of hunting down bad men, and it does it in a brilliantly fun and silly way. Not going so quite as far as sitcom, there are tense moments as the couple are trying to hide bodies/ weapons/ blood whilst discussing poonamis in a petrol station.
I preferred this to the first as the couple work through these challenges together; though that might be entirely personal as I find stories about tensions in relationships very stressful (something probably to bring up in therapy.) And that also removed the secondary concern I had about the first novel, which was that despite hearing directly from the narrators throughout, some vital plot points were missing. This was a fun read and I'd certainly continue the series if Asia Mackay writes more!
Recommended for any fans of Katy Brent, CJ Skuse, Oyinkan Braithwaite.
Thanks again to Headline and Netgalley for this ARC.
Fox and Hazel are a crime fighting duo, but whilst their motives are somewhat honourable, their methods aren't exactly legal... and it's hard to teach your kids right from wrong when the world is a mess and you kill people on the side.
This sequel to A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage creates a great juxtaposition of the mundane side of raising children and living family life, with the high octane chase of hunting down bad men, and it does it in a brilliantly fun and silly way. Not going so quite as far as sitcom, there are tense moments as the couple are trying to hide bodies/ weapons/ blood whilst discussing poonamis in a petrol station.
I preferred this to the first as the couple work through these challenges together; though that might be entirely personal as I find stories about tensions in relationships very stressful (something probably to bring up in therapy.) And that also removed the secondary concern I had about the first novel, which was that despite hearing directly from the narrators throughout, some vital plot points were missing. This was a fun read and I'd certainly continue the series if Asia Mackay writes more!
Recommended for any fans of Katy Brent, CJ Skuse, Oyinkan Braithwaite.
Thanks again to Headline and Netgalley for this ARC.
May 29, 2026
Self help for serial killers by Asia MacKay
Hazel and Fox have moved to the English suburbs to lay low with their two children after their previous exploits. However, their work-life balance is severely challenged. Hazel is struggling to fit in with a tyrannical school mum and is desperate to scratch her murderous itch, while Fox is dealing with performance anxiety during kills and attending therapy. The couple's attempt at suburban normalcy is abruptly disrupted when they start getting mysterious postcards and accidentally draw the attention of Interpol detective Alain Drake and a shadowy crime syndicate known as The Corporation.
Oh I loved this book! I still really enjoy Haze as a character. This was a fast read for me, just coming from reading book number 1 I was still wanting to know what Fox and Haze were up to. I was on the edge of my seat guessing as to who was “ the corporation” . Several times I thought I had it right but was fooled.
I would highly recommend this book as well as the first one.
Self-Help for Serial Killers by Asia MacKay comes out June 16, 2026 Thank you Ballantine for a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review
Hazel and Fox have moved to the English suburbs to lay low with their two children after their previous exploits. However, their work-life balance is severely challenged. Hazel is struggling to fit in with a tyrannical school mum and is desperate to scratch her murderous itch, while Fox is dealing with performance anxiety during kills and attending therapy. The couple's attempt at suburban normalcy is abruptly disrupted when they start getting mysterious postcards and accidentally draw the attention of Interpol detective Alain Drake and a shadowy crime syndicate known as The Corporation.
Oh I loved this book! I still really enjoy Haze as a character. This was a fast read for me, just coming from reading book number 1 I was still wanting to know what Fox and Haze were up to. I was on the edge of my seat guessing as to who was “ the corporation” . Several times I thought I had it right but was fooled.
I would highly recommend this book as well as the first one.
Self-Help for Serial Killers by Asia MacKay comes out June 16, 2026 Thank you Ballantine for a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fox and Haze are married and have two young children, a beautiful home and our struggling to have it all. They want to be good parents and bring their kids up knowing right from wrong. Their hobby isn't one most would understand as they take out kill bad men trying to make the world a better place.
Parts were funny as they try and dispose of a body with a baby in tow that has a poop explosion. They try and balance kids activities, home work, with a side hustle of murder while having a healthy marriage. Fox and Haze are both keeping secrets from each other which make them doubt each other. One person has figured out all about their past and knows all of their secrets. Someone is trying to eliminate them and they are trying to stay alive.
It was a fun little cat and mouse chase where they are trying to figure out who is after them and has been watching them. It is a lot about relationships, families, friendships, and found family. It feels more like a mystery with a lot of family drama mixed in.
Parts were funny as they try and dispose of a body with a baby in tow that has a poop explosion. They try and balance kids activities, home work, with a side hustle of murder while having a healthy marriage. Fox and Haze are both keeping secrets from each other which make them doubt each other. One person has figured out all about their past and knows all of their secrets. Someone is trying to eliminate them and they are trying to stay alive.
It was a fun little cat and mouse chase where they are trying to figure out who is after them and has been watching them. It is a lot about relationships, families, friendships, and found family. It feels more like a mystery with a lot of family drama mixed in.
Read
May 10, 2026Asia Mackay's follow-up to A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is everything a great sequel should be. Hazel and Fox are back — two (mostly) reformed serial killers navigating the chaos of suburban family life while trying to maintain their late-night habit of eliminating people who deserve it. The premise alone is irresistible, but what makes this book truly sing is how well Mackay develops her characters. Hazel and Fox feel lived-in and real, their relationship evolving in ways that are both funny and genuinely touching.
Mackay has a rare gift for balancing sharp, witty writing with genuine plot momentum — this is a book that's hard to put down, but also one that gives you characters worth caring about long after the action settles. Whether you're coming in as a fan of the first book or discovering this world for the first time, Self-Help for Serial Killers delivers on every front.
I can't wait to read the next installment in the series!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mackay has a rare gift for balancing sharp, witty writing with genuine plot momentum — this is a book that's hard to put down, but also one that gives you characters worth caring about long after the action settles. Whether you're coming in as a fan of the first book or discovering this world for the first time, Self-Help for Serial Killers delivers on every front.
I can't wait to read the next installment in the series!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked this book up because I enjoyed book one, even though I’m generally not a series reader. Although you don’t have to read book one properly to starting this one, there were references to the previous book’s plot throughout this novel. The pacing of this one did feel like a bit more of a slow burn to me, with some scenes feeling repetitive at times. The last 15% or so did move quickly, however, which was noticeable in comparison to the rest of the book. I did guess one of the bigger twists at the end, but there was still another relatively large twist that I didn’t see coming. The characters had some additional development here in the event that readers didn’t read book one first, and the juxtaposition between their day lives versus their hobby remained evident throughout. Overall, I would say this is a solid read but I personally would recommend reading book one prior to get the most out of this reading experience!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fox and Haze’s lives may have shifted from glamorous to suburban, but that doesn’t mean things have gotten dull. Far from it. Between an international crime syndicate that wants them dead and an assassin who seems to enjoy taunting them, domestic life is the least of their worries.
This book is another fun, chaotic romp in the world of Fox and Haze. Yes, they’re killers — but Mackay writes them with such charm and sharp humor that you can’t help rooting for their success. Their dynamic is as entertaining as ever, especially when pitted against the school‑mom/lawyer who has decided Haze is her personal nemesis.
There were a few moments where the pacing dragged and I found myself wanting to jump ahead to the next burst of action, but overall it’s a great read. The twists are just twisty enough to keep things interesting without losing the thread, and the characters remain the highlight.
A clever, darkly funny installment that fans of the series will enjoy.
This book is another fun, chaotic romp in the world of Fox and Haze. Yes, they’re killers — but Mackay writes them with such charm and sharp humor that you can’t help rooting for their success. Their dynamic is as entertaining as ever, especially when pitted against the school‑mom/lawyer who has decided Haze is her personal nemesis.
There were a few moments where the pacing dragged and I found myself wanting to jump ahead to the next burst of action, but overall it’s a great read. The twists are just twisty enough to keep things interesting without losing the thread, and the characters remain the highlight.
A clever, darkly funny installment that fans of the series will enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars
I really enjoyed the Haze and Fox relationship in Asia Mackay’s A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage so was excited to read her second book in what I hope will become a series, Not Like Other Parents. Haze and Fox have settled in Berkshire with their 4 year old daughter and newborn son but they aren’t the run of the mill suburban parents, they are also killers. This book opens with them disposing of their latest victim while dealing with a poonami. The humour and dialogue is perfectly timed and the story evolves with great pace and intrigue. There is pathos and emotional soul searching together with the unfiltered reality of parenthood and juggling a career - even if that career involves disposal of bad people. This is one of my top ten books of 2026. Ms Mackay please write more quickly, I’m becoming addicted.
I really enjoyed the Haze and Fox relationship in Asia Mackay’s A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage so was excited to read her second book in what I hope will become a series, Not Like Other Parents. Haze and Fox have settled in Berkshire with their 4 year old daughter and newborn son but they aren’t the run of the mill suburban parents, they are also killers. This book opens with them disposing of their latest victim while dealing with a poonami. The humour and dialogue is perfectly timed and the story evolves with great pace and intrigue. There is pathos and emotional soul searching together with the unfiltered reality of parenthood and juggling a career - even if that career involves disposal of bad people. This is one of my top ten books of 2026. Ms Mackay please write more quickly, I’m becoming addicted.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed the palate cleanser that these books are for me. They really are a different type of thriller and I enjoy the satire writing that both the first and this book bring!
Although I did not enjoy this book as much as the first I absolutely loved how it kept you on your toes the whole time. You just had to know how it ended. I just didn't enjoy how it was a repeat of the first. They were lying to each other again the whole time and it just was kind of irritating. Both Haze and Fox got on my nerves the whole time. But maybe that was the point? I'm not sure but I overall a good read. And I liked that you didn't have to read the first to know what was going on in the second but the background is nice.
Although I did not enjoy this book as much as the first I absolutely loved how it kept you on your toes the whole time. You just had to know how it ended. I just didn't enjoy how it was a repeat of the first. They were lying to each other again the whole time and it just was kind of irritating. Both Haze and Fox got on my nerves the whole time. But maybe that was the point? I'm not sure but I overall a good read. And I liked that you didn't have to read the first to know what was going on in the second but the background is nice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’ve already read the first book, then Self Help for Serial Killers totally keeps that same chaotic and darkly funny energy going! I love how Hazel and Fox are out here trying to balance “normal” life…kids, school drama, relationship stress, while also dealing with their very not normal secret life. The contrast is honestly what makes this so fun to read. Hazel and Fox are messy, overwhelmed, and just trying to keep it together. The writing is quick and super bingeable, and I flew through it without even realizing. It’s dark, ridiculous, and somehow still heartfelt in moments, which I didn’t expect but really liked. If you enjoyed the first book, this one definitely doesn’t disappoint. It’s just as wild and entertaining from start to finish!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Haze and Fox are back! My biggest complaint with the first book is that Fox had to come in and fix everything for Haze but that was not the case for this book as Fox was now in therapy and struggling from a killing gone wrong off page. I was confused by the story relying so much on something that didn't happen in the book - I actually had to make sure I did not miss a book in between, however, I do like the fact that Fox was not going to come in an save the day. I believe I knew the ending very early on but the book did supply several plausible red herrings to throw off the reader that I enjoyed. This was a quick read and a very fun ride. I hope we get another installment from Haze and Fox. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
May 26, 2026
It’s the sequel I didn’t think I needed
I loved the first book. I thought it had a good conclusion that, at first, I was a little bit reluctant with this after finding out it’s a sequel instead of a standalone.
Much like the first, this one has a lot of observational quips and introspections about marriage and parenting. It’s fun to read these (I highlighted so many passages in the book) in between revisiting Haze and Fox’s posh suburban life and vigilante adventures, alongside their friend, Jenny.
This one is absolutely hilarious and has a lot of heart in it. It’s a fun page-turner that I think anyone could enjoy even if they haven’t read the first book yet!
Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine and Asia Mackay for the ARC!
I loved the first book. I thought it had a good conclusion that, at first, I was a little bit reluctant with this after finding out it’s a sequel instead of a standalone.
Much like the first, this one has a lot of observational quips and introspections about marriage and parenting. It’s fun to read these (I highlighted so many passages in the book) in between revisiting Haze and Fox’s posh suburban life and vigilante adventures, alongside their friend, Jenny.
This one is absolutely hilarious and has a lot of heart in it. It’s a fun page-turner that I think anyone could enjoy even if they haven’t read the first book yet!
Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine and Asia Mackay for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Let me start by saying: I LOVED the first book in the series; it was a 5 star read for me. That is why I was super excited to get an early copy of this book (thank you to NetGalley and Bantam!). Self-Help for Serial Killers continued with the extremely loveable characters and the irresistable voice of the author, yet did not deliver on plot. The self-help aspect was not well-executed and too many pages existed between exciting events. I found myself really losing interest 80% through, which is when I should be ripping through the pages. I love the author's writing and will avidly request her next work. However, it may be time to move on from Haze and Fox-maybe a spinoff focusing on BeBe? Now there's a fun idea!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After reading the first book in this series and finding it to be humorous and entertaining and I was hoping for the same with this one. This book definitely has the same dark humor and interesting set of characters with a few new players and a new enemy to curtail. While I enjoyed the first book just a tad more than this one, I found this novel to be an enjoyable read with some unexpected tender moments as well. If you liked the first one, or just like dark comedic serial killer books in general, I think you will enjoy this one!
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Self-Help for Serial Killers” was a decent but not great story for a fair portion of the book. Haze and Fox struggling to cope with the changes that a new baby brought into their lives, as well as dealing with the fallout from the incident in “Ivrea” made for a good storyline, as did the threats from the Corporation, the Chameleon and Interpol. However, Fox’s midlife crisis and woe is me attitude became annoying after a while. But once he regained his mojo and the focus shifted more heavily toward the threat posed by the Chameleon, the story improved considerably. The book contained some very interesting and unexpected twists. It also had its fair share of humorous moments.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This dark comedy sequel was entertaining with witty dialogue. Haze and Fox are now parents to a toddler and a baby, juggling their private hobby of killing bad men, with domestic life. Haze must face school pick ups, competitive school mothers and keeping the house organized and Fox is seeing a therapist, trying to camouflage his real anxieties. There are killers trying to get them, yet Haze and Fox are likeable characters who always put their children first. Their lives are a chaotic mess and secrets and lies are just an ordinary day. It can be read on its own, but reading the first book sets the scene. With thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC. My opinions are my own.
April 7, 2026
3.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC! Overall, this was a very fun read. I didn’t love the first book, especially because I found the characters to be a bit flat, but there was significantly better character development in this book. The plot twists were also a lot less predictable than in the first book. I did think the beginning was a bit too slow paced and the ending tied everything together too neatly, but it was definitely engaging and exciting as a whole.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC! Overall, this was a very fun read. I didn’t love the first book, especially because I found the characters to be a bit flat, but there was significantly better character development in this book. The plot twists were also a lot less predictable than in the first book. I did think the beginning was a bit too slow paced and the ending tied everything together too neatly, but it was definitely engaging and exciting as a whole.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I extend my gratitude to #NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I assign this book a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. My experience may have been somewhat hampered by the fact that I did not read the preceding volume in the series. I struggled to become fully engaged in the narrative. While the ending did contain a surprising twist that I appreciated, I found the overall pace of the novel to be somewhat protracted.
Nevertheless, I believe that this book would be enjoyed by other readers.
I assign this book a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. My experience may have been somewhat hampered by the fact that I did not read the preceding volume in the series. I struggled to become fully engaged in the narrative. While the ending did contain a surprising twist that I appreciated, I found the overall pace of the novel to be somewhat protracted.
Nevertheless, I believe that this book would be enjoyed by other readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Four and a half stars rounded to five. Haze and Fox are back. They have two children now, a home in the suburbs, and still kill bad men. They also have a new member of the team, Jenny, who is a detective, and works inside law enforcement. Fox is suffering from the trauma of being kidnapped and almost dying last year. And the team seems to have attracted the attention of a deadly organization...
I really enjoyed the first book, and this one was just as good. Great writing, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed the first book, and this one was just as good. Great writing, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Loved this book and raced through it! Hazel and Fox have two young children, Reggie and Bibi. They appear to be the "perfect" family but they have a secret life that no one knows about. So when they are invited to a gala where there will be high-powered gangsters attending, they aren't sure what to expect. Fortunately they have Jenny, a friend who often helps out and babysits for them. But nothing is as it appears, so there are surprises at every turn. it's a trite phrase, but "expect the unexpected" with this thriller as you won't be disappointed!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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