From the author of Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath ("wickedly funny and darkly compelling") comes a twisted new thriller following one couple who will do anything to get away with murder, even frame each other.
Daisy Dixon lives in a stately home, but the grandeur on the outside hides a leaking roof, dusty rooms and a failed marriage. But that isn't the only thing she has to worry about now. On the night before she plans to leave her abusive husband, James, Daisy accidentally runs a man over, with James in the passenger seat beside her. But at her husband's behest, instead of calling an ambulance, they take the man home.
When he dies, panic ensues, and the Dixon's do what any sane couple bury him in the family mausoleum, on the grounds of their rickety, tumbledown estate.
And that's where he lies, until a storm washes him out into the nearby village.
Her dreams of freedom postponed indefinitely, with James' help, Daisy covers up the crime and together, they seem to be doing a good job of it, until she learns that James has helped the police with their inquiries, and blamed it all on her.
Two can play games, and Daisy is very good at winning. What was once a cover-up is now a race to prison, and Daisy will do anything to make sure James gets their first.
I feel bad giving my honest opinion on this one. I thought the plot sounded very interesting, if not close to very familiar tropes. However, it just wasn’t executed in an enjoyable way for me. Some things were so overdramatized that I just couldn’t get on board. It had the potential to be really great, and I just couldn’t hang on for the ride.
Intriguing storyline that immediately draws you in. The premise is strong and full of potential, with plenty of mystery and tension woven throughout the plot. While the story itself is engaging, the pacing is quite slow, and it takes a long time to really get to the point. At times, I found it difficult to stay fully invested because of how drawn out certain sections felt
Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body is about a husband and wife who don't get along anymore. He is controlling and she is insecure. They don't sleep in the same bed and the love there once was, just isn't there anymore. You could even say they hate each others guts! 🤭 But they have to work on their communication skills once they murder someone by accident. When everything gets heated, they will start to point their finger at each other and one of them will get the blame in the end. But they both don't want to be that person... 👀
I really liked the idea of this book. A married couple who accidentely murder someone and are trying to blame the other person? That is hilarious and so original! 🫶🏼 The execution could have been better in my opinion. The murder happened a little late and the fun part where they are starting to talk to the police was happening at 70%. I would have loved to read more about it and for it to have happened earlier. Now there was a lot of backstory and history that didn't really interest me.The story was well written but it could have been a lot shorter. 😬
I do love Daisy. What a queen! She is such a relatable character and I really like her view on life. 👀 She sees her own flaws and doesn't feel sorry for herself. We love a maincharacter who owns up to their shit. I also really liked the parts where Daisy went online and started blogging with the townspeople to see what they know and maybe influence their opinion 🤭 And OMG how I hate James!!! 🤮 I know where Jennifer Holdich was going going with this character and it was definitely working. What a horrible man!
Helaas viel dit boek me erg tegen. De titel belooft spanning en intrige, maar die verwachtingen worden niet waargemaakt. Het verhaal is langdradig, bevat veel onnodige zij-informatie en mist echte spanning. In plaats van een meeslepende thriller voelt het boek traag en vlak aan. Jammer, want het uitgangspunt had veel potentie. Voor mij absoluut geen aanrader.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body” by Jennifer Holdich is a twisted marital thriller that thrives on unreliable narration, toxic power dynamics, and the quiet horror of domestic control. Holdich delivers a story that is as compulsively readable as it is morally skewed, combining suspense with pitch-black humor in a way that keeps you off balance until the very end.
At the center of the story are Daisy and James Dixon, a couple whose marriage looks barely functional on the surface but is rotten at its core. They live in a decaying manor house, trapped by appearances, finances, and mutual resentment. James is controlling, manipulative, and emotionally (and financially) abusive as he’s obsessed with maintaining the image of success while quietly squandering other people’s money. Daisy, meanwhile, is passive, insecure, and deeply unreliable as a narrator. She fantasizes about killing her husband, yet feels powerless to leave him thanks to a suffocating prenup and James’s control over every aspect of her life, right down to what she eats.
When a fatal accident leaves the couple with a body on their hands, they’re forced into an uneasy alliance to cover it up. From there, the story spirals deliciously out of control. Lies stack on top of lies, another death follows, and the tension tightens as police interest grows and the couple begin subtly and not so subtly turning on one another. If one lie is exposed, everything collapses, and both Daisy and James are desperate enough to do anything to avoid that outcome.
Daisy is the story’s standout feature. As an unreliable narrator with a murky past involving a tragic incident where multiple people died, you are constantly left questioning her version of events. Is she a calculating killer or simply a deeply damaged woman who keeps finding herself in catastrophes? Her quiet acts of rebellion like hiding James’s keys, altering his clothes to make him think he’s gaining weight are both hilarious and unsettling, and her passive-aggressive defiance adds a surprising emotional hook. While she’s not particularly clever and is a terrible liar, watching her slowly reclaim small pieces of control is oddly satisfying.
Holdich’s pacing is excellent, balancing mounting suspense with moments of absurdity and razor-sharp wit. The small-town setting amplifies the tension, as rumors spread quickly and speculation threatens to unravel the carefully constructed cover-up. The prose is vivid and sly, laced with dark humor that underscores just how ridiculous and horrifying the situation has become.
The ending is gruesome, bold, and perfectly in tune with the story’s bleak sense of justice. It reframes everything that came before and delivers a final reckoning that feels both shocking and earned. Not every reader will connect with the offbeat tone or the deeply unlikable characters, but for those who do, the payoff is immense.
Overall, “Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body” is a clever, unsettling domestic thriller that explores control, complicity, and survival within a toxic marriage. With an unforgettable narrator, escalating tension, and a brutally satisfying finale, it’s a must-read for fans of dark humor, unreliable perspectives, and thrillers where no one is truly innocent.
I absolutely loved JULIE TUDOR IS NOT A PSYCHOPATH, so I snatched this one up. The premise seemed simple and inherently entertaining, leaning into the tension between domestic normalcy and criminal chaos. I was expecting a darkly comic mystery about Daisy and James, a married couple whose quiet life is upended when they suddenly find themselves responsible for a dead body and no clear idea of what to do next. What was supposed to follow should have been a fast-moving, slightly absurd attempt to clean up the mess while keeping their secret from anyone else who might look a little too closely.
The book clearly aims for humor, and while there are moments that made me smile, the comedy didn’t quite land as sharply as it did in JULIE TUDOR. That novel’s humor felt more biting and unexpected, whereas this book plays things a bit safer. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as the tone stays light and readable for the most part, but it does mean some jokes feel familiar rather than laugh-out-loud funny. However, my biggest struggle was with the relationship between Daisy and James. It wasn't just simple annoyances between the couple; it was abuse that seemed to be breezily glossed over for the sake of entertainment. That bothered me more than it probably should have.
Overall, this was a low-stress read that delivers a mildly twisted situation handled with a gentle comedic touch. It may not fully commit to either the darkness or the satire, but it's easy to recommend if you’re in the mood for something quirky without being too heavy. Thank you so much to Sourcebooks for the early copy. Look for this one July 21, 2026.
Reading the synopsis gave me war of the Roses vibes but the book cover was screaming Thelma and Louise (if one of them was male!).
Daisy Dixon is a quirky loner who’s miserably married to James, a crypto guy, her hobbies include hiding her husband’s belongings, hiding snacks, not cooking, sewing clothes from unusual fabrics and plotting ways to kill her husband. On the way home from an event she accidentally hits Lennie Green with her car and now needs to get away with murder, especially when her James tries to frame her for murder.
I really enjoyed this cozy thriller, Daisy was likeable for her flaws, I loved that because she was miserable in marriage which she was trapped in that she did little things to annoy James, the hate for her husband was felt. Although she was shunned by the village she was kind to Mrs Billing’s, employing her despite her incompetence and kleptomania. The Daisy character was written with just the right amount light and dark.
Earlier on in the book there is a line “that’s what the coroner said last time”, this had me hooked and wanting to read more. What last time?
Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, was a little predictable but I didn’t see the final twist, part of me wished that there was a twist with Arty and his girlfriend (maybe the reporter) as there were a few story lines that seemed incomplete or unnecessary.
Would definitely read another book by Jennifer Holdich in the future.
Thank you Netgallery and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Daisy Dixon has a problem. Her comfortable life in her grand home, the Langley Estate, is in peril. Well, it would be comfortable if her husband James didn't monitor her food intake, her clothing, and if he didn't give her a measly £250 monthly allowance (after convincing her to invest all of her money in cryptocurrency). Never mind that though, because she's going to leave him. Or, she was going to leave him, until she accidentally hits a man with her car and, against her better judgement, is convinced by James to bring the man home rather than call for an ambulance.
When the man dies, Daisy and James hide his body on their estate. That takes care of that little hiccup, well, until a storm comes and frees the body from its resting place, exposing it to the whole village.
Now Daisy and James must figure out how to avoid capture and only manage to make things worse along the way.
Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body is a delightful, if somewhat dark, reading experience you do not want to miss. Readers of Jennifer Holdich's first novel, Julie Tudor is not a Psychopath, will happily find that Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body contains the same wit and humor and madcap cast of characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Mr & Mrs Dixon Hide a Body by Jennifer Holdich.
This was a hugely entertaining and sharply written thriller that pulled me in very quickly. Daisy and James Dixon are trapped in a failing marriage and a decaying Manor House. James is a slimy controlling husband who is keen to appear like a successful businessman in the local social scene. Daisy is his likeable who constantly feels like she doesn’t measure up to his exacting standards.
A fatal accident leaves them with a body to dispose of, they form an uneasy alliance to bury the evidence with Daisy going along with her husband’s solutions to this problem.
Daisy in particular is a standout character, pragmatic, quick thinking and increasingly willing to take control as events spiral. Their attempts to outwit each other, and the growing police interest, keep the tension high while the dark humour lands perfectly. I was genuinely rooting for Daisy and every time she showed a spark of defiance I was cheering.
The pacing is spot on, blending suspense with a delicious sense of absurdity as the cover up unravels. Clever, funny and unexpectedly tense, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body by Jennifer Holdich 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller 𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 21, 2026 📖 320 pages
Emotionally Abusive Husband Unreliable Narrator Small Town Rumormill
I loved Daisy, our unreliable narrator —because who doesn’t enjoy reading from the POV of a mildly crazy woman? While planning her emotionally abusive husband’s demise, she messes with him in the most wonderful ways, like hiding his keys or altering his clothes to make him think he’s gaining weight. It was so funny! I was tense the entire time wondering who would get the next "hit" in. The town’s many speculations were very frustrating, but they made total sense with the old adage that "rumors spread quickly in small communities," and they definitely moved the story along. Overall, this was an entertaining thriller with a little humor sprinkled throughout. It wasn't what I expected, but I enjoyed it anyway!
Thank you so much Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy.
James and Daisy Dixon have a marriage that seems just about functional from surface appearances. But that does not take into account James' controlling tendencies and Daisy's dreams of murdering her husband...
When an accident leads them into a situation where they have to collude in a cover up, you might be forgiven for thinking that Daisy's dreams have reached their not-happy ending. But it turns out that life has other plans...
I expected to like this book a lot more than I did. The offbeat humour and dark sensibilities will undoubtedly appeal to some readers, but I couldn't really get into it.
Perhaps this one just wasn't for me. But James got what he deserved in the most brilliant fashion, a twist that was the piece de resistance of the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The narrative captivates with its blend of humor and tension, centered around Daisy's unexpected rise to local fame after a bizarre incident involving archaeological bones. The author skillfully weaves Daisy's internal struggles with her social awkwardness and the chaotic atmosphere of a village event, creating a relatable protagonist.
Daisy's journey from feeling out of place to becoming a local celebrity is engaging and well-crafted. The witty exchanges and Daisy's self-deprecating thoughts add a light-hearted touch, balancing the darker themes of loss and responsibility. The interactions among village residents provide a rich backdrop, showcasing the complexities of small-town life. This book is a delightful mix of mystery, humor, and character exploration, making it a compelling read that keeps you invested in Daisy's story and the unfolding events around her.
The book is just as the synopsis stated with a kind of wild wrap up. To me, the synopsis gave away too much and could have stopped after it said that James was in the seat beside her. For most of this book it didn’t read like a thriller to me. Suspense? Yes, but until the last 10% or so of this book I didn’t get the thriller vibe. Even then despite the content it was a stretch for me. It’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly why I feel that way but I think the cover has something to do with it and the humor in the book. In the end justice is served in a deserving way. Read this if you’re looking for something that’s a little noncommittal to the thriller genre that is also a bit eccentric. Extra star for my favorite character, Mrs. Billings. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC; I loved this one.
Mr and Mrs Dixon Hide a Body was such a compelling, frustrating-in-the-best-way read. Mr. Dixon sucks (truly), and I was so grateful for how the ending played out. The writing is sharp and well done, and the plot flows smoothly while still keeping you on edge.
The twists were excellent: just when I thought I had things figured out, another layer was revealed. I found myself genuinely frustrated at times (in a “I can’t stop reading this” way), which only made the payoff more satisfying.
Dark, twisty, and addictive, this was a really strong read overall. Highly recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers that make you yell at the characters and then thank the author for it afterward.
I think the synopsis gives a bit too much away; the bottom line is Daisy is trying to leave James, and then they end up killing a person and she needs him to help cover it up. Anything beyond that I personally feel goes into spoiler territory and is too far into the book to reveal upfront.
Daisy was such a great character! She was so much fun and there were quite a few times I got very angry on her behalf like I actually knew her. The story itself did drag a bit in the middle, but I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading and I stayed up way too late to finish it.
Overall, it was a fun and quick read and I really recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this author’s last funny mystery and I was excited to read this book. I have mixed feelings about this one. I didn’t really like any of the characters, which made it harder to invest in the plot. While there were some unexpected twists, I found things dragged on a bit in the middle. That ending might have been too much for me. This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read in my books, but check it out for yourself when the book is published in July 2026. (My first read of 2026 by mere minutes …)
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this eARC.
At the start of this Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body, Jennifer Holdich evidences a great (well, a bit macabre) sense of humor and the 1st chapter had me laughing out loud.
However, the rest of the novel proved to be a bit horrific (more of a horror ranking than a cozy) and just miserably sad, there were no winners in this odd but interesting book. That said, I will look for more from this author, as her writing is certainly unique.
The book is a thoroughly compelling read, well plotted, engrossing, and well written. The author balances suspense with character depth, giving us a genuine emotional investment in the couple’s marriage.The writing is vivid and laced with dark humour that quietly underscores the absurdity of their predicament Just when you think you've grasped the truth, the story pivots, reframing everything that came before in a way that’s both startling and immensely satisfying.
Written from the point of view of Daisy Dixon — a quirky, slightly scary and strangely naive character, the book had me laughing on some pages and raising my eyebrow at others. The story is engaging and has wonderfully written scenes that immediately make you imagine the Netflix version. But the back story and the ending have odd and macabre bits that drain away some of the sympathy for Daisy. Overall an engaging read.
Soft DNF Firstly, Thank you NetGalley for giving me this ARC! I don’t think I picked up this book at the right time because I have a huge reading slump right now. I might pick it up later when I’m out of this slump! I think many other people will enjoy this book and I think it was just a right book wrong time situation! This book is about Daisy who is married to James who is very much not the perfect husband everybody thinks he is and they kill someone so now they have to hide the body.
What a hoot! On the way home from a party, acrimonious long time married couple, Daisy and James, hit a person with their car. Instead of calling police they decide to handle it on their own and this is when the trouble begins. A fun read because the main character Daisy is so unique and interesting. I highly recommend.
4.5 stars**This was such a fun book, & I love the dark humor within it, as main character Daisy, who has been an outcast all her life, and then married to James who treats her horribly, turns things around. I also loved “Julie Tudor is So (Not) a Psychopath”, and look forward to more by this author
The premise was really fun. I enjoyed Daisy's digs at her husband and loved hearing about the clothes that she was making. But the 'I want to kill my husband' plot along with the 'hide the body' plot meant I didn't get a lot of time with either storyline.
I feel like a lot of mystery readers will love this, it just fell a little short for me.
It took about 5 chapters before I was interested in the story. There ended up being twist I didn't see coming. Overall, I thought this book was enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!