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Claws Out!
Diana’s on the hunt and has the perfect new target.
Finally, the type of wealth she’s always dreamed of. A five-storey house in Hampstead, unfettered access to London’s liberal elite and a bloated bank account.
If she can ensnare David Farrand, then she really will have clawed her way to the top.
The only snag? David’s daughter, Cat.
Diana might have got her claws into David, but Cat is sharpening her own. Entitled, suspicious and used to getting her own way, she’s been digging into Diana’s past.
And it turns out Diana’s last three marriages have one thing in common: the silly old fools are all six feet under.
To lose one husband is unlucky. To lose two is careless. But three? Three must be murder.
Finally, the type of wealth she’s always dreamed of. A five-storey house in Hampstead, unfettered access to London’s liberal elite and a bloated bank account.
If she can ensnare David Farrand, then she really will have clawed her way to the top.
The only snag? David’s daughter, Cat.
Diana might have got her claws into David, but Cat is sharpening her own. Entitled, suspicious and used to getting her own way, she’s been digging into Diana’s past.
And it turns out Diana’s last three marriages have one thing in common: the silly old fools are all six feet under.
To lose one husband is unlucky. To lose two is careless. But three? Three must be murder.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2026
About the author
Bella Mackie
19 books1,513 followersVogue columnist. Author of best-selling novel “How to Kill Your Family."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
July 16, 2026
Written in what’s become Bella Mackie’s classic style, this book was an enjoyable, easy read. The characters are deliciously hateful, as usual, which does make it hard to know who to root for (my natural inclination). The pacing in the second half was a bit drawn out. I was still invested in where it was going though, and the ending was an infuriating surprise. If you’ve liked her previous books, you’ll enjoy this one. I devoured it in two days!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
September 8, 2026
➡️ "Claws Out" was a Srike Out.
➡️ What happened to author Bella Mackie?
Her debut novel, "How to Kill Your Family", was a solid 10-star read for me.
Bella Mackie wowed me with her nonstop snark, rich character development, and sharp ingenuity.
➡️ What happened to this book?
The premise was brilliant: a female protagonist who has buried three husbands and is about to go 4-for-4!
Black widow thrillers are one of my favorite subgenres, so in theory, this should have been another Bella Mackie winner.
Instead, pacing was laboriously slow. Repetitive text was plentiful.
The author's signature snarky wit rarely appeared.
➡️ I listened to the audiobook expertly narrated by Laura Kirman.
Even talented narrator Laura Kirman could not save this book.
I was very disappointed when NetGalley and the publisher declined my ARC request. Now I realize it was a blessing in disguise.
One star, rounded up.
August 30, 2026
NETGALLEY ARC REVIEW - CLAWS OUT by Bella Mackie 🐾
Claws Out is a deliciously sharp, darkly funny satire about wealth, privilege, social status and most importantly, the lengths people will go to in order to get what they want.
First things first: I really do love Bella Mackie’s books. How to Kill Your Family was an easy 5⭐️ for me, so I was very excited to pick this one up. Mackie has such a distinctive writing style, witty and brilliantly observant, and there were moments here that reminded me of Richard Osman’s ability to blend humour, murder and sharp observations about people and society. 👀
At the heart of the story are Diana and Cat, two women who are both convinced they can outmanoeuvre the other. Diana is determined to claw her way into the wealthy, liberal elite through her relationship with Cat’s father, psychiatrist David Farrand, while Cat is immediately suspicious of her new stepmother and starts digging into her past. 🔎
I LOVED the alternating POVs between Diana and Cat. Getting inside the heads of both women made the story feel like watching an increasingly vicious game of chess. ♟️ Every interaction felt calculated, every conversation had an ulterior motive, and just when you thought one woman had gained the upper hand, the other would make her next move.
And honestly? Diana’s rage-baiting and gaslighting were SO well written that even I wanted to scream at her. 😂 The manipulation throughout the book is masterfully done, particularly because we get to see the thought processes behind it. It really becomes a study in psychological warfare, two women constantly testing boundaries, pushing buttons and trying to establish who has the most power.
One of my favourite aspects was the commentary on the hypocrisy of the social elite. Mackie takes aim at the performative nature of liberalism and allyship, the idea that people can loudly champion marginalised groups while simultaneously maintaining their own privileged position, provided the right image is being presented. It’s biting, uncomfortable and often very funny. 💅
I also really enjoyed the exploration of patriarchy, feminism, privilege and bourgeois social climbing. There’s something particularly entertaining about watching characters who believe themselves to be progressive and enlightened expose their own contradictions. The whole thing had shades of A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage for me, that same delicious combination of social manipulation, questionable morality and characters behaving terribly while insisting they’re the reasonable ones. 😏
That said, there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me. Some of the more blasé commentary around psychiatric disorders and mental illness made me uncomfortable. I could appreciate that it was intended to sit within the book’s satirical tone, and I tried to read it through that lens, but there were moments where the humour didn’t entirely land for me.
I was also genuinely baffled by Zeb’s Doctor Dolittle-esque ability to communicate with animals. 🐕😂 It felt so odd in comparison with the rest of the book that I never really understood what I was supposed to make of it.
And then there’s the ending… 👀 There’s a great reveal, and I appreciated the direction it took, but ultimately I found the payoff a little underwhelming. After so much build-up and psychological manoeuvring, I was expecting the ending to hit slightly harder.
Overall, though, Claws Out is an entertaining, wickedly observant read that is far more interested in power, privilege and manipulation than simply solving a murder. The real crime is almost secondary to watching these characters attempt to control one another and that was easily my favourite part.
🐾 If you enjoy: social satire, wealthy people behaving terribly, morally questionable women, psychological manipulation, high-stakes deception, unreliable characters and a healthy dose of what the hell is wrong with these people? this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
🎧 AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS:
I listened to the NetGalley audiobook ARC, narrated by Laura Kirman (alongside reading the physical hardback) and I really enjoyed her narration. She brought the characters and the dry humour to life brilliantly 🎧✨
Final rating: 3.5⭐️
Not quite a new 5⭐️ favourite for me like How to Kill Your Family, but I still had a lot of fun watching Diana and Cat tear chunks out of each other. 🐾♟️
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the audiobook ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Claws Out is a deliciously sharp, darkly funny satire about wealth, privilege, social status and most importantly, the lengths people will go to in order to get what they want.
First things first: I really do love Bella Mackie’s books. How to Kill Your Family was an easy 5⭐️ for me, so I was very excited to pick this one up. Mackie has such a distinctive writing style, witty and brilliantly observant, and there were moments here that reminded me of Richard Osman’s ability to blend humour, murder and sharp observations about people and society. 👀
At the heart of the story are Diana and Cat, two women who are both convinced they can outmanoeuvre the other. Diana is determined to claw her way into the wealthy, liberal elite through her relationship with Cat’s father, psychiatrist David Farrand, while Cat is immediately suspicious of her new stepmother and starts digging into her past. 🔎
I LOVED the alternating POVs between Diana and Cat. Getting inside the heads of both women made the story feel like watching an increasingly vicious game of chess. ♟️ Every interaction felt calculated, every conversation had an ulterior motive, and just when you thought one woman had gained the upper hand, the other would make her next move.
And honestly? Diana’s rage-baiting and gaslighting were SO well written that even I wanted to scream at her. 😂 The manipulation throughout the book is masterfully done, particularly because we get to see the thought processes behind it. It really becomes a study in psychological warfare, two women constantly testing boundaries, pushing buttons and trying to establish who has the most power.
One of my favourite aspects was the commentary on the hypocrisy of the social elite. Mackie takes aim at the performative nature of liberalism and allyship, the idea that people can loudly champion marginalised groups while simultaneously maintaining their own privileged position, provided the right image is being presented. It’s biting, uncomfortable and often very funny. 💅
I also really enjoyed the exploration of patriarchy, feminism, privilege and bourgeois social climbing. There’s something particularly entertaining about watching characters who believe themselves to be progressive and enlightened expose their own contradictions. The whole thing had shades of A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage for me, that same delicious combination of social manipulation, questionable morality and characters behaving terribly while insisting they’re the reasonable ones. 😏
That said, there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me. Some of the more blasé commentary around psychiatric disorders and mental illness made me uncomfortable. I could appreciate that it was intended to sit within the book’s satirical tone, and I tried to read it through that lens, but there were moments where the humour didn’t entirely land for me.
I was also genuinely baffled by Zeb’s Doctor Dolittle-esque ability to communicate with animals. 🐕😂 It felt so odd in comparison with the rest of the book that I never really understood what I was supposed to make of it.
And then there’s the ending… 👀 There’s a great reveal, and I appreciated the direction it took, but ultimately I found the payoff a little underwhelming. After so much build-up and psychological manoeuvring, I was expecting the ending to hit slightly harder.
Overall, though, Claws Out is an entertaining, wickedly observant read that is far more interested in power, privilege and manipulation than simply solving a murder. The real crime is almost secondary to watching these characters attempt to control one another and that was easily my favourite part.
🐾 If you enjoy: social satire, wealthy people behaving terribly, morally questionable women, psychological manipulation, high-stakes deception, unreliable characters and a healthy dose of what the hell is wrong with these people? this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
🎧 AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS:
I listened to the NetGalley audiobook ARC, narrated by Laura Kirman (alongside reading the physical hardback) and I really enjoyed her narration. She brought the characters and the dry humour to life brilliantly 🎧✨
Final rating: 3.5⭐️
Not quite a new 5⭐️ favourite for me like How to Kill Your Family, but I still had a lot of fun watching Diana and Cat tear chunks out of each other. 🐾♟️
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the audiobook ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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August 26, 2026ok i just finished this and i gotta yap so big time spoilers beware!!!!
i don’t really know how to feel about the ending because honestly i suspected Zeb from the moment Diana mentioned her newest boyfriend to him and he was described as “having the slightest frown” as she left his house, because Zeb Leyland has never been affected by anything. and i KNEW he had an affinity with animals because it was clearly shown throughout many occasions but i don’t know how i failed to realise that all three husbands’ deaths were by animals lol. like i really thought it was poison HELP ok nevermind, oversight aside, i feel quite disappointed by the lack of surprise. but also this is my first Bella Mackie and i’m not familiar with her style of mystery novels like from her writing it doesn’t feel like a typical mystery and it’s definitely not a thriller so maybe this was warranted? like there were interesting reveals ok actually just that Sarah was alive lol and i was surprised-not-surprised at Cat’s death. again, it was a tad too obvious Zeb had pushed her into the water, but having been led to believe that she was one of 2 main characters in this novel, i didn’t expect her to die before the end.
but honestly, disappointment in the final reveal aside, it’s quite upsetting that this useless man who lived so passively ended up getting what he wanted, after lucking out his entire life in addition to his mother’s hard work. i found it sad when Diana didn’t even connect the dots and that it was described that she felt it a shame that James passed away without making a real fortune because if he hadn’t, there wouldn’t have had to be the assholes Duncan and Jacob. and what happened to “those men were never good enough for her”, which you said about your own mother, Zeb? sure, Diana had always been too eager to social climb but what had she not deserved, since she was the one who dealt with those unpleasant men?
i gave him the benefit of doubt many a time, in fact i warmed up to all four of them—Diana, David, Cat, and Zeb, but every time i thought too highly of Zeb we were reminded of his actual lack of intelligence and that he was just lucky! this irritating man.
this reminds me of Obsession and how many discussions over that movie agreed one of its core messages was how women suffered undeservingly at the hands of men. similarly, this may be social commentary, sure, but what good does it do me to have went through the entire book for this unhappy ending? i mean i guess i feel better if i tell myself the entire thing is just commentary about rich people in general, because technically, since Zeb went this whole time oblivious to the fact that they were not doing well financially, partly due to his ignorance and partly due to Diana’s love shielding him from all important thinking, it does show how children of “rich” people or just any children who didn’t have to work for what they have will never appreciate the ease of cash flow. this is a stretch of a reflection but i guess it applies to middle class families too, because honestly, our parents have been through much more than us and almost all children born in first world countries today have a sense of entitlement.
oh well, that’s it for now i would like to take a break. see you for the full review after i think hard about how to phrase this spoiler-free hahahaha
i don’t really know how to feel about the ending because honestly i suspected Zeb from the moment Diana mentioned her newest boyfriend to him and he was described as “having the slightest frown” as she left his house, because Zeb Leyland has never been affected by anything. and i KNEW he had an affinity with animals because it was clearly shown throughout many occasions but i don’t know how i failed to realise that all three husbands’ deaths were by animals lol. like i really thought it was poison HELP ok nevermind, oversight aside, i feel quite disappointed by the lack of surprise. but also this is my first Bella Mackie and i’m not familiar with her style of mystery novels like from her writing it doesn’t feel like a typical mystery and it’s definitely not a thriller so maybe this was warranted? like there were interesting reveals ok actually just that Sarah was alive lol and i was surprised-not-surprised at Cat’s death. again, it was a tad too obvious Zeb had pushed her into the water, but having been led to believe that she was one of 2 main characters in this novel, i didn’t expect her to die before the end.
but honestly, disappointment in the final reveal aside, it’s quite upsetting that this useless man who lived so passively ended up getting what he wanted, after lucking out his entire life in addition to his mother’s hard work. i found it sad when Diana didn’t even connect the dots and that it was described that she felt it a shame that James passed away without making a real fortune because if he hadn’t, there wouldn’t have had to be the assholes Duncan and Jacob. and what happened to “those men were never good enough for her”, which you said about your own mother, Zeb? sure, Diana had always been too eager to social climb but what had she not deserved, since she was the one who dealt with those unpleasant men?
i gave him the benefit of doubt many a time, in fact i warmed up to all four of them—Diana, David, Cat, and Zeb, but every time i thought too highly of Zeb we were reminded of his actual lack of intelligence and that he was just lucky! this irritating man.
this reminds me of Obsession and how many discussions over that movie agreed one of its core messages was how women suffered undeservingly at the hands of men. similarly, this may be social commentary, sure, but what good does it do me to have went through the entire book for this unhappy ending? i mean i guess i feel better if i tell myself the entire thing is just commentary about rich people in general, because technically, since Zeb went this whole time oblivious to the fact that they were not doing well financially, partly due to his ignorance and partly due to Diana’s love shielding him from all important thinking, it does show how children of “rich” people or just any children who didn’t have to work for what they have will never appreciate the ease of cash flow. this is a stretch of a reflection but i guess it applies to middle class families too, because honestly, our parents have been through much more than us and almost all children born in first world countries today have a sense of entitlement.
oh well, that’s it for now i would like to take a break. see you for the full review after i think hard about how to phrase this spoiler-free hahahaha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2026
What a blast! 👏🏼💅🏻💸
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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August 10, 2026Never understood why people submittied a little comment before the book came out until today because I JUST GOT AN ARC for this and I am so excited!
Just yesterday I wondered when Mackie would do another book, and the universe answered! :D
Just yesterday I wondered when Mackie would do another book, and the universe answered! :D
August 28, 2026
4/5 stars
This was so much fun!!!! And funny!! Sign me up for more please :)
Claws Out! follows two different women: Diana Leyland, a woman searching for a rich husband to keep her and her adult son secure, and Catriona Farrand, the daughter of Diana's newest target. A power struggle ensues between the two amidst the backdrop of upper class Londoners and it is great!! Both women are, frankly, ridiculous and unlikeable, but their POVs were so much fun to be in. We get to laugh at the rich and their bullshit, while also seeing how both women desperately want to be apart of it and will do literally anything to get what they want.
There's a murder mystery plot entwined within the story, and while I felt it was a bit obvious, it was still fun and hilarious to witness. Defs recommend for anybody wanting a satire reminiscent of R.F. Kuang's Yellowface!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was so much fun!!!! And funny!! Sign me up for more please :)
Claws Out! follows two different women: Diana Leyland, a woman searching for a rich husband to keep her and her adult son secure, and Catriona Farrand, the daughter of Diana's newest target. A power struggle ensues between the two amidst the backdrop of upper class Londoners and it is great!! Both women are, frankly, ridiculous and unlikeable, but their POVs were so much fun to be in. We get to laugh at the rich and their bullshit, while also seeing how both women desperately want to be apart of it and will do literally anything to get what they want.
There's a murder mystery plot entwined within the story, and while I felt it was a bit obvious, it was still fun and hilarious to witness. Defs recommend for anybody wanting a satire reminiscent of R.F. Kuang's Yellowface!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 6, 2026
4.5🌟
What a fun read this was! I enjoyed Bella Mackie's first book (How To Kill Your Family) but I think I found this even more enjoyable!
The sort of characters that you don't particularly like as people, but that's all part of the fun.
Darkly humorous and twisted with a fantastic ending! Bella's best book yet!!
What a fun read this was! I enjoyed Bella Mackie's first book (How To Kill Your Family) but I think I found this even more enjoyable!
The sort of characters that you don't particularly like as people, but that's all part of the fun.
Darkly humorous and twisted with a fantastic ending! Bella's best book yet!!
August 29, 2026
As always, I am completely hooked by Bella Mackie’s biting humour and deeply self-centred characters. I love the subtle criticism of London’s upper classes that she incorporates into all her books.
I really enjoyed this book — it was both interesting and entertaining. Although I could see the plot twist coming a mile off, the ending didn’t surprise me. Even so, when it comes to mystery/thriller novels with a biting edge, Bella Mackie is always the author I turn to!
I really enjoyed this book — it was both interesting and entertaining. Although I could see the plot twist coming a mile off, the ending didn’t surprise me. Even so, when it comes to mystery/thriller novels with a biting edge, Bella Mackie is always the author I turn to!
August 30, 2026
Bella’s best work yet - I feel like she’s truly found her own voice and settled into such a unique and recognisable style of writing, underpinned by her dry and dark sense of humour.
Another book with the most brilliant unlikeable characters (how does she write them so well?) who appear so vapid and 2D outwardly but the reader can somehow still see their insecurities, fears and feelings.
This is five stars purely for the twist - which I genuinely did not see coming at ALL. I had to take a breather and physically put the book down to pick my jaw up from the floor. I thought I knew where this was going and was enjoying the comfort in the slight predictability of it - one of my favourite things is when a book rips the rug out from under you just like Claws Out! did!
Excited to see what is next from Bella - her books keep getting better!
Another book with the most brilliant unlikeable characters (how does she write them so well?) who appear so vapid and 2D outwardly but the reader can somehow still see their insecurities, fears and feelings.
This is five stars purely for the twist - which I genuinely did not see coming at ALL. I had to take a breather and physically put the book down to pick my jaw up from the floor. I thought I knew where this was going and was enjoying the comfort in the slight predictability of it - one of my favourite things is when a book rips the rug out from under you just like Claws Out! did!
Excited to see what is next from Bella - her books keep getting better!
August 31, 2026
This is…fine! Not a bad read at all, it’s just not that interesting. I’m sure it would be enjoyed much more by people who know the ‘north London liberal elite’ class well, but for me the characters didn’t feel that realistic and seemed to contradict themselves a fair bit. It ends very abruptly, to the point where it feels like a few chapters must be missing. Would probably be a good easy read for a holiday though
May 17, 2026
3.5??
Bella has definitely found her voice. Even if I didn’t know that she’d written this I could have recognised her tone. The offhand, casual, glib style is very recognisable.
I struggled to get into this. Every character is unlikeable, so it’s tricky to really feel too invested in their outcomes, but I was intrigued to know where it was going.
You don’t need to be paying tooooo much attention to figure out where it’s heading, but the reveals towards the end were well done.
If you enjoyed her others, I’d definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for this advanced copy in return for my unbiased review.
Bella has definitely found her voice. Even if I didn’t know that she’d written this I could have recognised her tone. The offhand, casual, glib style is very recognisable.
I struggled to get into this. Every character is unlikeable, so it’s tricky to really feel too invested in their outcomes, but I was intrigued to know where it was going.
You don’t need to be paying tooooo much attention to figure out where it’s heading, but the reveals towards the end were well done.
If you enjoyed her others, I’d definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for this advanced copy in return for my unbiased review.
September 7, 2026
4.5✨ thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio, The Borough Press & NetGalley for sending me an ALC of Claws Out in exchange for an honest review.
How does Bella Mackie always manage to make me root for such awful characters?!
Diana Leyland has been widowed 3 times, losing husbands to tragic and not at all suspicious accidents. She’s not good at being alone - how is a single woman in London meant to get by in the upper middle class?!
Enter David Farrand, a member of North London’s liberal elite with a gorgeous townhouse in Hampstead, a sizeable bank account and more connections than you’d know what to do with. If Diana manages to claw her way into a relationship with him, she’s set for life. The only obstacle is Cat, David’s entitled adult daughter who is instantly suspicious of Diana and her three dead husbands.
This was such a wonderfully snarky satire, with a mystery that managed to deliver (for me at least) at every twist and turn! Mackie’s writing is sharp and cutting, and her rage at the hypocrisy of the wealthy is palpable in every word.
Every character in this was deliciously awful, and I had so much fun. I loved to hate Cat, her horrendous friends, Diana and her insufferable son…ugh just so good.
Yes, i saw the true villain coming a mile away, but its a testament to the writing and how well crafted the story was that it didn’t bother me in the least. I was just along for the ride! All of the tomfoolery was so ridiculously hilarious, what a blast!
I ate up the scathing commentary on performative liberalism, activism, allyship, consumerism, feminism..you name it! Absolutely delectable and every aspect of it rings so, so true. These people only cared about one thing, and that was their social standing.
The narration was great, Laura Kirman gave a fantastic performance and really nailed the delivery of all of the sardonic humour.
If you’re a fan of Bella Mackie’s other snarky comedic books, and you can stomach a cast of rich asshole characters who behave terribly and you absolutely love to hate, you will have a good time with this social satire!
How does Bella Mackie always manage to make me root for such awful characters?!
Diana Leyland has been widowed 3 times, losing husbands to tragic and not at all suspicious accidents. She’s not good at being alone - how is a single woman in London meant to get by in the upper middle class?!
Enter David Farrand, a member of North London’s liberal elite with a gorgeous townhouse in Hampstead, a sizeable bank account and more connections than you’d know what to do with. If Diana manages to claw her way into a relationship with him, she’s set for life. The only obstacle is Cat, David’s entitled adult daughter who is instantly suspicious of Diana and her three dead husbands.
This was such a wonderfully snarky satire, with a mystery that managed to deliver (for me at least) at every twist and turn! Mackie’s writing is sharp and cutting, and her rage at the hypocrisy of the wealthy is palpable in every word.
Every character in this was deliciously awful, and I had so much fun. I loved to hate Cat, her horrendous friends, Diana and her insufferable son…ugh just so good.
Yes, i saw the true villain coming a mile away, but its a testament to the writing and how well crafted the story was that it didn’t bother me in the least. I was just along for the ride! All of the tomfoolery was so ridiculously hilarious, what a blast!
I ate up the scathing commentary on performative liberalism, activism, allyship, consumerism, feminism..you name it! Absolutely delectable and every aspect of it rings so, so true. These people only cared about one thing, and that was their social standing.
The narration was great, Laura Kirman gave a fantastic performance and really nailed the delivery of all of the sardonic humour.
If you’re a fan of Bella Mackie’s other snarky comedic books, and you can stomach a cast of rich asshole characters who behave terribly and you absolutely love to hate, you will have a good time with this social satire!
September 15, 2026
Twisty, murderous black comedy.
Not as good as her previous, in my mind, possibly as it treads similar paths and with similar themes, but I still enjoyed this and was even surprised more than once.
A story about a wealthy young, entitled woman horrified that her older father is smitten with a thrice-married, thrice-widowed social climber. Cat has reason to believe that David's new squeeze, the actually age-appropriate Diana, is possibly looking for husband number 4 and that she murdered all her other husbands.
As readers we will have our own opinions, and it's very clear that Diana is definitely after money... but what will she do to get it? Cat doesn't inspire as much sympathy as she'd probably like - living at home, not 'needing' to work, entitled and aware of her privilege but enjoying it nonetheless. Disliking Diana from the first, even Diana's attractive (and equally entitled) son Zeb doesn't warm her to the potential new step-mother on the horizon.
We then get a two-hander as Cat and Diana face-off, sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes in the same room, one-upping and trying to psychologically out-do each other, vying for David's affections and attention. Cat investigates her rival, Diana continues to work her way in and push David's daughter out of his home.
While the conclusion was unexpected, there's a definite air of unreality to proceedings and it takes a lot to accept certain facts as they are presented. But it's darkly wicked and a lot of fun.
Well read as an audiobook, easy enough to follow even with different narrators and points of view.
Amoral, social-climbing satire and a wonderful bit of schadenfreude for those of us looking up at our social superiors.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Not as good as her previous, in my mind, possibly as it treads similar paths and with similar themes, but I still enjoyed this and was even surprised more than once.
A story about a wealthy young, entitled woman horrified that her older father is smitten with a thrice-married, thrice-widowed social climber. Cat has reason to believe that David's new squeeze, the actually age-appropriate Diana, is possibly looking for husband number 4 and that she murdered all her other husbands.
As readers we will have our own opinions, and it's very clear that Diana is definitely after money... but what will she do to get it? Cat doesn't inspire as much sympathy as she'd probably like - living at home, not 'needing' to work, entitled and aware of her privilege but enjoying it nonetheless. Disliking Diana from the first, even Diana's attractive (and equally entitled) son Zeb doesn't warm her to the potential new step-mother on the horizon.
We then get a two-hander as Cat and Diana face-off, sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes in the same room, one-upping and trying to psychologically out-do each other, vying for David's affections and attention. Cat investigates her rival, Diana continues to work her way in and push David's daughter out of his home.
While the conclusion was unexpected, there's a definite air of unreality to proceedings and it takes a lot to accept certain facts as they are presented. But it's darkly wicked and a lot of fun.
Well read as an audiobook, easy enough to follow even with different narrators and points of view.
Amoral, social-climbing satire and a wonderful bit of schadenfreude for those of us looking up at our social superiors.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
August 27, 2026
This was my first Bella Mackie book, so I don’t know if this is typical of her writing but Claws Out! was a strange one for me because I genuinely couldn’t find a single character to root for. Usually, even if I don’t particularly like a character, there’s something about them that grabs my attention or makes me want to see where their story goes. Here, though, pretty much everyone was so selfish, entitled and thoroughly unpleasant that I just didn’t care what happened to any of them. They all seemed to have an incredibly high opinion of themselves while looking down on anyone who didn’t fit into their very specific, very elitist world.
The pacing started off well and pulled me in, but it lost momentum fairly early on and I found myself skimming a few chapters. I liked the premise, particularly the black-widow-ish angle, and there was a neat little twist, although I was expecting the writing to have more of a darkly funny/black humour feel to it. I think my biggest issue was the ending. I don’t need everything neatly tied up, but I do like a bit more closure than this gave me. By the end, I was left feeling more underwhelmed than anything else.
Overall, Claws Out! showed a lot of promise and there were definitely things that worked, but ultimately the characters and the conclusion just didn’t quite do it for me and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with how this story wrapped up.
The pacing started off well and pulled me in, but it lost momentum fairly early on and I found myself skimming a few chapters. I liked the premise, particularly the black-widow-ish angle, and there was a neat little twist, although I was expecting the writing to have more of a darkly funny/black humour feel to it. I think my biggest issue was the ending. I don’t need everything neatly tied up, but I do like a bit more closure than this gave me. By the end, I was left feeling more underwhelmed than anything else.
Overall, Claws Out! showed a lot of promise and there were definitely things that worked, but ultimately the characters and the conclusion just didn’t quite do it for me and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with how this story wrapped up.
August 26, 2026
If you love your mysteries dark, deliciously twisted and seriously funny, this one is an absolute treat! 👀🍷
Meet Diana Leyland — three times widowed and seemingly determined to make sure she never has to worry about money again. Her latest target is David Farrand, a wealthy man with a gorgeous five-storey Hampstead home and exactly the kind of lifestyle Diana has always dreamed of.
She just needs to get past one small problem…
David’s daughter, Cat.
Cat is suspicious, entitled and absolutely not willing to let some mysterious woman waltz into her father’s life. So she starts digging into Diana’s past — and what she discovers is rather concerning.
Because Diana’s first three husbands all have something very significant in common…
They’re dead. 💀
Once is unfortunate. Twice is suspicious. But three times?
That has to be murder.
I absolutely devoured this book! It’s wickedly entertaining, sharp, dark and packed with deliciously horrible characters that I couldn’t stop reading about. The satire is brilliant, especially when it comes to wealth, privilege and London’s elite, and the tension between Diana and Cat had me completely hooked.
Diana is the kind of character you know you shouldn’t trust — but you can’t help being fascinated by her. And Cat is determined to uncover every secret, no matter where it leads.
✨ Darkly funny
✨ Murder & mystery
✨ Wealth & privilege
✨ Unlikable characters you’ll love to hate
✨ Sharp social satire
✨ Twists, secrets & suspicion
Salacious, gripping and very, very funny — this is exactly the kind of deliciously dark read I love. 🖤📚
Perfect for readers who enjoy a mystery with plenty of bite, black humour and utterly chaotic characters!
Meet Diana Leyland — three times widowed and seemingly determined to make sure she never has to worry about money again. Her latest target is David Farrand, a wealthy man with a gorgeous five-storey Hampstead home and exactly the kind of lifestyle Diana has always dreamed of.
She just needs to get past one small problem…
David’s daughter, Cat.
Cat is suspicious, entitled and absolutely not willing to let some mysterious woman waltz into her father’s life. So she starts digging into Diana’s past — and what she discovers is rather concerning.
Because Diana’s first three husbands all have something very significant in common…
They’re dead. 💀
Once is unfortunate. Twice is suspicious. But three times?
That has to be murder.
I absolutely devoured this book! It’s wickedly entertaining, sharp, dark and packed with deliciously horrible characters that I couldn’t stop reading about. The satire is brilliant, especially when it comes to wealth, privilege and London’s elite, and the tension between Diana and Cat had me completely hooked.
Diana is the kind of character you know you shouldn’t trust — but you can’t help being fascinated by her. And Cat is determined to uncover every secret, no matter where it leads.
✨ Darkly funny
✨ Murder & mystery
✨ Wealth & privilege
✨ Unlikable characters you’ll love to hate
✨ Sharp social satire
✨ Twists, secrets & suspicion
Salacious, gripping and very, very funny — this is exactly the kind of deliciously dark read I love. 🖤📚
Perfect for readers who enjoy a mystery with plenty of bite, black humour and utterly chaotic characters!
September 3, 2026
I’m a fan of Bella Mackie’s writing style. It’s sharp, witty and a little bit savage, and her characters are always so completely awful that you can’t help but enjoy them.
Claws Out! is a brilliant satire of wealth, privilege and social status, which is something Bella Mackie does so well. It follows Diana Leyland, who is determined to find a rich husband to secure a comfortable future for herself and her adult son, and Cat Farrand, the daughter of her latest target. Told through their alternating POVs, it becomes a very entertaining power struggle between the two, set against the world of wealthy Londoners.
There’s also a murder mystery woven into the story. Some of the plot was definitely predictable, but there were also some really good twists that I didn’t see coming, so it kept me guessing enough to keep me interested.
The whole animals thing was definitely way out there and completely baffled me at first 😂 Zeb’s ability to communicate with animals is not something I was expecting to come across in this book! That said, I could understand why it was there and what it added to the story, even if I still found it a little bizarre.
Sharp, funny, full of horrible people and very entertaining. Another enjoyable read from Bella Mackie.
Claws Out! is a brilliant satire of wealth, privilege and social status, which is something Bella Mackie does so well. It follows Diana Leyland, who is determined to find a rich husband to secure a comfortable future for herself and her adult son, and Cat Farrand, the daughter of her latest target. Told through their alternating POVs, it becomes a very entertaining power struggle between the two, set against the world of wealthy Londoners.
There’s also a murder mystery woven into the story. Some of the plot was definitely predictable, but there were also some really good twists that I didn’t see coming, so it kept me guessing enough to keep me interested.
The whole animals thing was definitely way out there and completely baffled me at first 😂 Zeb’s ability to communicate with animals is not something I was expecting to come across in this book! That said, I could understand why it was there and what it added to the story, even if I still found it a little bizarre.
Sharp, funny, full of horrible people and very entertaining. Another enjoyable read from Bella Mackie.
September 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️✨ | 2.5/5
Thank you so much to HarperCollins Ireland for sending me a copy of Claws Out!
This one sounded SO up my street from the blurb. A wealthy family, a suspicious new wife, three dead husbands and a daughter determined to uncover the truth? I was ready for all the scandal and secrets👀
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
My biggest issue was probably the characters. I didn’t particularly like or connect with any of them, which made it really difficult to become invested in what was happening. I kept waiting for someone to grab my attention, but sadly that never really happened.
And then there was the plot twist… which I guessed pretty early on. 😅 So when everything was finally revealed, it didn’t have quite the impact I think it was supposed to because I’d already figured out where the story was heading.
I did like the premise and there were definitely moments where I could see the potential, especially with all the wealth, privilege and family drama, but overall I found the pacing a little slow and the story never really pulled me in.
Sadly, this was a case of loving the idea of the book more than the actual book itself. 🫣
Thank you so much to HarperCollins Ireland for sending me a copy of Claws Out!
This one sounded SO up my street from the blurb. A wealthy family, a suspicious new wife, three dead husbands and a daughter determined to uncover the truth? I was ready for all the scandal and secrets👀
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
My biggest issue was probably the characters. I didn’t particularly like or connect with any of them, which made it really difficult to become invested in what was happening. I kept waiting for someone to grab my attention, but sadly that never really happened.
And then there was the plot twist… which I guessed pretty early on. 😅 So when everything was finally revealed, it didn’t have quite the impact I think it was supposed to because I’d already figured out where the story was heading.
I did like the premise and there were definitely moments where I could see the potential, especially with all the wealth, privilege and family drama, but overall I found the pacing a little slow and the story never really pulled me in.
Sadly, this was a case of loving the idea of the book more than the actual book itself. 🫣
August 26, 2026
I read how to kill your family a couple years back and became hooked on Bella Mackies writing style. She keeps it very simple while mixing dark themes with humor, and she really is into family dynamics.
Claws out is a dark comical murder mystery following Diana whose husbands all meet a premature death. Everyone is certain she did it. The story is very easy to follow with a plot twist one can see coming, but I think that’s by design.
None of the characters in this story are likeable. They are all part of the elite society of London and their all terribly flawed. I love a book with unlikeable characters and I found the relations in this book funny to follow.
My main issue with this book was the pacing. It started iff really strong and then fizzled out in the middle. It was very much the same over and over again and it felt like the plot wasn’t progressing anywhere until you hit the 80% mark where it picked up again.
Thank you to Netgally and HarperCollins for gifting me this ARC
2.75
Claws out is a dark comical murder mystery following Diana whose husbands all meet a premature death. Everyone is certain she did it. The story is very easy to follow with a plot twist one can see coming, but I think that’s by design.
None of the characters in this story are likeable. They are all part of the elite society of London and their all terribly flawed. I love a book with unlikeable characters and I found the relations in this book funny to follow.
My main issue with this book was the pacing. It started iff really strong and then fizzled out in the middle. It was very much the same over and over again and it felt like the plot wasn’t progressing anywhere until you hit the 80% mark where it picked up again.
Thank you to Netgally and HarperCollins for gifting me this ARC
2.75
August 26, 2026
Review - Claws Out by Bella Mackie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a great story of family, deception and murder.
Set in London, Catriona is suspicious of her father’s new wife and the circumstances surrounds her previous husband’s death.
As the story develops it’s clear something is off, and all is not as it seems, as the bodies continue to pile up.
I have really enjoyed this - I’m not sure I for the ending I was hoping for, but a good ending all the same and some great twists along the way that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you @netgalley and @mackie_bella for the advanced copy.
Claws Out is out on 27th August
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a great story of family, deception and murder.
Set in London, Catriona is suspicious of her father’s new wife and the circumstances surrounds her previous husband’s death.
As the story develops it’s clear something is off, and all is not as it seems, as the bodies continue to pile up.
I have really enjoyed this - I’m not sure I for the ending I was hoping for, but a good ending all the same and some great twists along the way that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you @netgalley and @mackie_bella for the advanced copy.
Claws Out is out on 27th August
August 30, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Mackie for this ARC.
What a great book, I was not expecting what happened to happen.
Thank you @netgalley and @mackie_bella for this ARC
Written as a dual POV, this book took you through the story of Cat and Diana. Diana is on the search for a wealthy man to secure money for her and her son. Cat is the daughter of said wealthy man and does not take the news well 😅
There's satire particularly about the upper class which I did find quite amusing 😄 And the things people do to stay wealthy and how relationships are formed on greed.
The Doctor Dolittle vibes were quite out there but you know it worked 🤣
The plot twist 🤯 I absolutely did not see coming. You certainly were lead down a particular path.
I would recommend reading this book 👌🏻
What a great book, I was not expecting what happened to happen.
Thank you @netgalley and @mackie_bella for this ARC
Written as a dual POV, this book took you through the story of Cat and Diana. Diana is on the search for a wealthy man to secure money for her and her son. Cat is the daughter of said wealthy man and does not take the news well 😅
There's satire particularly about the upper class which I did find quite amusing 😄 And the things people do to stay wealthy and how relationships are formed on greed.
The Doctor Dolittle vibes were quite out there but you know it worked 🤣
The plot twist 🤯 I absolutely did not see coming. You certainly were lead down a particular path.
I would recommend reading this book 👌🏻
August 22, 2026
I really love the idea for this book and the back and forth between Diana and Cat! Both characters were quite unlikeable (which I think and hope was the point!) alongside Cat’s dad, David.
I was completely invested and then the final 15% really fell flat for me. Sadly the ending just wasn’t satisfying and it left me a little disappointed.
Still, I enjoyed the writing style as it kept me reading and would definitely still read another of Bella Mackie’s books in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
I was completely invested and then the final 15% really fell flat for me. Sadly the ending just wasn’t satisfying and it left me a little disappointed.
Still, I enjoyed the writing style as it kept me reading and would definitely still read another of Bella Mackie’s books in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
September 5, 2026
I can safely say I was annoyed by every single character in Claws Out. They were all so remarkably self absorbed, entitled, and ridiculously selfish that I couldn't bring myself to root for anyone. I genuinely didn't have a favorite character in the bunch, they all just rubbed me the wrong way.
Honestly, I was this close to DNFing it. The only reason I stuck around until the end was pure curiosity. I just wanted to see how everything played out and what the ultimate resolution would be. But even that turned out to be a letdown because the ending left me feeling completely underwhelmed.
By the last part of the book, I realized I didn't even care anymore, so I ended up skimming a lot just to reach the finish line. If you don't mind a cast full of unlikable, privileged characters and a slow crawl to an okay payoff, this might work for you, but for me, it was a real struggle to get through.
Honestly, I was this close to DNFing it. The only reason I stuck around until the end was pure curiosity. I just wanted to see how everything played out and what the ultimate resolution would be. But even that turned out to be a letdown because the ending left me feeling completely underwhelmed.
By the last part of the book, I realized I didn't even care anymore, so I ended up skimming a lot just to reach the finish line. If you don't mind a cast full of unlikable, privileged characters and a slow crawl to an okay payoff, this might work for you, but for me, it was a real struggle to get through.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Just a couple of week ago I finshed Bella Mackie's How to Kill Your Family and loved it so much. I was very happy to receive an arc of her upcoming book from NetGalley for review.
Claws Out is an entertaining, darkly comic mystery that delivers exactly what her readers expect from Bella Mackie's novel: biting humour, clever prmise and a plot twist in the end. The plot with POWs is easy to follow, and the narrative is executed in Bella Mackie's style that is already familiar to her fans.
That said, the characters in this book are, without question, deeply unlikable. And it is not about “love to hate them” way, they are selfish, and often infuriating. However, this does not complicate your reading experience.
The twist near the end caught me off guard. And unfortunately I was sad about this twist! I felt like a rug was pulled from under me! Bella why did you do this to your readers?! However, even before this twist, the broader direction of the ending is fairly predictable from around 150th page. I personally, would no want the book to end like this, I was ready to scream, throw pillows, and demand a different outcome, simply because it refuses to give the emotional closure I was hoping for.
Overall, the book is entertaining, surprising, and well-written (I am a huge fan of Bella Mackie's humour). I am definitely recommend to read this one.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy.
Claws Out is an entertaining, darkly comic mystery that delivers exactly what her readers expect from Bella Mackie's novel: biting humour, clever prmise and a plot twist in the end. The plot with POWs is easy to follow, and the narrative is executed in Bella Mackie's style that is already familiar to her fans.
That said, the characters in this book are, without question, deeply unlikable. And it is not about “love to hate them” way, they are selfish, and often infuriating. However, this does not complicate your reading experience.
The twist near the end caught me off guard. And unfortunately I was sad about this twist! I felt like a rug was pulled from under me! Bella why did you do this to your readers?! However, even before this twist, the broader direction of the ending is fairly predictable from around 150th page. I personally, would no want the book to end like this, I was ready to scream, throw pillows, and demand a different outcome, simply because it refuses to give the emotional closure I was hoping for.
Overall, the book is entertaining, surprising, and well-written (I am a huge fan of Bella Mackie's humour). I am definitely recommend to read this one.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy.
September 14, 2026
Highly anticipated this one as I enjoyed the last two of Bella Mackie’s so much. It was a really enjoyable read, definitely had me hooked. Very witty writing and entertaining (but abhorrent) characters as usual. Unfortunately, I guessed the ending mid way through, which took the delight of the ‘twist’ away a little - felt a bit predictable.
August 29, 2026
The weakest of Mackie’s three books in my opinion, but still a solid read. Probably wouldn’t read this again whereas I’d definitely reread the other two. Nonetheless, it was worth the ‘one and done’ just for her consistent writing style that I’ve grown to look forward to every book release
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July 10, 2026I greatly enjoyed this!
September 7, 2026
Was gripped the whole way through, did not see that ending coming either ?!?!
September 10, 2026
Fun and easy murders, the best kind
September 12, 2026
Good, but not great. How to kill your family is a fab book, poor in comparison. Ok as a stand alone.
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