Audiobook Review: A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage
Author: Asia MacKay
Narrators:
Georgia Tennant
Kyle Soller
Published: January 14, 2025
Audiobook: 9 hours 47 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 17-24, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
I wasn’t smashing the patriarchy; I was killing it. Literally.
Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they’re murderers. Well, they used to be. They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to rid from the world. Then Hazel got pregnant.
Now, they’re just another mom-and-dad-and-baby. They gave up vigilante justice for life in the suburbs: arranged play dates instead of body disposals, diapers over daggers, mommy conversations instead of the sweet seduction right before a kill. Hazel finds her new life terribly dull. And the more she forces herself to play her monotonous, predictable role, the more she begins to feel that murderous itch again.
Meanwhile, Fox has really taken to being a father. Always the planner, he loves being five steps ahead of everyone and knowing exactly what’s coming around the bend. Plus, if anyone can understand Hazel needing one more kill, it’s Fox. But then Hazel kills someone without telling Fox. And when police show up at their door, Hazel realizes it will take everything she has to keep her family together.
Jessica’s Review:
A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage was a fun and quick read. We have a married couple who are serial killers. They kill ‘bad men’ until… an unexpected pregnancy. And now Hazel and Fox are trying to adjust to ‘normal’ life: IE not being killers. But killing is what brings and keeps Hazel and Fox together. Can they survive ‘normal’ life?
We have both Hazel and Fox’s point of views in the past and present. I liked Hazel, but felt that we never really got to know Fox very well. The past does come into play with the present.
Trying to have a ‘normal’ life Hazel is part of parenting groups and makes friends with… a police officer on maternity leave and also under investigation. During this, Hazel can’t help herself and kills again… But this time solo… And the story moves on…
Both narrators did a good job with their narrations. Guide to Marriage is entertaining and has some dark humor to it. And I really just enjoyed the ending! This novel would make a good mini-series that I would definitely watch.
Audiobook Review: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Listen for the Lie
Author: Amy Tintera
Narrators:
January LaVoy
Will Damron
Published: March 5, 2024
Audiobook: 9 hours 18 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: June 25-29, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?
After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.
But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie,” and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.
The truth is out there, if we just listen.
Jessica’s Review:
Listen For the Lie is a fast moving and fun book that needs to be listened to! An interesting premise that has mystery, suspense and well… a girl murdered and her BFF is the suspect. And this suspect doesn’t remember anything! Now, years later a popular podcast creator is interested in the case and determined to solve it!
We go between the story and the podcast. And the narration keeps the listener fully involved in the story. Both January LaVoy and Will Damron did a fabulous job with their narrations. LaVoy is one of my ‘must listen to’ narrators and Damron really pulled me into the podcast sections!
Who the killer was didn’t totally work for me, but otherwise I enjoyed this audiobook! Definitely listen to this one!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Short Story Sunday: Death Row by Freida McFadden
Death Row
Series: Alibis Collection #1
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Lauryn Allman
Published: June 1, 2025
Audiobook: 1 hour 44 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: June 16, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Short Story Description:
With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story.
Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?
Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
Jessica’s Review:
I’m a Freida McFadden fan, and look forward to reading her backlist and future novels. I have given her novels/short stories ranging from 3-5 stars. Death Row receives two stars. I knew it was a short story; it has been made clear which of her stories she has written are in fact not full-length novels. Whether people notice those signs or not, that is on them: Whether they read the short story description or just hit ‘buy’ because it is a McFadden novel.
The description of this short story intrigued me. I had lots of thoughts while listening to this one. McFadden’s ‘twist’ just didn’t work for me. I wanted more of a ‘crime story’ or a “Is Talia actually innocent or guilty?” versus what actually happened.
There has been confusion with some readers with the short story. On her website she does give her interpretations with the story that she wrote. (That link is here and WILL give spoilers!) My thoughts coincided with what her intentions were. For that, I was glad that I took the story in the way she intended, but again, her ending was just not for me.
I loved that Lauryn Allman was the narrator! She IS the voice of Millie from The Housemaid series for me. And she did a good job as Talia in her narration.
Though not for me, this short story might be for you. If you haven’t read anything from McFadden I would say don’t start with this one.
Purchase Links: (This short story is available on Kindle or Audio)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
[Top]