Self-Help for Serial Killers

Mackay’s witty sequel to A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage finds married murderers Hazel “Haze” Matthews and Nathaniel Foxton “Fox” Cabot attempting to blend in with the crowd in bucolic Berkshire, England. Like Dexter Morgan before them, Haze and Fox are principled killers: they only eliminate bad men who abuse women. Their previous killing spree has attracted the attention of Interpol detective Alain Drake and a shadowy crime syndicate known as The Corporation. As a result, they try to lay low with their two children in the affluent English suburbs, but can never stay away from killing for long. Much of the action consists of humorous interludes that chronicle Haze’s attempts to get along with imperious school moms or Fox’s therapy sessions, in which he tries to detail the anxiety his hobby is causing him without revealing that his pastime is murder. The plot ramps up when the couple’s latest activities put them in the crosshairs of some bad actors, leading to the revelation of surprising family secrets. Familiar as the concept may be, Mackay wins the day with exceedingly likable protagonists whom readers can’t help but root for. Unlike Haze and Fox’s targets, this series deserves a long life. Agent: Alice Lutyens, Curtis Brown U.K. (June)