Book Summary and Reviews of A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver

Media Reviews

"Oliver's debut is sharp and funny, and the mystery that drives the story is pleasingly twisty. The author's most impressive accomplishment, though, is crafting a protagonist who slowly becomes relatable even if she never quite becomes sympathetic...A terrific entertainment for readers who love an unlikable heroine." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"[A]musing…a sly and satirical caper that will leave readers grinning." —Publishers Weekly

"[A] hilarious first-person account of a woman who will stop at nothing to win the earmarks of a successful marriage and family…Lalla's maneuvers lead to an unguessable, satisfying conclusion." —Booklist

"[A] story of social climbing and domestic intrigue, where extreme self-interest and casual violence are commonplace… This bold and provocative psychological thriller will appeal to readers who appreciate grim humor and unreliable narrators." —Library Journal

"What a tightrope M.K. Oliver walks in A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage, the most wildly entertaining novel you'll read this year: suspenseful but funny, shocking yet stylish... and sophisticated, too—a story with cold blood in its veins and bright ideas in its head. Part crime, part comedy, A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage introduces Lalla Rook, a name fated to be widely known in our world, if not in hers. You wouldn't want to be Lalla's enemy. You probably wouldn't want to be her friend, either—but you'll definitely want to be her audience, as she raises a family, commits murder, disposes of corpses, and prepares the perfect birthday cake (or does she?)... all with wit, imagination, and good taste. This is that very rare novel that's fun enough for a binge read but provocative enough for book clubs. May Lalla return soon, please, with more messes to be sorted, more bodies to be buried, and more cakes to be baked (sort of)." —A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

"A wickedly dark and hilarious debut. The writing is witty, wise and wildly entertaining, with well-drawn characters you will love to hate. Motherland meets Killing Eve. Utterly brilliant." —Alice Feeney, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ugly

"Does being a sociopath make you a bad wife and mother? Not necessarily! But when everything and everyone that Lalla has been (really trying hard) to hold dear gets threatened, what's a sociopath to do? Defend herself, that's what! And maybe (just maybe, if necessary, but only then), plan a couple of homicides. I mean, they started it, right? The twists and turns will leave you questioning right and wrong, in the best way." —Catherine Mack, USA Today bestselling author of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

This information about A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

M.K. Oliver is a former English teacher and headteacher originally from Liverpool. He long dreamed of becoming a writer and after many years of working in schools, he took the exciting decision to put down the whiteboard marker, take up the keyboard, and give it a go. He enjoyed writing courses at Curtis Brown, Faber & Faber, and the Royal Court Theatre and now lives with his family and talkative cat in North London.

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