A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage

By: M. K. Oliver

Narrated by: Perdita Weeks

The witty and gripping new thriller introducing your new favourite murderous heroine: Lalla Rook.

'Lalla Rook is ruthless, unapologetic and shamelessly murderous, you're going to love her' Gillian McAllister

‘A wickedly dark and hilarious debut … witty, wise and wildly entertaining’ Alice Feeney

'Deliciously dark, clever satire. Lalla Rook is a genius creation. I absolutely loved it!' Shari Lapena

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There’s a dead body in my living room.

I’ve not called the police because it was I who stabbed him. Seven times in all. The truth is, it’s surprisingly difficult to dispatch someone with a vegetable knife.

In case you’re wondering, the dead man is not my husband. I do resent our pitiful sex life and his woeful lack of ambition, but I wouldn’t murder him for it. Not yet, anyway.

Right now, I have far more pressing concerns: scheming to get my daughter into the perfect school; buying my dream home in Hampstead; and disposing of a corpse.

A woman’s work is never done. I’ve created the perfect life – and I’ll kill to keep it.

Praise for A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage

‘Scintillating … a sardonic social comedy cunningly disguised as a psychological thriller' Sunday Times, Pick of the Month

'This satirical thriller is the perfect antidote to the winter blues' Guardian

'The most wildly entertaining novel you'll read this year: suspenseful but funny, shocking yet stylish' A. J. Finn

‘Big Little Lies meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ Booklist

‘A blackly comic delight … sharply sardonic and unputdownable’ Financial Times

‘A witty, propulsive debut with an anti-hero you can't help but root for’ Mirror

‘Hilariously dark, refreshingly honest, and highly entertaining’ Woman’s Weekly

READERS LOVE LALLA ROOK

‘This one is a wild ride, but in the best way possible … What a main character!!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Perfection to read … such a good ride’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An incredibly fun read! A one-of-a-kind main character … I honestly couldn’t get enough of her. Twisty, sharp, and wildly entertaining’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Witty and wild … an unforgettable female protagonist finding her own way through some very bad days’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Totally chaotic and that's why I adored it … chock full of twists and turns’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2026 F & D Creative Ltd (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

'Scintillating … a zany guide, not just to marriage but to parenting, friendship, everyday middle-class battles and getting away with crime. It’s really a sardonic social comedy cunningly disguised as a psychological thriller’ Sunday Times

‘A blackly comic delight […] it’s both sharply sardonic and unputdownable' Financial Times

'Told with gusto, plus wonderfully twisty plotting and lashings of lifestyle porn, this satirical thriller is the perfect antidote to the winter blues' Guardian

‘Lalla is a wonderful creation, utterly appalling and wholly irresistible’ Literary Review

'Lalla Rook is ruthless, unapologetic and shamelessly murderous, you're going to love her. This is a gripping and hilarious read, full of razor-sharp wit' Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of Famous Last Words

'Deliciously dark, clever satire. Lalla Rook is a genius creation. I absolutely loved it!!' Shari Lapena, Sunday Times bestselling author of She Didn't See it Coming

'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' A. J. Finn, #1 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. An exciting new voice in the genre. Utterly brilliant’ Alice Feeney, author of Beautiful Ugly

'Deliciously dark and hilariously funny; this book is original, unpredictable, and highly entertaining' Jackie Kabler, author of The Revenge Plot

'Amusing… a sly and satirical caper that will leave readers grinning' Publishers Weekly

'Sharp and funny, and the mystery that drives the story is pleasingly twisty … A terrific entertainment for readers who love an unlikable heroine.' Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

so sharp and so funny

A delight. this is a perfectly satisfying tale of murder, blackmail, social climbing and revenge, with my favorite central character in ages. Much recommend!