What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a contemporary romance with a true-crime hook: PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh suspects her new neighbor may be dangerous, only to find that the harder prospect may be letting a genuinely nice person get close. Alicia Thompson’s novel is a promising pick for romance skeptics who enjoy witty banter, but it also makes room for grief and family complications.
What is Love in the Time of Serial Killers about?
Phoebe Walsh is a PhD candidate writing a dissertation about true crime. She returns to Florida for the summer to clean out her childhood home, deal with her younger brother, and reckon with the death of a father from whom she had been estranged. Her attention turns to Sam Dennings, a new neighbor she suspects might be a serial killer.
The publisher’s synopsis sets up the central comic reversal: Phoebe may have more to fear from Sam being a genuinely nice guy who can reach the vulnerable part of her she would rather protect. That premise makes true-crime suspicion the romantic-comedy engine, while the family history gives Phoebe’s guardedness a more serious context. Penguin Random House’s US title page describes the novel and its recommended appeal to readers of flirty dialogue, pop-culture references, strong female characters, and true crime.
Is it a romance—and will it work for romance skeptics?
Yes. The US publisher classifies it as fiction and romance; Penguin Books New Zealand categorizes it as contemporary romance. The true-crime material does not make it a crime novel: it is a romantic comedy built around Phoebe’s suspicion of Sam and the possibility of a relationship.
#1 Best Overall
“Perfect” is a matter of taste, not a measurable promise. The book’s case for skeptical readers is its combination of an unusual meet-the-neighbor suspicion, humor, and the emotional question of whether Phoebe can risk being vulnerable. Publisher-hosted endorsements describe the book as funny, charming, and chemistry-driven; those are endorsers’ judgments, not guarantees for every reader.
What kind of reader is it best suited to?
Think about what you want from the blend rather than expecting a straight true-crime mystery. These are reading-fit considerations inferred from the publisher’s synopsis and descriptions, not ratings or measured comparisons.
- True-crime references: A good fit if you enjoy a protagonist who studies and thinks about the genre. The available description does not establish that the novel functions as a procedural investigation.
- Romance and chemistry: The relationship with Sam is central to the premise, with the publisher and its endorsers foregrounding attraction and banter.
- Humor: The suspected-serial-killer misunderstanding gives the romance a comic hook; readers seeking a consistently dark or frightening thriller may want a different kind of book.
- Emotional material: Phoebe’s return home involves grief, family history, and opening up. The novel is not only a light neighbor-meet-cute.
Which edition should you look for?
Publication details vary by region, so match the ISBN to the format and market you want. The US paperback’s catalog price is not a dependable current price; check the listing before buying.
| Market and format | Publication details | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| US paperback | Berkley; August 16, 2022; 352 pages | 9780593438657 |
| US ebook | Listed by Penguin Random House US | 9780593438664 |
| US audiobook download | Listed runtime: 9 hours 9 minutes | 9780593591185 |
| New Zealand paperback | Released May 9, 2023 | 9781804992906 |
| UK ebook | Published March 30, 2023 | 9781529914832 |
For the US editions, see the publisher’s title listing and its higher-education catalog record. For regional formats, consult Penguin Books New Zealand or Penguin Books UK.
How does the true-crime premise shape the recommendation?
The premise is best approached as a playful romance setup, not evidence that the book offers an intensive account of criminal investigation. Phoebe’s true-crime obsession informs how she interprets her neighbor; the publisher’s description pivots from that suspicion toward romance and her struggle with vulnerability. If the draw is a funny, contemporary love story with genre references and a more tender family thread, the ingredients align. If the main goal is a serious crime case, the published description does not promise that experience.
The publisher page features Ali Hazelwood’s endorsement calling the novel “the perfect beach read” for readers who love witty banter, intelligent plotting, and compelling characters. That is a publisher-hosted endorsement, not an independent assessment. A more recent comparison appears in Penguin Random House’s 2026 description of Kate Eberle’s If Books Could Kill, which calls it “A NOVEL LOVE STORY meets LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS.” This signals that Thompson’s novel is being used as a comparison in that description; it does not establish a broader trend.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
