A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver

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

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

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

‘Wickedly, wickedly funny … It’s a pure delight to read’ William Shaw

–

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.

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‘

About the Author: M. K. Oliver is a former teacher and headteacher originally from Liverpool. He long dreamed of becoming a writer and after many years of working in schools took the exciting decision to put down his whiteboard marker to 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 a talkative cat in North London, which provides the inspiration for the location but thankfully not the characters of this story. Inspired by the lengths to which parents would go to ensure their child’s happiness, M. K. Oliver created his protagonist, the uncompromising Lalla Rook.

12 Feb 2026
 

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver ISBN 9780008741655