


- Genre: Thriller, Romance
- Published by: Berkley
- Publish date: April 29, 2025
- Number of pages: 384 pages
- Author’s website: https://www.kateposey.com/
- Support local! Buy the book on BookShop!

What would you do if you thought your coworker was getting away with murder—literally?
Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field . . . including fields of unmarked graves.
The new office temp is definitely a serial killer.
Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn’t come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can’t help but wonder if, finally, he’s found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all.
Until Dolores asks Jake’s help to dispose of a body . . .
A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).


Rating: 4.5/5
This was a delight to read! Dark, twisty, comical, and surprisingly sweet.
So many things I thought I had figured out while reading this book was wrong and I love that for me! I love being surprised by a book. I have consumed my fair share of true crime books, podcasts, and documentaries so I thought a book where the main characters seem sus and revolve around some criminal behaviors including an obsession with a serial killer called “The Paper Pusher”, I’d be able to figure out most things, but I was wrong. (I did correctly figure out who the Paper Pusher is but that’s like the least mysterious thing about this book).
Told in an office setting in Canada, Jake is a temp and Dolores (aka Dolly aka Dodi) is a mysterious employee who works in a secluded office away from all other coworkers. They see something in each other, something similar, and that similar thing is dark. What unfolds is a cat-and-mouse exchange, with witty banter and multiple misunderstandings and surprises along the way. Plus, there’s a delicious slow burn and I’d give this a medium spice rating.
Add this to your TBR if you:
- Loved Dexter especially season 1 and the ice truck killer
- Like genre-bending books. This is a thriller but has romance elements. I did not expect to be giggling and kicking my feet while reading this but it happened
- Want to be surprised and don’t mind misdirections
- Are a fan of true crime and true love
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to know!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from Netgalley and Berkley. This has not impacted my rating and this review is voluntary.


I just finished this book and absolutely loved it! I felt validated by your review, since trying to explain the premise AND the sweetness & romance seems difficult to me – and you nailed it.
Ahh thank you for validating me too! I haven’t seen many reviews of this book so I wasn’t sure if others felt the same way.