A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage

A Novel

By: MK Oliver

Narrated by: Perdita Weeks

A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

Meet Lalla Rook. Lalla has a lot on her plate: She needs to guarantee her husband makes partner, secure her dream house in Hampstead, and get her daughter into a prestigious prep school. And on the afternoon she stabs a stranger seven times after he breaks into her living room, she has a four-year-old’s birthday party to host.

With an unambitious partner, two demanding children, and a barely adequate large house in a nice (if not quite fashionable) part of town, Lalla’s life isn’t quite perfect yet. And she can’t pretend she hasn’t missed the adrenaline rush that comes with transgressing. Besides, as a wife and mother, she’s already an expert multi-tasker. So, disposing of a body, framing a friend, and being the world’s best mother can easily be managed alongside the usual domestic minutiae.

It’s just that her husband Stephen seems distracted, her daughter’s drowning of the class hamster is affecting her academic future, and then there is the unexpected intruder. Who is this man and what does he want from her? Because Lalla has a past she’d rather keep hidden—and the sudden appearance of the police means that avoiding them will be yet another task to cross off her to-do list.

Funny, calculating, hypercompetent, and ambitious, Lalla is your next favorite antiheroine. Just don’t mention it to her mother-in-law.

Critic reviews

"Lalla is the embodiment of a sociopath—and Weeks’ insightful performance almost makes her likable."

"Perdita Weeks completely captures Lalla Rook’s inner snark in this satirical portrait of a sociopath. Gallows humor abounds as Lalla manipulates everyone and everything around her to achieve her goals—a partnership for her husband at his firm, an upscale house in a posh neighborhood, a place in a prestigious school for her daughter, and even murder, when necessary. Weeks makes Lalla sound perfectly reasonable and utterly without guilt as she crosses items off her to-do list, including framing her best friend for murder. With friends like Lalla, who needs enemies? Weeks uses an almost flat affect that conveys a woman convinced of her own sound reasoning."

Talk about a Guilty Pleasure!

A fun story about someone you’d love to hate and wind up secretly wishing you could get away with half of what she does! A wonderful escape that had me laughing out loud!

The narrator was perfect for the script.

I just loved this book. Total laugh a minute. I found myself rooting for Lalla- was that wrong.. she was so clever. Which of course means the author is the real clever one.

Uniquely Entertaining

I loved this book! The character’s approach to life is so unique and enjoyable. Many of the situations she faces are of her own making and hilarious at times. Great narration too. I definitely recommend this one.

Witty, astute, and entirely well-executed combo of fiction and social commentary.

What I appreciated;
Writing style and skill. Story. Sociocultural and psychological reflection. Voice acting superb. Excellent production. Matter-of-fact realistic depiction of pretzel logic, cultural realities, social and psychological warping.

Funny and enjoyable!

Well written main character had me laughing through out the entire book. I listen to British murder mysteries all day and this one really stands out for the dry humor. Highly entertaining!