X Marks the Stalker

X Marks the Stalker 

X Marks the Stalker is the latest novel to be checked off my to be read list. It is a dark romantic comedy. Which I have to admit, after reading the Butcher and Blackbird trilogy as well as Lights Out, I’ve become a bit obsessed with dark romantic comedy novels. 

This is the debut novel from author K.N. Wilder. I’ve always said there is something special about every author’s debut novel, and I am excited to read this one. Are you a fan of dark romantic comedy novels? 

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I jumped at the chance to read another similar to the ones I mentioned above. Because I really enjoy it, and always want to read more when I discover a new genre that captures my attention. I find I love the combination of dark and hilarious together. It somehow matches my own twisted sense of humor. 

The funny thing is, every time I read something like this, I wonder if I should stock up on more ammo when it is over. Maybe I don’t have enough? It certainly makes me wonder, that’s for sure. I also question both my reading and life choices when I enjoy novels like this. But that is also half the fun of reading darker materials like this. 

Have you read X Marks the Stalker? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About X Marks the Stalker 

She hunts killers. He is one. Opposites attract has never been so literal.

Crime journalist Oakley Novak has built her career exposing Boston’s darkest secrets, but she never expected a serial killer to turn the tables and stalk her.

Xander Rhodes spent weeks watching her through hidden cameras, captivated by her sharp mind and relentless drive, until she catches him red-handed and, instead of running, challenges him with a glare that could melt steel.

Xander’s either found his soulmate or lost his damn mind. Probably both.

When Oakley recruits him for her revenge plan against the man who murdered her parents, their partnership shatters every rule of Xander’s secret murder society. Now they’re being hunted by both sides—the law and the shadows—while racing against time to take down the untouchable enemy who took everything from her.

If you’re obsessed with dark romance laced with wicked humor, serial killers with a knack for banter, and heroines who wield wit as sharply as weapons, this sinful story will carve its way into your soul. 

Content Warning 

This story blends dark romance with comedy, so while there are moments designed to make you swoon or laugh, it also delves into some pretty intense and twisted territory. “Til death do us part” might be a more literal concern for these characters. 

Please read with care. 

Here’s a heads-up on what you’ll find inside:  

• Surveillance cameras as a love language 
• Creative uses for nail guns 
• Eyeball extraction 
• Panic rooms that become very unsafe spaces 
• Murder boards made of actual murder 
• A gas station bathroom death via decorative fish (yes, really) 
• Basement furnaces with a very specific purpose 
• Various sharp objects used for non-kitchen activities 
• Blood spatter as interior decorating 
• Explicit sex scenes including public fingering, phone sex with candy, knife play, anal play, restraints, praise kink, choking, and other activities that would scandalize your grandmother 
• Parental murder and childhood trauma 
• Stalking presented as courtship (don’t try this at home) 
• A secret society of murderers with surprisingly good organizational skills 
• Torture scenes that are disturbingly artistic 

It’s a book about serial killers finding love, so expect murder, mayhem, and questionable life choices throughout. 

This is fiction! In real life, please don’t follow strangers home, install cameras in people’s apartments, or use kitchen utensils as weapons. Also, if someone breaks into your home, and leaves you dinner, call the police, not a wedding planner. 

Happy reading, you beautiful, twisted souls! 

Thoughts on X Marks the Stalker 

“If there’s a worse way to start your day than scraping intestines off your shoes, I’d love to hear it.” 

K.N. Wilder, X Marks the Stalker

I always question my own sanity and life choices when I read books like this, especially after reading through the content and trigger warnings. I second guess if these are books I really want to be reading. Am I the only one? I’m always glad I ignore them and choose to continue reading a book, but these things certainly make me wonder if there is something wrong with me when I see them written out in a list. 

I also question if I own enough ammo when it is over, or if I should go buy more, just in case. Which I think is the sign of a good author and book. I always want books to make me feel something. I’m also finding I’m enjoying stories like this more and more. I never realized I needed dark stalker romance novels until recently. Now I constantly want more of them. 

This book has so, so much potential. I loved the concept, and it made me want to keep reading it. But it lacked in setting the story. It felt like I was walking in on a conversation in the middle, where everyone involved understood everything, but I picked the awkward time to walk in where I needed a full explanation to get it all. 

The problem I just mentioned made it harder for me to really be engrossed in the story. It has excellent moments that both made me gag and made me giggle. It was well written, but there just needed to be a little bit more. 

I still loved the concept, and I maintain the author has a bright future in writing ahead of her. I’m certainly going to be reading more from her in the future, and it’ll be exciting to watch her grow as a writer, and continue to bring readers dark romantic comedies. 

Final Thoughts on X Marks the Stalker 

I’m calling X Marks the Stalker a three star read. It was good, there was nothing egregiously wrong with it. But it’s on the forgettable side, just because the backstory wasn’t built properly. It is like building a house on a good foundation, but it isn’t a perfect one. I personally needed the foundation to be perfect, so that it would suck me in and keep me on the edge of my seat for the entire thing. 

I know this is a debut novel for K.N. Wilder, and I have no doubt that she will just continue to get better at her writing and excel at the craft. She’s well on her way now, but still needs some practice. 

When I finished this novel, I went back to check out other reviews and see how my thoughts compared to others. I always wait until the end when I’ve already decided my own opinion and rating. But I’m often curious how my opinion compares, if it matches the masses, or if I’m just a total weirdo. 

It has mixed reviews, with a few hating it, but mostly those who loved it. I am the odd one sitting right in the middle with a three star review. That’s okay, it certainly isn’t the first time I’m the odd duck in the group. There have been a number of times I’ve read the most highly rated books and can’t understand how any intelligent person could read them and enjoy it. 

I highly recommend that you give X Marks the Stalker a chance and read it yourself. Based on other reviews I just read, you will likely love it. My experience with a book isn’t the only opinion out there, and my job is to bring attention to and highlight authors and their books. Reading is such a subjective art, and I always hope that readers will love each and every book they read, including the ones I highlight here in my blog. 

Discussion 

Have you read X Marks the Stalker? Are you a fan of dark romantic comedy novels? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

K.N. Wilder believes that love stories are even better with a high body count and a healthy dose of questionable life choices. From her cozy home, often with her dog as a furry co-conspirator, she crafts dark romantic comedies fueled by a passion for reading, a wanderlust for travel, and a delightfully twisted sense of humor. She loves to make readers laugh in the face of danger. 

Purchasing X Marks the Stalker 

• If you are interested in buying the paperback version of X Marks the Stalker, click here.
• Click here for the Kindle version.
• Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

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