Format: 304 pages, Hardcover
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Meet Nadia Davis, a doting mom and loving wife who has a big secret: she’s actually an assassin. And she really needs a babysitter who shows up on time.
Nadia Davis is living the dream as a successful working mom with a career she loves, two adorable little girls, and a devoted husband who has no idea that she’s secretly a hired assassin and psychopath who kills certified bad guys. So when Nadia finds out she’s been “mommy tracked” by her assassin’s agency and is no longer getting the bigger, more exciting jobs, she demands an important mark…somebody worth killing.
But it turns out that big kill is the last person she expects—her husband. How is the sweet, kind, teller-of-dad jokes she’s promised her life to an evil villain who needs exterminating? Has their whole life together been a lie? Now Nadia must choose between the two things she loves most in life, the career that keeps her sane or the family she thought she knew.
Nadia Davis is living the dream as a successful working mom with a career she loves, two adorable little girls, and a devoted husband who has no idea that she’s secretly a hired assassin and psychopath who kills certified bad guys. So when Nadia finds out she’s been “mommy tracked” by her assassin’s agency and is no longer getting the bigger, more exciting jobs, she demands an important mark…somebody worth killing.
But it turns out that big kill is the last person she expects—her husband. How is the sweet, kind, teller-of-dad jokes she’s promised her life to an evil villain who needs exterminating? Has their whole life together been a lie? Now Nadia must choose between the two things she loves most in life, the career that keeps her sane or the family she thought she knew.
Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne is a fast-paced, darkly humorous psychological thriller that blends the high-stakes world of contract killing with the everyday chaos of suburban motherhood. Nadia Davis appears to have it all: two adorable young daughters, a devoted husband named Brian, a successful cover career as a wedding/event planner in San Antonio, and a picture-perfect suburban life complete with Costco runs, PTA meetings, and school pickups.
But Nadia has a secret—she’s a self-diagnosed psychopath and professional assassin who only targets “certified bad guys.” Killing keeps the “monster” inside her at bay and brings her a twisted sense of satisfaction and normalcy. When her agency “mommy-tracks” her—assigning low-profile, local jobs because she’s a wife and mother—she pushes back and demands a high-stakes assignment: somebody worth killing. The target? Her own husband.
Suddenly, Nadia must investigate whether the man she loves is truly evil, confront her own secrets, and choose between the career that keeps her sane and the family she never expected to care about so deeply. Nadia is a complex, memorable anti-heroine. She’s self-aware about her psychopathy (she feels emotions selectively, especially for her kids and husband) yet struggles with the same mom-guilt, multitasking, and gender biases as any working mother.
Her first-person narration is witty, snarky, introspective, and often hilarious, turning absurd situations (lacing a cocktail with sleeping pills to sneak out for a hit, or racing between a sniper rifle and carpool) into darkly comedic gold. Supporting characters add depth: Brian starts as the ideal husband but reveals layers; the young daughters ground the story with heart; a fellow assassin friend (Ian) and Nadia’s grandmother (with a possible similar history and dementia) provide both support and moments of hilarity.
The writing is fast-paced with short, propulsive chapters, clever twists, dark humor, and escalating tension. It evokes Dexter (female, mom edition), Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, and Big Little Lies vibes—domestic suspense meets assassin thriller with satirical edge. Payne researched female psychopaths (noting women often hide it better) and draws from real mom experiences for authenticity. I picked up this book because I thought it was a standalone. I just learned, as I am posting this review, that a sequel is planned for Spring 2027, and the threat to Nadia and her family has just begun.
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