Okay, this one blew me away! From the very first page, I was totally hooked. Jess Pendle—surviving, juggling life as a carer and finally finding courage to escape her abusive partner—felt so real and raw. When she joins that support group, you think, “Maybe there’s hope now…” and then bam—things get dark, twisted, and utterly compelling. Meanwhile, this mysterious “Caretaker” starts doling out their own brand of justice to the women’s ex-partners. Revenge never looked so chilling and satisfying.

This is such a good premise and that great cover and title really drew me in. The story started so strong, character were realistic and written with empathy and they were easy to root for, however once the reveal happens the novel loses momentum a bit and the last 30% felt like it dragged a bit.
However a good read for those who want a thriller with a bit of a difference.

A darkly clever thriller with a razor-sharp emotional core. Jess Pendle joins what she thinks is a safe space for women who’ve survived different forms of abuse, each bearing scars, physical and emotional, from men they fought so hard to escape. In the circle, they find what they’ve long been missing: friends who truly understand, who have each other’s backs without judgment. The group becomes a source of strength, a place to reclaim the power stolen from them. But when the therapist leaves, their method of “support” takes a shockingly lethal turn. Twisty, tense, and satisfyingly vengeful. I am looking forward to the sequel!

Thank you DB Stephens, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

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A dark, twisted revenge thriller that flips the script on support groups. Jess Pendle joins a women's group for survivors, only to discover it's a front for vigilante justice. The characters are compelling, and the plot is fast-paced with unexpected twists. It's a gritty, empowering read with a touch of dark humor.

Dark, fast, and morally messy, this vigilante-justice thriller turns a domestic abuse support group into the most dangerous squad you’ll ever root for.

Brilliant premise and fantastic novel, set the bar with this one, absolutely loved it. Had me hooked from page one and didn’t let up! More please

Get ready for the ride! This brand-new psychological domestic thriller promises to be the book everyone is talking about in 2026. Jess Pendle, barely able to step outside her front door, bravely joins a support group, seeking a connection she desperately needs. The group, designed to connect women with shared experiences, quickly spirals into something far more sinister when they're left to their own devices. What kind of "support" do these women offer each other behind closed doors? And what does "Justice will be served..." really mean in this chilling context? Even I, a self-proclaimed plot-twist detective, was completely blindsided – a rare and satisfying experience! The book tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with sensitivity and grace, somehow managing to find sparks of humor amidst the darkness. But beyond the suspense and intrigue, this is fundamentally a story about one woman's journey to reclaim her life. Jess's arc – from crippling fear to courageous action – is the true heart of this novel, a testament to the strength that can be found even in the darkest of circumstances. If you like thrillers that explore the dark side of human nature and reward you with genuine surprises, this is one you won't want to miss. Clear your schedule; you'll be hooked from the first page until the final, satisfying conclusion – easily devoured in one sitting!

How could this be written by a man? How could he understand what it's like to be a victim of domestic abuse? I was caught from the first page, finished in just two evenings. The book blurb didn't give anything away, hinted but nothing to spoil it. I thought a support group setting had possibilities and that's very true. I'd also never thought much about men being abused too but logically I know it's true. We call them henpecked or worse but it's assumed men can take care of themselves.

I like the idea of battered and broken women coming to life again, realizing the abuser had broken them completely down and built them back into a possession. Taking control of the situation didn't bother me nor did how they did it. I applaud the intelligent, careful, practical way the plan came together. Would I be able to do it? Yes, I feel sure I could now being older and understanding how the world works or doesn't work.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I expected this book to be really predictable, it was in parts but not others. Despite this I did really enjoy this quick easy read. I loved the way the women were the ones to save the day

Jess has faced her demon and won. Well. Kind of. She got away from her abusive ex, but in keeping with a long-standing tradition, the police have let him go and not charged him. So of course, she is being stalked and threatened on the regular. She needs strength and comfort. Luckily, she gets an invitation to a domestic abuse support group where she meets people that are just like her. Then, the unthinkable happens. Abusive exes become the targets of a man called the Caretaker. Jess feels bad that she hopes her ex gets what he deserves at the hands of this DV vigilante. But the cost might just be too high.

I liked the book. The characters quickly become really people. You want their exes dead too. The whole thing is just very predictable. I kept waiting for a twist that I didn't see coming and it just never happened. I did finish the book because I needed to know my girls would be ok, but there was nothing surprising here.

Imagine my surprise that there was not just one new release with this title this year- but two! I have read both and I can strongly recommend both of them. This one is a strong thriller that kept me interested and thinking of it even when I had to put it down. I really connected with the characters and looked forward to seeing the story unfold. There was a lot of character growth which I appreciated. I liked the DV aspect and how realistic is was and the entire message behind the story. I'm so excited to learn there will be a sequel to this and I cannot wait to read the next one.

This is a psychological thriller that explores the minds of some of society’s most notorious criminals. The story centers around a secretive support group where convicted serial killers meet, each grappling with their own motives and secrets. Stephens weaves a tense narrative filled with suspense, clever twists, and a chilling atmosphere. The characters are complex and unsettling, and the plot delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and the darker aspects of human nature.

Well played D.B. Stephens, well played.
There were parts of this book that I really did not enjoy reading, because they were actually displaying very well some violence towards women. The official physical one, but also the tedious psychological one, that exists but feels so hard to express and prove in the eye of justice.
The characters are believable, women who have been wronged, who desperately need some external aid, that seem to never come for them, until The Caretaker enters and starts killing those who deserve nothing else.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was emotional at times,.and also shocking.

It's about women that have been in abusive relationships attending a support group.
The ex partners of the women start turning up dead, a person called the caretaker is killing them for.revenge..

This is a great read. The short snappy chapters make the book flow well.

4.5 stars apologies for the delay life has been lemoning !

I absolutely loved this book just a super just when you think you know it thriller , loved the feminist approach loved that they group together secretly to rid the world of monsters .

I can not wait until your next book !

The serial killer support group was SO good. It was dark, twisty and full of surprises.

Jess finally escapes an abusive relationship and begins going to a support group for DA survivors. Everything seems to be on the up and up until someone starts hurting and taking out the support group’s abusers one by one…

The vengeance, the creativity, the characters… everything about this book was phenomenal.

“I was no longer afraid to be afraid.”

A gripping feminist revenge thriller that delivers both emotion and suspense.

The pacing is fast, with short chapters and smartly placed twists that keep the momentum high. Jess, the FMC, stands out as a gritty, believable lead, and the bond between the women feels authentic and hard-won.

While some supporting characters could use more depth and a few plot points stretch believability, the overall experience is fun and thought-provoking. This is a sharp, unsettling ride that questions what happens when survivors refuse to stay silent.

I loved the concept of this, and I enjoyed reading it - but I felt that it lacked in some areas. I think having more background on the other members of the group would have been good. I thought there were some aspects of the story that felt like they were either forgotten about or left rather open ended. And the ending itself seems rather rushed. I'm hoping there's going to be a second installment to answer these things.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

2.5 stars - Something about this was a miss for me, and by the end I was so bored I found myself skimming just to reach the conclusion. I wasn’t surprised by anything that happened in this book, I think because of the title, tag line, and synopsis - there is a very clear roadmap presented of where this story is going to go.

I did appreciate how the women weren’t portrayed as weak; they showed great strength, and I loved seeing them support each other. I also enjoyed the ongoing theme of morality and justice, and how it encourages readers to reflect on right vs wrong, and what is fair vs unjust in these situations. I think because of these reflections, it would be a strong contender for a book club read, but I don’t feel it fits the thriller or mystery genre more than dark fiction.

Loved the the premise.Generally love stories that take victimized characters and let them be badasses. The raw, messy solidarity of the women in this book was great.

Unfortunately, this one didn't really work for me. With a different title and blurb, this book could have built some great tension. Instead, I felt like I was just waiting for it to fulfill its promise. The pacing also felt a little uneven and rushed at the end. And while Jess felt fleshed out enough, the side characters were more outlines than people.

Still, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the read!. The concept is strong, the themes are enticing, and it's pretty engaging even if it did leave me wanting a bit more.

3.5 stars