I really liked what this book was trying to do in the exploration of domestic violence victims and how they regain their power and agency. I should have figured what the twist was before it happened, it was predictable once I got to that point.

I was disappointed for a minute when the caretaker was revealed, I thought it was too early. But the author definitely made up for it once we reached the end. I was very surprised at the ending of this one, and I won't spoil it, but will recommend you read this.

The support group for abuse survivors is a lifeline for Jess but is it also something else? She escaped her ex but he's still after her. Spending time with the other women in the group feels healing, But then one of their ex's is murdered and ......This plot might feel familiar but Stephens has created a strong group of women. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. A good one for travel or your beach bag.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book had a great idea and cast of characters that immediatly pulled me in. Unfortunatly I wasn't keen on the actual writing since it felt flat, and the plot was quite predictable. Nevertheless, a good thriller to spend your evening with.

I really liked the concept of this book, but the way it played out just wasn't for me. I especially did not like the ending because I was just let with so many questions that I truly felt like should have been answered. Was the copper okay with them being the Caretaker? Was the copper going to ask them for help now that her ex showed up? It felt odd that the copper's ex was found to be abusive in just the ending when nothing ended up coming of it for the storyline.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc! The plot - loove it! It was fast paced, and I got right into the story. A great thriller, with a twist!

My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Serial Killer Support Group’ written by D B Stephens in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

After suffering abuse from her boyfriend Lewis culminating in a visit to A&E on New Year’s Eve, Jess reports him to the police and plucks up the courage to attend a support group where she meets similar-minded women. One by one the women’s abusive partners are targeted by The Caretaker, a vigilante who believes in an eye for an eye, and rather than being repeatedly pulled in for questioning by DS Sophie Salam, the group is closed and Jess, Hannah, Madison and Kelly meet up at one of their homes to continue supporting each other.

‘The Caretaker’ is an outstanding thriller of domestic abuse and those suffering at the hands of a partner. As soon as I opened my Kindle I knew I was going to love it, especially as it’s written by Darren O’Sullivan whose books I always enjoy, and the further I read the more I was supporting The Caretaker as I couldn’t help but want him to succeed in meting out retribution on the men who think it’s okay to abuse their partners. As I continued reading there was a huge twist that I didn’t see coming that completely changed the direction of the story but by then I was unable to stop reading as I had to know who The Caretaker was and who he was going to choose next. This thriller is cleverly thought-out and fully deserving of five stars and I hope I’m right in thinking this is only the first in a brand new series ‘Secret Vigilante’ in which case I’m so looking forward to reading book two.

So, I actually requested this book from NetGalley because I really wanted to buddy it with someone, so I ended up going in blind. It's not always a bad thing! Thanks to my buddy partner, Haley, who I hope to hear some more from in due time *nudge nudge*

This is a story about domestic abuse survival, which you wouldn't necessarily get from the title (I didn't, having not read the blurb!). It's a sensitive subject, which is dealt with well - but not necessarily in the way that we're used to it being treated...

Jess Pendle joins a support group for domestic abuse survivors after finally deciding to cut Lewis, her awful ex, from her life. He won't give up though, and the police aren't really helping, and it's really hard to be honest with your family about something like this, particularly when you get a feeling they might say, 'I told you so'. Or that there's a family pattern, and you promise yourself you'll never let yourself get into the same situation...

So, the support group quickly becomes Jess' only handle on the world, her emotions, how to deal with Lewis. But when there's first an attack, and then one of the other group member's ex-partner actually dies, Jess suspects there's something more going on here... When the obvious perpetrator is jailed, the attacks and deaths will stop... won't they?

This was a fast, easy read. I don't read thrillers all that often actually (this year seems to be an exception!), as they sort of feel like junk food: feels good at the time, but where does it get you? Wouldn't it be better to be reading some literary fiction? (Or a quinoa kale raw salad? :P)

Well, that's bookish snobbery on my part, because this was a good read. It was a page-turner and, what's more, all of the side characters were well-fleshed out and believable. I really felt like I could connect with a lot of them; that's a hard thing to do with a cast this big. And when I thought I'd guessed the 'big reveal', it turned out that there were lots more twists and turns around the corner...

One thing I was particularly dissatisfied with was one of the police officers inspecting the case, Sophie Salam, because I felt like there was so much more that could have come from her character! However, I realise that this is actually the first in a series - and I look forward to reading more!

Fast, page-turner, lots of U-turns and surprises. Not particularly realistic, but I suppose I mostly forgave that for the sheer thrill of the book. (Not entirely, it's annoying when things are just unlikely to the point of impossibility...)

I think this is D B Stephens' first book, but it's the pen name of Darren O'Sullivan, so maybe I'll check out his other books... after I've got some of my TBR read haha!

The Serial Killer Support Group doesn’t just pique your interest; it grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go. As far as compelling titles go, this one earns a spot in the thriller hall of fame for sheer originality. Because honestly, how many more The Girl in the [Insert Predictable Noun] books can one reader take? This one promises something bolder, darker, and a little unhinged, and for the most part, D B Stephens delivers.

We meet Jess Pendle after a brutal assault by her boyfriend lands her in the hospital. Determined not to become a statistic like her mother before her, Jess seeks solace in a local support group. The women she meets are fierce, bonded by trauma, and done waiting on a broken system. Together, they begin to heal—while someone in their midst may (or may not) be helping them settle the score, one abuser at a time. It’s therapy by day, vigilante justice by night.

The book’s greatest strength is its premise. Stephens doesn’t shy away from tough questions: Why are survivors so often forced to fend for themselves? What do you do when the system built to protect you looks the other way? At its heart is a timely critique of how law enforcement often treats domestic violence—almost as if victims need to be truly broken before anyone will act.

Around the halfway mark, the narrative starts to lose its momentum. Dialogue grows repetitive and characters are often reduced to stock expressions—smiling at odd moments, locked in intense, silent stares that don’t quite ring true. I found myself rooting for the group, but I never felt like I really knew them.

There are also small but noticeable stumbles: the occasional typo, an obvious red herring that arrives too soon, and a final act that hits the gas just as you want it to slow down. Still, it feels like Stephens might be laying the groundwork for a sequel—and if so, I hope it digs deeper.

I was hooked from the start. Flaws aside, it’s an engaging, unputdownable read with a twisted take on justice. Stephens has taken a bold swing, and in a genre that too often recycles the same tired formula, originality counts for a lot.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it didn’t disappoint! For the first 30% I was thinking I knew exactly who murderer was, that this title didn’t match the book and felt it was super obvious….and then it turned out I was completely wrong and the title is perfect! This book tackles the topic of domestic violence and although these women have reported their now ex-partners, the police haven’t pressed charges! All these women come from different backgrounds and I feel that is such an important part of this book. It infuriated me that the FMC Jess was terrified of her ex- boyfriend Lewis and the police were doing nothing about it..which shows just how well this was written. Another great book that I would recommend!

This book dives into domestic abuse and the struggles faced by the victims. It’s a hard topic to read. But it was an enjoyable book regardless. The characters are well written and easily draw you in to their story. At times I found myself rooting for the group! It was powerful to see women come together and take their power, their lives, and their happiness back. Women flipping the script was fun to see play out. The importance of how serious domestic violence is and the overall message and impact of the story was great. I wished the ending gave us more of a conclusion but it did set it up for a possible sequel in the future.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: May 8, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💛 Domestic Violence Survivor
💙 Secret Vigilante
💙 Twisty Thriller
💙 Moral Support Group

Review: While I have never personally suffered DV, I watched my mother fight for love in all the wrong places for what feels like most of my formative years, so the FMC and her moral support group friends all immediately had an impact on me. The author did an incredible job of highlighting the struggles of DV victims, especially showing how, even after leaving, their abusers still found ways to torment and harass them. I loved watching Jess grow throughout the book. This read was very satisfying for me, and while it might be difficult for some, I highly recommend!

Thank you so much, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

Hooked… from page one! I absolutely devoured this revenge thriller, reading late into the night, desperate to find out who was seeking retribution. Darren handled difficult topics with the utmost respect, delving deep into the world of domestic abuse, covering not only physical abuse but emotional and financial too in parts, and not just of women, the abuse of men too which is a topic rarely covered. It was also nice to see discussion of neurodivergent children throughout and how tough that is on parents. Short snappy chapters leaving you hanging onto every word, a multiple POV and phenomenal character development, the relationships between the women were exactly what every woman needs! My half star deduction only comes from the ending, and although it was excellent, I didn’t want it to end! This is the first part in the series and I CANNOT WAIT!!

I recently read another book by this author and was truly deeply impressed by his craftsmanship. That’s why I went looking for other stories and then I came across this one. I was immediately fascinated by the title. On the one hand, I found it a bit funny and a bit contradictory because I couldn’t imagine serial killers organizing a meeting and sharing experiences. But you never know, of course.

The book begins with Jess, who has gone through traumatic experiences and has now reached her breaking point. She finally dares to escape, but that doesn’t mean she’s free…

Then she finds a group where she gradually learns to open up, and she not only begins to reclaim her life, but also forms a few close friendships—the women become each other’s support and refuge.

At this point, I still didn’t know what the title referred to, until an explanation was given that I totally didn’t see coming and found brilliant.

The author has a sparkling writing style that draws you in from beginning to end. Every time I had to put the book down to do something else, it felt terrible because all I wanted was to shut out the world and immerse myself in this fantastic story.

Toward the end, I had an uneasy feeling that something was going to happen, and I truly felt anxious. I feared a trap and sensed the doubt in Jess and her friends as well. Was the anxiety justified?

I’m so glad this is the first part of a series because I love books with vigilantes as the main characters. The final sentence made me eagerly look forward to the sequel, which I hope won’t take too long to appear. On the other hand, I’d rather be patient to give the author the time needed to create another masterpiece.

I thought it was top-notch. The 5 stars are more than deserved.

Thank you.

Trigger warnings: domestic violence, murder, violence, children with disabilities

Jess used to be a vibrant young woman, that is until her partner tore her down and isolated her from those important to her. After one of Louis’s rage’s lands Jess in the ER on NYE, she terrifyingly makes the choice to speak up and alert law enforcement. Unfortunately only 1/3 DV cases internationally see any legal justice (this is an actual fact!). Once Jess starts attending a support group for other women like her, she realizes she’s not alone. Too many women are harmed by their partners without repercussions but that’s about to change thanks to the mysterious Caretaker. As the Caretaker undertakes vigilante justice the country debates whether the attacked men deserved what they got- for the women of the support group, the answer is a resounding YES.


Thanks NetGalley and One More Chapter publishing for this early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are a little mixed on this one.. the first half had me reeled in and it flew by, the second half was just slower and felt a little more predictable. It’s hard to say too much without spoilers but I do want to say that even though this is a work of fiction, it’s got a powerful message. Highlighting the insane amount of women who experience intimate partner violence is extremely important and I’m sure many survivors wish they had someone like the caretaker to bring about their cosmic karma. There were a few characters who were a little underdeveloped with story lines that didn’t get flushed out and the ending was sadly a little anticlimactic. Given those points and the slow down for the second half I’m giving this 3.5 stars. Rounding up to 4 because this is the first book in a while that captured my attention from the start.

Edgy and modern and a great concept and I enjoyed racing through the text to see how it’d pan out. A group of women come together as a support group for domestic abuse and slowly their ex partners start being attacked and murdered by The Caretaker who seems to have lots of inside knowledge of the backstories and the lives of the offenders.
There were a few surprises which I honesty wasn’t expecting and enjoyed being caught out with and as such I’d recommend it as a great read. There did, however, feel like a few stretches too many of plausibility and a few storylines within the story felt a little incomplete which is why I’m not giving it a higher rating.
Definitely has lots of promise though and was a great premise for a story.

This was a fast paced book and I enjoyed it! The ending was my favorite as I love a group of strong, determined women. Would reccomend!

DAMN! This book kept me reading until the last second. I finished it in 24 hours, and I've not done that in years with a book. I pulled it out as websites loaded, waiting for a train, on the train, failed to notice my dinner was (only slightly) burning... all because it was so goddamn addictive! I was gobsmacked by the twist and felt so conflicted by the plot. Wonderful complex female characters, and a genuine exploration of domestic violence and fear which left me feeling shaken and angry. 4* because I'm not totally sure the second half of the book made sense/crossed off all the plotlines in a way I understood, but still a very good read!

This was executed perfectly! The ‘Dexter’ book I’ve always wanted! The characters were phenomenal- so relatable. A fantastic thriller/crime that had me hooked!

The Serial Killer Support Group by D.B. Stephens is a darkly clever, addictive thriller with a unique twist. It’s sharp, suspenseful, and full of surprises that keep you turning pages. A wildly original read that totally delivers!

This was a brilliant book!
As soon as I saw it listed I was hoping I would be accepted! Thank you for the ARC copy of this I really appreciate it!