I am a huge thriller fan and this book did not disappoint. It was a new approach to thriller novels which kept you guessing. I don’t want to give the story away and spoil it for people. Please read this book this summer you won’t be disappointed.

🔪 A chilling and twist-packed thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish!

This book had me gripped from page one. The Serial Killer Support Group offers a darkly original concept, blending psychological suspense with jaw-dropping twists.

🧠 Key Highlights:
👥 A haunting look at trauma and how survivors cope
🕵️ Clever red herrings that will keep you second-guessing
❓ Who is The Caretaker? You will not see it coming
😱 An ending that truly shocks – unforgettable
📖 Addictive and impossible to put down

If you love thrillers that twist your brain and keep you up all night, this one is for you. Make sure your schedule is clear – once you start, you will not stop. An absolute must-read for fans of smart, dark and gripping psychological thrillers.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

3.75 stars

Great characters, and fast paced, with a thoughtful storyline. The subject matter was a little rough but understandably so. I look forward to the next installment.

I enjoyed this book. The writing was good and the storyline original . Im not sure I will read the sequel but I am sure it will have its audience. Thanks for the opportunity to review it!

What a wild, darkly funny, and surprisingly emotional ride. The Serial Killer Support Group is one of those books that sneaks up on you. You think you're walking into something campy or pulpy (and it does have that delicious dark edge), but then it hits you with sharp character work and twisted, thoughtful storytelling.

Stephens has crafted a bizarre premise: a support group for serial killers. Somehow, it feels grounded and unsettlingly plausible. The characters are memorable in that “I probably shouldn’t like this person, but I kinda do” way. There's a sly wit in the writing, and the tension builds steadily without ever losing that thread of grim humor.

What I especially liked was how Stephens keeps control of the tone. It could have easily gone off the rails into parody or pure gore, but it stays smart and compelling. I found myself flipping pages not just to see who would die next, but to see how the group dynamic would evolve. That says a lot, considering the cast. Think Dexter meets a twisted group therapy session.

If you're into dark thrillers with a sense of humor and don't mind morally murky waters, this one's definitely worth your time. It's sharp, odd, and just the right amount of disturbing.

I went into The Serial Killer Support Group intrigued by the concept, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver for me. The story felt dragged out in places, and I struggled to stay engaged. One of the biggest letdowns was the lack of character development — I never really felt connected to anyone, which made it hard to care about what was happening.

The writing style wasn’t quite my cup of tea either. I’m used to more polished, intellectual prose, and this felt a bit unrefined by comparison. That said, I will give credit where it’s due: the ending was definitely the strongest part. It wrapped things up with more energy and direction than the rest of the book.

Overall, it had an interesting premise but didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Wouldn’t rush to recommend it, but others might enjoy it more.

Thank you NetGalley, OneMoreChapter and Harper Collins for the advanced readers copy in return for my honest feedback.

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Looking for an unputdownable (yes I really mean that) thriller with a strong pinch of powerful women, twists that will leave you grabbing your jaw off the floor and keep your heart racing? Get ready for The Serial Killer Support Group by @darrensully.

When I picked up this book after being sent the ARC I wasn't sure what to expect, having a history of being a victim of domestic abuse I was slightly nervous but I can say in no uncertain terms that reading this was like therapy, the portrayals were unbelievably accurate and at times had me crying, nodding, laughing and really cheering for the characters.

We follow Jess, who joins a domestic abuse support group of women who have come from all walks of life and been let down by partners and police alike and are seeking solace in eachother but things take a very interesting turn one day...

It's been one of my easiest 5 star books this year and will stay with me. I think for the rest of my life, it's truly unlike any other book I've ever read.

Thankyou to @darrensully , @netgalley, @harpercollinsuk and @onemorechapterhc for the opportunity to read this and if any of you have a spare physical ARC it would look phenomenal on my bookshelf 😂

I really enjoyed this thriller, it was full of mayhem, vengeance, and bloody murders.

A ruthless killer known as The Caretaker kills abusive men who have rigged the system and escaped justice. A support group for survivors of DV begins to realize that they have personal connections to this murderer as their violent exes begin to receive their karmic dues.

I definitely wasn’t sure what to expect, I loved the characters and really felt for the battered and broken women, but I especially enjoyed seeing them on their healing journey. I felt the ending didn’t fully tie up a few loose ends (Sophie & Geoff especially), but otherwise the story was well formulated and executed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and HarperCollins UK One More Chapter for a copy!

Some of the topics covered in this novel are of a sensitive nature and hard to read, but it is well written. You become emotionally invested in the characters because of their experiences

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this before publication.

Wow, this was a rollercoaster! I adored the writing style and the atmosphere the author created and I really appreciate how the author handled the DV subject. However, I did guess fairly early on who the Caretaker was, but that did not take away from my "enjoyment". I would love to read more from this author, especially maybe a sequel?!

This is dark and some of the descriptions are quite graphic, however this is an important story. Jess finally realises her abusive boyfriend is never going to be the person she wants him to be and joins a victim support group. Here she begins to make friends until someone statrs killing the ex partners of the other women in the group.

I am drawn to novels where abusers get their just deserts. The Serial Killer Support Group dishes it up, if you'll forgive the awful pun.

When Jess Pendle is admitted to hospital for treatment of the injuries inflicted by her partner, Lewis, she is given a leaflet about a support group for victims of domestic violence. Once Lewis is arrested (although not for long), she realises she must break free of him. She changes her locks and starts therapy in the group sessions.

Not long afterwards, one of the women's partners is attacked, then another, and another... Meanwhile, Lewis' behaviour is increasingly threatening.

The women whose husbands have been attacked or killed all have alibis. So who is the perpetrator? And who will be the next victim?

The Serial Killer Support Group is one of my favourite types of crime novel: it's a very readable, well written and well constructed mystery novel, but it also addresses a real and serious social issue. In this case, domestic violence and the lack of any effective legal protection for its victims. It's an added bonus that it's also about women supporting each other.

The writing is excellent. It's exciting and fast paced with tense scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well drawn, and the dialogue sharp. Keeps you reading deep into the night.

It's also emotionally charged. These women are living a nightmare, day after day, year after year, and the government, police and legal system do virtually nothing to really help them. Even those who have managed to pull themselves out of immediate danger know that the threat of violence is ever present. It's a dire situation faced by millions of women (and some men) in every country, in all strata of society. For many victims, the abuse continues for the rest of their [or their abuser's] life. In a huge percentage of cases, it ends with the victim being murdered by their abuser.

So of course you are rooting for the killer, whoever he is!

Apparently there's a second novel in the pipeline, The Serial Killer Support Network. I can't wait!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest no matter how I acquire the book.

This is one of the best books I’ve read EVER! I honestly was reading it thinking oh this isn’t what I thought it was going to be but in the best way! It was far better than I could have ever imagined it.
Jess doesn’t want to be a victim of domestic abuse, she is because of her abusive ex Lewis but she refuses to be a victim. She joins a support group for domestic violence and meets an amazing group of women but as each women are telling their story there is someone waiting in the background - the caretaker - who is picking the abusive men off one by one! As the group is ripped apart by the deaths of their abusers will the women still stick together to get the help they need?
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This dark and morally charged thriller dives headfirst into the aftermath of domestic abuse, told through the tense and often harrowing story of Jess Pendle. On New Year’s Eve, instead of ringing in a new beginning, Jess finds herself in A&E after yet another attack by her partner, Lewis. But this time, she reports it—setting off a chain of events that entangles her with a group of women whose pasts are just as scarred as her own.

The title might suggest a satirical or offbeat thriller, but what unfolds is a serious and emotionally layered narrative that handles domestic violence with great care. Stephens does an excellent job portraying the psychological grip of abuse—how leaving isn't always the end, and how the system doesn’t always protect those who need it most.

The whodunnit element adds a compelling mystery, and while I suspected the identity of the Caretaker early on, the tension stayed high thanks to the ethical gray zones and the emotional stakes. It's not just a thriller—it’s a story of survival, systemic failure, and the resilience of women who have been pushed too far.

While I didn’t quite get the jaw-dropping twist I hoped for, the book’s strength lies in its raw honesty and its refusal to offer neat resolutions.

Thank you to D B Stephens, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

A whodunnit with real life experiences. This book tackles domestic violence and also brings it to life. Not easy but well written and should be read with this in mind.
There is a whodunnit element to it which was satisfying when revealed and the characters were all likeable and easy to relate to.

A wonderfully unexpected book, I loved this angle and the twists and turns that came at me, leaving me hooked.

I really wish and hope that this book starts the right conversations about domestic abuse and makes people more aware of what is happening behind closed doors, the isolation of those who suffer at the hands of abusive relationships, without needing to be as drastic as this book.

I felt that this book focused more on the strengths of those being abused without diminishing the horrors they experienced. It is a book of power and support.

This is a fast paced book about revenge with plenty of gore and intrigue.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisers for this ARC

A quick thriller read based around a support group for abused women. When their therapist leaves, they only have each other to share their stories, fears, and abuses and rely on each other for strength and support. Their ex partners have escaped justice, and the police/ law are ineffecrive. Then the Caretaker materialises, swooping in to create vigilante justice...Are their actions, criminal or heroic? Either way, they pay the way for these women to stand tall and fierce once again. #theserialkillersupportgroup #DBStephens #netgalley

I loved this book! Characters were great! I didn’t see the ending coming! 5 stars, highly recommend. I enjoyed the originality!

4.5/5 stars

I raced through this book, fascinated by the many twists and questions it raised. This is a book about domestic violence, it is also a book about taking back your power and safety … but what lengths will someone go to in order to achieve this. This book addresses tough questions at so many levels and will leave your head spinning and wanting more … as I do! I was so glad to read it is the first in a series because I have so many questions still … but waiting for the next book will be hard!

There is so much that is cleverly handled in how this book comes together; and so much that makes you question the idea of justice and want so much better and more help for anyone who faces domestic violence or any other kind of abuse.

The additional dynamic of a detective with her own difficult backstory and her experiences with her autistic child add yet another level of depth to this story and I’m impatient to see how the rest will play out.

Thanks so much to the publisher HarperCollins, Netgalley and the author for intoducing me to such a challenging and surprising story about both a serial killer and the power and strength that can come from a support group. This was very much a case of expect the unexpected; and prepare to enjoy some very clever writing.

The Serial Killer Support Group tells the story of a group of women who have been subjected to domestic violence and come together to form a support group. But then, several of the support groups' abusers end up dead...

This book covers such a tricky subject matter, but it does it in a really clever way. The women find themselves questioning whether they hope their abuser turns up dead, but would this make them just as bad? I really liked that I found myself wondering how I felt in certain situations.

Overall, a really well written book that I enjoyed very much.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.