I picked this up as a last-ditch effort to salvage my NetGalley reviewer score, but now I just want to scream into the void about why I didn’t read it sooner. Because wow, this book is good. Dark, twisted, and emotionally sharp in all the right ways.

The premise is original: after the murder of her sister, Cyra Griffin infiltrates a support group for serial killers, posing as one of them in a desperate bid to uncover the truth. But as she sinks deeper into her new persona, "Mistletoe," and begins targeting those she suspects, the line between performance and reality starts to blur.

As an eldest daughter and a certified fan of unhinged women, Cyra had me hooked. Her grief felt raw and real, and the lengths she was willing to go for her sister? I felt that in my bones. Would I do the same for my brother? 100%. Would I take on a serial killer alter ego to do it? ...I mean, who's asking?

The support group members were disturbingly well-portrayed, each one a different flavor of nightmare, but special shoutout to Lamprey, the charming, too-good-looking killer that Cyra teams up with. I hated how much I liked him, which is exactly the point. Schaefer does a brilliant job skewering our obsession with charismatic monsters. (Yes, I gave myself the ick.)

While the pace could’ve picked up a bit earlier (the first half leans heavily into grief and identity-building), it never felt unnecessary.

The final twist? Oof. When Cyra casually reveals her collection of trophies and it’s clear she’s not planning to stop... literal chills.

Serial Killer Support Group is the kind of book that sinks its teeth into you. It’s perfect for readers who crave morally grey protagonists and grief-soaked revenge arcs. This book asks what happens when you stare too long into the abyss and what it means when the abyss starts looking back, maybe nodding in approval.

Rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

The only issue *I* had is that most of the characters are using codenames, and I already struggle with remembering names and who is who while reading, and I had to pause this for a solid minute, and coming back to someone named 'Mocking Jay' and trying to remember who that was, was hard for *me*. If you're great with names, you'd be just fine.

I liked getting the different POVs and sides to some of the same plot lines. When it was the addict, it did a great job of really making sure you knew you were in the head of someone looking for their next fix and nothing else. Jay needed some help.

The ending kinda felt 'meh' to me, I don't want to spoil, but I was wanting for more or different.

This was an okey. Not the very best thriller i have read. You like forget what The story was about the minute you have finished it.... Nothing that will stick with you. Just an okey read...

By the title, I thought I would love this book but this was a bit to goofy and unbelievable for me to be vested in the story. If you like a dark, fun beach read give this a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read.
3 star

Serial Killer Support Group, was a unique set up and plot.

This book was very on the nose. Throughout reading, we did see a lot more unfolding of grief and how one articulates themselves around others. Relationship dynamics between sisters. This felt definitely more like a coming-of-age story and grief story more than a thriller revenge to me.

Felt very sleuth at first but quickly went unhinged.

I absolutely loved the setup of this book and felt it to be very unique. Cyara’s sister is murdered by a serial killer and Cyra Is desperate to find out who the killer is.

Cyra is a strong FMC, fearless and trained as an MMA fighter. She’s quickly passed off as a meek woman by the 'Serial Killer Support Group' quickly. She infiltrates This group with one goal in mind.

This book had a great premise and start to it. Definitely bearing the dark psyche of serial killers. The story is largely told between The current time and has past memories embedded in it.

I enjoyed the writing and thought this to be an enjoyable read for the most part. I enjoyed how the different POV‘s were brought in and enjoyed the background of some of the characters I can’t quite explain it didn’t hit home for me as well as I thought it would. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming, but I felt this story to be too long.

TW:
Death
Grief
Light Gore (imagery)
Suicide (off page)
Mental health
Substance abuse

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for this ARC copy for my honest review.

SERIAL KILLER SUPPORT GROUP is a unique story about how far one woman will go for her sister. Schaefer takes the best and worst of a person’s impulses and plays with them to create a taut and carefully crafted psychological thriller.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but what I read was a layered and complex tale with a strong and emotionally complex female lead. With the premise of seeking out her sister’s killer, Cyra manages to get into a serial killer support group. From there, she goes down the rabbit hole of vengeance. There are twists, turns, and deeply dark moments within this book. The characters are duplicitous, hold a variety of secrets, and are absolutely murderous. Their interaction has shocking and sometimes expected results.

And yet, the best part is that this story has Cyra try to get into the headspace of these killers and see how it all unfolds. The author pushes the limits and makes strategic decisions in how it all unravels. It is what made me continue to read this book. For better or worse, I needed to know what happened next. And by the end, I got partly what I thought would happen, combined with a little something extra I didn’t necessarily see coming.

After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer.


This book was exactly what the title said - first i thought it will be like a metaphor or something but no - there really was a support group for serial killers. Which took me by surprise.

I really wanted this book to be my fav - like really, really. But besides the main character, all the other ones felt flat. I would like to just get to know them better instead of getting their background stories on the plate. It threw me off a little and i wasn't interested in going deeper.
I also could not grasp the fact that serial killers would just have a meetings with other serial killers - i do not think it would happen in real life because there would be a 100% chance of someone from police finding that out - it is a nice idea but not so realistic.


It was okay-ish but i think it need to be changed a little

Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. I DNFed around 30%. The writing was okay, but I just couldn’t get into the story, the characters weren’t compelling enough, and the premise - while exactly what the title states it is - was a bit silly the way it was executed. Because I didn’t finish, I won’t be leaving a review on other sites. Thanks for the ARC!

"After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer."

This was a really good debut and I look forward to more from this author. Well done!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"Serial Killer Support Group" – A Wickedly Clever Spin on Morality and Murder...

Saratoga Schaefer’s "Serial Killer Support Group" is not your conventional thriller—it’s a darkly comedic, unsettling, and strangely introspective ride that examines the morality of murder with razor-sharp wit. Beneath its bold premise lies a deeply layered exploration of power, control, and the blurred lines between justice and monstrosity.

From the title alone, one might expect a satirical take on the serial killer genre, and while Schaefer delivers plenty of dark humor, the novel also possesses a sobering intelligence.

The support group framework becomes the perfect incubator for tension, forcing individuals—each with their own chilling justifications—to confront the realities of their nature. The interplay between these personalities transforms every conversation into a psychological game, where manipulation and self-deception thrive.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it manipulates empathy. Schaefer’s killers are not grotesque caricatures; rather, they are fully realized people—some disturbingly charismatic, others terrifyingly detached. As the group dynamics unfold, readers find themselves questioning their own moral compass: At what point does murder stop being justifiable? Who among them is truly the monster? This moral dissonance makes for an unnervingly immersive experience.

While the novel maintains a sinister edge, Schaefer cleverly weaves humor into the cracks of suspense. The absurdity of a group designed to manage homicidal tendencies is played for irony, yet the underlying psychological tension remains unrelenting. This tonal balance keeps the pacing brisk, ensuring that the horror never fully dissipates, even when the writing invites a smirk.

"Serial Killer Support Group" is an audacious, genre-bending novel that refuses to conform to predictable thriller conventions. Saratoga Schaefer crafts a narrative that is simultaneously thought-provoking and wickedly entertaining, ensuring that readers remain trapped in its moral complexities long after the final page. Whether you seek psychological depth, dark humor, or a fresh take on the serial killer genre, this book delivers on all fronts.

Dark, darkly humorous and inventively plotted. The central protagonist is interesting and it’s excellent to see how she reacts and coped when the tables are tuned on her. A good read.

Serial Killer Support Group follows Cyra as she tries to find her sister's murder. You hang out with Cyra as she infiltrates a support group for, you guessed it, serial killers. Not one for serial killers who are trying to stop or former ones, nope, actual serial killers. You have to prove you are one to get in and there are rules. But is her sister's murdered part of this group? Will hanging out with serial killers change a person?
I loved this one!! It kept me engaged and turning pages quickly. It takes you in a wild ride!! Pic it up, you won't be disappointed!!

Cyra Griffin's younger sister was killed, and word is that it was by a serial killer. Cyra is set on finding out who killed her sister and her friend told her there is a group that meets to get support for their murders. Cyra is going to join that group even if it kills her.

This was a fun alternative to a serial killer book. I enjoyed reading while Cyra tried to figure out who killed her sister.

Thank you Saratoga Schaefer and Crooked Lane Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a DNF for me after 10%. I just couldn't get into the story, the narrator was very melancholic sounding. I thought it was going to be a silly cozy mystery.

"Serial Killer Support Group" is such a fun premise.

Cyra’s younger sister is murdered, but the cops are not solving the case fast enough for Cyra's liking. Soon she takes matters into her own hands and infiltrates a local secret support group for serial killers. It's a twisted take on the serial killer storylines readers typically see.

I think it will go over well with any true crime fans too!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for selecting me for this ARC. It was a fun read for sure.

When Cyra’s little sister Mira is murdered she finds out from police that they suspect she is the victim of a serial killer. She also learns that there may be a secret underground support group for serial killers, you know because murdering is stressful and isolating. Her plan? Go undercover. Infiltrate the support group. Find her sisters killer.

The premise of the story was so intriguing. It was billed as this dark and emotional situation and I believed it couldn’t be anything but that. A support group for serial killers? It’s just the right amount of outlandish that can deliver a really terrifying journey. I’m so happy this author‘s brain just shove this upfront for her to tackle.

She did really well explaining Cyra’s motivation as a person and sister. She didn’t just allow the murder, the event itself, to drive our connection with Cyra and her focus on getting some sort of justice for this violence. There’s this really intriguing dynamic between the two sisters that I really enjoyed seeing. I would’ve read more of that for hours. Usually the older sibling is portrayed as this quasi parent who is the protector, the solid, mentor, and the leader, but Cyra has a lot of vulnerabilities that make her relationship with Mira really complicated.

The writing carried me through this book. The pacing was really great and action oriented and as I’ve covered here, she had a really engaging way of describing Cyra’s motivations and inner dialogue that I connected well with.

However… The plot sucked. This is a grief stricken woman walking into a lions den of serial killers. Heart stopping right? No. The author somehow managed to take all of the teeth out of the serial killers that are supposed to terrify me every time they are in a room together. They are bogged down by so many rules that they have no really interesting interactions and through little quirks the author gives them she renders them all un-intimidating. There was no threat, thrill, or real feeling of impending danger, which sucks for a book that promised just that.

Ooooh, this was deliciously unsettling, and I loved every wicked second of it. Cyra is on a mission to avenge her sister Mira’s death, and when a friend at the police department hints that Mira might have been a victim of a serial killer, Cyra goes full sleuth mode. She manages to infiltrate a support group for serial killers (yep, you read that right) and meets a lineup of deeply unnerving characters, each with their own grim, twisted histories.
Things get even messier when she strikes up a risky deal with one of the killers, Jason, to figure out if one of their fellow members is behind Mira’s murder. It’s packed with suspense and gasp-worthy twists, even if a few plot points felt a bit thin. Still, the intensity kept me glued to the page.

The story is told through multiple perspectives, weaving together the lives of its characters as they confront their pasts and the stigma that surrounds them. Schaefer's writing is both thought-provoking and empathetic, exploring themes of forgiveness, identity, and the quest for understanding in the face of unimaginable horror. The intricate plot keeps readers engaged with unexpected twists, making it a compelling read for those interested in psychological explorations of crime and morality.

Serial Killer Support Group is a darkly entertaining read that combines humor, horror, and clever storytelling. The concept of a support group for killers is fresh and intriguing, and the characters are surprisingly layered. The pacing is solid, though some moments feel a bit rushed.

Overall, a fun, well-crafted narrative that balances horror and wit. Great for fans looking for a unique twist on the genre.

This was a good and unique take on a serial killer thriller, which is difficult to pull off in such a saturated genre. It kept my attention the whole way through and I really liked the ending. I was super conflicted with my like/hate relationship with the MC throughout and I thought that added a really nuanced and interesting layer to the book.

ARC provided by the publisher for honest opinion