This book was SO much fun! Well fun and dark…and kind of creepy. I mean what a unique premise. I held my breath pretty much the entire book. I was like NO Cyra!! 😳 These dudes were scary. 🫣 Well they were but there was one… that well… he was almost likeable…😳😳😳🤷‍♀️ That my friends is how you get stolen.😂😳

On that note… I will leave that right there. You all LOVE your serial killer books… Now you have an entire room of them. 😳😂

Serial Killer Support group is exactly what it sounds like… a book about, well, a serial killer support group. The premise is a bit silly and the reader definitely has to suspend their disbelief to get into the story.

The first third of this book I found a bit ridiculous and hard to read. However, I found myself quite invested at the halfway point. I found Cyra naive and irrational at times, but I did want to see what would happen to her as the book felt very high stakes. I also did not see a few of the twists coming which kept me on the edge of my seat.

This book was fine. I definitely would only recommend it to you if you are truly interested in the premise and are willing to suspend disbelief and irrational characters.

After Cyra Griffin’s sister is brutally murdered, she takes justice into her own hands—by infiltrating a support group for serial killers, pretending to be one herself. It's a premise that immediately grabbed my attention and delivered on its creepy, unsettling promise.

The standout element here is the book’s unique structure. Saratoga Schaefer skillfully weaves in the killers' backstories from their own twisted perspectives, which adds a layer of psychological depth and keeps the tension high. It’s eerie, sometimes uncomfortable, and always intriguing to get inside the heads of these characters.

While the novel doesn’t go especially deep in terms of character development or moral complexity, that didn’t take away from the fast-paced, suspenseful ride. This is a book that leans into its genre and premise without overcomplicating things—which works for what it sets out to do. There’s also a late-game twist that, while subtle, added a nice extra punch.

Overall, this is a solid three-star read. It’s clever, unsettling, and sharp in its feminist commentary without being heavy-handed. If you're into thrillers with a dark edge and an original concept, I’d recommend giving this one a shot.

dark, funny, fun, weird, and then some more dark fun. wildly entertaining and gripping read. definitely not your typical thriller read in the best way possible,

A clever take on a serial killer narrative. The author did an excellent job centering the victims while humanizing the alleged killers. Unsettling in the best way.

Cyra’s sister died several months ago and the police have yet to catch her killer. Cyra spent her entire life protecting her baby sister, and now that she’s gone, she’s lost, numb, and wanting nothing more than justice for her sister. The police have no leads–but they let it slip that her death had an unsettling similarity with those of others in the area. Her sister was the victim of a serial killer. When Cyra finds out there’s a local Serial Killers Support Group, she does what any other grieving sister would do–she joins it. And she will do whatever it takes to get vengeance for her sister. But will she kill?

I devoured this book in one sitting. The pacing is smooth, like sliding down a gradual, then steep incline. Cyra is a captivating protagonist. She’s numb from her sister’s death, but it becomes clear she’s always been different. She doesn’t have the same emotions others have–except for where it came to her sister. I adored her POV scenes, and her motivations were clear, yet compelling at the same time. Cyra’s character development is a highlight of this book, along with the rocket-fast pace and twists and turns in the plot.

We also get other POV scenes throughout, as we’re introduced to each of the serial killers in the support group through a chapter that describes their origins–or their first kill. These added a fantastic layer to the story, as each serial killer’s POV chapter was released in a strategic way, advancing the plot forward as Cyra searches for the one who killed her sister.

I adored this book, and while the very end was a little bit predictable, there were enough twists throughout to keep me guessing, and there were several possible endings that I didn’t truly know which one the author would settle on.

All in all, this is a fantastic read for those who love thrillers that explore anti-heroes you can easily root for.

A bold, genre-bending debut that blends thriller, satire, and psychological horror. The premise requires suspension of disbelief—would serial killers really meet for snacks and emotional check-ins? Maybe not, but it’s fun to imagine. Some characters felt underdeveloped beyond their backstories. Overall, a great story.

Saratoga Schaefer’s Serial Killer Support Group is a darkly satirical and fast-paced thriller that explores the twisted psychology of killers trying—often failing—to reform. The story follows Evan, a man trying to leave his violent past behind by attending a support group for serial killers attempting to stay on the straight and narrow. But when members of the group start dying, Evan is forced to uncover the truth while resisting the pull of his old instincts.

Schaefer masterfully blends macabre humor with gritty suspense, creating a narrative that’s both disturbing and oddly entertaining. The plot is packed with sharp dialogue, unpredictable twists, and a cast of deeply flawed yet compelling characters. It’s a unique take on crime fiction that examines morality, addiction, and the nature of evil.

Her sister is murdered by a serial killer and the only way to find him is to join them….in their support group. This was a fun story with a unique concept. The MC I wasn’t sure if I loved or hated, but she was certainly interesting and driven.

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer - This book was EVERYTHING you want in a thriller. It has suspense, twists and turns and an unexpected ending I never saw coming! I had to keep reading to figure out what was going to happen. I thought I guessed the ending several times but was wrong every time!

A very unique spin on serial killers!

This was an easy book to breeze through and could definitely be read in a day because of its fast pace. It was a tiny bit challenging keeping up with what was a memory and what was actually happening. The memories sort of just started mid-chapter and threw me off each time.

The plot twist was predictable but I still really enjoyed the dark humor, all of the rage, and how over the top it all felt. I thought Cyra was an amazing MC, total baddie!

I would definitely recommend this one, and especially suggest for spooky season!!

Book Review: Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

Rating: 5 Stars

Okay, I just have to rave about Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer because wow—this book absolutely blew me away. From the moment I saw that striking cover (and title), I was hooked, and let me tell you, it lived up to every bit of that promise.

The story follows Cyra Griffin, whose younger sister was brutally murdered by a serial killer. Frustrated and disillusioned with the police dragging their feet on the case, Cyra decides to take matters into her own hands. Using some insider info (which she’s hush-hush about), she infiltrates a support group made up of serial killers by pretending to be one herself. Yeah, it sounds wild—and it is! But it’s also darkly clever, biting, and packed with sharp wit. Watching Cyra navigate the twisted world of these dangerous men while chasing her own brand of justice had me completely glued to the pages.

What really stood out is how this isn’t just a thriller; it’s a fierce, feminist, and queer-affirming story that digs deep into the idea of what monsters look like—and who gets to wear that label. Cyra’s journey is as much about holding onto her humanity as it is about revenge, and honestly, it reminded me a lot of Dexter in the best way possible.

The pacing was spot-on, the plot full of twists, and the characters felt so real and well-developed that I was rooting for them even when things got grim. I tore through this book in just two days (and only stopped because I needed sleep—priorities!).

Please, please let there be a sequel—I’m crossing everything that we’ll get more Cyra soon because I’m not ready to say goodbye!

If you love thrillers with a dark sense of humor and a refreshing edge, do yourself a favor and pick up this debut—it’s a wild, brilliant ride you won’t regret. Five stars all the way!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I LOVED Cyra. She was a great main character. The storyline was really engaging, I was hooked throughout. I'll definitely read another book from this author.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Pub Date: 3/18
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The title of this book is fire. The synopsis of this book had me super excited; but the execution was a little off for me.
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So, we have Cyra, whose sister Mira was murdered... She then sneaks into a - you guessed it - serial killer support group because she is convinced on of the people in this support group killed her sister. Okay.... I have some questions. Out of all of the serial killers in the world, why was she so sure that one of the few in the group was the killer? This made the story feel a little more childlike in my opinion... Next up - why didn't any characters besides maybbbbeeee the main character - Cyra - have any kind of sustenance to them? Each of the characters pretty much fell flat. I struggled to keep up with who was who and honestly could care less as to who was who; but I will say I did love that each of the serial killers did get their own chapter to kind of give them a background, it just didnt work to flesh them out enough for me.
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This is a bit of a slow burn that turns into a more fast paced read. I thought that a few of the plot twists were well placed and I enjoyed them.
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My thriller fans, you may love this one, I saw many reviews in regard to loving this book, but unfortunately this was just not for me. Give it a go I would love to hear your thoughts!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Saratoga Schaefer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this one, but it didn’t work for me. I did not care for any of the characters. Nothing about the support group made much sense to me - why they formed, how the MC was able to join so easily, why she thought her sister’s killer would be in the group/easy to find. The book was fine, quick and entertaining enough that others might enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unique Idea, But Didn’t Fully Hit the Mark

Serial Killer Support Group had such an original and intriguing premise—I was really excited to dive into it. The dark humor and concept definitely stood out, and there were moments that were clever and unexpected. I appreciated the creativity and the bold approach to such a bizarre storyline.

That said, it didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven in parts, and I struggled to connect with the characters. Some scenes were engaging, while others dragged a bit or felt underdeveloped. I kept waiting for it to really pull me in, but it never quite got there.

I still think it’s worth a read if you’re into offbeat, unconventional thrillers with a satirical edge. It just wasn’t as gripping or fleshed out as I hoped it would be.

This book was so amazing! It was nice to read from a serial killer's perspective and to read what was going through their mind. It was twisty and left me feeling breathless.

I really enjoyed this book. I love a strong female character, and Cyra is definitely strong. I didnt figure out all of the twists, so that makes this book that much better for me. The ending was well done. I am hoping Saratoga keeps writing as I'd enjoy either a sequel to this book, or other books similar to it.
Wonderful LGBTQ representation as well.
A very strong 4 star rating from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

This was a very interesting premise. For some reason I found the first half of the book to be more entertaining than the second half. I enjoyed the build up of how the group began more than the actual solving of the crime.

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